Alaska Hiring

[AT43]

Anyone have any news on when Alaska will start hiring,
and how many?

 

[av8instyle]

Hiring

Well, I happened to have just had breakfast this morning with a little birdie that told me it should be "real soon".
This happens to make sense to me since we just announced three flights daily SEA-DEN, and one flight daily SEA-BOS.
Hope this gets you motivated!

 

[FlyboyPhil]

AS Hiring

I am wondering (slowdown aside) how likely it is to get hired at Alaska with only time in the BE99 or BE1900? Trying to decide what to do after the 135 Night Piston twin job.... and the regionals seem like an awful slow and underpaid way to get turbine PIC.

 

[LearLove]

Another Birdie told me that UPAS needs cash so he told your birdie to start the Alaska hiring rumor?

 

[av8instyle]

Flyboyphil:
Alaska requirements are posted on the UPAS website. Unless your flying has been in Alaska and you know someone at the company, you're gonna need some turbine PIC to get a call.
We'll be hiring sometime shortly, not sure how many though.
We're not short crews yet, but we just extended some MD-80 leases and announced startup for 5 new daily flights. Plus we expect to be at pre 9-11 schedule by the first part of February.
Add all of this to the new routes to Reagan, Dulles, and Cancun and, well, the outlook is good.

Flyin@500agl:
You're absolutely right. You may as well save your money until they announce it. No need to have foresight.

For all:
If you waited until everyone stopped hiring before deciding to put into UPAS for Alaska, you may as well save your money. Alaska only hires those that want to be there for a career and they are pretty good at weeding out the rest. There is already a database of nearly a hundred people with guaranteed interviews and we probably won't hire much more than that. The numbers are purely speculation though.

 

[FlyboyPhil]

clarification......

AV8... thanks for the reply.. but you missed the point.. I am trying to figure out if I need to fly part 121 in something bigger than a Beech 99/1900 or if I can fly part 135 and get PIC in those to build the turbine time... I believe the minimums at alaska are only 750 multi.. no turbine requirement.. but that is unrealistic.. so... IS IT REALISTIC TO THINK I WILL GET HIRED WITH 135 CARGO PIC IN A BE99/1900?? or should I go the low paying, slow to upgrade regional route??

Thanks in advance

 

[av8instyle]

Alaska hires all types of backgrounds. It really doesn't matter where you get the twin turbine time as long as you get it.
It may be a moot point, though, unless you can get an Alaska pilot to write you a letter, or unless you meet with the Chief Pilot at some kind of seminar such as Air Inc. Alaska is pretty big on hiring people that their pilots know.
Good luck!

 

[av8instyle]

cont...

one more thing....go to the turbine a/c that you can get to the left seat the quickest. Just my opinion.

 

[FlyboyPhil]

thanks for the info AV8

I just wanted to check on that before I got too wrapped up in pursueing a 121 position. I grew up in Ketchikan and have roundabout connections to several AS pilots.. so should be able to get the common acquaintance to vouch for me and pick up a recommendation that way when the time comes. Thanks again for the advice!

 

[MsFan]

Make sure you are nicotine free for 6 months before you go to an interview with Alaska. They don't really advertise it much, but they do a urine test when you interview and if you test positive for nicotine, you're done. When they call you to offer you the interview, they'll ask you if you've been nicotine free for 6 months. If you've had a smoke or a dip lately, and answer honestly, then you're done right there. They won't call you back. So if you are a smoker/dipper and want to fly for Alaska, quit now.

 

[av8instyle]

Go ahead!

qxeplt:
OK, you go ahead and risk a multi million dollar career on a hope that the stuff stays testable for only a couple of days.

For the rest of you, I'd err towards the safe side and quit if you feel you may have an interview coming up.

Good luck!

 

[BRlinepilot]

Hey av8instyle,

From an Alaska pilot's point of view, can you shed some light on the pros and cons for working at Alaska? I don't know any Alaska pilots, but I hear it's a great place to work (good quality of life, etc) and I'm just curious. Thanks!

 

[AT43]

I know that Alaska is big on turbine PIC, anyone know how musch is needed? I think they required 650 in the past, but since they dropped that is 650 still enough or are they looking for 1000.

Thanks

 

[av8instyle]

ASA stuff

BRlinepilot:

I haven't been there that long, but I can tell you this much: From the moment I walked onto the property, they treated me outstanding! I can't say enough good about this company. it seems to be one of the airline industry's best kept secrets. Financially, next to SWA, Alaska is the healthiest airline. ASA had over 500m in cash reserves on 9-11. This, plus the expansion plans, were the reasons we did not get the big "F" word. ASA has been profitable every year since 1970 with the exception of 2 years in the mid 90's and the time frame surrounding the crash a couple of years ago.
Pay in near the top for narrow body's. We make about the same as UPS pilots, which, a couple of years ago was the top industry pay period.
Although we have been expanding eastward lately, we generally have a north-south route structure, which is nice on the body. I think that means you get more than the standard two years after retirement to spend your dough.
I personally knew that ASA would be my last stop if thet are able to survive, and they've done that pretty well for 70 years.

AT43:
ASA used to have a 750 turbine PIC requirement. They dropped that requirement back in 1997. I'm not sure why they dropped it but they hired a bunch of my buds that had ZERO TPIC. Since then, however, the airline got a new Chief Pilot who is more into the TPIC. The amount is not a show stopper, though, as I got on with less than 300TPIC. Keep in mind that mine was in the F-16 and I'm not sure how fighter time is weighed compared to civ TPIC. I think the bottom line is they're gonna want SOME. Of course, right now they can obviously afford to be picky.

All:
Just heard from ALPA rep who's reporting tha company says probably open the hiring doors this summer.
Good Luck!