expressjet and ASA

[unemployedav8er]

does anyone have info about reserve times and upgrade times? thanks for the help.

 

[79%N1]

ASA = Forever, and a day. Will be longer if we lose any SLC flying to Skywest, and if there is no growth coming with the ATR fleet being retired. Look at 5-8 years, depending on the above.

 

[unemployedav8er]

79%, thanks for the info. How do you like working for ASA? I have an offer from expressjet and an interview with ASA and I'm trying to pick the best one.

 

[Meiguy]

the question I would be asking myself is...Where do I live? If you live in Atlanta I'd go ASA. If you live near Cleveland, Newark, or Houston go to ExpressJet. Commuting blows and the easier you make that on yourself the better lifestyle you will have. Upgrade right now at ExpressJet is a little over two years for the remaining upgrades this year. However, that will go up significantly now that all the guys that had a chance to go to Cal have left and we have received our last airplane. Which is now. Also I'm sure you know about the whole 69 airplane thing. So if we lose those it will be about what the other guy said...forever plus 1 for upgrade. Not up to speed on the reserve right now. Sorry. Good luck. For what it's worth I like it here at ExpressJet. Hopefully you will know the outcome of the 69 plane thing before you make your call.

lata

 

["GO AROUND"]

Its a crap shoot anywhere you go these days. You'd have better odds being a professional gambler. ASA pilots could be out of a job in 10 days and Coex pilots could be furloughed if they lose 69 airplanes.

Wish I could be more help. Flip a coin. Things could go a lot of ways.

 

[~~~^~~~]

ASA is a much better airline since Skywest bought us and is improving daily. Obviously some things still need to be worked out, but it is better than it was.

Continental is playing a nasty game with the Express Jet pilots and 69 airplanes. Historically Jet Express has been a better employer than ASA but Gordon Bethune's legacy is gone.

I see ASA as on the rise and Jet Express as in decline as a result of their own management. Chautauqua is growing like Kudzu and has the newest equipment. If I was a betting man, I'd bet on the airline with the E170's and E190's.

 

[Alchemy]

At Expressjet, if we don't lose the 69 airplanes I would expect to sit reserve for one and a half years and upgrade in 5-6 years. Attrition will probably move the list at 10-15 numbers per month, the bottom 15% or so of the lines are reserve, there are 1300 FO's; you'll need to move up about 250 numbers to get off reserve. That's how I'm getting these numbers.

If we lose the 69 airplanes, you will be furloughed. After (if) you come back you will sit reserve for about 2 years and upgrade in 7 years. Based loosely on the same stats as above, with slower attrition.

If quick PIC time is what you seek, find a turboprop operator or tough it out and do cargo. The only reason that I'd go to either place right now is if you lived in or near one of the bases, or you need 121 time for some reason.

 

[Weasil]

I will be commuting from ORD. CLE would be the easiest commute by the looks of it. Does XJ have a lot of ORD overnights out of CLE? Also, do you have long call reserve?

 

[unemployedav8er]

All my experience is 91. Our company sold the airplane (C560) and closed the flight department. I have just under 1800TT but only around 550 PIC. Insurance wants at least 2500TT for captain status. I think I could put up with just about anything for a year or two so I could get another 1500 hrs of so. I live in upstate SC and really don't want to move. That is why I'm testing the regional waters.

 

[Baronman]

At this point at XJT Cleveland is not the place to be. While the other bases (EWR and IAH) are growing, Cleveland will continue to have fewer and fewer lines. We all fly so much though the other bases that EWR and IAH crews can pick up those CLE flights.

Pilot lines (roughly)
IAH = 500
EWR = 250
CLE = 110 (projected to become 80 by next year).

 

[SBD]

What are the chances of a newhire getting EWR out of training? My in-laws live 15 min away from EWR so I'll have a place to stay. Also how much influence does a walk-in resume play on getting an interview? Several of my old instructors are at XJT and we still keep in touch.

 

[Alchemy]

What are the chances of a newhire getting EWR out of training? My in-laws live 15 min away from EWR so I'll have a place to stay. Also how much influence does a walk-in resume play on getting an interview? Several of my old instructors are at XJT and we still keep in touch.

