ASA Upgrade???

[CH47Driver]

Here's one for the guys who have been at ASA a while. I'm thinking about coming there after getting out of the Army, I understand ASA is one of the more helo friendly regionals out there. I also understand that they have a 3,000 hour fixed wing upgrade requirement but that it's waiverable. My question is if the upgrade time drops to less than 3 years and I'm still short of the magic 3,000 hours, how likely are they to bypass me for upgrade? I just don't want to get stuck sitting right seat for ever because I didn't get enough Cessna time before coming to the airlines.

Also, has the movement that everyone has been talking about started yet or is the upgrade there still sitting at between 4 and 5 years?

 

[~~~^~~~]

CH47Driver, yes, ASA is helo friendly. I had not heard the 3,000 hour requirement and thought it was 2,500 hours, or less. As far as upgrade times it is really hard to tell right now. Our management does not even seem to know what is going to happen to our crew leasing subsidiary of a holding company contracted out under another holding company which reports to SkyWest Board and who markets their services to Delta Air Lines. Allegedly our Vice Presidents are finding out about our benefits from Rampers who got the word from Delta. ASA could be going away. Not likely, but we really don't have a time horizon longer than the next bid period.

 

[bailout]

It was running at @ 5 years last December. Now its more like 4- 4 1/2 and dropping. There is a mass exodus going on right now that simply cant continue, so it will stablize again. Alot depends on when you were hired. There were no classes between 08-01 and 01-02, and then there were classes every month for two years, and then none for two years, and now running again. So once those two seniority numbers meet, the upgrade times will go from 4 years to 2 years by default if the exodus continues.

 

[Texx]

I also understand that they have a 3,000 hour fixed wing upgrade requirement but that it's waiverable. My question is if the upgrade time drops to less than 3 years and I'm still short of the magic 3,000 hours, how likely are they to bypass me for upgrade?

Well you are correct. 3000TT for upgrade. Only once to my knowledge have they ever waived this. On the E120 back in approx 1994-95. I doubt that they will waive it on the CL65. They would have to waive it for all pilots on the specific award at the time, not just for one pilot.

If you have the 1900 TT your info shows all you would have to do is fly 2 years approx. to put you over 3000TT.

 

[Lolikoka]

Depends on the needs of the company

Helo friendly - very. Actually, right now if you can muster the breath to fog a mirror we'll take you. Upgrade - depends on the needs of the company. When they need captains, they adjust. A few years ago, so long as you met the requirements for an ATP, the company would apply a credit to the TT needed for upgrade, such as every hour with the company decreased the total needed for upgrade. For example, if the requirement was 2500 to upgrade, and you had 800 hours with the company, then the requirement for you to upgrade dropped to 1700TT. Of course it can't go below the ATP mins - but they'll make captains when they need them.

But - there is bad news here every day; it's utterly depressing to go to work now, or even to read the web-boards. Our parking lot is going away, our pass privileges are being degraded, our rampers are going away which will render us nothing more than a crew leasing company, our management isn't being told anything, so this all catches them by surprise, it's only a matter of time before our planes go away. We get slammed for being the worst or nearly worst in every category of DOT statistics, and our management can't fix it, and apparently isn't willing to take suggestions on how to fix it.

Try Comair or SkyWest.

 

[av8er2]

Try to get on with the better regionals first then come to ASA. Based on what mgt is doing ASA may not be here for long. Upgrade is everything at this level.

 

[av8tor4239]

Stay away, far away..... The most jr cptn on the last prelim award was hired ocotber 2002

 

[goahead]

So once those two seniority numbers meet, the upgrade times will go from 4 years to 2 years by default if the exodus continues.

True, from the prelim that just came out today it is only like 60-70 number from going under three years...

 

[BuzzSaw]

CH47 Driver,

Here are the requirements straight from the Contract. Note they are NOT waiving the 3000 Fixed Wing requirement. I advise going someplace else to count your helicopter time.

