anything new @ ACA?

[smellthejeta]

The million $ question. Don't base ANY plans on the presumption that ACA will hire anytime within the next few years. Everything coming out of KS and TM's mouths is subject to change without notice.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

You do learn a lot about how an airline is run, since you switch positions about every two weeks.

You learned about how A airline is run. A certian dulles based airline. It's like working for the mob, then claiming you have real world legitmate business expeirence. (it's no you....it's them )

 

[WhiteCloud]

Don't base ANY plans on the presumption that ACA will hire anytime within the next few years.

With 1500 pilots and one (projected) scenario calling for less than a 1000 I think it's a fair bet that ACA will not be hiring anytime soon. With Airbusses on the scene a furloughee might be temped to come back from whever they are currently working.

 

[exphojump]

If you intern it is simply an interview later on. I believe the days of hiring 600 hour pilots is gone. The Goldilocks(i) LOA stipulates that new hires only start Airbus seniority when they get on the Airbus(left or right seat). Airbus FO will pay better than CRJ CA for newhires. Because of this contractual language the CRJ CA will go very junior when we get over 50 Airbus.

The company will be forced to hire CRJ CA qualified pilots.

So intern and line up a time building job immediately when your internship is finished. The LCCs have orders and options of around 1,000 aircraft over the next 10-12 years. This could be 15,000 pilots but will probably signal the end of 2 or more legacy carriers.

Good luck, we hire a lot of interns.

2006 is a realistic year for hiring, the FRJs are likely to be off property by summer 2005.

JMO

 

[platinumclub]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!ACA Interns!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BoilerUp and Subin, you guys need to run from the ACA internship opportunity as fast as you can! I interned there last year just as Slye did, in fact, it was with Slye. Mgment kept blowin smoke up our A$$ about how we would still be on top of the call list and blah blah blah, nothing never negative was said to us, because WE were the free labor keeping them afloat.

Here are some of the things you may have to look forward to as an INTERN (Bridge Pilot-gimme a break), these were some of the jobs myself and others did: Making soup for the rampers, revising jepp plates and the AFM and FOM, writing passes for employees, and being treated like you were an intern. All for 13 weeks and not getting paid, while living in a very expensive area.

Those are the big downers, of course, I did meet some really cool people that I still keep in touch with. It's a blast partying in DC if you have cool peeps like Slye around. Jumpseating is awesome too. I think, however, with the state of the company, you would be better off interning with a Northwest or Continental...many more opportunities to jumpseat/nonrev and more destinations, not to mention you are appreciated. If I had the opportunity to do it again...NO!

 

[Flyforyou]

Platinumclub,

Sorry you and the others had such a bad experience. I can tell you it was A LOT different back in the "old days" of the program(5 years ago). I hope you shared your experiences with your co-ordinator back at school and the person running the program here at ACA. Maybe someday it could actually be a good program again.

 

[subin30]

hey platinumclub, thanks for the warning and your honest intern point of view. Those guys at ACA surely juice up the benefits of the internship. My mentor pilot (Instructor/Capt @ACA) suggested I decline the internship and build experience. With the right amount of flight time, his recommendation may be enough for a interview down the road... you guys saved me from 13 weeks of free labor...

 

[Tim47SIP]

Platinumwannabe

because WE were the free labor keeping them afloat.

I seriously doubt that this was the case. I think they are doing just fine without you. 13 weeks as an intern and you think that you deserve a job? It is a lot tougher out there than it used to be. Not getting down on you, but you really need to wake up or grow up, whichever comes first. I think that the days of the 300 hour interns getting hired are close to gone. We had allot of trouble with the ones (not all) we hired in 2000/2001/2002. With the experience on the street today, if any interns get hired it will be very few and only due to contractual agreements with ERAU or other bridge program schools which I am totally unaware of. If I were you or one of your compatriots, I would think of trying to get through the doors the old fashion way, hard work and perseverance. Good luck to all of you! I mean that!

 

[platinumclub]

Oops

I don't mean to come down on ACA as a company at all, and I'm sure I'd be singing a different tune if I got hired, but that is not the case. ACA was (is...?) one of the best regionals out there, most of the pilots I spoke with seemed happy with the company. However, I took the internship (foolish decision on my part, don't need to be scolded) for the reason of getting an airline job. All of you know that getting your foot in the door is what gets you ahead in this industry. Just because an intern gets a job with 600 hours as a reward for doing an internship does not mean they are not willing to do it the old fashion way, as many assume. It just means they were ambitious enough to look for a way to get their career started a little quicker, as I was. I'm sorry if I stepped on anyone's feet with my post, but that was my experience along with that of a few other, not everyone feels that way I'm sure, but there are better ways to get a great internship experience. :

 

[DrewBlows]

because WE were the free labor keeping them afloat.

We had allot of trouble with the ones (not all) we hired in 2000/2001/2002.

What kind of trouble, the last I heard 100% of the interns who were hired passed training.

 

[j41driver]

What kind of trouble, the last I heard 100% of the interns who were hired passed training.

I know that more than one intern complained to the company when they were assigned the J41. They were expecting the CRJ and thought that it was unfair to get the J41. I'm not sure how it's unfair that a 600 hour pilot got ANY airline job.

 

[GogglesPisano]

Are you kidding? I doubt 100% of any demographic has passed training at ACA. Do you seriously think that no intern, even during the "dark days" of CRJ training (1997-2002) ever busted a checkride?

 

[piav8r]

I went through the ACA intern program and had a great time. I was one of the last crew that went through in the summer of 2002. Also officially the last of 2 interns hired, and started training in January of '03, got furloughed in April of '03.

Did I get worked during the internship? Oh yeah! Did I learn a lot? He!! yeah. Do I realize that I was one lucky sob to get hired when I did, YOU ARE D@%?N RIGHT!!!

I learned through mistakes that I made and through watching others. I would have gladly accepted any airplane that had wings when I got hired, I didn't care if I got J41, CRJ, or FRJ. I was just d@%n glad to have a job and I can't wait to come back.

Hanging on by a thread...

 

[Yeah]

I was an intern back in 01. Got hired shortly there after. At that time NO intern had ever failed initial training.

It was a very good deal back in the day. I guess you have to ask yourself what else are you going to do. I say AirNet. Have flown with a bunch, as we have a lot at ACA, and all enjoyed the company and experience. I few AirNet pilots I know elected to stay there and make really good pay with weekends off.

Independence Air will fly.

 

[Midwest]

<<======== former ACA intern

BoilerUp, if you're still in college, do the internship for sure. Working for 13 weeks without getting paid, BFD it's only 13 weeks and it goes a lot faster than you think. I enjoyed my time with the company, met a lot fun people (some of who I live with now) and I even learned something while I was there. Now, I have a job instructing in the area. I don't plan on getting hired with ACA in the near future, but it's a card I have in my hand to use down the road. Eventually I'll get hired with somone, gain some more experience and maybe I'll put in a resume with ACA/Indy when things turn around.

Basically I'm glad I did the internship. I wouldn't turn it down if I were in your shoes. Just my $.02