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Any ex-waterskiers out there?

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JumpCaptain

I love tacos!
Joined
Jan 25, 2006
Posts
183
Can any ex-waterskiers out there tell me how life is better at a different regional? I've been flying here for two months and it doesn't seam so bad. Everybody says it's so much better at other places. Why? I'm trying to decide if I should stay or go. Thanks for the input.

-The Captain
 
I worked at TSA for over a year, started on the 41 then the jet, now I am at republic. Let me just give you a few reasons why it is better.

NO JUNIOR MANNING
CAN'T CHANGE YOUR DAYS OFF EVEN ON RESERVE
PAY PROTECTION FOR REASSIGNMENTS
NO INDIANS RUNNING THE COMPANY
NO ALTER EGO JETS ONE SENIORITY LIST
PEOPLE ARE HAPPIER OVER HERE NOT AS MUCH HATING OF THE COMPANY

don't get me wrong I didn't mind Trans States that much but some of the things get old, the pilots and flight attendents are awesome but that hindu, MW, RZ, and all the other managment scum is worthless.
 
I was there from March 2006 until I got furloughed on May 31st, 2006. Best thing that ever happened to me! I'm now at XJT, holding a line, and will be making $34 in July as opposed to the $25 second year pay at TSA FOR THE SAME AIRPLANE! Good management team, good contract, good future, and quick upgrade at XJT. 3 months at TSA was long enough.
 
God bless... 2 months and already looking for another job. Nothing like the instant gratification generation. Hang out for a while, figure out what the job actually is, then go elsewhere if you are so inclined.

I left TSA about 7 years ago, so even as a former 'Ski-er I would have little of value to tell you.
 
I was also furloughed from TSA and am at XJT. While I like this company alot more for alot of reasons: pay, contract, quality of life, etc... I do miss TSA because of the people who worked the line there. The people at XJT are nothing like the people at TSA, not to say there arent a ton of good people at XJT, but its so big that you just dont get to know people here like at TSA. With that said, I say stick it out at TSA for a bit longer, make some good friends youll have for the rest of your life and if you still feel like leaving, do it.
 
The crews at TSA are great. That is the only thing that keeps you sane. RJacobs is absolutely right that the other regionals crew aren't the same as the guys over at TSA. That is the only thing I miss. If you have been there only 2 months, you will soon find out why Frank Was Right. Save yourself the trouble and find a new job close to home. And if home is STL or RIC, go to chq. Everyone is hiring, so don't waste your time there.
 
I was there in the early 90's flying the brasilia and the 41 (brand new at the time).......Hulie and his team were just as f&&^%cked up then as they are now!

At least they are consistent!

I remember Frank telling the new hire guys in the jetstream 31......."Welcome to TSA, this is a piece of sh%$#t airplane for a piece of sh%$#t company" Classic!
 
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I was furloughed from TSA and I'm at SkyWest now and I love it. To me, it's night and day. Especially if you live on the west coast. I didn't mind TSA either, good people to work with and it was good experience. However I think you would be happier at CHQ, SKW, QXE, or XJT. To give you an example, every person I flew with at TSA had a bad attitude all around, and it was for good reason. But no one I have flown with at SKW has had a bad attitude, it makes it easy to enjoy your job and not fill up with hate after two months. Good luck! If you don't leave try to keep a positive attitude, its not bad at all. Just don't let those scum bags fly on your airplane.
 
I was there from March 2006 until I got furloughed on May 31st, 2006. Best thing that ever happened to me! I'm now at XJT, holding a line, and will be making $34 in July as opposed to the $25 second year pay at TSA FOR THE SAME AIRPLANE! Good management team, good contract, good future, and quick upgrade at XJT. 3 months at TSA was long enough.

I was in Class with PSUpilot can attest to everything said here. Contracts dont even compare...you will surely make more money at XJT just due to the work rules. Have you sat Airport reserve yet at TSA? Did you enjoy all TEN hours?!? XJT is 5 hours.

Also, Maintenance is a big issue in terms of safety. Almost every airplane I flew on IOE at TSA had MEL's and I experienced many things breaking during trips. I have seen less MEL's/Mx items in 300 hours at XJT than i did in 40 hours at TSA. Food for thought. Even mechanics know it. I talked to CHQ Mx guys at CMH that said they would want to get on a HK airplane....

Get your time and leave for greener pastures. Id shoot for the big 3 being Skywest, XJT or any republic holdings company.

Good luck.

BTW PSUPilot: Did you ever get billed for your uniform? Someone posted that they got sent a bill...lol
 
Run mothf#cka run.....and I quote Samuel L. Jackson...Yeah get the hell out....TSA is great for the following reasons:

* Resume building
* Experience building
* Making lifelong friends

It does not compare to other places such as CHQ,SKYW, XJT, Horizon, etc. If youre a commuter all the more reason to leave. I miss my friends but I love my current company great pay and great flying and an upgrade that will hopefully stay fairly quick..but even if it takes a while to upgrade here at XJT i'll still be happy and not wishing to die in a drive by shooting at the Pear Tree.

