Compass!

[steve3137]

Anyone on here that is at compass, could you please tell me how you like it there? Likes dislikes. I have an interview coming up. How are hte lines? Are they commutable? Pay during training. Any info would be great thanks.

 

[DashTrash400]

Middling to crappy contract; ok pay for a regional airline but inadequate for a 76 seat jet; mostly decent crew schedulers; lines have gone downhill & nobody is looking forward to PBS; perpetually understaffed due to no-show newhires, should catch up by the end of the year and make life more bearable.

Could be a long upgrade for anyone hired right now...absent additional aircraft orders (unlikely I think) it'll be 100% based on attrition.

 

[General Lee]

Middling to crappy contract; ok pay for a regional airline but inadequate for a 76 seat jet; mostly decent crew schedulers; lines have gone downhill & nobody is looking forward to PBS; perpetually understaffed due to no-show newhires, should catch up by the end of the year and make life more bearable.

Could be a long upgrade for anyone hired right now...absent additional aircraft orders (unlikely I think) it'll be 100% based on attrition.

Would you rather be back at Horizon on the Dash-8-400? Are you in the left seat now at Compass? Is there anything you like at Compass? Are you glad you made the move?

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[TravelingWX-man]

Would you leave a place like say colgan for them? I have an interview with them coming up and have been back and forth on this. I'm not in danger of furlough, but the prospects here are not very good at all. Just looking for advice, perspective

 

[cargoflyr69]

I'd go to the interview and see what they have to say and base my decision afterwards. I'd be highly skeptical about leaving a good left seat job with seniority to be at the bottom of the compass list. A few things to consider with the NW-DL merger is that there will probably be some deep cuts to the regional feed. if there are furloughs at NW (or DL if the TA passes) those mainline pilots have unlimited flowdown rights to compass and 8 slots at Mesaba i think. This alone could put almost every compass pilot on property on the street! Some thoughs to ponder...

 

[Freight Dog]

I don't think too many people are crazy enough to go to Compass these days considering that their job is on the chopping block the minute mainline starts any kind of a furlough.

With thousands of furloughed Aloha/ATA/Champion and others still on the street, I doubt many would rush to commute for $23/hour job only to get furloughed again the minute mainline starts to furlough.

All this for a chance to bypass an interview process at NWA/Delta?

Not worth it unless you are a low timer... just IMO.

 

[WSurf]

Would you rather be back at Horizon on the Dash-8-400? Are you in the left seat now at Compass? Is there anything you like at Compass? Are you glad you made the move?

Bye Bye--General Lee

Wow, looking at the Contract and Payrates the Horizon Q400's pay is much better then the Compass 175.

I would guess he left Horizon for a faster upgrade.

 

[Daydreamer]

Nice avatar, Wsurf

 

[Baronman]

I wouldn't leave a left seat anywhere to go to compass. I'd only go there is I was on the bottom of another regional list and lived in one of their domiciles.

I'd be scared of any affiliation with the red-tail. Their management is ruthless. Yet another horrible hand-job of a giant rj pay rate.

And finally...Furloughs looming at NW. If they lay off 200, say bye-bye.

 

[MJ42]

I wouldn't leave a left seat anywhere to go to compass. I'd only go there is I was on the bottom of another regional list and lived in one of their domiciles.

I'd be scared of any affiliation with the red-tail. Their management is ruthless. Yet another horrible hand-job of a giant rj pay rate. That's why we need to get these aircraft at mainline, the new DAL payscale includes a rate for the "giant RJ's" that are much better.

And finally...Furloughs looming at NW. If they lay off 200, say bye-bye.

Furloughs looming at NWA??? Where do you get this info? Beside Southwest, the new DAL will be one of the few safe places to work (barring any catastrophe).

NWA just awarded 50 early retirements(many more applied). Also, 80+ leaves(many more applied), anywhere from 1 to 3 months in length, were awarded.

There is 24 month no furlough protection in the new contract.

DAL pilot staffing model per aircraft will leave NWA short on pilots.

The new DAL has a 70 hr/month reserve guarantee which is less than NWA's 75 hr/month, therefore requiring more pilots(no furlough).

We are keeping DC-9-40 and -50's while taking delivery of 737-700's, 777's and, eventually, 787's (787 depends on DAL management...they don't like it, for now). Maybe this will create the need to hire in the near future.

Although I'd like to see Compass(and XJ) included in the SLI discussions, it is unlikely in foreseeable negotiations.

To the original poster: if an offer is extended, base your decision on how you feel about Compass after the interview. Having options during slower times is always a plus.

 

[TravelingWX-man]

Just to clarify, I am in the right seat, roughly in the middle of the list, and live at domicile, however there is no upgrade in sight, and we've got a pretty pathetic second and third year payscale with no perdiem. I guess I'll see what they have to say.

