Applying to ATA

[ExMajor]

For all you people who have applied to ATA.

I am a furloughed major airline pilot. I just received an application from ATA.

Does anyone know if ATA will even consider hiring furloughed major airline pilots, other than USAir, I know they are getting hired? I know I would be required to resign my seniority number. I really hate to waste my time working on the essays and spending the money if their is no chance of them even calling me.

Thanks for the advice.

ExMajor

 

[1800 RVR]

In my newhire class, we had furloughed Midwest Airlines and TWA/American, and then active national/regional pilots. They will hire furloughed major pilots. My belief is that if you can convince them in the interview that you truly want to be there, and you have absolutely NO Problem in resigning your seniority, and all of the other pieces fall into place, they will hire you. If they sense any hesitation in that regard, they will pass on you. DISCLAIMER: these are only my opinions and I could be wrong.

The fact that they sent you an app is a good sign. They don't send out apps to just anyone. They at least see something that they like. Good luck!

 

[Iflewjetz]

They stopped hiring US Airways guys. I had a check airman go in and check on my app with the guy that selects them. He said they dont want to hire us anymore because there were a couple of pinheads in class that messed it up for the rest of us. I sent my app in Nov. with letters of recs, no luck. I hope you have better luck. I agree with the previous post. Show them how excited you are and willing to resign.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I have read a TON of times that they don't send out apps to everyone that applies. If U get one, they want U.

You WILL have to resign your seniority.

I think ATA would be GREAT!

I've talked to a number of pilots and flt attendants. They ALL liked it a lot.

Cliff
SDF

 

[reepicheep]

They stopped hiring US Airways guys. I had a check airman go in and check on my app with the guy that selects them. He said they dont want to hire us anymore because there were a couple of pinheads in class that messed it up for the rest of us. I sent my app in Nov. with letters of recs, no luck. I hope you have better luck. I agree with the previous post. Show them how excited you are and willing to resign.

Mine has been in over a year with no luck; maybe your check airman friend is right. What a shame.

 

[b757driver]

The Golden Egg

Just curious if anyone (perhaps an ATA veteran or new hire) can shed some light on the gap between the application and the interview.

After 7 months of persistent effort and no results, I managed to get an ATA pilot I know do me a LOR back in June. I used to work with this guy before we both found ourselves on the street as our last carrier went belly up. Within a week, I rcvd an app which I then spent a week preparing diligently before sending it in via certified mail. The LOR was very complimentary (I was sent an email copy by my contact) and he even went to trouble of calling the office telling them to expect it.

I know ATA rcvd the package on 7/14 and my check was cashed on 7/21, so I know they got the full package. I also know that some of you hopefuls have waited for up to a year, some 4 months while others were only 4 weeks.

My question is this: is there any rhyme or reason for such great anomalies and if so, how are they "scored" in terms of who gets called first/next/last? In terms of competition, I have the hours/experience and also have the 73 and 75 type with experience on both incl. international. Only negative I can think of is I'm still unemployed and no longer current on anything - factors I can no longer control.

Personally, I think it may be too early to expect anything after only 4 weeks. Nevertheless, I contacted my contact about a week ago and he said I was in the system, had not been "fully reviewed" but that his name was "stamped all over my app" probably a good sign. He went on to say that if he were a betting man, an interview for me would be on the cards, it's just a waiting game now.

Any thoughts on how accurate these observations are? Anyone care to share their experience(s)?

Cheers & good luck to all those waiting!

b757driver

 

[ForgedBlade]

It is such a crap-shoot and so hard to say what is the "golden egg". I have heard of guys getting called within a few weeks to a few months or more. I was lucky and was one of a few without a LOR and between my app and the interview, it was about four months. From what I can tell, if you got an app and have a LOR, you will get an interview (unless there is any stuff you confessed to on the app that is just too negative), it just will take some time. Be patient and hang in there, ATA is worth the wait!!!!!

 

[MDP727]

Here's the spin, two US air guys were in sims and decided to have a beer one night. They sat next to a check airman and talked **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** about ATA the whole time, thence no more job.