Cactus Aug 16 class??

[flynAAvy]

My digits were:

Total: 3500
PIC: 2400
ME Jet: 2300
Types: B737, B707
Currently an IP on the C-40 (B737-700) in the reserves
All military, but furloughed from American a loooooooooong time ago.

I have a good friend at Cactus who's a Bus captain and he pounded down the door for me. Got the app. after three months, he walked it in with a letter of rec and I got the interview call about three weeks later.

If you don't have someone who can walk your stuff in I'd recommend contributing to the Kit Darby retirement fund and meeting Tracy Takara at an Airinc conference. She's a great gal and a couple of guys I interviewed with said they thought that was how they got the call.

I'm excited to go to PHX. Everyone was extremely nice, professional and positive about the future. Plus, they just ordered 22 new Buses!

Good luck to ya'll.

 

[ATA737CAPT]

ATA puts you up and pays you full gaurentee (75hrs). Hopefully, we will hire again if we can pull out of this mess!

 

[Ted Striker]

<<While several regional airlines do put you up in training, I'm not aware of any Major or National/LCC type airlines that put you up in training unless you're in training away from your base-i.e. you did sim training in MIA instead of PHX.>>


Jetblue does. American does. Delta does. Alaska does. Southwest?? not sure.

Delta, no. Southewest, yes. Alaska, I don't think so-but don't quote me on that.

 

[Guppiedriver]

Saabslime,

All of the information you are looking for is readily available and you should have had it prior to your interview. I'm not busting your chops, just stating facts. You are already starting your career at AWA on the wrong foot. Simply because you didn't do your homework, you now have additional expenses that you were not prepared for. As a result of not being prepared, you have developed a negative attitude about your future employer. Definitely not the way to start a new career.

Ignore the comments of PHXFLYR and cactuspilot. If you show up at AWA on the first day with their attitudes, you are doomed from the start. I've been at AWA for a little over four years and I still can't figure out why they were so miserable. They seem to be happy at SWA/Jet Blue and good for them. I guess it's good for us too. Some of us moved up a couple of spots and the bad attitude cancer is reduced.

I think we could have done a little better as far as our contract goes. However, we are starting to see some scheduling improvements with the new agreement and I'm sure we'll see more as the rest of the contract takes effect.

The training at AWA is second to none, about 95% of our pilots are a blast to fly with, we're profitable, and we're hiring......it's not perfect but it ain't bad.

 

[Saabslime]

Saabslime,

You are already starting your career at AWA on the wrong foot. Simply because you didn't do your homework, you now have additional expenses that you were not prepared for. As a result of not being prepared, you have developed a negative attitude about your future employer.

I did do my homework on AWA. I wouldn't have applied or accepted the job offer if I didn't want to be here. Like I said before, this is the ONE and only area I didn't have any info on. I guess I just assumed a couple of things...........shame on me and lesson learned. The initial oh s*it has worn off and I'm cool with having to pay for a room. If this is the norm then so be it. Don't let my earlier post fool you. I don't have a negative attitude about AWA, I'm coming in happy as hell to be here and have high hopes for the future. Also looking forward to never having to shovel a foot of snow off the driveway ever again! Take care and hope to see you on the line soon.

By the way, know any crashpads that are looking for another body? Would only be for approx. 5 months until I get the family packed up and moved down there. I'll have wheels so thats not an issue.

 

[Falconjet]

FedEx

FedEx pays $2000 per month in training but doesn't provide lodging.

FJ

 

[Guppiedriver]

By the way, know any crashpads that are looking for another body? Would only be for approx. 5 months until I get the family packed up and moved down there. I'll have wheels so thats not an issue.

There are a bunch of crashpads advertised on the information board in the crew lounge.

Welcome aboard. I'll probably see you around the school house in September.

 

[TriJet]

Saabslime,

All of the information you are looking for is readily available and you should have had it prior to your interview. I'm not busting your chops, just stating facts. You are already starting your career at AWA on the wrong foot. Simply because you didn't do your homework, you now have additional expenses that you were not prepared for. As a result of not being prepared, you have developed a negative attitude about your future employer. Definitely not the way to start a new career.

Ignore the comments of PHXFLYR and cactuspilot. If you show up at AWA on the first day with their attitudes, you are doomed from the start. I've been at AWA for a little over four years and I still can't figure out why they were so miserable. They seem to be happy at SWA/Jet Blue and good for them. I guess it's good for us too. Some of us moved up a couple of spots and the bad attitude cancer is reduced.

I think we could have done a little better as far as our contract goes. However, we are starting to see some scheduling improvements with the new agreement and I'm sure we'll see more as the rest of the contract takes effect.

The training at AWA is second to none, about 95% of our pilots are a blast to fly with, we're profitable, and we're hiring......it's not perfect but it ain't bad.

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH.....

BLAH BLAH.

