AirTran Advice

[FLB717]

It is posted in the Pilot Mail Room so comments can be made if any Riff Raff apply. It is the same mode used by SWA.

 

[j41driver]

It is posted in the Pilot Mail Room so comments can be made if any Riff Raff apply. It is the same mode used by SWA.

Thanks!

 

[TheBigH]

... or ExpressJet (3-5 years on the right seat of a jet).

XJT has 2600 pilots right now and they're only getting another 25 airplanes or so for sure from what I hear. It's taken the guys that I know there 5-6 years to upgrade, and that's with all the crazy growth in the last year there ... I'd think three times over if I was you about it cuz that PIC time there ain't gonna come quick ... at least not unless there's some major growth out of somewhere ... I'd say it may take more like 6-8 years to upgrade there with normal attrition just based on how many pilots they have now and how many they're planned to grow to ... just my opinion ...

BTW, weren't you supposed to be in class with Colgan by now ?

 

[thunderworm]

how is golgan doing? i was in huston a while ago and met a lot of the new hires. they didn't seem to much of what was going on even when they stardted getting paid. typical new hires though. how many planes up and running seemed they had way more pilots than planes and not enough to do ioe with everyone getting trianed. with a lot of people getting hired senority is very important. ie at the beging of hiring not at the end.

 

[terrehautesux]

how is golgan doing? i was in huston a while ago and met a lot of the new hires. they didn't seem to much of what was going on even when they stardted getting paid. typical new hires though. how many planes up and running seemed they had way more pilots than planes and not enough to do ioe with everyone getting trianed. with a lot of people getting hired senority is very important. ie at the beging of hiring not at the end.

My brain hurts from reading that.

 

[TheBigH]

My brain hurts from reading that.

Yea I had to pull out my decoder ....

Anyhow, Colgan is doing great, expanding like a mo'fo'

It usually takes new hires a few months before they figure out what they got themselves into it ...

And as far as seniority you're 100% correct. I've been trying to get my buddies in here as soon as possible before the hiring stops ... I got hired towards the end of the last boom and it means I'm upgrading months later than the other dudes ...

We're getting close to 300 pilots with the guys in class now and from what I've heard and seen we should be close to 500 within a year. Combined with the attrition rate it's still a good time to get in and it probably will be for a few more months.

 

[dh82dvr]

If you are on the list, how long to get a call?

 

[thunderworm]

sorry about the typing at least you did't have to read my handwritting.

 

[ShyFlyGuy]

...BTW, weren't you supposed to be in class with Colgan by now ?

Yeah, I'm actually in sim training right now, eight days to go...

Shy

 

[NuGuy]

I'm in agreement with everyone else...if the turbine PIC presents itself, take it and run. Opportunities like that don't pop up real often, and the people hiring don't care if it's jet or prop turbine.

If you really think you need the jet time later, you can go ANYWHERE to get it.

Nu

 

[Yank McCobb]

Yeah, Air Tran LOVES those guys coming from 1900s and the like. Those that never worked anywhere decent. Those that are used to being shat upon. Those that think getting hired there is dying and going to heaven. THAT'S why they have that 500 hr 121 PIC requirement. So they can get the B-1900 Captains that will take whatever is dished out to them and eat it with a smile on their face.

And they are eating that s**t sandwich on a daily basis, I'm sure.

 

[cart]

Command

Capt. Shy, in realestate it's location, location, location. IMHO, finding a good 121 gig is a no-brainer---turbine COMMAND. A shrouded vs unshrouded prop makes no difference. Enjoy the stimulator. BZ!

 

[75M]

Yeah, Air Tran LOVES those guys coming from 1900s and the like. Those that never worked anywhere decent. Those that are used to being shat upon. Those that think getting hired there is dying and going to heaven. THAT'S why they have that 500 hr 121 PIC requirement. So they can get the B-1900 Captains that will take whatever is dished out to them and eat it with a smile on their face.

And they are eating that s**t sandwich on a daily basis, I'm sure.

I came from another major and I think the working conditions at AirTran are pretty good. In comparison, we get shat upon much less than we did at AA.

 

[Ty Webb]

Well, what do you expect from the cobb yanker, anyway . . . . he's this month's Village Idiot. The last in a long line of idiots that love to talk trash about carriers they know nothing about. I'm sure that he was posting here or elsewhere a few years ago about what a terrible place SWA was, too.

