Comair company culture?

[prodigal]

Can any of you Comair guys explain what the culture, atmosphere is like there for pilots?
Thanks in advance!

 

[prodigal]

?

Anybody???

 

[ACE]

Be more specific. What is it you exactly want to know?

 

[prodigal]

Just wondered what the company culture is like.
I've worked at places which were rigid and sterile, some were laid-back and fun (while still remaining professional), some where there was backbiting and such.
Just wanted to know what the general culture and mood is like for pilots.
Thanks again!

 

[ACE]

Basicly if you don't go looking for trouble at Comair, you will not find it. At Comair, the most important thing is never to lie. There is still an immense atmosphere of solidarity amongest the pilot group. In other words, we don't eat our young. We are in a comfortable middle between being a rigid and relaxed company. No pilot ever leaves Comair because they are unhappy. A lot of pilots have expressed thier intent to retire with Comair.

 

[pylotman]

I would absolutely agree with Ace. Don't look for trouble and you won't find it. I worked here for 4 years and seen the chief pilots twice. I was called in for doing a good job on a particular flight and second I had to talk to them about a personal issue. There are a few still upset about the contract, but not many. All in all we are still very solid as a group, though we may disagree on certain issues. We stand together. The country club (MCO base) was more relaxed then CVG, that has since closed. I would agree Comair is middle of the road. Some things they are anal about, but as long as you are professional and get the job done, no one is going to bother you. I have been very happy being here at Comair. Although I would like to get back to the SEA area, I would be happy retiring here.

 

[jarhead]

My son is a Comair CA, and has been with Comair for 6-1/2 years.
He has stated to me, that he fully intends to stay at CMR, and retire from there. He likes the pilot group there very much, and for the most part, he gets along with most of managements decisions as they pertain to operational issues.

 

[Broke in CVG]

The planes are a little warm since the APU crusade.

 

[prodigal]

Thanks

Thanks for all the replies. I have an interview coming up soon and I just wanted to get a feel for some of the "intangibles" there. Your replies certainly confirm the general impressions I had until now, ie, that Comair is a great place.
I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity and don't want to blow it.
Thanks again.
prodigal

 

[ACE]

...and how much did he pay for his job at Comair?

Grow up.

 

[jtf]

What is the APU crusade?

 

[pylotman]

The APU crusade.

The company has asked all of us (pilots and maintenances?) to reduce the use of the APU and do more reduced thrust takeoffs. The bean counters have figured out the per minute cost of running the APU and cost savings of using reduced thrust. They say these saving could equal millions of dollars per year. They are asking us to do this cost saving measure instead of asking for concession from any of the employee groups. If ground power is available, don't start the APU until 3 min prior to push. However, it's hot (>80) on the ground go ahead and run it.

While some of this effort was to reduce the ground running of the APU, because some were having an hour or more break on the ground and leaving the APU run. The real push is in the descent profile. It was not uncommon to start the APU 20 min out. They wanted us to delay the starting until the Approach phase (10 min out).

I forget what are the actual cost/hr, but it is a easy request to comply with.

 

[Ralph]

Retire

As I understand it Comair has no retirement plan for pilots. Am I wrong? How do you retire from Comair with no retirment? Do you guys just save a portion of your paycheck every month or is there a retirment plan?

I'm actually asking because I don't know. I'm not trying to be a butt.

 

[flaps30]

yes, there is a retirement plan

go to www.comair.com for details.

 

[jarhead]

Ralph

Like so many companies in all fields of employment, the defined pension plans so popular 30 years ago are disappearing fast in America.

The way you retire from Comair, as with many employers in America, is to plan for it your whole life. This is done by contributing to a 401(k) or 403(b) plan. Those funds belong to you, and can never be taken from you by a bankrupt company, or theft of those funds by a companies management. The company usually contributes a certain matching amount to your elected contribution. Over time, those tax deferred dollars can become very sizable. The secrete to success for this to work, is to start early in your life, and contribute as much as you can to your 401(k) until you retire. I know. I am retired, and I have a sizable "chunk" that is mine to live on, plus the social security benefits added to it. Social security, may, or may not be there for you when you reach retirement, so don't count on it. It most likely will be broke in 2037

 

[Ralph]

thanks, where can I find out about the plan? A quick search via google didn't help. Comair.com doesn't really give details on the pilot contract either.

 

[jarhead]

http://www.airlinepilotcontracts.com/Contracts/Comair2001.pdf

 

[Ralph]

Thanks! I thought no regional airline had a retirement package. Obviously I was wrong. The vacation time stinks. My current (non-flying job) allows 4 weeks a year. Do you guys get enough time off anyway that it doesn't really matter?

 

[jarhead]

Four weeks a year is very generous. If you use that as your benchmark, very few employers will be able to meet that, let alone exceed it. School teacher is about the only one I can think of (my wifes profession). As with most employers, vacation acrual increases with longevity. As your senority increases, you will be able to bid and hold days off to tie in to your vacation time, plus you can often "swap" trips with other pilots. And don't forget about your travel benefits as an airline employee to get you from "here to there"

 

[wil]

Ralph- when I was a senior FO I was able to turn my 7 day vacation into 15 without breaking a sweat! I did this by bidding a line with 4 day trips at either end of my vacation period and dropping conflicting trips. And, if you add my other 7 days which I made into 13 plus working 3 on and 4 off I would say that my quality of life was pretty good. Now I'm a very junior Captain and my quality of life sucks but I flew 5 hours last month. I spent a good amount of time poolside at the crashpad! If you live in domicile and want a minimum schedule it can be done.
And Jarhead is correct about the travel Benes! I'm taking the wife to Ireland. Last year we went over biz class (awesome) and came back on Aer Lingus (and they did not charge us- God bless the Irish!) to JFK so we could see the "City that never sleeps". If you master standby travel (it is an art!!) the world is only an ATL (or CVG, etc) connection away!!