Any info on Tradewinds

[Flywrite]

I just finished A300 systems waiting for sim. Us new hires were told that there would be more classes coming in the near future.

We were also told that there would be a payraise coming for the Captains, though no figures were thrown out. The rumor floating around the new hire class last week was that a $10/hr raise for Captains went into effect May 01. Maybe CSY Mon or someone else can confirm or deny this rumor.

 

[Floyd94]

Whats the latest with these guys. Is it worth leaving a regional upgrade class for? Im bout to upgrade in the ERJ and am thinking of jumping ship for Tradewinds... Good move? or stay put??? I live in NC and would love to be based here. Also, If I were based in GSO, and sat reserve there, would I have to be physically in GSO or is there a certian driving distance. How often are you used on reserve? Are you flying over your guarantee on reserve? What is the monthly guarantee?

 

[B747-300]

Very high turnover on the 747. Many guys complete the training and move on to a better job quickly.

No GSO base.

IMHO - The command time on the RJ would do your career more good in the long-term than the right seat time on the big jets.

 

[Flywrite]

GSO is a base for the A300, but I understand it's relatively senior, but in a smaller company, you never know...

The junior A300 bases are Taipei, Taiwan (1 month on/2 month off) and Fort Wayne/Indianapolis (2 week on/2 week off).

 

[Floyd94]

IMHO - The command time on the RJ would do your career more good in the long-term than the right seat time on the big jets.

Probably right, maybe I won't jump ship just yet...
Thanks for the replys.

 

[CSY Mon]

IMHO - The command time on the RJ would do your career more good in the long-term than the right seat time on the big jets.

Uh, don't know about that.

A right seat job in a big jet could lead to left seat in a big jet.

Not sure that a left seat job in the RJ would do the same.

Yup, PIC, jet / turb is always good, but EMB sometihing captains are a dime a dozen these days.

Some 20 years ago, back in them days I made a choise between getting rated on the DC-3 or the Cessan Citation.

Picked the 3 as I figured more Chief Pilots knew what a DC-3 was than some small jet or "new" craft, Banderanti or Brazillia or whatever them tin cans were called.

Guess it worked, the next job was on a DC-8, right seat.

So back to the question:
If ya got 2000 hours in the right seat of the A-300 B4, or the B-747-200 for Tradwinds Airlines, would that count for less than 2000 hours in the left seat of a EMB RJ, or the Canadian RJ for some domestic 'cuter?

Not sure, but if ya got on the big birds early on, ya could upgrade in a year or two, and there is yer PIC time again, except this time on a heavy.

As for future career predictions and all that: It is all out the window now.,

Them good 'ol days are gone, no more United, Delta or American lifetime sweet life....

Get used to the big fat non-sced freighter at $140K a year, unless ya are lucky enough to score a FDX or UPS for $230K a year down the road.

Not sure what the RJs top out, perhaps $85K a year if ya been there 16 years?

 

[Floyd94]

Not sure, but if ya got on the big birds early on, ya could upgrade in a year or two, and there is yer PIC time again, except this time on a heavy.

Is this what the upgrade time is over there? If so, it may be worth the move.

 

[Flywrite]

Is this what the upgrade time is over there? If so, it may be worth the move.

My A300 class was told that we should study hard because our efforts would be watched and upgrades could be very quick for people who do well in training.

 

[Floyd94]

Flywrite, do they hire only FOs or do you go directly into the FE seat? Also, are you used much on reserve?

 

[Abus300Pilot]

It has been mentioned that some guys are based in FWA...what flying is that for. Are you guys working for Kitty Hawk? Just curious.

Thanks
Abus300Pilot

 

[Flywrite]

Flywrite, do they hire only FOs or do you go directly into the FE seat? Also, are you used much on reserve?

I'm still waiting for sim, so I'm still in the dark as to how the reserve thing works. My class of 12 had a Captain (previous A300 PIC time), 2 Second Officers (FEs who will upgrade to FO in the near future, both relatively low time guys), 2 PFEs (Professional Flight Engineers, higher paid than FOs or Second Officers) and 7 FOs.

