Choice: ASA or a Pt 91 Falcon 10 job...

[CFI2766]

I'm in the pool for ASA. From what I understand, I'm one of about 40ish people still in the pool. I hear that ASA is short for pilots and that there are classes starting up in November. I got a phone call last week asking if I'm still interested in a class with ASA and what my times were. I'm a career changer, and started flying to fly for an airline. I think I have a good chance of being in a ground school for ASA in the near future. I live in Atlanta, and ASA is and always has been my first choice.

Last week, I had a different job offer fall into my lap. A local, part 91, Falcon 10 job just opened up at my home airport, less than 10 minutes from my house. No training contract, they pay for PIC training, it's close to home, and the money is much better than I'll make as an FO at ASA. I will have little chance of an upgrade, as the captain and the plane's owner are good friends. However, it will be operated under part 91, and I WILL be logging my legs as PIC as I'll be appropriately rated and typed.

1. Will ASA still be around a year from now?
2. Will there be a strike?
3. With a lot of folks leaving ASA, will there be growth/upgrades once/if a contract is finally agreed upon, and, potentially, as mainline Delta starts to hire next year?
4. If I get 1000 hours PIC in a Falcon 10 under part 91, will that help or hurt me in the future if I look at getting on with another airline?

I know that there are a lot of ASA folks who are not happy with how things are going down at KATL. PLEASE give me sincere feedback and do not turn this into an ASA bashing thread.

 

[BuzzSaw]

Go fly the falcon. ASA will be around in some form or the other. This may be the dream job you walked into. ASA is a constant turnstyle of pilots.

BuzzSaw

 

[rickair7777]

I'm in the pool for ASA. From what I understand, I'm one of about 40ish people still in the pool. I hear that ASA is short for pilots and that there are classes starting up in November. I got a phone call last week asking if I'm still interested in a class with ASA and what my times were. I'm a career changer, and started flying to fly for an airline. I think I have a good chance of being in a ground school for ASA in the near future. I live in Atlanta, and ASA is and always has been my first choice.

Last week, I had a different job offer fall into my lap. A local, part 91, Falcon 10 job just opened up at my home airport, less than 10 minutes from my house. No training contract, they pay for PIC training, it's close to home, and the money is much better than I'll make as an FO at ASA. I will have little chance of an upgrade, as the captain and the plane's owner are good friends. However, it will be operated under part 91, and I WILL be logging my legs as PIC as I'll be appropriately rated and typed.

1. Will ASA still be around a year from now?
2. Will there be a strike?
3. With a lot of folks leaving ASA, will there be growth/upgrades once/if a contract is finally agreed upon, and, potentially, as mainline Delta starts to hire next year?
4. If I get 1000 hours PIC in a Falcon 10 under part 91, will that help or hurt me in the future if I look at getting on with another airline?

I know that there are a lot of ASA folks who are not happy with how things are going down at KATL. PLEASE give me sincere feedback and do not turn this into an ASA bashing thread.

I would probably take the falcon job. Regionals will probably be hiring for a while, and ASA is up in the air right now. If the job and money are good, and you are getting some PIC time you can sit back and watch the industry unfold.

However...

91 PIC is not as good as 121 PIC, and some majors want time in airplanes above a certain weight. If you have one or more majors in mind, research their competetive and minimum times and see if the falcon might do the trick.

After you get 1000 PIC (or 1300), you could always go to a regional to punch your 121/RJ ticket if necessary. The 91 PIC along with some 121 SIC might do the trick.

 

[landlover]

falcon 10, regionals are like single A baseball as far as jobs go. not that the pilots fly like its single A.

 

[willNOTfly4free]

That's not always the case. I know of few guys that have gotten on with UPS and FedEx with only King Air and Lear 35 PIC time. Multi-turbine PIC is just that... regardless of the flight rules you operate under.

 

[BigPappa]

Sure, I bet you can count them on one hand. This is what part 91 people like to think. Bottom line: Pt. 121 time is more desireable than pt. 91
PS. done both

 

[JettBoii]

Whatever you do don't commute; sucks. Take the Falcon job; faster upgrade time.

 

[CJA]

Here's some advice, don't get career advice on this board!

 

[SkyBoy1981]

Just logging PIC time isn't good enough for most larger airlines..they want for you to have been THE PIC of the airplane as defined in FAR Part 1. You may be able to log PIC time legally, but that does not necessarily make you the PIC. Obviously the Captain is going to be the one ultimately responsible for the flight. Once you get a good bit of time in the airplane and the insurance will cover you as the PIC of the flight then the time might actually mean more.

With that being said, I have a couple of buds at ASA who are miserable there. Take it for what its worth.