Fact is, Cobb yanker, if we had something so awful going on here, we wouldn't be hiring all these former Legacy guys, who would certainly be disgruntled if they found AirTran to be so much different than where they came from. I have been a Capt. for a short six months, but out of all the FO's I have flown with, they have pretty much all been former milspec AND former AA, or TWA, or USAirways, or UAL, so your big theory about hiring only regional guys who don't know better is right up there with "the sky is falling" and "the Earth is flat".

Why don;t you do us ALL a big favor, and stick to topics you know something about, like "suffering from feelings of inadequacy" and "self-loating and deprecation". . . . oh, and I guess we could include "self-flagellation", as well.

 

[Yank McCobb]

Well, Mr. 135 Westwind driver (who makes my point for me...another of those who came from some scumbag 135 outfit that is used to being shat upon, so you think Air Tran is some sort of utopia), I know EXACTLY what I am talking about. And I had the good sense and good fortune to get out of there.

So don't presume to tell me what I do or don't know. Facts are facts. Air Tran is made for people like you. Enjoy your high and mighty feeling while you ride around with "former AA, TWA, USAirways and UAL pilots" who are there simply because they needed a job and took what they could get. Not because they wanted to but because they HAD to.

Why would I post about what a terrible place SWA is when I feel blessed to be flying for such a fine company instead of one that treats it's pilots like crap, but they are so used to it they don't know any better?

Enjoy your fine company. It's the best your type can ever hope for.

 

[Ty Webb]

Well, Mr. 135 Westwind driver (who makes my point for me...another of those who came from some scumbag 135 outfit that is used to being shat upon, so you think Air Tran is some sort of utopia)

Actually, I flew for a great company that treated me quite well, thank you.

I know EXACTLY what I am talking about. And I had the good sense and good fortune to get out of there.

Then you don't know anything about AirTran today. . . . but pray tell what sort of an airline employs a consummate aviator and airline connosieur such as yourself.

Facts are facts. Air Tran is made for people like you.

You haven't listed any facts; only opinions, and rather bizarro ones at that.

Enjoy your high and mighty feeling while you ride around with "former AA, TWA, USAirways and UAL pilots" who are there simply because they needed a job and took what they could get. Not because they wanted to but because they HAD to.

"High and mighty"? How about just plain happy . . . . something you obviously don't know much about. As for my new co-workers, they can speak for themselves, they sure didn't elect a clown like yourself as their spokesman.

Why would I post about what a terrible place SWA is when I feel blessed to be flying for such a fine company instead of one that treats it's pilots like crap, but they are so used to it they don't know any better?

Oh, here we go again . . . T-Bags/Joe Peeonotz/snake/whatever. . . . there is no way SWA ever employed such an unhappy piece of crap as yourself . . . someone that spends half their life on a message board slamming AirTran pilots? Check into your company EAP . . . apparently, you are a very unhappy little man; maybe they can help you . . . . because you need it.

 

[FLB717]

Yank,

If you are at SWA and a Captain you have been at SWA more than 5 or 7 years. 7 years ago I would have left AirTran also. But times and contracts have changed. The on the finacial edge has retreated for the most part (no one but SAW is safe for now) and conditions and the out look has turned around into a great place to be. be happy you are at SWA and go have a tonic to calm your nerves. But stop being an A$$hole, get over it.

 

[UAL-GSO]

I speak for no one but myself. FWIW, having seen this industry from from the perspective of the "regionals", the "majors", and the "LCC's", I am pretty impressed with the way Airtran is run. I'll bet the other 5,000 - 6,000 guys/gals with resumes on file here would agree.

Be nice to each other.

 

[XRMEFLYER]

Yeah, Air Tran LOVES those guys coming from 1900s and the like. Those that never worked anywhere decent. Those that are used to being shat upon. Those that think getting hired there is dying and going to heaven. THAT'S why they have that 500 hr 121 PIC requirement. So they can get the B-1900 Captains that will take whatever is dished out to them and eat it with a smile on their face.

And they are eating that s**t sandwich on a daily basis, I'm sure.

Well so much for the interview process at SWA weeding out ALL of the bitter self righteous God's gift to aviation tools that apply.

 

[-9Capt]

I know EXACTLY what I am talking about. And I had the good sense and good fortune to get out of there..

Based on your past experience here, I can see where you're coming from. The fact of the matter is, you wouldn't even recognize this place today.

I was around back then and was trying to get out, just like you did. Times have changed, for the better.