Champion Air

[737Runner]

So what is QOL like if you live in base? What is the Junior Base, (any chance of getting DTW as a newhire)? What are the schedules like (Reserve and Lineholder)?

 

[SEVEN]

So what is QOL like if you live in base? What is the Junior Base, (any chance of getting DTW as a newhire)? What are the schedules like (Reserve and Lineholder)?

I had the same questions. If you do a search there is plenty of info on Champion. Mostly negative though.

 

[scrub]

This is how good its at Champion, a Champion Captain walked over to an Allegiant aircraft parked next to his in Cancun and was looking for a job.

 

[72Longhorn]

Champion Air ??

I too wolud like to know about Champion. I got a call this morning for a possible F/E slot. Apparently everyone starts in the F/E seat. Any idea how long before upgrade??

 

[heywatchthis]

Got a email, then a phone interview. Any news on this FE position and quality of life PLEASE advise.

 

[Workin'Stiff]

I and others have hashed over this topic quite a few times on here... A search proves pretty useful... But hey, I can type it all over again...

Reserve is usually 6 on 1 off and 24 hours on at a crack. We have a 65 hour guarentee. Minimum days are are 10. Line holders vary from minimum to 19 days off. Starting pay is sitting at 32.60~ish for an FE. All new hires start off at FE. Domiciles are currently DTW, MSP, STL, and LAS. DFW will be openning as a base in January 2007, however, I highly doubt newhires will be awared that base as we have, I'm guessing, enough people who live there to fill the base.

Training is is MSP and is roughly 8 weeks. It is unpaid but you will receive per diem the entire time you're under the training department (through your signoff from IOE). Per diem is 1.50/hr or $36 / day. If you live within 50 NM of MSP, you will not get a hotel during training but you'll be paid $50 a day instead. You are not allowed to leave during ground school, as you go 6 on 1 off. Once you hit CPT's, and you've got 2 or more days off, they positive space you home on NW. No jumpseating until you've completed sims.

Upgrade varies... I had a guy in my newhire class that upgraded right off of the bat to FO. But you better want to go to DTW though. Otherwise upgrade, depending on the base you want to upgrade into is running from one year to 6 years (MSP). Captain upgrades is sitting at 7+ years, from what I've seen.

As far as QOL, I live in base and I'm lovin' life. I've heard that commuters really don't like things too much because we are not CASS approved. So that makes things difficult. Plan on DH'ing more than you've ever done in your life. DH pay is 1/2 credit, by the way.

70% of our flying is for MLT Vacations. Remainder is DoD, DoE, and NBA / Nascar / White House Press Corps charters. No new aircraft for the the near future.

If you have any other questions, PM me and I'll help ya out the best I can.

 

[Going2Baja]

Is Vegas junior?

 

[72Longhorn]

Champ

Well, I turned down the offer. It was just to long away from home, too long to upgrade and too little $money$. I would of seriously considered it a few years ago, but too many good things happening now.imp:

Thanks for the info STIFF!

 

[On Your Six]

I and others have hashed over this topic quite a few times on here... A search proves pretty useful... But hey, I can type it all over again...

Reserve is usually 6 on 1 off and 24 hours on at a crack. We have a 65 hour guarentee. Minimum days are are 10. Line holders vary from minimum to 19 days off. Starting pay is sitting at 32.60~ish for an FE. All new hires start off at FE. Domiciles are currently DTW, MSP, STL, and LAS. DFW will be openning as a base in January 2007, however, I highly doubt newhires will be awared that base as we have, I'm guessing, enough people who live there to fill the base.

Training is is MSP and is roughly 8 weeks. It is unpaid but you will receive per diem the entire time you're under the training department (through your signoff from IOE). Per diem is 1.50/hr or $36 / day. If you live within 50 NM of MSP, you will not get a hotel during training but you'll be paid $50 a day instead. You are not allowed to leave during ground school, as you go 6 on 1 off. Once you hit CPT's, and you've got 2 or more days off, they positive space you home on NW. No jumpseating until you've completed sims.