Stinker
TSA Alumni Current Jetlinker
 
Another ex-TSAer (1 1/2 years) who left for the greener pastures of XJT. I'm from Texas and decided to come back home. I was more than a little happy when TSA didn't get the flying CHQ ended up getting, but I digress ... Better pay, schedules, planes, crew rooms, training, work rules, destinations, soon to have ?five or six? crew bases, etc... The crews are just as personable and fun as the TSA crews, but the problem is you'll probably never fly with that guy again. Hiring 600 pilots this year. Upgrade sitting pretty close to two years. I'll probably upgrade faster at XJT than I would at TSA even with a 1 1/2 year head start. Good luck.
 
leave...trust me. I left there after a year and don't regret it. I make more at SkyW on first year pay than I did at TSA. I could go on and on.
 
Trans States is a great place to be FROM. A great pilot group that refuses to let Uncle Huli break them. However, unless you live in St Louis, I'd use the experience to springboard elsewhere.

When I left I thought that the standard was:
1. Pay based on flight time, not block (you taxi for free)
2. There is never more than 1 GPU for any seven aircraft. (Jetstreams)
3. Planes painted with Rollers instead of at a paint shop.
4. First day of ground school being told that "80% of you will fail your checkride."
5. Flight attendants with tattoos on their neck that beat the bartender from the hotel bar (Schooners?) and put her in the hospital.
6. Planes with six coats of paint from all the "10 year" codeshare agreements that were signed every couple of weeks.

I found out that is Not how it works everywhere else. I was young and had a BLAST there, but long term, I'm glad I left.

A lot of places are hiring like mad. You'll have more time than most of your classmates and will upgrade quick.

Frank was Right! (I wonder if he's still alive)
 
Run mothf#cka run.....and I quote Samuel L. Jackson...Yeah get the hell out....TSA is great for the following reasons:

* Resume building
* Experience building
* Making lifelong friends

It does not compare to other places such as CHQ,SKYW, XJT, Horizon, etc. If youre a commuter all the more reason to leave. I miss my friends but I love my current company great pay and great flying and an upgrade that will hopefully stay fairly quick..but even if it takes a while to upgrade here at XJT i'll still be happy and not wishing to die in a drive by shooting at the Pear Tree.

Stinker
TSA Alumni Current Jetlinker


I think I might know who you are. does your wife have a bun in the oven?


By the way, Wendy left for the TSA folks that had to experience "her."
 
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Frank used to say that the J31 was a pile of junk flying in formation. He also had alot to say about Trans States. Guess what, Frank was right!!!
 
I googled him yesterday to find out if he's still around, he's active in the Ozark Airlines alumni association! So I guess he's doing well.
 
I've been at TSA for over 3 years. Trust me, it's only going to get worse for you here. Apply to a better regional and get out while you can.
 
To put it plainly, I spent 7 years building up my flight time in hopes of becoming an airline pilot. I was hired by TSA in MAY of 05 and quit flying altogether in May of 06. To company burned me out, the contract burned me out and now i cringed whenever i have to go to an airport to fly somewhere. I was making 16 K a year flying 50 people around, and now i am making 100K at an investment bank doing aerospace research.

Quit flying, go get an MBA and make tons of money and you get to be home every night! (admissions people at MBA programs fall in love with a people who are airline pilots) Grad school will cost you a hefty chunk of change, but if you go into some field of finance, you will make plenty to cover the loan payment. Just think of how much you spent on flying and now you get paid 16 K a year...

Being a pilot is not what it used to be. Pilots get no respect, and if Majors ever start hiring again there are tens of thousands of other regional pilots with more time than you.

I have ten times more fun now flying a Saratoga around looking for 2000x30 foot runways to land on over the weekends.

Quit, or at least stay way from TSA.
 
I just resigned from TSA to go over to ExpressJet. If the salary difference isn't enough ($10000/yr more 2nd year for the SAME JOB) to make up your mind, consider what a better company XJT or other regionals are.
 
Hotdog Mouth LIVES !!!!!!!

For the HORDE........

and of course........... B L A M E R A M O S!!!!
 
Hotdog Mouth LIVES !!!!!!!

For the HORDE........

and of course........... B L A M E R A M O S!!!!

I've been seeing "for the horde" and "hot dog mouth lives" everywhere at TSA for months. What are these slogans about? Whats the deal?
 
Well, blame ramos came from a guy who always seemed to one up everybody while in class or anywhere for that matter. At least thats what I heard from a guy who was in class with him. The others I dont know about.
 

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