AirTran Hiring!

[slick1]

In an effort to create more movement at the regional level, I respectfully submit the following:

Company Name: AirTran Airways Position: First Officer 12/18/2003
Description: Minimum Qualifications:
* Fixed wing flight time - 2500 hours
* Multi-engine, fixed wing flight time - 1000 hours
* 121 PIC or military equivalent - 500 hours
* An ATP certificate, or successful completion of the ATP written
exam
* Current First Class Medical certificate
* Valid passport
* Legally eligible for employment in the United States
* Free of felony convictions within the most recent 10 years

TO APPLY: Please visit AirTran web site for the latest
updates on job openings. You may email your resume to
[email protected]
Address:
AirTran Airways
Department INT
1688 Phoenix Parkway
Suite 1704
College Park, GA 30349
USA
Telephone: 1-888-833-6706
Direct Link: www.airtran.com/aboutus/employ/pilot.jsp



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Here's to hoping AirTran hires you all! And when you get hired, maybe you can walk-in my resume at your old place of employment. Good luck!

 

[slick1]

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[HeyHomer]

does anyone know why the requirement for 121, and why that type of time is so important.
HH

 

[-9Capt]

The upgrade washout rate has been pretty bad over the 6 years I've been here. I guess alot of the busts came from guys without 121 PIC time. However, I have personally flown with FO's that have thousands of PIC 121 hrs and haven't even made it to the checkride . It's a hard program.

 

[flx757]

does anyone know why the requirement for 121, and why that type of time is so important.
HH

I've been on my soapbox more than once expressing loud and clear how ridiculous this requirement is, and how it arbitrarily excludes some highly qualified pilots with experience operating extremely sophisticated equipment. Many airlines have certain minimums, such as 1000 hrs turbine PIC, etc...but most prefer a mix of backgrounds. This makes for a well-rounded and well-represented pilot group. Even though other airlines may require 1000 hrs turbine PIC or 1000 hrs in aircraft 20,000 MTOW or greater, or even a 737 type rating...WHERE you get this experience is not really an issue. Except at AirTran, where they require you get this experience at a 121 carrier. Very shortsighted if you ask me. I believe this shows just how out of touch those responsible for coming up with these minimums really are.

When asked to explain, the best they can come up with is "because we can". Enough said, IMO. That speaks volumes, if you know what I mean.

 

[flx757]

The upgrade washout rate has been pretty bad over the 6 years I've been here. I guess alot of the busts came from guys without 121 PIC time. However, I have personally flown with FO's that have thousands of PIC 121 hrs and haven't even made it to the checkride . It's a hard program.

Having been a long time instructor and check airman (and currently one for a major airline), having or not having prior 121 time has nothing to do with guys washing out of training. That is simply a convenient excuse. At my airline, MANY new hire pilots (when there were new hire pilots...and there will be again, soon), did not have prior 121 experience. We have an excellent pass rate. I will put our program against AirTran's any day (having been through both). A well designed program, concientious instructors, and motivated students are the key ingredients for success; not prior 121 experience.

 

[750driver]

Here's a heads up for those of you preparing to send a resume via email. After sending mine tonight, I just received this automated message from the Airtran Messaging Server:

This Message was undeliverable due to the following reason:

The recipient(s) indicated below did not receive this message
because their mailbox size limit would have been exceeded. It has been returned and it is recommended that you contact the recipient and request that space be made available within their mailbox.

Note: The Postmaster for this mail server may increase the mailbox quota on the account referenced below to accommodate the delivery of additional mail.

No storage space available in mailbox for [email protected]

The following recipients haven't received this message:
[email protected]

Please reply to [email protected]
if you feel this message to be in error.

 

[ChichiAV8B]

121 PIC or military equivalent

So there is a big difference between an Air Force Learjet and a corporate one?

I don't have the total hours they want, but it is obvious that some of their minimums just don't make sense. I spoke to them at an Air Inc Conference and they would not even talk to me since I was short by about 200 hours on the total time. That's fine I suppose, but with 2000 hours tacair jet PIC and a type rating, you would think they will at least look at my paper and realize that I really dont need the 200 Cessna hours to be better qualified.

Just like someone said, they can pick and choose what they want. At least now they can.

 

[COEX-FO]

The really sad part is my 1800 hrs Part121 airline experience is not good enough for Airtran as it's all SIC time! 9-11 stopped a lot of upgrades but did not stop the experience!

Curious, how would one get Part 121 PIC time and not have an ATP?

 

[Bake]

No ATP needed in the military, so I would assume that line about the ATP written exam is for military only. Good question though.

 

[inline]

Re: 121 PIC or military equivalent

So there is a big difference between an Air Force Learjet and a corporate one?

I don't have the total hours they want, but it is obvious that some of their minimums just don't make sense. I spoke to them at an Air Inc Conference and they would not even talk to me since I was short by about 200 hours on the total time. That's fine I suppose, but with 2000 hours tacair jet PIC and a type rating, you would think they will at least look at my paper and realize that I really dont need the 200 Cessna hours to be better qualified.

Just like someone said, they can pick and choose what they want. At least now they can.

Conversely, military pilots are overwhelmingly represented at FedEx and Delta. It cuts both ways.