Airnet Questions

[falconvalley]

Here's what I think about the hiring into base thing:

I was talking to a newly hired, fellow Airneter a while back. He said he really wanted to get based in TEB. He did his SIC there and got an apartment. He wasn't hired into TEB, so when he finished his SIC, he came back to CMH. "They" actually BALKED at assigning him to TEB as a PIC. I can't remember the details of the story, but I do remember thinking that it was kinda screwed up for them not to jump at the chance to get someone into TEB that would stay there. I think he just wanted to stay there until a run there opened and they told him to come back to CMH or something. He was confused, because, at the time there was a line of newbies waiting for runs to open. We thought it wouldn't make any difference if he just stayed in TEB as a reserve until a TEB run opened.

So, I think that it's a problem with a new idea becoming a policy and the willingness of management to actually use it.

 

[N60OSU]

It's simply a matter of the company's policy on assigning runs to new pilots. It's true that few pilots at Airnet actually want to be in TEB and I'm sure the Flight Department is thrilled to have someone who does. That said, they have procedures to follow with respect to how new pilots are assigned runs and the circumstances you describe are in sync with those procedures with respect to new pilots sitting reserve in LCK until they receive their initial PIC assignment. Your friend may rest assured that TEB is regularly open so he should be able to transfer into that base in short order.

 

[falconvalley]

The issue was where he would wait to be assigned a run. There wasn't a guarantee that he would get TEB as a first assignment, but he was already there, had an apartment there and figured it'd be no big deal just to stay there for a couple weeks.

As far as I know, there is no written policy on where PIC upgrades float before their first assignment. They just bring them back to LCK and have them stay until the first assignment.

A trivial debate, but he wanted to take his lease as long as possible there and they didn't seem to care. I think that if Airnet doesn't provide any assistance during the relatively short (but long enough to hurt financially) SIC program, they could at least be understanding when someone asks for an amended temporary assignment. They don't have to take flying away from permanent floaters.

 

[N60OSU]

The basic policy is that all pilots are Columbus based unless otherwise assigned elsewhere. The reason for that is accessability to the system for quick placement on a reserve assignment. There are circumstances where a pilot would be allowed to float while not assigned as a reserve pilot but awaiting a run following SIC to PIC upgrade is not one of them. The flight department follows established policy very closely (I've been on both sides of that practice recently) and is not inclined to make exceptions except in extreme circumstances. Say what you want, but as an employee it is nice to know exactly what to expect.

I flew as an SIC for about 3 months last summer. I went to training with 950 TT and only 37 MEL. Airnet is the only company I know of that pays SICs (prop) and offers them the same benefits as other full-time employees. The other SIC policies of which I'm aware involve the time builder paying for training and at best getting to ride along for free. Then there is no guarantee of a job once they reach PIC mins. I'm sure I'm not aware of all companys' policies but I doubt any treat time builders better, if even as well as, Airnet does.

 

[idoitupsidedown]

I think that if Airnet doesn't provide any assistance during the relatively short (but long enough to hurt financially) SIC program, they could at least be understanding when someone asks for an amended temporary assignment.

i agree with N60OSU and have this to add. Pilots sitting standby before their first PIC assignment and especialy SICs need to keep in mind a few things. First, they are being paid for a job that doesn't need to exist so, yes, we do provide more than adequate assistance during the SIC program. We call it single pilot frieght haulin' for a reason and the PICs didn't sign up to give instruction on how to do this job. We could easily stop paying people until they hit 1200 hours or, even more, until we assign them a run. They knew how it worked before they got here or at least had plenty of time to figure it out during training when they saw all the recently upgraded SICs sitting around at LCK with nowhere to go and nothing to do. The company had no obligation to treat him any different just because he decided to split rent out there instead of finding a crashpad to pay month-to-month like every other SIC. If the company let him have his wish, i think we'd start seeing alot more SICs going to BHM so they could sit around in the daytime waiting on the next bid sheet instead of watching GGW reruns at LCK at o'dark thirty. It's just the way it is and the flight department has more important things to worry about than people asking for special treatment because they didn't think ahead.