 

[cactuspilot]

Guppie, you are correct about a few things. The training at cactus is among the best. The pilots are among the best too, in and out of a jet. Great F/A's too. Great Maint people too.
I got there with a big smile on my face, left 6 yrs. later with an even bigger smile.
I'm no math wizard but isn't 49% almost half of 100? Don't be so naive.
Where were you when DP told the pilots that things wouldn't change and to leave if they didn't like it? Boy, I would want a refund if that was all I learned in business school. Go Team!!
I would guess there were about 50 of us left in the last couple years, not because we were good or smart....just real lucky.
These new guys can figure it out for themselves, i'm not going to bs them.
That's my last post on this subject.

 

[skiav8tor]

How many in your bundle of interviewees made the cut...past the sim, and the board. I interview the 27th. Any info that hasn't been posted here in the recent past, or anything new would be of great help.

 

[Guppiedriver]

Guppie, you are correct about a few things. The training at cactus is among the best. The pilots are among the best too, in and out of a jet. Great F/A's too. Great Maint people too.
I got there with a big smile on my face, left 6 yrs. later with an even bigger smile.
I'm no math wizard but isn't 49% almost half of 100? Don't be so naive.
Where were you when DP told the pilots that things wouldn't change and to leave if they didn't like it? Boy, I would want a refund if that was all I learned in business school. Go Team!!
I would guess there were about 50 of us left in the last couple years, not because we were good or smart....just real lucky.
These new guys can figure it out for themselves, i'm not going to bs them.
That's my last post on this subject.

cactuspilot,

I'm naive, because a SWA F/O makes more money than I do? Yikes! I guess you would get a bigger smile on your face if Alaska hired you? For you well being, I hope they are hiring.

I guess I'm fortunate that I don't need a group hug every day or the third biggest paycheck amongst my peers to be satisfied with my career. More money would be nice, but I won't lose sleep over it. I did my part, I voted no.

You won't bs them? The only thing they can gather about AWA from your post is they make less than a SWA pilot.

One thing we can agree about is 49% is nearly half of 100. However, if 49% represents the difference between SWA and AWA pilot payscales, you need a new calculator.

 

[FlyDouglasJets]

Good joke. Ooops, you weren't joking. You're on your own here.(AWA) Dude

What, what, what, no "Henry the VIII" motel!?!? Outraged. ;-)

I wonder if that new rwy 12R will be over the sacred grounds..

 

[HAL]

flynAAvy,

Guess I'll be seeing you Monday. That makes at least three out of the twelve in the class that frequent this board. Looking forward to doing the brain dump of Boeing stuff and 'going French'.

TT: 4700
PIC: 2500
Turbine: 1250
Type: 757/767

Furloughed from Hawaiian (Nearly 4 years there), then spent last nine months flying Navajos out of Fairbanks Alaska.

I had two friends who are Captains at AWA bring in my resume around Christmas. Got the app in April, Call in May, Interview in June, Class this Monday (July 26th).

I did the sim prep with three others. Two didn't pass the sim, the other failed at the interview. There was a second group that may have done the sim prep the day earlier as there was a total of eight interviewing the same day as me. I don't know how the other four fared. It was all straight out of gouge available everywhere.

HAL vbmenu_register("postmenu_380417", true);

 

[TWA Dude]

(AWA) Dude--"Average Line Value" Where have I heard that before? Hope you're having fun. Take care.TC

They have different terms for everything here but I just stick to what I know. And I'll check my JXCAP after every trip. BTW, remember how on an autoland on the 717 the FO had to call out "Align, Flare, Retard, Rollout"? On the Bus here the only callouts are "NO Flare" and "NO Rollout". I have to clamp my mouth shut (no comments!) to keep from calling "Flare" cause if I do the captain will probably go-around. *sigh* Later dude. Take care of those special passengers of yours.

 

[PHX767]

Lodging during AWA training

Guys,
There are a number of short term furnished apartments around the PHX airport. I stayed in one during my training when I was with HP. Not the nicest, but a better environment to study in than a crash pad. If you have wheels that may be an alternative.

PM me if you want and I'll look in the phone book for you.

 

[xrated]

I also start AWA on the 26th.

Pt. 135 background
5200 tt
4000 pic
1800 jet
2800 turbine

I know about a dozen pilots at AWA, had four F/O's walk resume's in early in the year, Feb I think. Got app late April/early May, got call two weeks later for late June interview. I believe I interviewed with six that day, and from what I can tell, only two of us got an offer. Three muffed the sim, one the pannel. I am leaving a good job, but based on what all my friends say, its a great place to be, especially if you live in PHX as I do. I have a close friend who will also be in the 26th class, similar background as I. I here there will be a furloghed AA/TWA guy with 757/767 experience in the class also. Looking forward to school and meeting all that have posted on this board.

 

[Benhuntn]

Who puts you up?

Southwest puts new hires in the Renisannce hotel. It is very nice and they pay you at the rate of 6 trips a day.

 

[skiav8tor]

xrated,

Do you know if the guys that blew the sim had done the prep with K&S or anybody?...

 

[xrated]

I think everyone who interviewed the day I did took the prep. Two of the three that blew the sim took the prep twice. Looked like they had confidence issues. No doubt about it, the sim profile is difficult, but doable if you relax.

 

[skiav8tor]

xrated,

What other insight can you give me about the board interview?