ATA Hiring

[Dart]

Does anyone have any idea how long it will be.......for ATA to have a class? I was in the march 1 class...Talked to the chief pilot and he said it wouldn't be long?????How long is long. My boss said prolly a year! S**T......I have way to much Saab A$$ to sit another year. Just wanted to know if any ATA guys herd anything??

 

[atafan]

Man, I'm sure sorry you got hosed!

I heard CP John Graber was calling all the chief pilots of those affected, did he?

The best word I received was that the package of used B757s ATA was hiring for somehow fell through. I believe that as maintenance received a better look into this package they weren't what they said they were.

ATA is still looking for used B757s but they have got to be the right deal, George Mickelson is a pretty tough horse trader. I'm hearing that hiring probably won't be before this summer.

All subject to change at anytime.

P.S. ATA is a good airline but very frustrating at a times.

 

[njcapt]

•Warning: Pure conjecture follows:

I think that a fair measure of the doom and gloom being spouted by ATA management is related to our negotiating of 767 rates. This suspicious pilot thinks the company is playing hard ball in the negotiations in order to leverage a better deal from us. I do think that this time it won't work.

I would expect some kind of fairly big announcement regarding fleet changes, followed by a rush to get them staffed. If the 767 comes on the property, ATA will need to get 4-500 757 pilots through differences training in a big hurry. I would expect another new hire class date sometime in May.

• End conjecture.

 

[sayagain?]

rumormonger!

back at you!

sayagain?

 

[Dart]

Thanks guys!!!any news at this point is good news.....May class would be great...The CP said to call him anytime for the latest. Do you think that would out of line to call? Also the 767 orders...is it pay that threy are waiting on.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

No I haven't heard how long it will be. But I'm betting you'll hear about it here when we do. I expect the spigot will be turned on full high when we do start again.

Should you call Graber? I wouldn't. Can you imagine how many calls he gets about operations? If you do call try to have more to say than, "Any info on classes yet?"

That sounds like, "Are we there yet, are we there yet, are we there yet?" Try to keep yourself busy and take your mind off it.

 

[Dart]

honest answer!! should I hold out awhile or try somewhere else?

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Don't get me wrong, you can call John Graber if you need to, he is sincere and a good guy. I DO know everyone feels terrible that you had less than 2 weeks notice that the class was cancelled. None of us thinks that is fair to you.

Should you hold out? You do know we are getting 6 airplanes for sure in '05, right? If you're not that sure of where you want to be I would think twice about finishing OE and being stuck with a 2 yr/$24K contract.

Call him once a week if you like. I personally would not call more than once every two weeks.

How long could this freeze on hiring be? It depends on retirements, anyone leaving for pastures that appear greener, the 757 issue, 737 acquisition schedule, and possible 767 acquisition/L1011 replacement. Do you think we are going to need more bodies for European flying? I do.

 

[disgusted]

RUMOR: ATA to acquire North American? Ask around, I've heard it's already a done deal!

 

[njcapt]

rumormonger!

back at you!

sayagain?

Touche'

 

[NAA Pilot]

RUMOR: ATA to acquire North American? Ask around, I've heard it's already a done deal!

Uh Oh! I've heard the same rumor. I don't give it much faith and would rather it not happen.

It would be one place that ATA could get 6 757s and 3 767s real quick. It would also eliminate a competitor (small as it may be).

I guess only time will tell.

 

[ACWild]

Done deal? I just sent my Teamsters dues, darnit!

 

[flx757]

Ask around, I've heard it's already a done deal!

Oh yeah....the infamous "done deal". I can't tell you how many of those "done deals" I have been involved with in my 25+ years in this business. I CAN tell you how many of them actually came through. Somewhere in the vicinity of zero...give or take maybe one.

 

[Thunderchief]

After completing bond restucturing and only having 180million to play with, I find it hard to believe ATA is buying any airline.

I'm not anything close to a financial wizard but where would the money come from, ATA is stretched pretty thin right now.

-TC

 

[LAZYB]

Do ya think Dan McKinnon will take...

stock?

 

[NAA Pilot]

Re: Do ya think Dan McKinnon will take...

stock?

Not with it's recent performance!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ACWild]

North American can be had for cheap as they don't own much other than their certificate. Didn't Universal Express offer 20 million?

 

[acbarney]

North American can be had for cheap as they don't own much other than their certificate. Didn't Universal Express offer 20 million?

Which begs the question "What do you get for 20 million?"

 

[ACWild]

You get a highly profitable airline. We've been profitable every year except the first ('89). That's a pretty darn good record!

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

"HIRING UPDATE"
To: All Flight Deck Crewmembers
From: Mike Gerdes, Asst. Chief Pilot
Date: February 25, 2004

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We are no longer accepting resumes or applications for pilot positions.
We currently have 200 applicants in our call file and 26 in the hiring pool, so based on the new projected hiring forecast for the remainder of 2004, we no longer need to accept additional applicants at this time.

All applications received will be returned until the application window is opened again.

 

[tytl]

No longer accepting apps

I just received an App from ATA last week, and promptly mailed it back yesterday! I devoted a weekend to get that app back right away. They will return it to me? Why did they bother to send it in the first place? The web page still states they will accept applications that had already been sent out. Are they going to renege on that? Thanks.
tytl

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

This message JUST came out. I thought it might be helpful.

Don't know any more.

 

[DIAMONDDD]

"HIRING UPDATE"
To: All Flight Deck Crewmembers
From: Mike Gerdes, Asst. Chief Pilot
Date: February 25, 2004

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

so based on the new projected hiring forecast for the remainder of 2004, we no longer need to accept additional applicants at this time.

I WAS to be interviewed tomorrow. What IS the hiring forcast? Anyone know?

 

[HarleyGuy]

I think everyone can agree that the one very likely possibility is: nothing will happen until the 767 purchase happens. After that, who knows.

The company will have to make a decision about the L-10s by september. (Short history if you haven't been reading the other threads: the L-10s are probably going to be retired when their D-checks are due, first one in the fall. Problem is, we're flying them so much that the C-check schedule is going to get moved up. So there's going to have to be a decision about doing the checks or retiring them early. I've heard both rumors, so who knows what the truth is). Then, hopefully they'll turn on the bid and hiring.

"should I hold out awhile or try somewhere else?"- not unless you have to. It really is so great here that if you can possibly 'hold out' for the eventual call, I can't imagine anyone regretting it.

 

[Dart]

thanks

hoping that something will come threw.....soon!

With that new mail that they are accepting no more apps. I am # 18 in the pool. Hope I dont have to wait long.

Any new news on class dates?

 

[Pickle]

It will take time

It is not like the 767s will show up today and we will flying them tomorrow. Among other things (proving runs, etc) there has to be a status vacancy bid. Thc company and the union have to meet not later than 120 dys before said vacancy bid is to come out. So yes, we have started talks, if these talks count as the aforementioned talks, then the 120 days is down to about 113. Still quite a way into the future. But I am hopeful.