Chapter 24. G. 6. d.

Notice it sez 3000 "Fixed Wing time"

d. Bypass a first officer for upgrade to captain who does not meet the
following minimum requirements:
(1) ATP written passed;
(2) Current First Class Medical Certificate;
(3) 3,000 hours total fixed wing pilot time;
(4) 2,000 hours total fixed wing multi engine pilot time; and
(5) 500 hours as a pilot with the Company.
The Company may waive any of the above requirements for a given
period of time with notice to the MEC Chairman. Should any of the
requirements be waived for one pilot, they shall be waived uniformly
for all pilots during such period of time.​

 

[bailout]

If they dont have enough qualified candidates, they WILL waive it.
They have had several new hires go from F/O to CPT on their second or third day of INDOC ! (as in basically hiring street captains). It has been 6-7 years ago, but it has happened.

 

[Texx]

If they dont have enough qualified candidates, they WILL waive it.
They have had several new hires go from F/O to CPT on their second or third day of INDOC ! (as in basically hiring street captains). It has been 6-7 years ago, but it has happened.

As stated before. Only on the E120. Not the jet. And the people you speak of had a great deal more experience, freight, MIL and corp..., than the 200 TT pilots now. Big difference.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

When they need pilots they will do this. As most of the pilots that they are hiring now have less than 500 ttl, you will be more than qualified. I echo all of the posts above. It is not a good situation here. It will get worse, in time it MAY get better. We are loosing on average a pilot a day. There are 30-40 guys waiting for classes at big D. The next group over there in April will be mostly ASA guys and that class is going to be around 25-30 pilots. Upgrades will be better than they are other places because even guys with 10-20 years here are jumping ship. I happen to be one of those.
My advice to anyone here is that you need to get out now. Anywhere is better than here. Those words were told to me by a guy that went to world after 18 years here. He is on reserve and being abused and he still likes it better than he did here. FWIW

 

[regionalcap]

If they dont have enough qualified candidates, they WILL waive it.
They have had several new hires go from F/O to CPT on their second or third day of INDOC ! (as in basically hiring street captains). It has been 6-7 years ago, but it has happened.

They cannot waive it because it is an ICAO requirement.

 

[Sinca3]

ACL65...When is your class date?

 

[bailout]

They cannot waive it because it is an ICAO requirement.

ICAO requirement is 1,500 hours, as in ATP rating.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

April 16 th to be confirmed next week, FWIW

 

[Rook]

Here's one for the guys who have been at ASA a while. I'm thinking about coming there after getting out of the Army, I understand ASA is one of the more helo friendly regionals out there. I also understand that they have a 3,000 hour fixed wing upgrade requirement but that it's waiverable. My question is if the upgrade time drops to less than 3 years and I'm still short of the magic 3,000 hours, how likely are they to bypass me for upgrade? I just don't want to get stuck sitting right seat for ever because I didn't get enough Cessna time before coming to the airlines.

Also, has the movement that everyone has been talking about started yet or is the upgrade there still sitting at between 4 and 5 years?

Big Sky's hiring direct entry captains. Might give them a shout. Good luck.

 

[whatitdoing?]

ICAO can't be waived from what I remember. I had a NO ICAO flights on my ATP till I met the PIC requirement. Then I just went to the local FAA FSDO and had it removed when I met the requirement. Don't quote me on it though.....it's been awhile.

 

[79%N1]

Remember, ASA seems to be shrinking a bit, or that seems to look like the plan. Atkin says he will transfer our aircraft to Skywest if we are even 1% more costly. ATR's will eventually leave. Attrition will cover the loss of aircraft over time, so don't go getting real excited about a quick upgrade at ASA. They can just shrink the airline and use attrition as an excuse.

 

[DMP]

So after all these post does anyone who flies for ASA have a current time frame for Capt. upgrades? Thanks.