ATA Response

[cbeyw]

Has anybody who interviewed the 17th or 18th of June received a call or a letter?

 

[flyhard]

Had a buddy I recommended that interviewed on the 17th. Just got the rejection letter today. I think everyone that made it got a call last thurs.

 

[b757driver]

flyhard,

Sorry to hear about yr friend. Just curious - what was his background - total hours, type of operation, any skeletons in the cupboard, that kind of thing? How did he feel after the interview/sim check? Did he expect to get through or did this come as a surprise?
Sometimes, there seems no rhyme or reason - unless he blew something in the selection process and knew that he did. Of course, we will never know from the airline itself, only he can surmise, perhaps.
Better luck next time.

 

[flyhard]

Thanks 75driver. This guy had around 5K hours with 2K pic in the beech 1900. Had a 73 type with 1000 in the airplane and time in the md80. He did not do the sim prep, and told me that the sim check "could have been better". He had a clean background and is a good guy. I would probably say the sim got him, but don't know for sure. As many people have pointed out before the sim seems to be a big factor in the hiring process. The $175 dollars for an hour prep is a small price to pay for a million dollar career.

 

[Pilotbob3]

Thanks 75driver. This guy had around 5K hours with 2K pic in the beech 1900. Had a 73 type with 1000 in the airplane and time in the md80. He did not do the sim prep, and told me that the sim check "could have been better". He had a clean background and is a good guy. I would probably say the sim got him, but don't know for sure. As many people have pointed out before the sim seems to be a big factor in the hiring process. The $175 dollars for an hour prep is a small price to pay for a million dollar career.

sorry but what a dumb a** for not doing the prep...what was his reason for not doing that?

 

[ccfly]

Actually it's 300.00 dollars an hour but well worth it I would strongly advise anyone interviewing at ATA do the prep!!!!!!!!

 

[sayagain?]

Before jumping on this guy for not doing the sim prep, maybe we should give him some slack. I was given short notice for the interview and couldn't arrange any sim time in Purdue. The sim tech was on vacation on the days that I had available.

sayagain?

 

[BigEasy]

Don't blast this guy for not doing the sim prep. I didn't do the sim prep and yes it "could have gone better." Low and behold here I am at ATA and feeling very fortunate. One thing alone will not wipe you out of contention, they look at the overall deal. Hopefully your friend will keep the good fight and be persistant.

By the way, I didn't type the answers on the app either, just very neat.

Never give up!

 

[propjob27]

I interviewed on the 17th, and the letters came today. 1st person to find out when class starts, please post it!

 

[sunburn]

Can any of you guys give the web site or address to submit applications or Resume's to ATA?

 

[propjob27]

You have to mail a resume to the address, on www.ata.com. And then they mail you an application (if they think you are competitive).

 

[Capt America]

I had 5 letters of rec one from a management type and nothing to disqual me I interview well but made a couple of mistakes in the SIM. I also was told " the whole package" but believe that the SIM is at least 75%. I was also told by the HR Person that he had very little input and that" the pilots do the hiring here". It was overall a good experience but disappointing because out of 6 that interviewed 1 got hired and he was the guy the rest of the group disliked.

I have loads of friends at ATA and they love it, I just wanted to share some info.

Oh and the price of the sim depends on the instructor and or which sim. mine was $175.00

Good Luck to all...

 

[b757driver]

More Questions

Here's some more questions for you ATA guys:

1. Any ideas/rumors as to how longer the L-1011s will be kept flying the line? Somewhere I had heard that the most likely scenario would be a 767 replacement, which would make sense. Can't think what other wide-body would be a viable option, if and when the time comes. Just curious.

2. In the recent past, which fleet have the new hires been taken on? Is it spread across all three or is there a larger number of slots, say on the 737. Or is it mere luck of the draw? (personally, I think all three aircraft are great machines in their own ways).

3. This one is for the newbies: on average, how long does a candidate wait to be called for interview having sent in the application? Presumably, if you do not get the call, then one can assume that you have not "scored" sufficiently high to be called in.

