Citrus Q's.

[LUalum]

I just received a message from GC at AirTran with a job offer, I have a couple of questions for any AirTran people out there.

1. Does AirTran pay during training, if so how much?
2. How long should I expect to sit reserve?
3. What reserve system is utilized, straight seniority, bucket, ready etc?
4. Could you please give an example of a months line and also of a regular trip?
5. Are most trips 2,3,4 days? A mix. What should I expect?
6. Are trips/lines commutable?
7. Are there any unusual work rules, good or bad?
8. Do you like working there? Does cockpit conversation revolve around who's hiring at the moment?
9. If I were to pass up the June 17th class to give my current employer 2 weeks notice when could I expect to start with AirTran? Would this be stupid?
10. I will be leaving a "premier" regional job to come to AirTran, is this wise? Crystal balls aside where do you see AirTran in 10-15 years?
11. Are there any contract negotiations upcomming with any work groups?
12. Where will all the new "long range" airplanes be deployed, westward?
13. Any other questions I should have asked?

They seem like a great group there at Citrus I just want to make informed decisions. Thanks.

 

[B6Busdriver]

I don't work for Air Tran so take what I say with a grain of salt about question 10. IMHO there are no premier regionals. The regional world is about to be rocked and bids will go to the lowest bidder. I know a few guys at Air Tran and they are stand up guys that I thoroughly enjoyed working with. Furthermore the Air Tran folks I meet on the road are outstanding from what I have seen. Go for it.

 

[Mooseflyer]

How long from interview to invite?

 

[LUalum]

Mooseflyer,
We interviewed the same day Keep the faith.

 

[flx757]

As a former AirTran pilot (I left last August to take a position at Alaska), I can attempt to answer some of your questions, at least to the best of my knowledge of how it was when I was there.

1) Pay begins the first day of training, and you get minimum guarantee...70 hours, nowever, since you are training in domicile, there is no per diem, and you are responsible for your own accomodations.
2) This is the beginning of another hiring cycle there, so reserve should be short lived, particuarly on the 717. It's hard to tell about the 737, since there are none on line yet. Although there will be soon. They will be used mostly on long haul markets to the west coast.
3) When I was there, there seemed to be 3 types of reseve..early and late reserve, both with a 2 hour call out, and a ready reserve, which was limited to a 6 hour stint at the airport.
4) As with most airlnes, there are no "typical trips". Everthing from day trips, to 2 and 4 day trips, although I am hearing rumblings of longer trips...but rarely 3 day trips. TThese are inefficient, and you wind up with a 3 day followed by a 2 day....so they try to limit the number of 3 day trips. This is in addition to the CDO lines, which I liked to do. You are limited to 3 in a row, with a minimum of 3 days off after any CDO, or combination of CDOs. I would bid the better ones, with short legs and a minimum of 7 hours on the ground. I would bid the low block time lines, and get the guarantee. I personally thought it was a great deal....fly around 30 hours block, and get paid for 70...plus averaging 15-18 days off, and was home everyday. Although a lot of guys despised them, and are pushing to get rid of them on the next contract. My goal was to work as little as possible, and still get guarantee. I learned to live on guarantee, and didn't need 90 hours credit a month. Although those lines are out there. There is no typical line. There is a great variety from which to choose. I commuted for a while, but there is nothing like living in base, and I highly recommend it. The quality of life seems to increase dramatically. However, the lines are defintiely commutable.
7) As with any company, there are good work rules, and then there are work rules that the company "interprets" in a very unique way, so there are a fair share of greivences due to this practice.
8) It was a great place to work, and a great pilot group. No bitching and whining, and very little talk of who is hiring and a desire to move on to somewhere else. Everyone seemed very happy to be there and with the job they were doing.
9) That's a question you will have to answer for yourself. Who knows how the classes run? There have been numerous occasions of classes scheduled, then postponed, then re-scheduled, and so on.
10) I agree that there are no "premier" regionals, especially in the ever changing world of aviation, and I truly believe AirTran will be a survior and a considerable player in the years to come.
11) The pilot contract is amendable in Apr 2005, but I hear the company has approached the union about a 2 year extension of the current contract. This hasn't seemed to be looked upon favorably by the pilot group.
12) See answer 2.
13) Who knows?

As an aside, I would think you would have done a considerable amout of reseach to make an informed decision befoe the interview. But, my $.02 worth would you would be far better off at AirTran than at a "premier" regional. Especially one tied to one of the "legacy' carriers. You never know what might happen there, since they hold your fate, not you...to a certain degree.

Now, having said all that, I had a great time at AirTran, and the pilot group was one of the best I have worked with, however, Alaska has always been my number one company for which to work, and and I really enjoy living in Seattle over Atlanta....so it was a no brainer for me.

Good luck in your decision.

 

[mnboyev]

Well said. from AK.. couldnt be more accurate.. Good Group, Fair schedule, good movement, everyone wants moderate contract improvements, I commute (it sucks) too stubborn to move, training is fair with no frills, I didnt think I'd want to stay...but I kinda like it..small group.. friendly ....

AA it is not... SWA it is not.... But its a nice place to work and things are bright in the future.. hopefully mergers or other garbage doesnt mess things up......Good hard working bunch.. Minor gripes..

4 day trips are more common these days.. 82 hours credit ... Mix of 3 day trips possible... 14-17 days off Nice hotels for the most part....Just Random thoughts... Best of luck in your decision. AirTran is a pretty typical airline set up around traditional airline methodology...

717 FO.. 3 easy years... Eric V.