AirTran New Mins.

[AJWick]

Hey Ty

Gulfstream is merely refering to the old ValueJet days where there was a PFT with flightsafety. Maybe you werent in the loop back then.

Anyhow....you guys have changed and become a much better airline and your future is bright!!!

I wish you guys the best and if i had an opportunity to work there.....welll I would have.


aj

 

[400A]

Ty

G-200 is just that way, he also thinks that anyone who does 135 is a PUKE! or so he says on another post.

It must be tough living the pampered life of a Gulfstream / Falcon pilot where you can look down at all of the pittiful pilots who dont measure up to such high standards as him.

I have alot of friends at AirTtran,, both X-Corporate and airline and they all love it. We also use them for travel for training, repo, ect,, the 717 is a very nice machine for both passengers and crew.

BUT IT"S NOT A GULFSTREAM>>> LOL

 

[Gulfstream 200]

hey get over the 135 thing man.....let it go....

Its OK.

 

[wil]

Why is this shocking? Airtran is a 121 operation and as such would like people with 121 backgrounds. Makes sense, right?

 

[400A]

Dude, its not the 135 thing.... its an arrogant / superiority complex kind of thing. I have read many of your replys and they all bash something,, no positive feed back in regaurds to the question.

 

[five-o]

Ok, let's look at it from a historical perspective. I've been with AirTran Airways since Jan '96 and this is NOT the first time the minimums have changed - behind the scenes. This is however, the first time AirTran has published new, albeit different, minimum requirements.

In '96 (I was with AirTran - Orlando) we looked for people with crazy flight hours - 10,000+ and lots of former 121 time - Eastern, PanAm, etc. Look at the seniority list. From the people I've met since the merger, ValuJet was no different. We were both trying to grow and take people with similar backgrounds and experience to do it. Both took their share of military pilots as well.

In '97, both companies were struggling to make it. Eventually we merged, and the roller-coaster ride continued. Not a great deal of hiring during this year, but still - going for lots of experience.

In '98, post-merger, the "we're something else" AirTran was hiring again. The published minimums were 2500 TT, 1000 PIC (any PIC), and 500 ME FW. At this point, hiring was pretty strong to support the growth of the two airlines coming together. But, we were hiring any person with a commercial pilot certificate that would 1), work for $25k per year, and 2) sign a two-year training contract - not a lot to sell. Oh yeah, not making a profit either.

In '99, we were hiring for the new 717 - the gem of the skies if you ask me. Minimums were the same, and we were still taking any competent pilot. Pay was the same... hours were max... life was not pretty... new leadership team coming on... but the dreamers came (and stayed) because we knew that AirTran was going to be the next best thing - real soon!

In 2000, we started catching on. Others were beginning to look at us as an airline with a future, rather than an airline with a past. Our upgrade time was getting low - 2 years - and management new that we needed people who had had similar operating experience - 121 PIC (or military equivalent). BUT, the big bad majors were still hiring, and it was still the dreamers plus the guys with recommendations that were getting the job. And we got lots of crap about "well you have to have a recommendation."

In 2001, we were becoming the "in" place to be. We were profitable, we had weathered the storm so to speak. And yes, the resumes started flooding the place. People from all over started handing me resumes to walk into the HR office - and some of those people even admitted - "I would have never considered doing this 2 years ago." But, the minimums were the same - in print. Were these the people (min time) that were getting hired? Probably not. Were these the people (min time)that were successful in training, on the line, and in upgrade? Not necessarily. After 9/11 - the actions we took as a pilot group and as an airline spoke volumes about the people of our company. And THEN, the volume of resumes became obnoxious.

In 2002, hiring continued at a pretty good pace. Although the published minimums remained the same, we all know that the people that were getting hired had a decent amount of time (5000+) and plenty of 121 PIC. I got to help in a job fair in Nov '02 and overheard a person in our line say "I think it's rediculous that they ask you to get a recommendation." It was never a hard fast rule, but this guy wasn't getting the job either.

In 2003 - the year of controversy - hiring still continues. And yes, the resume situation is still incredible. So new minimums were published. But I did not see "if you don't meet the minimums, don't bother applying" written on the website, nor have I heard this from HR or the Chief Pilot's office. But, obviously some of you read this - or rather you read into this - and have expressed your concerns.

In closing let me say this - the management (Klaus Goersch) was hired a little after I was. If you ask me, we have the best, most well-rounded pilot group in the industry. The caring and compassion we have for this airline is extreme. The bond we have is incredible, and that's why we're still here today! Something must be right, otherwise we'd have a bunch of miserable complainers that post on this site all the time.

So.... if you don't agree with the "new mins" keep your resume (and your attitude) in your back pocket. You never know when things will change!

 

[Caveman]

AirTran can require any minimums they want. It's their company. Requiring previous 121 experience for a 121 job doesn't seem unreasonable to me. I do think they are arbitrarily eliminating some awfully talented people when they ignore 135/corporate pilots.

I'm curious about one thing though. I wonder how loud the screaming and gnashing of teeth would be if they left off the phrase "or military equvilent"? My guess is that the present cadre of former military pilots at AirTran would never let the company close the door on their squadron buddies. Unfortunately the 135/corporate guys probably aren't present in enough numbers to have any clout.

 

[FLB717]

Five-O.....Well said ...great points.

 

[atldc9]

I just finished a trip with a new guy, fresh off ioe, that had no 135, 121 or corporate time. Matter of fact, he had no heavy or large transport time either. Strictly a fighter guy. Very nice, very professional, and didn't come close to the published min's. He was still hired.

I know a lot of people who were hired with less then the "published min's".

I think this is being blown way out of proportion.

 

[AV8OR]

Strictly a fighter guy.

Well there ya go! Fighter time......Part 121 PIC there's hardly a difference!