4. Post-interview: is the good news relayed via a phone call and the not-so-good via a Dear John letter?

5. How much lead time does one get in interview dates? I have heard some guys being called in for interview slots in as little as a week - others 2-3 weeks. I guess it all depends on what their workload is like, etc.

Thanks in advance for picking your collective brains!
__________________________________________________
It's Nice To Be Important, But It's More Important To Be Nice!

 

[propjob27]

I can't answer much, as I've just been hired and am waiting for a late July class but...

Everyone in our class asked the sim guys and Indy chief pilot about the 767 rumor. They told us its just a rumor, with no real backing right now. They are using the 757-300 right now to replace the L-1011 routes.

I got 5 weeks notice for my interview date. When they first called, they wanted me to make a date about 2 weeks from the call. Because of my work schedule, I couldnt make that and had to ask them for a later interview date. They then gave me one almost 5 weeks away.

Everyone in our interview group got a letter. No one got the phone call. They only call people if they want you to come to a groundschool less than 2 weeks away.

 

[flyhard]

b757 driver,

1. Currently the 767 is a rumor. There is a group at ATA that is investigating whether the a/c would work or not. So there is some interest.

2. New hires have been going into the 757 lately. This is because most of the upgrades in the 73 are coming from the 75. Just like any other airline it is supply and demand as far as which a/c you get.

3. I received a call about four months after sending in my app. I have heard of other people getting calls three weeks after sending the app. Another guy I know had his in for a year and a half before the call.

4. My interview class was all notified by phone. I think our gnd school started three weeks later. Most of the time they interview tues, wed, thurs, and meet on fri. to discuss canidates. Then the letters or phone calls go out.

5. Most lead time is two weeks on the average. They do work hard to accomadate your schedule.

Hope this helps.

 

[1800 RVR]

ATA

I won't rehash the 767 rumor, but what flyhard and propjob have said jives with the rumors that I got when I was in IND.

As for the interviews and calls, etc., this is how things worked for me:

-Sent in a resume w/o a LOR.
-Received application in 5 weeks.
-Filled out app overnight, sent it back the next day.
-Got a LOR sent down to IND as my app was making its way down there.
-Was called in for an interview within 5 weeks of sending out the app. Interview lead time was only 1 week.
-Was called after the 3 days of interviews and offered a 737 class.

I know that some of the folks in that 3-day group got calls, others got letters of congrats. I was very lucky that there were some spots open in the 6/30 class. I am also proof that you can get an app w/o a LOR. If you are lucky to get one, it's a GOOD thing! As for aircraft, it just depends what they need at the time. I believe our class is 737/757 mixed.

 

[texanpilot]

We still arent hearing much about the 767. I think if they could find the right airplane/engine price, this deal could be possible.
All of our class went into the 757. And, all of the June 2 class is in the 757. Hiring is projected to go on until at least Jan 04. I sent my app in on Feb 14, got call on Ap 1, interviewed on Ap 16, started class on May 5. I got a phone call on Ap 17. Good news comes by mail and phone. Definetly take a sim prep with Purdue. I believe not doing it would be foolish.

 

[AA717driver]

What kind of sim do they use? Frasca or a real sim? How long to upgrade?(not being greedy but if I leave AA before I get furloughed, I will stay gone.)

Is there an IND base or is MDW the best hope? I know someone there but haven't talked to him for awhile. Is there some way to find him via the company? Thanks in advance.TC

 

[ATA73Pilot]

The type of a sim is a 727-100 - full motion that is housed up at Purdue.

Time to upgrade for a newhire....I wouldn't plan on it for a very long time. I've been here 5 years and am just coming into the slot (when I was hired in '98, upgrades were at 2.5 years and that's what we were told to expect.).

For a newhire to upgrade would requre a doubling of the current seniority list (approx 1100 pilots). I doubt ATA will double thier size anytime soon...or in the next 10 years for that matter. We have hovered around the 1000 pilot mark for the 5 years that I have been employed.

We do have an IND base for all 3 airplane types. It is relatively small and VERY SENIOR. Count on MDW for the 737 / 757 as a newhire.

Hope this helps.

Cheers....