Continental or stay Fractional?

[furlough-boy]

So, how long you been laid off at AA?

In case you haven't looked outside in the past couple of years, NJA pays as much as "the majors" and you don't have to beg a ride to commute. Oh, yeah, they're making a buttload of money, too.

I rarely stoop to this but, here goes: doucheb@g! TC

Very professional.

I'm back at the majors and spent 3 years at a fractional. Just my opinion.

 

[GuppyWN]

TWAD,

Go with your heart and don't look back........ whatever that may be.

For those touting the fracs just remember. When the economy hits the skids the first thing to go is the jet. Been there.

Good luck,
Gup

 

[AA717driver]

furloughboy--Yes, what I said to you was unprofessional. But your implication that the fracs were somehow a lesser breed than pilots at "major" airlines was equally insulting.

It is exactly the kind of remark that epitomizes why we are where we are as a profession--someone thinking they are in a lofty position, looking down their noses at the great unwashed.

Having tasted life at a "major" airline and now at a corporate operation I am qualified to state that the people I fly with would be on par with the top of the heap at any major out there.TC

 

[furlough-boy]

furloughboy--Yes, what I said to you was unprofessional. But your implication that the fracs were somehow a lesser breed than pilots at "major" airlines was equally insulting.

It is exactly the kind of remark that epitomizes why we are where we are as a profession--someone thinking they are in a lofty position, looking down their noses at the great unwashed.

Having tasted life at a "major" airline and now at a corporate operation I am qualified to state that the people I fly with would be on par with the top of the heap at any major out there.TC

You've taken this the wrong way. My comment was as to the quality of the job, not the quality of the pilot. My QOL at the airlines has been significantly better then it ever was during my three years of fractional flying, or two years of corporate flying. It's a lot harder being a fractional pilot, hands down. But why work harder if you don't have to? There's always risk with potential reward, I just think the risk of going for an airline job is worth it. You're mileage may vary.

From someone who JXCAP'd in a prior life too.

Good luck

 

[CAL EWR B737]

There's some question on the ATA -300s, there is some backup down in training, there's some rumors about stock price, Larry might be the Anti-Christ, it's all on CALforums or in the crew room. Man I don't know, I'm just passing on the little rumors I read and hear about.

Heck, in a few days, weeks the bid will be out, and we'll all know the truth for that little time period.

I'm a crack pipe (CAL Pilot Forums) member and poster too. You know as well as I do there is some really good info on the pipe and there is plenty of crap as well. You kind of have to sift through it to find the credible stuff from the total BS.

I called pilot recruitment today and spoke with KD Josts executive assistant and she told me as far as she knows there has been no changes with the pilot hiring numbers.

Personally I could see a slow down in hiring just to cut down on the training back log. The third pilot I sponsored just finished IOE. It took six weeks from the completion of his sims to complete IOE. First he waited three weeks before his first IOE trip and then had to wait at least a week until the next trip. That time frame is totally unacceptable

 

[Diesel]

guppywn-

Actually during 9/11 and the major recession that hit the economy.... you remember the time that the airlines were furloughing.... we were hiring. We only stopped hiring for about a year.

So they might sell the jet when the economy goes down but they'll never go back to the airlines.

 

[AA717driver]

furloughboy--Ok, now I get it. I expected a "Nordstrom v. Kmart pilot" comment next.

Congrats on landing a good job.TC

 

[twad]

Thanks for everybody's thoughts, opinions and info. This has been extremely helpful for myself and my family. It seems pretty clear that the place I am at is not where I see myself in the long term. Cal would be fantastic and I really feel that I will always regret it if I dont give it a try. It's not everyday a opportunity like this comes along.

Thanks again for all the input.

 

[SWA/FO]

Hey someone start a thread about what benefits cost at your operation, where ever that may be. I thought COpilot's post about his costs would be very helpful info. to people out there. I would do it, but people hate me on this website and would be mad at me, call me all sort of names. I also took a look at www.airlinepilotpay.com and noticed the matching CAL has for their B plan, not to bad my fellow aviators. Thats, if I understand it correctly, its appears better then our matching at SWA. Thanks

 

[Jetsi]

Twad,

That pay scale looks familiar.

I was at RTA, went through the merger with FLOPS. I left as a 5th year Captain and took a 20K paycut to go to Frontier. I honestly haven't looked back.

I spent 21 months on reserve, and that was better than being a Captain at FLOPS. If you really think about it, your entire schedule at FLOPS is a reserve schedule.

Now I have a line, more days off, more money, etc.

Run from FLOPS as fast as you can. Now that Raytheon is in control again, I feel they are just going to sell it again. Especially as they are hemorrhaging money right now. You may be furloughed in a few years, but the chance is worth taking, IMHO. You may also upgrade in a few years, and make at least double what you are making now.

Someone said it earlier, but be sure to get your family (if you have one) in on the decision process. My wife and kids are much happier now than they were at the frac. I live in DEN, so commuting is not a factor for me. That would be the ONLY concern I had about leaving FLOPS for CAL.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Jetsi

 

[twad]

Hey Jetsi,

Thanks,

I think my decision is a good one. I live close enough to drive to EWR so commuting will not be a problem. Thanks for your input.

 

[CAL EWR B737]

As an aside note. I am currently flying a 2day trip with one of our new hires who left Net Jets after five years. Says he doesn´t regret leaving even with the new contract. Says no comparasion CAL is better hands down. Thats his opinon for what its worth.

 

[densoo]

As an aside note. I am currently flying a 2day trip with one of our new hires who left Net Jets after five years. Says he doesn´t regret leaving even with the new contract. Says no comparasion CAL is better hands down. Thats his opinon for what its worth.

You're in a position of authority and he's on probation. He's got his spiel down for the next 10 months while each and every captain he flies with fills out the obligatory Probationary Pilot Report on him. When he's off probation and on an hourly payscale he might, then, voice his real opinion--which could be "CAL is better hands down" or not. As a mentor once told me: "You're interviewing for the job until you're off probation and in the union. Don't let your guard down until then." Sage advice.

 

[twad]

Can anyone tell me how the the new B plan at Cal works? I saw the percentages on Airlinepilotcentral but are they company contributions or what the employee can contribute? Also, on the pay calculator I noticed that it goes up to 13 bid periods. Can anybody tell me whether Cal has 12 or 13 bid periods? I was under the assumption that there could only be 12.

Thanks

 

[kaisersose]

B plan

The company deposits the money into an acct which is manageable by you just like the 401k. It is a company funded deposit based on a percentage of what you earned in the month. When you go to the Schwab site and log in it shows two accts. They are identical except for where the money comes from and of course all the regulations governing withdrawals etc.

There are 12 bid periods loosely linked to the calender. A bid period has either 30 or 31 days. In some months it will start on days other than the first and/or end on a day other than the last day of the month.

 

[GogglesPisano]

. When you go to the Schwab site and log in it shows two accts. .

You said "Schwab".

 

[kaisersose]

You said "Schwab".

Yeah he he he I'm doin my monkey boy