 

[clr4theapch]

On the bright side of Compass.. They are almost staffed entirely by former Indy folks, all of wheich are very dedicted and pleasant to work with/for.. they are all passionate about Compass and seem to care, something that is missing at many other carriers...
For those of us not use to the high cost of living in the NE, it can be quite a shock.. and prevented me from accepting work there when they started up a few years back..

If your young, go to the interview, see the place, get the info.. it may be just right for you having already lived in the area.. GL

 

[rjacobs]

For those of us not use to the high cost of living in the NE, it can be quite a shock..

when they started up a few years back

High cost of living in the Compass bases; Detroit, Minni, and Memphis? Not hardly, and I wouldnt even remotely consider them in the north east. While not the cheapest places in the US to live they are by far not the most expensive.

And Compass has only been operating for around 1 year, maybe slightly longer(1.5 years).

I would go to the interview and potentially take the job if I were you. Look past the first year pay, which could be more than you make on second or third year pay at colgan when you figure in per-diem. A lot of majors are wanting glass cockpit, FMS, turbojet time and not turbo prop time any more as the job market is so competitive.

 

[IdRtherBsailing]

So just wondering, what can you expect to make first year at Compass with Rig, per diem, overtime, etc? Avg bi-weekly or annually.

 

[General Lee]

I wouldn't leave a left seat anywhere to go to compass. I'd only go there is I was on the bottom of another regional list and lived in one of their domiciles.

I'd be scared of any affiliation with the red-tail. Their management is ruthless. Yet another horrible hand-job of a giant rj pay rate.

And finally...Furloughs looming at NW. If they lay off 200, say bye-bye.

Furloughs looming eh? I guess you didn't read the part about NWA rules having to equal DL work rules, which will immediately ADD jobs. There are also plenty of widebody Captains at NWA leaving each month thanks to the NWA retirement medical premiums being cheaper now prior to the corporate closing rather than afterwards. This is all happening NOW.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[lookin4better]

Furloughs looming eh? I guess you didn't read the part about NWA rules having to equal DL work rules, which will immediately ADD jobs. There are also plenty of widebody Captains at NWA leaving each month thanks to the NWA retirement medical premiums being cheaper now prior to the corporate closing rather than afterwards. This is all happening NOW.


Bye Bye--General Lee

When is a possible time for the Delta work rules ( in this case manning requirements ) to become effective at NWA thus = the need for pilots?

AWK was saying approx 400 needed just for the manning rules. Add the 737s and 777s and it seems like there will be hiring later this year.

 

[General Lee]

When is a possible time for the Delta work rules ( in this case manning requirements ) to become effective at NWA thus = the need for pilots?

AWK was saying approx 400 needed just for the manning rules. Add the 737s and 777s and it seems like there will be hiring later this year.

The DCC, or date of corporate closing. That will likely occur sometime in the beginning of next year. The Joint Contract is still be voted on, and I think it will eventually pass (maybe close on the DL side, but I think it will pass). As soon as that happens, the contract will be in effect. But, the lists won't actually be merged until the certificates are merged, which will likely take 9-12 months from DCC. So, Delta and NWA will probably seperately hire sometime next year, thanks to a shortfall in pilots and new airplanes being added. (barring a large catastrophe or oil at $200 a barrel)

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[lookin4better]

The DCC, or date of corporate closing. That will likely occur sometime in the beginning of next year. The Joint Contract is still be voted on, and I think it will eventually pass (maybe close on the DL side, but I think it will pass). As soon as that happens, the contract will be in effect. But, the lists won't actually be merged until the certificates are merged, which will likely take 9-12 months from DCC. So, Delta and NWA will probably seperately hire sometime next year, thanks to a shortfall in pilots and new airplanes being added. (barring a large catastrophe or oil at $200 a barrel)

Bye Bye--General Lee

Thanks Lee!

 

[BlueRidger]

Assuming you are a 121 pilot already (since that is what they are hiring mostly), hop on our cockpit jumpseat and find out for yourself. I think you will enjoy the experience. It is still a regional flying a mainline equivalent aircraft for regional wages. Everybody there is well aware of what we are - seat warmers for mainline furloughs. That being said, I am enjoying the flying and the crews. Please come by and find out for yourself.

 

[GOULET!]

I don't think too many people are crazy enough to go to Compass these days considering that their job is on the chopping block the minute mainline starts any kind of a furlough.

With thousands of furloughed Aloha/ATA/Champion and others still on the street, I doubt many would rush to commute for $23/hour job only to get furloughed again the minute mainline starts to furlough.

All this for a chance to bypass an interview process at NWA/Delta?

Not worth it unless you are a low timer... just IMO.

Most of our new hire classes have been staffed with Aloha/ATA/Champion pilots. No place is safe right now but Compass is a good place to come if your looking for a job. Schedules aren't great but are commutable. There are risks coming here however it also has the best promise of any regional right now. Good luck with your decision.