Upgrade varies... I had a guy in my newhire class that upgraded right off of the bat to FO. But you better want to go to DTW though. Otherwise upgrade, depending on the base you want to upgrade into is running from one year to 6 years (MSP). Captain upgrades is sitting at 7+ years, from what I've seen.

As far as QOL, I live in base and I'm lovin' life. I've heard that commuters really don't like things too much because we are not CASS approved. So that makes things difficult. Plan on DH'ing more than you've ever done in your life. DH pay is 1/2 credit, by the way.

70% of our flying is for MLT Vacations. Remainder is DoD, DoE, and NBA / Nascar / White House Press Corps charters. No new aircraft for the the near future.

If you have any other questions, PM me and I'll help ya out the best I can.

Are the 727s pretty well maintained? What about up front - do you have FMS, EFIS like UPS aircraft? I always wanted to fly a 727 - a classic aircraft.

 

[geshields]

Are the 727s pretty well maintained? What about up front - do you have FMS, EFIS like UPS aircraft? I always wanted to fly a 727 - a classic aircraft.

When I was there, the aircraft were well maintained. No FMS, they do have GPS though and you can couple the autopilot up to that. The 727 is a fun airplane to fly and I am glad I got the chance to fly it.

 

[Going2Baja]

Anyone know what the class date is that they are interviewing for?

 

[Workin'Stiff]

Anyone know what the class date is that they are interviewing for?

Right now we are interviewing for an October class. There is some talk that there may be another class after October, but yet this year... Just rumor mill right now.

The aircraft are indeed well maintained. With that being said, they are still 30-40 year old aircraft. Things break.

It was mentioned above about how the aircraft are equiped. No FMS, EFIS, etc. On ten of the aircraft, we have GPS and they do couple to the autopilot. But these are the old Trimble units... So nothing fancy. They are authoized for enroute only.

And Las Vegas was awarded to one guy in my class. But "junior" bases are DTW and STL right now. But this is subject to change with each base award.

 

[Going2Baja]

I'm asking for a friend that doesn't have internet (I know - who doesn't have web access.) I can say that the A/C seldom broke when I flew them for NWA prior to 9/11. The charter a/c are set up NICE!! And the trips were very fun if you are into sports. I would assume the mission is the same even though Champion is flying the trips now. I would think this job would be a good place to build jet time and improve your resume - as a career, I think I'd pass.

To all that are interested I'd say good luck - take the job, and keep your eyes open. Living in base will always improve QOL 10 fold.

Good luck to all!!

Baja.

 

[Workin'Stiff]

Yeah, the VIP aircraft are set up real nice. And when we fly those trips, we have a dedicated mechanic that flies with us. So when we land, he will jump right into fixing the write ups and keeping the aircraft in tip-top-shape.

The real sticker right now is a contractual issue with sports flying. Typically with the NBA flying, it is very short hops. You'll fly somewhere and sit for the rest of the day. We don't have Minimum Day guarantee here. So if you fly 45 minutes, you'll be paid for 45 minutes. When the NBA season rolls around, you're pretty much relegated to guarentee pay for the month... Someday, whenver a new contract is finished, we'll hopefully have better contractual language for this type of flying.

 

[Dix-Bag]

Baja,

You mentioned Vegas.

Have you looked into Allegiant?

 

[Going2Baja]

DB - actually the guy I fly with has a friend that works there and he is going to try and find out some hiring info for me. It's my friend that's looking for the new job - not me. He is just internet absent. Are you at Allegiant? If so -- what's the scoop? Feel free to PM. Thanks...Baja.

 

[tired_pilot]

Contract

Is a new contract even being worked on? The current one expired a few years ago correct?

How is the training dept, flying the 727 as long as Champion has I would assume the training would be top notch?

I was told Cass will be coming soon, is that true? Are Champion pilots flightdeck authorized on NWA presently?

Thanks for your help, looking forward to class...