It was said in class that the ocmpany rarely hires SOs, normally FOs and PFEs.

 

[CSY Mon]

I'm still waiting for sim, so I'm still in the dark

Yeah, same here:

I waited 3 weeks for the sim, then after the sim was over, another 6 weeks for line training..

It does take a while, but at least training pay is $2K a month....Other firms pay $1K a month or less....

 

[B747-300]

I just wouldn't count on a 1-2 year upgrade. Tradewinds does hire direct entry captains, so your chance of upgrading might have more to do with the quality of future applicants rather than the quality of your flying!

A couple of additional points to consider with Tradewinds:

Is the hiring driven by growth or attrition?
Why are so many people resigning?
Where do pilots go when they leave?

What's your dream job? Tradewinds is a probably a good stepping stone, but you need to make sure it's on the correct path to where you want to go. Will the F/O time at Tradewinds look better to your dream job recruiter, or will command RJ time?

 

[CSY Mon]

Is the hiring driven by growth or attrition?
Why are so many people resigning?
Where do pilots go when they leave?

Both growth and attrition:
We are adding 3 air frames this year, and have lost 12 or 14 guys, mostly to Focus Air.
Focus promised check airmen jobs, pay rises and home basing for the first 2 years..

(Have also heard that Focus have lost folks to Atlas and others.)

Yes, Tradewinds may hire captains off the street, or they upgrade from within.
I got hired as an F/O, before the training was over I got my promotion.

The job I got here with Tradewinds Airlines is top notch for me...Mainly 'cause I live a 1/2 hour drive from my base, I like flying South America, I don't mind long-haul, the rapid upgrade and the 5 digit paychecks....

The negatives would be old airplanes with plenty of MEL stickers, disorganized operation, lack of quality control in the payroll and per-diem department, etc.


For others the job may not be anything to stick around for when UPS, FedEx, Southwest and such airlines are hireing.
Besides commuting always stinks, especially into reserve.
Some Tradewinds guys just got tired of sitting around the hotel room in MIA waiting for the phone to ring.

 

[Floyd94]

^^ All really good points and good question B747-300, I can fire those at the interview. Fortunately, Im working my dream job. I just want to find a way to make a better living for myself. Although I may have low time, Im no spring chicken. Im not a twentys-something guy looking to make 300K with a legacy carrier someday. I really just want a good quality of life with a respectable salary. The quality of life I currently have, gainning the respectable salary is next. Looks/sounds like Tradewinds can provide both. Especially, If I can end up in GSO.

Another thing, if the upgrade time is a bit longer, so be it, I'll still make more money in the long run than I would at my current regional(well, as long as Im not sitting FO for more than say 10yrs.). Although CA pay at my current regional is still somewhat higher than the FO pay at Tradewinds (according to airlinepilotpay.com) Anyone know how accurate that pay scale is by the way? Now if I can just get them to call me for an interview.... Thanks for the tips, by the way, keep em coming!

 

[CSY Mon]

(according to airlinepilotpay.com)

Yeah the payscale published is off by $10.00 per hour.

Tried to e-mail 'em a few times but no correction or response

Long story short: Ya can make good $ with Tradewinds Airlines is ya fly on days off and such.

Have seen a junior capt check hit $14K.

Nuff said.

 

[PCL_128]

Have you guys been interviewing lately? I've been applying since January and I've got an internal rec but I haven't heard anything.

 

[Snakum]

For others the job may not be anything to stick around for when UPS, FedEx, Southwest and such airlines are hiring.

I hope not. Because Tradewinds is my dreamjob and I need you guys to move on in about 24 months, so I can camp out over at the TW offices with a logbook full of King Air and Baron time.

Hey ... when everyone starts hiring again, my silly, low-time @ss might look good to a recruiter who needs a warm body in a seat headed to Asia.

Minh

 

[8inMan]

bump.

 

[Draginass]

Any updates on new classes on the 747 or when any new aircraft show up?