On an earlier point, we actually have hired one pilot with the intent of putting them into a specific base - you guessed it, TEB. Unfortunately, this trainee had several problems in training and washed out. We haven't done it since, but that doesn't mean we won't do it again.

 

[EWRJ0225]

i just got a phone interview today and I have a face to face interview on wednesday. i currently live in louisville, ky. Does anyone know the chances of getting IND or SDF as a base. I have no problem moving, but i have heard that you can usually bid a base relatively soon. Any idea on a time frame to bid IND or SDF once you make PIC? I dont mind moving for a while but would definately like to get to indy or lousiville. ANy help would be appreciated!

 

[Tonala2k]

jrellenbrand, are you really going in Tomorrow? I had a solid week and I'm still trying to get all the paper work together. I guess having moved between five different states nine times and even another country, I've got a lot of rehashing to do. Best to you.

 

[EWRJ0225]

no i have an interview next wednesday, august 2nd. They offered me one thursday of this week but I knew it would take quite a bit of time to get everything ready. I still have to fill out all the paperwork, but a new suit, study, and i am have to find a frasca 142 and practice A lot!.

 

[Tonala2k]

I'll sae you some $$$ the paper work says "tie not required" Now you can spend more money n the sim. called people from the frasca web site, but none of those schools returned my calls. I found another trainer, but didn't use the barron-58 because it was turbo chraged. We settled for some other IO-540 twin, I just can't remember which.

Make sure you read the entire packet tonight before even starting anything so nothing surprises you last minute. I'll keep you posted.

 

[MrPink1911]

no suits....

don't bother with the suit..... it says so in the packet, business casual. there was a guy at my interview with a suit on and i havent seen him since..... as far as what bases will be available when, if you wait long enough they will all be available at one point or another!!! just dont count on a quick transfer to whereever because you may be disappointed and waiting for a long time!!! good luck to you all, the sim eval is no cake walk, have a good scan and stay cool even when you mess up.... on my sim eval i was partial panel to the vor to hold and i messed up the entry, i advised ATC and my next trip to the vor worked out better.... if you make a mistake, dont bother trying to hide it, confess and fly your plane!!! just my $.02.... oh, and if you cant get to a sim beforehand, take advantage of using the airnet frasca the day before your interview.....

 

[ukaviator]

Sim

oh, and if you cant get to a sim beforehand, take advantage of using the airnet frasca the day before your interview.....

Airnet have only recently stopped offering this.
Its really difficult to find a Frasca 142 that works properly near where I live, and to find one that also has Ohio approaches to practice with, is near impossible.

I wish they were still offering this sim prep, if any airnet guys on here hear of this being offered again, feel free to post.

​

 

[MrPink1911]

sorry, i wasn't aware that they had stopped doing the sim prep..... any touchy sim should be helpful tho.... anything to sharpen up the instrument scan....

 

[Tonala2k]

sorry, i wasn't aware that they had stopped doing the sim prep..... any touchy sim should be helpful tho.... anything to sharpen up the instrument scan....

I tried for a week, leaving messages at several schools. I just used a fancy PCATD. I really don't think there's much differance. Sim is sim. touchy and goofy.

Hay, is Bill really a super nice guy? He looks it. He did our HR. He played bad cop. Threw me way off my game (the point I'm sure). After each answer he would stare me down and I could feel that little boy "guilty" look on my face.

Not sure I 'interviewed' my best, but I believe I hav ewhat they're looking for. If my qualifications aren't competitive enough I'll definately reaply.

Best of luck

 

[landlover]

tonala2k, so when do you here if you got it?

 

[Tonala2k]

Landover, the word on the street is that it takes about a week. However, I'm still just under 1050TT and only 70hrs night. From what I understand, if they want me:
1. They will send me a letter asking me to let them know once I have 1050TT.
2. I will notify them once I have 1050TT
3. They'll put me in the hiring pool.
4. When something opens up they'll give me a class start date.

People there are way cool. No one acts like they're in competition with the others for a spot. Nor do they have the attitude of their job being beneath them. A very jovial group. Also, there is a sense of pride in the company. They're not just there doing a job and building time. Upper management must do a great job at letting their employees know they are valued.