ATA Newbies

[Ligeirinho]

Please ATA newbies,
I would like to know how long you guys took after they cash your application checks to get an interview date if you got it?
Have been a month they cashed the check and not a word yet just the postcard saying they are in active consideration.
Thanks in advance from a ex-airline tired of flying singles and desperate to come back after a laid off.


God bless all of us.

 

[ukipilot]

Great question, another question for you ATA pilots is that I was wondering if you can commute or if you have to live at your domicile, on the web site it says that relocation is mandatory, is that true, or do pilots commute

Thanks

 

[mach zero]

answers:

as to Ligeirinho's question...two weeks, however interviews are on hold for the holidays and will not resume until mid-January (subject to change)

as to ukipilot's question...alot of ATA pilots commute. They even have commute policy in the contract.

Hope this helps.

 

[MDP727]

Latest info as of yesterday.......5 more 757s will start arriving in spring....along with 2 more 737s for next year. Hiring for next year will remain constant......My guess around 300....About 100 more upgrades for next year. That leaves 05' at 7 737's so far.....That will complete the initial delivery order of the 737, with options still for another 40.....Most of our people commute....We have a commuter policy in our contract, as long as you give yourself 2 flights to get to work your covered....If you can't make either flight they will either buy you a ticket or allow you to rejoin your trip at another point....You must give them a heads up if you don't make the first flight....It works well, I have used this once and they booked me positive space on our next flight, no questions asked.

 

[ukipilot]

That is a great commuter policy, I was just wondering if that only covers flights on ATA or any airline, lets say that I am commuting out of an airport not served by ATA, and I give them the info that I did not make the first connection, will they buy me a ticket on say Delta if that was the only airline that will get me to my domicile, and I missed the second flight in?

Thanks

 

[sayagain?]

It doesn't say that the two flights have to be on ATA. It can be on any airline. You just have to use a little common sense when calling in and using the commuter policy.

I've had to use the policy this summer when I couldn't make it on three WN flights. Only two flights were actually required according to the contract.(Of course, the jumpseat went out unoccupied, but that's another discussion.) I informed them after the first flight went out full and that the next two were looking iffy. They told me to try for the next and let them know if I couln't make it. Scheduling took me off of the first day with no questions asked and I met the remainder of my pairing the following day. You lose the pay for the legs missed but it's better than the alternative.

I'm sure that if scheduling didn't have the coverage and really needed you there, they would purchase a ticket for you.

sayagain?

 

[texanpilot]

I think the question should be, "Do any of our pilots not commute?"
With a 12 hr callout, Reserve is great for commuters.

 

[SheGaveMeClap]

With the 12 hour call-out reserve, do they usually let you know right at 12 hours, or do you have a little more notice? An 8:00 PM phone call for an 8:00 AM show might be a little tough, depending on where you commute from.

 

[LAZYB]

Yeah, that's gonna be the killer on this

deal...

With the 12 hour call-out reserve, do they usually let you know right at 12 hours, or do you have a little more notice? An 8:00 PM phone call for an 8:00 AM show might be a little tough, depending on where you commute from.

 

[texanpilot]

Scheduling knows that the entire company commutes, so they do everything possible to give you the earliest heads-up that they can. If there are a bunch of open trips on one day that all report early, I go to Chicago just in case. Only did that once. Even on 2 hour call-out, they call 6-7 hours early if they can.

 

[ForgedBlade]

The times I have sat Reserve B, they have always given much more than 12 hours. They called me one afternoon knowing I was on crew rest just to give me a heads-up on another pairing for the next afternoon - they didn't want to only give me 12-hours notice since it would have meant a 3AM call and they didn't want to disturb me in the middle of the night! I did Reserve A one month and always had well over two hours notice. They seem to be pretty good about giving us as much notice as possible. My last employer would always wait until exactly 90 minutes beforehand to call!

 

[ukipilot]

I just have 2 questions:

1) How long does it take after you send in your resume to the chief pilot, till they send you an app. and what do they look for in order to get an app.

2) On the commute policy, Lets say that you live somewhere that is only served by 1 airline with 7 flights to ATL, then connecting through ATL to lets say MDW, are you allowed to do a 2 hop commute, lets say that you tried 2 flights and could not get on, will they buy you a ticket if they need you or will they buy you a ticket to ATL, then will tell you to try there to MDW? And do you tell them which airport you will use to commute so they know every time or do they make you commute out of specific airports,if this is how it works, then I guess you don't spend much time in a crash pad

Thanks

 

[mach zero]

You really need a recommendation from an ATA pilot to get an app nowdays. It's not impossible to get one without a rec. just very hard and it will take a long time. If one has received an app without a rec letter from an ATA pilot then they really stand out (at least on paper).

 

[AA717driver]

I just talked to a classmate who received an app without a rec. I was amazed. The only difference between he and I was that he was a check airman on the DC9.

