ASA or FLIGHT OPTIONS

[atlcrjdriver]

Right now this industry is in to much termoil to predict what will happen tomorrow much less in the next few months. Yes, ASA is scheduled to recieve 25 new aircraft next year. If they will be 50's or 70's - who knows. Will we get them at all - who knows.
This all hinges on if DL goes Chap 11 or not.

At this point I would say that the private sector, meaning netjets and flxjet are more stable than 121 ops. Go to netjets and upgrade quicker, build your turbine PIC time. Then if you want to fly the heavy metal, go to UPS or FEDEX.

Just my 2 cents worth...

 

[WrknStff]

I wouldn't expect quicker upgrades at netjets right now. A newhire FO is a long, long way from upgrade at both companies.

 

[Palerider957]

Go to fl ops........no hesitation.

 

[On Your Six]

Would you likely fly a King Air to start at FLOPS? If so, I would think ASA would be a better choice. Better to get jet time and be somewhat comfortable.

Do you know what they will offer you?

 

[SkyWstman]

If you don't currently have the option either way and are just curious in case that option becomes available, you may want to continue to watch what happens. I have heard that ASA could possibly be sold in part or all. That could be good or bad. Take the best offer you have whenever it comes available. If it falls apart on you, get up dust yourself off and say "next".

 

[7KCAB]

Gone for 7 days at a time is tough for alot of people. Lots more collateral work on your part in fractional (catering, cleaning the a/c, dealing with the FBO's) than with the airlines. If you don't mind that or won't consider living in Atlanta (a virtual necessity for ASA), then Fltops is the way.
Unfortunately in this business, you never know, no matter how good it looks - just ask an old ex-Eastern guy. ALWAYS have a plan "B".

 

[WrknStff]

Not likely to get the King Air.

New hires can get any of the small cabins, King Air, CJ or Beechjet. Right off the bat new hires are much more likely to get the beechjet than either of the others, more of those than any other plane in the fleet. There's only around a dozen King airs in the fleet now future is uncertain right now. Everyone seems to love them, crews and owners, but for some reason the management and marketing types don't think it can make money and haven't even been trying to sell the shares. It's a niche market that we are the only big name filling, and if they ran it right most people I know think that they'd make a lot of money with them if they'd only keep the fleet above a critical size so repos wouldn't be killing them. If by some chance you do get the KingAir, you can still upgrade to a small cabin jet as soon as a seat comes free.

The extra duties 7kcab talks about are there, but they really aren't bad. The FBO's usually roll out the red carpet and will take care of vacuuming out the airplane or dealing with the toilets, all it costs you is a tip and all those are reimbursed by the company (even tipping the van driver is encouraged and fully expensed). Even when you do it yourself, you might spend 20 minutes total out of a busy day on housekeeping duties. Since you have at least an hour scheduled between flights, you have plenty of time to get stuff done without busting your butt. All in all it's a relatively laid back job even with the relatively long hours (although the most you'll do in a day is 12 hours first flight to last landing, so 14 hours is the longest). If you fly anywhere near mealtime, you can get crew meals catered, which are usually pretty good to downright awesome, depending on where you go. These meals don't come out of your per diem either. You can go a whole 8 day tour and never pay for a meal out of your pocket if it's a busy tour.

Also hanging out at most of the FBO's we usually go to beats the h3ll out of wasting time in any terminal I ever saw. Very plush crew rooms with hi speed wireless, big screen tv's and extra cushy furniture is pretty normal (not to mention the hot babes so common working the customer service so scenery isn't bad either).

 

[73belair]

Look... There is no growth at ASA beyond the 25 jets that we don't have yet. Upgrades here are about 4-5 years from 2 years ago. If you got hired today I'd bet its more like 5-7 years. (unless majors/llc hire a lot soon). First year sucks! 2nd and beyond is livable, but not what most of us were looking to see in our life times.
Delta is doing who knows what.
ASA isn't a great place to be, but there are worse. We have a better contract than most and its 4 years old.
Long story short. There is little to no movement at ASA. If you don't mind being an FO for a LONG time then welcome.

 

[601Pilot]

ASA or Flight Options

Well, let me put it to you this way. I would trade my 4 years of seniority here
at ASA for any left-seat corporate/charter gig right now if I could!