Airtran Interviewing?

[Guam360]

Any Citrus pilots,

Is Airtran actually going to Interview at the ATL jobfair.

Where is some good gouge? The most recent interview posted on megaone.willflyforfood , is a year old.

Thanks!

 

[Two-9-9-TwoSet]

Are you Ex-Freedom Air??

 

[Guam360]

Maybe,
who are you?

 

[-9Capt]

I don't know about pilot interviews at the job fair, however I hear that pilot hiring will resume in July insted of Sept. It seems were a bit short of DC9 FO's since many have moved over to the 717.

 

[Two-9-9-TwoSet]

Maybe??

Send Warren, Joaquin, Jerome and the rest of the gang my best wishes.

 

[Guam360]

What's with the mystery?

Jerome quit long ago, fed up with Joaguin I guess.
I was there only 6 months.

Florida is kinda far from Guam so I don't think I'll see them soon.

so who are you?

 

[Guam360]

-9Capt, thanks!!

I appreciate the reply!

 

[Flying Jade]

What has been Airtrans policy regarding hiring furloughee's lately? Thanks

FJ

 

[Two-9-9-TwoSet]

no mystery at all.

I doubt you know me, I wasn't there long very long..do u know a guy there (pilot) with the initials "M.W" ??

the SOB owes me 80 bucks !! hope u're not him, if so, please send the money via FEDEX next day air..

Later !!

 

[flx757]

I don't know about pilot interviews at the job fair, however I hear that pilot hiring will resume in July insted of Sept. It seems were a bit short of DC9 FO's since many have moved over to the 717.

It appears pilot hiring will resume in Aug, with the next new hire class tentatively scheduled for Aug 12.

 

[Ty Webb]

How big a class? Will that empty the pool?

As far as long-range hiring, countless hours of slogging along watching the little white airplane gobble up the magenta line have allowed me to come to the following guesstimates:

Based upon the published fleet projections of 70 B717 and zero DC9 by the end of Dec 2003, that would be a net gain of ten airplanes, or 120 pilots, plus retirements- so I would say we will need 170 pilots minimum by the end of 2003.

Of course, if they keep the DC9's around longer, or add more aircraft/aircraft type, that will all change. Since aircraft to be phased out as they come due for "C" checks, if "C" checks start happening for any 9's, that would signal to me more hiring than the above would indicate . . . . . . .

 

[flx757]

The number in the class is said to be 21. Will that empty the pool? Don't know. I'm really not sure how many were in the pool originally, and how many still remain 6 months later.

 

[Ty Webb]

Think about what you are asking. I don't speak for the company, but here's my answer-

I know that I have three or friends who are waiting for an opportunity to come work here- I sure wouldn't want to waste a spot that could go to one of them so that you can come hang out here and burn up $30,000. of our company's money, only to leave as soon as your old company calls you back.

 

[Flying Jade]

No offense Ty, but maybe if your company paid a bit better & got some bigger equipment...we'd hang around. And as for your friends....I hope they get the job, but I gaurantee you that when all the airline hiring eventually comes back around, if they get offered a job by any of the big 5...they'll be on the first plane out of Atlanta too!

FJ

 

[Ty Webb]

Yeah . . . and maybe if we paid a lot better, and had bigger planes, I could be working at Home Depot with the rest of the other guys who hired on at the "Big 5" recently . . . .

There is nothing wrong with leaving a company to obtain what you perceive to be a better position. But to come here knowing that you hope to leave shortly to return to your old job is quite a bit different. Maybe you should look to your own company to spend $30K to keep you employed, instead of looking at us to spend it to hire you for the short term, after all, your loyalty lies with the first job, right?

BTW, third year pay here (with upgrade) is over $100,000. and 12th yr Capt. pay is $152K. Exactly how much more do you think a 117 pax plane should pay?

 

[NYRANGERS]

Yeah . . . and maybe if we paid a lot better, and had bigger planes, I could be working at Home Depot with the rest of the other guys who hired on at the "Big 5" recently . . . .

I am "working at the Home Depot", as a recently hired pilot at one of the "Big 5".

You must be new to the airlines, tying aircraft size at your company and pilot's salaries to furloughed pilot numbers?

With that attitude, please do not come to any of the "Big 5", when the inevitable hiring years come along.

 

[AV8OR]

With that attitude, please do not come to any of the "Big 5", when the inevitable hiring years come along.

I'm just curious what makes you believe that by the time they do hire, the "Big 5" won't either be the "Big #?", or that the "Big 5" won't include AirTran. Money says, fifteen years ago no one thought Eastern and TWA would be gone and Southwest Airlines would be a Major.

 

[Ty Webb]

Hey, Ranger fan-

I have been around at least as long as you, pal, so don't you worry too much about me. Apparently, the context of the string was lost on you.

We all make our own choices about what is important to us. You have made yours, I have made mine. In the end, we are the ones who have to live with our choices.

I think that we have a vested interest in hiring and training pilots who want to be here. Clearly, you are not one of them.

 

[flx757]

And I have made mine. Ty, see you in August, hopefully. I didn't ask about, nor do I worry about training contracts. This is where I want to be, and this is where I intend to stay.

 

[ALCOHOLIC]

does anyone have the numer to home depot.

 

[NYRANGERS]

Hey, Ranger fan-

I have been around at least as long as you, pal, so don't you worry too much about me. Apparently, the context of the string was lost on you.