Filling my app out this weekend...TC

 

[MooseTrax]

certainly a rec letter carries weight, but they are sending out apps to those they deem qualified. your buddy's checkairmen status was definitely a plus, not to mention his PIC jet time.
vr,

 

[mach zero]

Well the system CP told us at our new hire dinner that it was very difficult to get an app without a rec letter from an ATA pilot. An applicant must REALLY stand out on paper to get one without a letter. Competitive quals are at a high right now and with all the applicants out there, they are apparently placing more weight on the rec letter.

In my class of 24 newbies, only 2 people got the app without a letter.

M 0

 

[treetop flyer]

Greetings!

Just wondering what the junior bases are for ATA. Can you bid for bases in grnd. school or are they assigned? Thanks in advance!

Happy thanksgiving!
TF

 

[ForgedBlade]

I was fortunate enough to get an interview and then get hired without a letter of recommendation, so it is possible. I think in my class of 14, I was the only one in this situation. Don't give up in any case!

As for bases, you can get any base you want, as long as it is MDW!!

 

[treetop flyer]

Thanks!

Is IND senior for F/O's...Captains?

TF

 

[Lear70]

Forged... You're a LIAR!

LIAR
LIAR
LIAR

Pinnacle doesn't give 90 minute callouts... that would require something called "planning ahead". It's more like "The plane leaves in 20 minutes, can you make it?"

How was Hawaii? It's snowing here in Detoilet, they turned down my trip-at-a-time vacation for December, and a new-hire Gulfstream guy got his car stolen out of the Barrington last night... Happy Thanksgiving. Are you SURE you made the right decision to leave here?

p.s. For others trying to get hired too, I sent in my resume on the 4th of November without a recommendation (a Tuesday), the reply envelope with my application in it was dated three days later the 7th (a Friday), which means they sent it out either they day they received my resume or within 24 hours, and I sent the app back two weeks later (the 24th via FedEx overnight). They haven't cashed my check yet but since it's Thanksgiving week, I wasn't really expecting lightning speed... Might be the Boeing time or the jet PIC Part 121 time that did it, who knows what the magic numbers are, I'm just crossing fingers, toes, and whatever other appendages I have (not to mention blackmailing people who I know that work there for recommendations to add to the app) in hopes of a late Christmas present in January in the form of an interview...

 

[UAL-GSO]

I turned in a resume last December (no letter of rec.), got an application in September, interviewed in November, and am awaiting a class date now. It is possible to get an interview without a rec. - it just may take a little longer. Use the time to learn as much about the company as you can. From what I have seen so far, it will be well worth the effort! Happy Holidays to all!

 

[Ligeirinho]

Thank you guys for all your replies.
And Lear70 you're right I also received my app. w/o rec about 3 to 4 days after send in my resume and like you said maybe was 121 time or jet experience, although in my case only SIC time, but big bird like MD11. Anyway I have been praying a lot and hope JESUS help me get back on an airline.
GOD bless all of you in the same situation and those who are already there but never forget the ones left behind.

 

[ForgedBlade]

Forged... You're a LIAR!

Pinnacle doesn't give 90 minute callouts... that would require something called "planning ahead". It's more like "The plane leaves in 20 minutes, can you make it?"

That must have just been me telling them that I would be there in 90 minutes, no matter how screwed up they were!!! I don't miss that! Hope you guys are hanging in there.

Hawaii was great except for the flu virus from hell that I brought back with me - **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** tropical island paradise!

 

[Big Air]

ATA competitive mins?

What are the competitive mins?

I returned my app in April (which I received w/o a LoR), and haven't heard jack.

 

[njcapt]

As I have posted before, 1000-1200 PIC 121 Turbine, a four year degree, and some large jet experience will get you the interview. A good attitude and the ability to graciously interact with other people at the interview will get you the job.

 

[R985]

ATA competitive mins

Big Air

I talked to an ATA pilot that is involved in the hiring and interview process and he said the average new hire pilots are coming to class with about 8000 hrs TT. Most of the pilots have a type and some PIC time in large turbojet aircraft also. The lower your TT time, the more important it is to have that letter of recommendation. Most of the really high time pilots I have seen coming out of training are ex-USAir pilots with as much as 14 years seniority with USAir! I personally what to say it has been a pleasure flying with the Ex-USAir pilots. A great bunch of professionals! USAir’s loss has truly been our (ATA’s) gain!

Good Luck!

 

[CODs4ever]

Sent in my resume in September, got an app in the mail 7 days later. Returned the app to ATA, no interview call yet, but I'm not off active duty until August 2004. Don't know anybody on the inside.

A buddy of mine just got hired there and started on Nov 12th. Military pilot with around 2500 hours. He knew no one also. Only contact was meeting the recruiter at AirInc conference.

 

[GogglesPisano]

Sent in an app in May, no call.

How do I update (and is it even worth it?)