Air Wisconsin Update

[Rottweiller]

Does anyone know what the upgrade time is looking like?

In theory on the 328 it could be as little as 6 months as of 1st September they will only be upgrading within the 328. The RJ, for those getting on now I would have to estimate 18 months. Depends on deliveries etc.

Bare in mind there are forcast to be 1100 pilots next year, 600ish now with deliveries scheduled through 2004.

How long is a piece of string?

 

[Rottweiller]

Do they ever offer the 328 for new hires?

According to MGMT the new hire classes will be for all fleet types. less chance of the 146 though as it pays best and little movement there within the company.

In your first week you submit a bid on type and domicile. Awards are given based on openings and by seniority number in the class. This is in descending order, oldest to youngest, oldest having the lower seniority number.

 

[Focker]

more questions

Does anyone know how long a new hire can expect to be on reserve?

What are the typical new hire lines like? Both reserve and new line holder? How feasible is it to one hop commute?

If you didn't get your choice out of training, i.e. Do-328/Den, are you locked in whatever you get for 18 mo's unless you could hold captain?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Rottweiller]

Re: more questions

Does anyone know how long a new hire can expect to be on reserve?

What are the typical new hire lines like? Both reserve and new line holder? How feasible is it to one hop commute?

If you didn't get your choice out of training, i.e. Do-328/Den, are you locked in whatever you get for 18 mo's unless you could hold captain?

Time on reserve - Really this is an open ended question. Depends on too many variables. Reserve holders get a 75 hour/mth guarantee (currently $24/hr on the RJ & 146). PD runs at $1.55/hr. RSV lines are generally 5 on 3 off. DEN has ready reserve which is 8 hours at the airport with per diem. In all with a requirement of 140 pilots this year and 3-400 next year any time on reserve is going to be minimal.

As a new line holder don't expect to get every weekend off senior guy's do! Of late they have been running anywhere from 50-70 block hours with 70-85 hours credit and about 280 hours TAFB.

Commute - depends on location and who you choose. It is getting more difficult to commute on UAL ORD-DEN-ORD due to heavy loads. If you can it's best to use AWAC.

328 seat lock is 6 months, RJ & 146 is 1 year. That said if you move laterally within this period you lock to another year plus remaining balance. After a year (6 months 328) you are allowed (I believe 2) lateral moves whilst in AWAC without penalty.

 

[rightrudder]

Just to clarify things about seat locks...

FO's may not bid laterally into another fo position for 2 years. If you bid the 328, you are locked into the 328 for 18 months, i.e., you can't upgrade to CA into the CRJ or 146 during this time. Only 328 FO's are allowed to bid 328 CA positions. When you are awarded a 328 CA postion, you will get another 18 month seat lock in that position. This is due to a letter of agreement regarding the 328 "declining fleet phase"

You must have 6 months elapsed time from start of ioe to when you can hold 328 CA. For the CRJ or 146, you must have had 1 year elapse from start of ioe to hold CRJ or 146 CA. If there is no one bidding CA who has met the 6 month or 1 year requirement, then pilots with less time may bid and be awarded CA.

Once you have bid and been awarded a captain position, there are no locks except the 328 18 month lock.

I know this sounds confusing, but hope it helps people out.

RR

 

[Jetsnake]

what's a 3 and 5 year captain pay on the rj? Thanks for all the good info!

This is good questions but open to several
variables in our contract. There are 5 ways
in which they can pay you, any five of which
the greater will be applied. Trip Rig is usually
the greater of but not always...

If you where hired in the September class and saw
Capt. on the RJ in 3 years from your hire date you
could expect 69.75/hour. So if you credit 85 hours
a month your looking at a little over 71K per year
not including per diem, at an average of at least
$400/month, plan on about 75K a year.

5 year Captain pay with the same senerio would be
74.13/hour.

Not to bust your bubble, but get the job first and
worry about the pay later, AWAC treats there pilot
group very well, your payed at 75/hours per month
from your first day in indoc along with per diem and
hotel is also payed. They also issue you your first check
the second week in indoc. The company wants
your mind on work and not worrying about how you'll
survive while in training and still putting diapers on your
kids if you have any.

Some other regionals may pay more per hour but AWAC
has duty and trip rig along with 100% pay for cancelation.
What that means in a nut shell is this, if they re-route
you from your original schedule for what ever reason
and you should have blocked 5-6 hours one day and you
only fly from ORD-MKE, you'll still get the 5-6 hours
you were scheduled for.

Good luck in your endeavors...

Jetsnake

 

[rightrudder]

In our new new contract, you will be paid 75 hours per month in training, hotel is paid, but no per diem until you start IOE. This is a change from the previous contract, i'm not sure why the change. But, 75 hours at $24 per isn't too bad.

 

[fly26]

A little (OK, a lot) off the subject, but since we've got the attention of some AWAC guys --- what is the status of AWAC pilots jumpseating in the cockpit on UAL?

Thanks!

 

[rightrudder]

AWAC pilots can occupy the UAL jumpseat if there is not a seat in the cabin.

RR

 

[jimbo]

During training, is the hotel room single or are you rooming with someone? Also, what is the training schedule i.e. Indoc then systems etc???Are RJ guys sent to YUL for training or is it inhouse???
Speedtree....anything on a start date yet????
Jimbo

 

[Beechnut]

Single Room, all to yourself for your devilish little deeds.

When I went through it was 2 weeks Indoc in Appleton then 2 weeks systems then how ever long to do sim training. (If you get RJ, (I have no idea what airplanes new people are getting) the systems training is an awesome setup with Computer Based Training. Very easy.) The sim and systems will probably be done at our new training facility in Denver... come to think of it, they may do InDoc there too. I don't know for sure. We were using ex-Midway sim time in Atlanta to do our CRJ training, but that was before the training center in Denver opened. I don't know for sure if all the new folks are being sent to Denver.

I guess I wasn't full of definite answers. One thing for sure is that life is about to get good!

 

[rightrudder]

Hotel during training is single occupancy. The typical schedule for training is 2 weeks of indoc in Appleton, 2 weeks of systems (all done inhouse now) either in DEN for the 328 and RJ or ATW for the 146; CPT follows for 5 days; then sim training (DEN for the RJ at the new training center; Dulles for the 146 and perhaps Dallas or the Netherlands for the 328.

The new training center recently opened with lots of classrooms, and 2 RJ sims. It is operated by CAE but we and Frontier are the primary clients.

Hope this helps.

 

[Cmdr Taggart]

How often does AWAC send people to the Netherlands to use the DO328 sim?

I assume that gets expensive, but fun.

 

[jimbo]

Thanks for the great info! Now I just have to get an interview!
If given a chance at AWA it would've been fun to go back to YUL and all the great bars on St Catherines St. But I know it's all work and no play....right.
I thought the CBT was great....is AWA using the same Bombardier CBT from YUL?
Ex-Midway Jimbo

 

[rightrudder]

When I went trough RJ training this spring, we were using a Luftansa CBT program, but there was some talk that when the new training center opened, the CBT would change to the Bombardier. I don't know whether or not that has happened.

I know our manager of training was telling us that they would love to have some ex-midway folks; make sure you mail, and fax, and email your application in and make it obvious you are ex-midway. Good luck.