 

[JettBoii]

Take the job that you think will make you happy. That is what is most important.

 

[Flybet3]

Dude if you dont take the falcon job I'll find you and kick your A$$! it's a no brainer!

 

[Rxflyer]

Personally, I'd take the Falcon job. Sounds like you would enjoy it more, and the next Falcon they buy might be a big one ! Or, tell 'em to move to Nashville, and I'll make sure they meet a "friend of mine " ... Good luck !

 

[bailout]

Depends on your age. If you are @ 30ish or below, go with ASA. As Ive learned, a career change at an older age with a seniority based system is not good. The airlines are beginning to cycle upwards and it would be much better to get in on the upswing. That being said, you should take the job that comes along first. Can you go to the Falcon and then leave it later when ASA calls?

And a little something on the ASA bashing,... When the contract we have now was settled a few years back, everybody was sure happy, but now everybody is disgruntled. What changed? Of course we want raises and a few areas updated but unless ASA shrinks, or disolves into SKW, its still a good place to be.

 

[FlaZoomie]

Facon job....take it.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

You have to compare every aspect of both jobs and decide what you think is best. I left a Part 91 job flying a corporate jet a few years ago to come to XJT and I have been very happy with that decision. There are lots of Part 91 corporate jobs out there that are better than what I had, and there are lots out there that are worse. Corporate flying is extremely diverse...it can be great, or it can suck worse than a regional airline...it just depends on the outfit.

 

[Hobit]

Falcon job. No question about it. You can always go back and try again later.
You may actually LIKE corp. aviation.

 

[AMANSWORLD]

I'm in the pool for ASA. From what I understand, I'm one of about 40ish people still in the pool. I hear that ASA is short for pilots and that there are classes starting up in November. I got a phone call last week asking if I'm still interested in a class with ASA and what my times were. I'm a career changer, and started flying to fly for an airline. I think I have a good chance of being in a ground school for ASA in the near future. I live in Atlanta, and ASA is and always has been my first choice.

Last week, I had a different job offer fall into my lap. A local, part 91, Falcon 10 job just opened up at my home airport, less than 10 minutes from my house. No training contract, they pay for PIC training, it's close to home, and the money is much better than I'll make as an FO at ASA. I will have little chance of an upgrade, as the captain and the plane's owner are good friends. However, it will be operated under part 91, and I WILL be logging my legs as PIC as I'll be appropriately rated and typed.

1. Will ASA still be around a year from now?
2. Will there be a strike?
3. With a lot of folks leaving ASA, will there be growth/upgrades once/if a contract is finally agreed upon, and, potentially, as mainline Delta starts to hire next year?
4. If I get 1000 hours PIC in a Falcon 10 under part 91, will that help or hurt me in the future if I look at getting on with another airline?

I know that there are a lot of ASA folks who are not happy with how things are going down at KATL. PLEASE give me sincere feedback and do not turn this into an ASA bashing thread.

If you do not want to take the falcon job let me know. We can exchange info and I will give you a letter of reccomendation at ASA and I will take the Falcon job. LOL

 

[lindsaya99]

Corporate flying is extremely diverse...it can be great, or it can suck worse than a regional airline...it just depends on the outfit.

I will second that. I took a Corporate/Charter job after I was furloughed in January and it turned out to be the worst decision of my career. The owner was cheap and the chief pilot was a tool. On the other hand I have friends who fly biz jets for really cool owners, like the people they fly with, and make very descent money. My only advice is not to sign a training contract with anyone unless you are 100% sure you want to stay there. I'm still kicking myself for that one.

 

[Ganja60Heavy]

ASA blows.

If you want a 121 job, go somewhere else.

"Falcon vs. ASA" is not comparing apples to oranges.....it's apples to port-a-potty juice after a 3-day outdoor concert in 90-degree heat......a veritable festering cauldron of spite, arrogance, and incompetence.......running an airline. The glistening steamer on top of the pile gets more respect than a pilot at ASA!

 

[av8er2]

I would go with the Falcon job. This is a good in to gain some corporate experience and lead to other corporate jobs. The airlines stink and will for quite some time.

QOL and money are a big deal. Flying a jet becomes a job like everything else.

I am looking to go back to corporate.

 

[NoPlaneNoGain]

Consider this when making your decision:
1) Commuting Sucks!
2) Can you (your family) live on those wages for 5+ years?
3) Can you deal with ASA in ATL for that amount of time?
4) Captain upgrade at ASA will be 5+ years
5) Does the falcon job give you a type rating that you can walk away with? Think of the falcon type as insurance if you ever lost your current job.

People are leaving ASA for good reasons. I'm a 5 year f/o and I've got one foot out of the door already!

Good luck in your decision.



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