Air Wisconsin

[carb heat]

What's the latest at Air Wisconsin? Any hiring plans in the near future? Any truth that they have the financing for more aircraft?

Thanks

 

[rightrudder]

Rumor has it that they will be running a class in November due to attrition. No plans for any more aircraft at this time. They still have financing in place for 20 more, but I think in the current environment it's probably a good idea to play things conservatively. If I owned the company, I'd be playing it safe right now.

 

[WhiteCloud]

Rumor has it that they will be running a class in November due to attrition. No plans for any more aircraft at this time. They still have financing in place for 20 more, but I think in the current environment it's probably a good idea to play things conservatively. If I owned the company, I'd be playing it safe right now.

I have no official attrition figures but, from crew room talk there should be some significant attrition mainly due to the move out of DEN. Going from living at home base or out west to a DEN-IAD or ORD commute is the biggest issue.

 

[Rottweiller]

From management today there will be a November class and they are looking to interview for a January class. This is for attrition and Capt upgrades in IAD.

 

[BE99chick]

Yeah, it's been quiet lately. Things seem to be getting better in IAD and ORD has been OK too. I know this is nuts, but I like it there...let's see what happens when the weather gets pi$$y.

Some people have been talking about Embraer 170s...is that just wishful thinking??? Any thoughts...???

 

[DASHDRIVER]

There will be 3 Bae146 slots available in the November class. In addition The January class is for sure according to the guy I asked in training on Fri. He mentioned that like previously mentioned everyone knew that the attrition would kick up as soon as all of the commuting started. Just think how bad it will get if Frontier starts to hire again. Also he mentioned it is not just the capt leaving. Some of the junior FO's are taking of for skywest for a fast upgrade. Personnally I think its stupid leaving the quality of life we have at AWAC for a big paycut, much worse work rules, and no union protection. But I guess if I was pilot 922 and we needed to doulble in size for me to upgrade I guess that I would think differantly.

I sure hope we sign another growth contract soon. Hopfully it won't be with UAL.

Regards

DD

 

[lionflyer]

The "quality of life" for the junior guys consists of commuting to IAD with horrible schedules (1 day by 2 day, 3 day by 2 day, etc) with not much movement in sight. I'm not suprised by the attrition and I honestly don't know how AWAC is attracting people.

 

[DirkkDiggler]

Actually, I can't see why we'd have a difficult time attracting anyone. The base closures have already happened so anybody who's hired now will be commuting by their own choice. Doesn't help those of us who were here during the realignments but it shouldn't affect any new guys. Unless of course, we close IAD in the near future.

 

[lionflyer]

Any newbee is either going to commute of live near IAD. Any way they go, it's going to be expensive considering the lack of movement. I'm trying to have faith in our execs that they have something positive planned, but it's getting harder and harder.

 

[WhiteCloud]

Actually, I can't see why we'd have a difficult time attracting anyone. The base closures have already happened so anybody who's hired now will be commuting by their own choice. Doesn't help those of us who were here during the realignments but it shouldn't affect any new guys. Unless of course, we close IAD in the near future.

It's just the long upgrade time that discourages some. Because AWAC is generally one of the best regionals to work for there is less movement. No matter how you look at it the cost of living and buying a home near IAD is prohibitive on an AWAC CA's salary alone.

 

[DiverDriver]

If flyI goes under they will have plenty of IAD area people to hire from. Don't know if they are actually waiting for that to happen but it is a thought that crossed my mind.

 

[DASHDRIVER]

even if FLYI goes TU today I don't think that they would be dissolved right away. They had a lot of cash when this whole thing got started and I dont' think that two quarters of high fuel cost and low loads are going to get them right away. I think anyone drooling for their demise will not get what they want. most likley a MESA purchase. And that will be bad for all of us.

 

[APUinop]

It's just the long upgrade time that discourages some. Because AWAC is generally one of the best regionals to work for there is less movement. No matter how you look at it the cost of living and buying a home near IAD is prohibitive on an AWAC CA's salary alone.

not entirely true about buying homes near iad.......it can be done if you know the right broker. a good broker will get your mortgage payment to be less that the rent you pay around here.

regards,
willy FO/ Mortg. Broker

 

[Furloughed80]

I heard that AWAC was getting 30 EMB 190's and that the 146's would drop down to 10. I also heard that the financing for the 20 RJs expires at the end of this year....so management is in a hurry to get those orders in. Apparently we should be hearing something in a couple of weeks.

P.S. I heard this from a pilot who heard from another pilot who has a friend who works in the training dept. So take it for what it's worth ; )

 

[General Lee]

Dashdriver,


I have always wondered what it was like to fly that BAe146. Do you enjoy it? Is there an FMS on that thing? I saw a few in Denver and I guess they are used for Aspen flights? Who flies those flights? Just curious. What kind of trips do you have on that plane?



Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[WhiteCloud]

not entirely true about buying homes near iad.......it can be done if you know the right broker. a good broker will get your mortgage payment to be less that the rent you pay around here.

regards,
willy FO/ Mortg. Broker

It's posts like this one that make America great! I happily stand corrected and hope you can work out some deals for those that are moving here.

 

[APUinop]

It's posts like this one that make America great! I happily stand corrected and hope you can work out some deals for those that are moving here.

would love to help as many as possible......perhaps a flyer in the crew room would help. to any fellow air willy, looking to buy or refi not only in dulles but anywhere, PM me and i will help in any way i can.

regards

 

[jrod]

Dashdriver,


I have always wondered what it was like to fly that BAe146. Do you enjoy it? Is there an FMS on that thing? I saw a few in Denver and I guess they are used for Aspen flights? Who flies those flights? Just curious. What kind of trips do you have on that plane?



Bye Bye--General Lee

General,

The 146 is a great little airplane to fly. They are getting a little old (the one I flew the other day has 52000+ cycles), but they are built well. It's a very stable machine and can do some pretty amazing things if we need it to.

AWAC aircraft have a dual GNS-XLS FMS installation and should have ACARS installed by early next year, or so they say. The rest of the cockpit is steam gauges. The DEN based crews fly the mountain stuff including Aspen year round, with added service during the ski season. With four engines, it's about the only jet that is capable of flying in and out of there. We have an FMS GPS approach that we built to serve ASE during non-visual conditions. The controllers hate its slow .70 cruise speed, but what's the hurry?

UAL has us currently serving the following cities with our fleet of 18 146's:
DEN, ATW, ORD, LNK, CID, MKE, MSN, SBN, IAD, RDU, ORF, MLI, DSM, ASE, ROC, SYR, ICT, and probably a few I missed.

The agreement with UAL allows us to fly 88 seat -200 models and 100 seat -300 models. They can reduce the fleet in 2005 to 10, but with the low CASM, I don't think they will.

 

[General Lee]

Thanks jrod. I saw one last Winter when I did an ATL--Hayden turn one Saturday and it really looked nice. It was very quiet also. It also sounds like you guys get a good mix of cities, with LA and SFO in the Winter from ASE.




Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[livinadream]

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