usaf2airtran said:
I am a military pilot separating from the AF and have been hired by AirTran. I have no previous 121 experience. I am looking for any advice/recommendations/insight from AirTran pilots (especially new-hires who have recently went through initial training or former military pilots who have already made the transition) as what to expect or what I can be doing now to best prepare for training/my upcoming new career.
Also, I have a family of 5. Any idea approx what health ins is running a month? Approx how many credit hours are new-hires getting a month?
I feel blessed to have the job...can't wait to start...and I look forward to meeting you all.
usaf2airtrain,
If you dont mind I will give you my 2 cents even though I am not an Airtran pilot. I was however in a new hire class at AA that was filled with ex-Military types with no part 121 experience.
Since it looks like you flew a C-17 or C-5 I dont think you will have much of a problem. You are used to flying in a Crew Environment and basically know the drill. I found at AA that the guys that had the hardest time during training were the Fighter Guys that had never flown as a crew. It was just a foreign concept to them as they were used to doing everything themselves. It wasn't that the couldn't do it. They just had too drink a little longer from that Firehose called Initial Pilot Training. All the guys in my class made it through training. One guy busted his ride the first time but made it through the second. This was in a class of 54 newhires.
Just do what the intructors tell you and study your a$$ off. I have found that if you have a really good attitude the instructors and check airmen will bend over backwards to help you get through the program. Come in with an attitude and no one will do you any favors.
As far as the health insurance goes: Most Company offered health insurance has three categories. Insuring only you. Insuring you and your spouse. Insuring you, your spouse, and your children. From all the companies I have worked for it doesn't matter how many dependents that you have. If you have one spouse and 10 kids you would be charged the exact same as if you had a spouse and only one child.
I would imagine that the most comprehensive health insurance plan at Airtran would probably cost you around $300 a month. Maybe a little bit less.
DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT sign up for a HMO if they offer one. HMO's are really really good until you get sick and need it. Trust me on this one. I am a Life and Health Insurance agent as well as being a pilot. I have seen people time and time again screwed over by HMO's.