 

[Workin'Stiff]

Is a new contract even being worked on? The current one expired a few years ago correct?

How is the training dept, flying the 727 as long as Champion has I would assume the training would be top notch?

I was told Cass will be coming soon, is that true? Are Champion pilots flightdeck authorized on NWA presently?

Thanks for your help, looking forward to class...

\

Yeah, the contract is in negotiations right now. Don't expect to see a TA anytime soon. I'd be willing to bet it'll be another year atleast. Yep, the current contract has been expired for about a year and a half now.

Training is really good, all things considered. The company is an absolute stickler with money. So don't expect anything fancy through training. Otherwise, the instructors are extremely knowledgable and overall very nice people.

CASS is just a big dream so far. It is all dependant on the implementation of our handheld PDA's for the cockpit. No one has any idea when those will be coming online. Once those are up and running, it'll be some time before everything gets approved by the TSA to start up the CASS program. No, we are not cockpit authorized with NW now because we don't have CASS. Cockpit seat = CASS.

Good luck in class!

 

[satlol]

Does Champion require the FE written to interview? Also, do they have any direct flights out of MSP to any of the bases? Is the upgrade to FO/CA much longer in MSP compared to the other bases? Thanks...

 

[Workin'Stiff]

Let me say maybe... The reason I say that is that I did not have it completed when I interviewed. But as we are getting a lot of applications lately, having it done will put you in the pile that gets the call first.

We do have some flights between bases. Pairings such as MSP-LAS or DTW-LAS. I can't think of a single time I've seen MSP-DTW other than for ferry/reposition flights.

MSP is currently the most senior base that we have. Right now to hold FO in MSP (a line that is), you'll need senority around the 6 year mark. We have an FO in DTW that was hired with me in June. But things more than likely will change soon as we just announced that LAS will be closing as a pilot base in December and DFW will be re-opening as a base in January 2007. So all of these dates for certain positions could change a lot within the next couple of months, depending on how base bids shake out.

Does Champion require the FE written to interview? Also, do they have any direct flights out of MSP to any of the bases? Is the upgrade to FO/CA much longer in MSP compared to the other bases? Thanks...

 

[Whataboutbob]

Hey WorkinStiff

-Where are you based DTW or MSP as a FE?
-Can new hires hold MSP (FE) out of training?
-I took it as explained earlier that you get $36/day perdiem plus $50/day instead of hotel if you are within 50miles of hotel for a total of $86 perday and I take it that is seven days a week during training, correct me if that is wrong?

 

[Workin'Stiff]

Hey WorkinStiff

-Where are you based DTW or MSP as a FE?
-Can new hires hold MSP (FE) out of training?
-I took it as explained earlier that you get $36/day perdiem plus $50/day instead of hotel if you are within 50miles of hotel for a total of $86 perday and I take it that is seven days a week during training, correct me if that is wrong?

I'm based in DTW. Newhires in this last class, I'm told, were able to hold MSP right out of class. But due to the base closure effective in December, I'm not totally sure if that'll still be the case.

Nope. If you live outside of 50 NM, you only get $36 / day and a hotel room. If you live within 50 NM, you get $50 / day but no hotel room. Ground school is scheduled to be 6 on, one off.

 

[Going2Baja]

Hi all - as previously posted I have a friend that interviewed and was offered a class at Champion. He'd really like the opportunity to talk to some current line or reserve guys about the REAL QOL. If interested, please PM me with contact info. He's a good guy, low key, and he's looking for the real info. Thanks.

BTW - for you interested in Champion. My friend tells me that during his interview he asked the DO what the plans were for new a/c and the DO replied that he was told new a/c were coming over two years ago. Hope this info helps.

Baja.

Also - the class they are interviewing for is Oct 13 or 15 I think and there are going to be +/- 20 FE's. Upgrade to F/O 1.5 to 2 years.

My guess is with all of the NWA recalls that there might be a rush of guys to bail Champion back to NWA. Who knows though. I know I'm going to bypass when my call comes.