We all make our own choices about what is important to us. You have made yours, I have made mine. In the end, we are the ones who have to live with our choices.

I think that we have a vested interest in hiring and training pilots who want to be here. Clearly, you are not one of them.

You don't have to justify your job to me. I wish you luck. I think AirTran is a fine Airline . More power to you guys if you can find people who are willing to stay there when the hiring boom comes again. Oh yea, it will come again, just like before. There have allways been doomsdayers.

No worries, as pilots in the US I thinkl there will be more good jobs for all of us.

 

[Ty Webb]

I truly hope that you are right. A rising tide lifts all ships.

Unfortunately, the future I see holds a lot more RJ jobs and a lot less jobs at the top. Hopefully, that dire predicition will not come to pass, but it sure looks like it right now.

Good luck to all. BTW, AirTran does not have a training contract, but they asked at my interview that I be willing to give them at least a year (pre- 9/11). I thought that was very fair.

 

[Heavy D]

AirTran Hiring

Hey Guys,
For those interested, the posts are correct about AirTran hiring in August and September. The preference has traditionally been to those with B1900, J32, DHC-8 PIC time, because everybody with heavy time ran across the concourse to Delta. AirTran hired some furloughed pilots from US, Midway and Emery Freight, so why not apply? However, if you regard aspiring to fly captain on a B717 as merely building time, why not try out the excellent opportunities at IASCO, Pembroke, etc. I was hired on 10 September 01, and instead of being furloughed on 11 September, the senior guys cut their own pay to keep me and my fellow new hires aboard. Today I flew an airplane that was two days old. I remember when Pan Am and TWA were the sought after carriers, and Delta was hardly known outside of the South. Study your airline history and give carriers like AirTran some thought. I for one, will NOT be flying on the first airplane out of ATL when the Big 5 hire in, what, three years? At my age (39) it does not make economical sense.
Happy Flying

 

[LearLove]

I just can't let this go...

"Study your airline history and give carriers like AirTran some thought"


Your boss is "Forklift Joe", among other names, look up his history.

 

[Guam360]

Heavy D,

AirTran!!!!!!

thanx.

 

[jimcav]

Airtran aint a stepping stone or a consolation prize. If you feel that way about us then you wont fit in here. Its a great place to work and you wont find too many citrus pilots looking elsewhere when hiring by the big 5 resumes, contrary to what some may think. Good luck to all

 

[9rj9]

rumor has it

rumor going around ATL is Delta wants to reduce mainline to 6500 pilots and continue growing/buying regionals. Did anyone see the Business center on CNBC with Leo talking about regional growth ? Anyway the big 5 are not what they used to be. Time value of money will kill you waiting for the majors to call you back.

 

[Ty Webb]

The time value of money . . . . That is a good point.

Others things people take into consideration include:

I. Quality of life
A. Commute
1. On-line/Off-line
2. One leg commute, or more?
3. Commutable schedules (start same day of commute)
B. Schedule
1. length of duty days- always max, or more reasonable
2. choice of # of days per trip
C. Accrual of seniority
D. Upgrade
E. Happiness/attitude of coworkers (work environment)

II. Financial
A. First Year Pay (gotta survive!)
B. F/O Pay 2d yr
C. Years to upgrade
D. Ways to make extra pay- open time, draft, etc?
E. Retirement
F. Profit Sharing
G. Other benefits (non-rev travel, etc)

The above are some of the things besides hourly pay that are important to me, and on my list, AirTran ranks pretty high in most categories. Some definitely could use some improvement.

I have a 50-minute on-line commute, with 4 flights a day to choose from. I had a fully commutable line from the third month after IOE. I will probably break $40K the first year, and upgrade in 2-3 years. I am flying new airplanes on relatively short routes, on mostly 4 day, but some 3 day trips, averaging 14 or 15 days a month off. There is very little bitching on the flight deck. Most guys are pretty happy, easy going types, with a very short list of "No-fly zones" . . . . Maintenance is a non-issue, if it's broken, write it up, and they fix it. Management's performance has been very good- we are above break-even load factor for the year, and June numbers are out . . . .traffic up 24% over last June, load was 72% on 20% additional capacity. . . .

The negatives-

Few cities West of the Mississippi
One pilot base
No frills (ie. no crew meals, crew room facilities pretty lacking, 2-3 star hotels)
Won't be as rich as Delta buddies . . .
No heavy iron/international routes (well, Bahamas).

Those are our warts, and I'll take 'em. BTW, the work environment is very important on my list. I can make money flying anywhere, but it is worth a lot to me to work with people who have a pleasant outlook and aren't always looking for how the "Company is trying to screw us". I have jumpseated on a lot of carriers where the pilots made more money, but spent most of their time in cruise complaining. I hear very little of that here. Most guys think that we've come a long way in a short time, and that things continue to improve and will continue to improve . . . .

 

[DougCorp-9]

Heard through the grapevine that the august class has been cancelled. Can anyone confirm.

 

[js31pilot]

Does 3600 ttl time 750 PIC turbine (js31 Pt.135) with average total and actual instrument time sound competetive for AirTran? I know 6 months ago it probably would have but you never know now. Have an employee who walked it in (though not in flt ops). Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated from current or past AirTran employees. AirTran seems like a good place to be very long-term.