ASA Upgrade 3 Years?

[RIOtoPilot]

To the pilots in the trenches:
AIR INc./Jet-Jobs has the upgrade time at ASA as 3 years in its latest newsletter (June Airline Pilot Job Monthly). Any truth to that number?

 

[ASAFOE120]

I wish!!!

Next month is my 3 yr anniversary and still no upgrade in sight! Latest prelims show only 8 upgrades.

ASAFO

 

[AMANSWORLD]

Upgrade time at ASA is approx. 4-5 years is what I have been told. It sounds about right though.

 

[US Flyer]

Four Years Plus

I've been there 3 years- it looks like with current aircraft deliveries I should upgrade in another 12-15 months, on the fifty seat in Dallas. Atlanta upgrade would be another year added to that.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Those of you who want to know "How long till upgrade" need only to do the math. Captains are roughly 58 to 62% of the list ( since most of the training department and Chief Pilots are Captains ).

1. We have 1,614 pilots on the roster for July.

2. We have the potential for 37 more aircraft deliveries as of right now. It will be less by the time you get here. Figure on 1.7 aircraft per month, which will be crewed by 5.5 Captains. That means there is potential for 203 more Captains, if ASA gets the airplanes currently on order.

3. Our work force is young. A bunch of Riddle guys got hired guring 1999 and 2000 when we were hiring 80 to 100 a month. These guys have 30 years to go until they retire. The majors are not hiring and those with connections at AirTran have already left. Last year I think we lost a grand total of 18 pilots and 6 of those were pilots who got fired and who are trying to get their jobs back. There is not a lot of attrition.

4. When hiring winds down, a lot of the current instructors will go back out and fly the line.

5. When the "war" winds down, those guys will come back also.

6. Delta is about to declare bankruptcy and as our President says, "We no longer have access to Capital markets." In other words, nobody is willing to lend us money.

Obviously the answer is not "never," but without some sort of serious upheaval that awards more of the Delta flying to the ASA division, it is not going to be 3 years, or even 5 years. There just is not that much upward movement.

Sorry to be the bearer of unfortunate news, but ASA is not the place for a quick upgrade.

~~~^~~~

 

[wms]

A year and a half ago I upgraded to DFW CRJ CA in 2 years and 8 mos. The most junior CRJ CA now is about 3 years 10 mos. As some 50s possibly come out to DFW from ATL, depending on how accurate the spring memo is, there may be more awards, but it may not any junior. It's really hard to tell what seniority will be any given month because the reasons for people's bids vary: QOL vs Pay vs equipment vs commuting vs growth at the different hubs, etc. At one time the ATL 70 seat was the most junior next to the DFW E120.

 

[79%N1]

People, Remember, 'where do I want to be once I upgrade'? Upgrade is not the be all end all anymore to picking an airline. In the new era of aviation, picking up 1000 turbin PIC to move on to that golden job awaiting us are gone! Pick a company like it will be your last job, because it may be! I cant think of any better advice than that. Contract, i.e. pay and QOL issues are the most important. I gave up seniority and "possibly" a sooner upgrade at a regional to move to one that offered me better pay and QOL because I may be there for a long time. Sure, you could pick Colgan or Great Lakes, etc.. for a fast upgrade....but so what. Why do you think these companys have fast upgrade, because of massive attrition! FO's on my aircraft make as much as captains there anyway. Some people pick Mesa or Chatauqua for the fast upgrade. I won't bash those guys, just look at the big picture. Once you upgrade, is that the place you want to work for 20 years? Maybe it is. If not, go somewhere where you do, even if you wait 2 or 3 years longer in the right seat! Do your homework. Look at the whole contract. Pay, garauntee, days off, scheduling, etc...Look at the bases they have, do they work out for you as far as living in or commuting to those cities. There is a bigger picture now to picking a job than upgrade time. Pick a career.


Just my .02

 

[FurloughedAgain]

79%N1 said, "Pick a company like it will be your last job, because it may be!"

This is brilliant advice and should be required reading by every pilot looking to make the jump to a regional airline. Well said! Excellent!

Sincerely,

The guy who just gave up the left seat of an E170 to stay an F/O at Comair

 

[sleepy]

Where is my upgrade? I have been here for longer than three years and I'm still waiting.

Wait, upgrade and sit on reserve in our crappy reserve system for 3 or 4 years, no thank you.

 

[B190Captain]

I was told 6-7 years until upgrade. No thanks!

 

[79%N1]

SB190Capt.......where you gonna go??? Have fun at Mesa, so when an ASA pilot does upgrade in 6 years he will be making a lot more than you will be. Everybody looks so short term......