You should have no problem getting EWR right of training if you want it. Walk in resumes will help get your name to the top of the stack. If you have a friend here tell them to email the Sr. Director of Flt. Ops with your name and application record locator number.

I will be commuting from ORD. CLE would be the easiest commute by the looks of it. Does XJ have a lot of ORD overnights out of CLE? Also, do you have long call reserve?

As far as the ORD commute, I flew with a captain a few times who did ORD-CLE for a few years, when CLE was downsized he went switched to ORD-EWR and then to ORD-IAH. He's switching back to ORD-EWR because he says the flight is a little shorter and it's easier to get home in the evenings.

He always takes a flight 7AM in the morning or earlier for his commute in, says it's just to risky otherwise when dealing with the combined delays of ORD and EWR. There are probably quite a few ORD/MDW overnights out of CLE, but on reserve (which is where you will spend at least a year if you get hired here now) you will have little to no say on where you overnight anyway. We do have long-call resrve, it is an 8 hour callout.

 

[worldfly]

I see ASA as on the rise and Jet Express as in decline as a result of their own management. Chautauqua is growing like Kudzu and has the newest equipment. If I was a betting man, I'd bet on the airline with the E170's and E190's.

An interesting point of view considering we could all be out of a job by the 18th, be careful with your optimism, it might back fire.

 

[Midnight Flyer]

ASA = Forever, and a day. Will be longer if we lose any SLC flying to Skywest, and if there is no growth coming with the ATR fleet being retired. Look at 5-8 years, depending on the above.

I can remember when I used to work for ASA and we first got the ATR's back in the 90's and they were brand spanking new. Seems like some turboprops and the barbie jets seem to have a definate life on them. I'm still on the b727 and there's no talk of retiring her.

 

[Turtlesfly]

What are the chances of a newhire getting EWR out of training?

100%.

 

[sweptback]

I can remember when I used to work for ASA and we first got the ATR's back in the 90's and they were brand spanking new. Seems like some turboprops and the barbie jets seem to have a definate life on them. I'm still on the b727 and there's no talk of retiring her.

It's not that ASA is retiring the ATRs because they're falling apart (although they somewhat are!), but because ATRs are in such high demand worldwide. Our leases expire in 2007 and from what I understand the new lease would be a substantial increase. Combined with the fact that we have so few of them, it doesn't make sense to keep them around.

 

[Midnight Flyer]

It's not that ASA is retiring the ATRs because they're falling apart (although they somewhat are!), but because ATRs are in such high demand worldwide. Our leases expire in 2007 and from what I understand the new lease would be a substantial increase. Combined with the fact that we have so few of them, it doesn't make sense to keep them around.

The ATR is probably my fav turboprop. I never had a problem with 'em.
Not bad considering where they're from.

 

[Weasil]

As far as the ORD commute, I flew with a captain a few times who did ORD-CLE for a few years, when CLE was downsized he went switched to ORD-EWR and then to ORD-IAH. He's switching back to ORD-EWR because he says the flight is a little shorter and it's easier to get home in the evenings.

He always takes a flight 7AM in the morning or earlier for his commute in, says it's just to risky otherwise when dealing with the combined delays of ORD and EWR. There are probably quite a few ORD/MDW overnights out of CLE, but on reserve (which is where you will spend at least a year if you get hired here now) you will have little to no say on where you overnight anyway. We do have long-call resrve, it is an 8 hour callout.

Alchemy,
Thanks for your helpful response. Is the long-call reserve something you can get straight away, or is that for people who've been on reserve for longer. We don't have that at PSA (where I work now). an 8 hr callout would allow me to sit reserve at home in chicago and then commute to EWR for a trip.

 

[Paul R. Smith]

Alchemy,
Thanks for your helpful response. Is the long-call reserve something you can get straight away, or is that for people who've been on reserve for longer. We don't have that at PSA (where I work now). an 8 hr callout would allow me to sit reserve at home in chicago and then commute to EWR for a trip.

Long call usually goes a bit more senior than short call. And when I say "a bit" its usually different for each base. CLE being the most senior, then IAH, then EWR... And BTW long call at xjt is 12 hours. When sched calls, you have 2 hours to call back, but 12 hours from when they call as a minimum. I had long rsv line call a couple of months back and I liked it but I don't commute. I just liked the flexibility of knowing I have at least 12 hours notice...It was almost like having a line or schedule...Almost.

 

[kailuaboy]

what is the website for expressjet pilots again?

 

[msuspartans24]

At this point at XJT Cleveland is not the place to be. While the other bases (EWR and IAH) are growing, Cleveland will continue to have fewer and fewer lines. We all fly so much though the other bases that EWR and IAH crews can pick up those CLE flights.

Pilot lines (roughly)
IAH = 500
EWR = 250
CLE = 110 (projected to become 80 by next year).

these numbers are correct and as far as a long call line it looks like it is taking around 4-6 months.

 

[dojetdriver]

these numbers are correct and as far as a long call line it looks like it is taking around 4-6 months.

It took me 6 months to hold Long Call. Everything is realtive, I'm a commuter and had mixed feelings about LC reserve. Good on the first day and last day. The middle days could be rough. It's not so much of a long call as a long notification. As long as the conpany notifies you 12 hrs before your next assingment and you get the legal/contractual rest in there, it's OK.

When I bid the R5 reserve line (12pm to 12am) I didn't have to do any 6 am shows.

 

[SBD]

Is commuting out of Florida insane, or can it be done.

 

[marinepilot]

Long call usually goes a bit more senior than short call. And when I say "a bit" its usually different for each base. CLE being the most senior, then IAH, then EWR... And BTW long call at xjt is 12 hours. When sched calls, you have 2 hours to call back, but 12 hours from when they call as a minimum. I had long rsv line call a couple of months back and I liked it but I don't commute. I just liked the flexibility of knowing I have at least 12 hours notice...It was almost like having a line or schedule...Almost.

Paul R. Smith,

I just received a pre-interview email from HR at XJT and I must say that I'm excited about the prospect of possibly working there! I would like to get IAH out of training, is there a good possibility of that?

Also, in response to your quote above, I have a question about "Long Call" reserve. I'm pretty sure I'm about to ask a dumb question, but what is "Long Call" reserve and how does it work? (I'm a newbie to this civilian flying!) I am currently living in Pensacola, FL, and would like to keep living here and just commute once I get to bid a line, but I understand I could spend a year or more on reserve, so I plan on getting a crash pad in Houston (if I can get it out of training). But this Long Call really interests me. Heck, if I could get on that, I could be at home in PNS and either jumpseat, non-rev, or if absolutely necessary, DRIVE to Houston in that amount of time!

Any info you (or anyone else) can give on these questions would be greatly appreciated.

marinepilot

 

[Turtlesfly]

Yeah, come to XJT now! Who-hoo are things looking good!

 

[pa31350pilot]

As far as IAH out of training, it is looking very good for that. I just finished training within the last two months myself, and our class was approx. 50/50 ewr and iah. I think just one guy went to cle even though they had said he probably wouldn't. The talk was that the classes after mine would be mostly if not all iah based, as they said they are adding around 100 more hard lines there by the end of summer. I remember being told that iah was going to be almost impossible to get, but not anymore. I went to ewr by the way since I'm from the northeast. Good luck and try not to let the rumors about XJT worry you too much right now. If you can get in, do it.

 

[Weasil]

Well folks I went to the april 19th interviews and was offered a class date in may 22. I accepted it. I have another 121 job right now flying crj700s and this could be a really stupid move but everything in aviation is such a crapshoot it seems like anyway and if things go well with xjet I think I will be much happier there. It seems like such a great company to work for. I spent some time looking at the reserve schedules for may and they are better the the hard line I hold with my present company. 12 days off! Our top line this month had 13 days off. I have 2 years in my present job and with our sh*tty schedules I barely get home 5 days a month. Also in the second year at X-jet I will be making more than I can make at my current job for another couple of years. Third year fo pay at xjet is higher than our top fo payrate. And some of the senior lines at xj have up to 19 days off. one even had 21 days off! Sounds good to me.

See you folks in training!