Few ASA questions

[Lazy8]

How long are newhires sitting reserve? Is Captain upgrade still about 5 years? Is the airlinepilotcentral.com payscale accurate? How's life and cost-of-living in Hotlanta?

Thanks!

g

 

[John Pennekamp]

How long are newhires sitting reserve? Is Captain upgrade still about 5 years? How's life and cost-of-living in Hotlanta?

g

Since you're a Parrothead, I'll go easy on you.

This forum does have a search function. Should you use it, you'll probably get all your questions answered.

1. No idea of new hires.

2. Most junior captain award on the ATR is about 4 years seniority right now. The CRJ is close to 5.

3. Cost of living? Depends what you're comparing it to and what part of Atlanta. Something less than Manhattan and something more than Dothan, AL

If you don't already live in Atlanta, why in the hell would you want to come to this train wreck we call ASA right now? You should look at XpressJet, Skywest, Eagle, or even Republic.

 

[ohplease!]

How long are newhires sitting reserve? Is Captain upgrade still about 5 years? Is the airlinepilotcentral.com payscale accurate? How's life and cost-of-living in Hotlanta?

g

1. not sure
2. pretty close
3. pretty close
4. cost is fairly low especially on the south side, life is hot and frustrating at the airport, otherwise not bad.

 

[Lazy8]

Since you're a Parrothead, I'll go easy on you.

I know, I've searched here and I've came up with a lot; however, things at the regionals change on a daily basis so I just figured I'd get an update from you ASA folks.

You guys fly Albatrosses and have Margarita holders in the flight deck, right?
:beer:
g

 

[John Pennekamp]

You guys fly Albatrosses and have Margarita holders in the flight deck, right?
:beer:
g

No, just some of us. On our days off. 50 feet off the water at night and no transponder.

 

[Lazy8]

If you don't already live in Atlanta, why in the hell would you want to come to this train wreck we call ASA right now? You should look at XpressJet, Skywest, Eagle, or even Republic.

I guess i'm just a little tired of 3-6 feet of snow and daily 40 knot winds here in Colorado and I'd like to get my airline career on the move. BTW, I am looking at those other carriers too, but despite the apparent problems ranted about ASA daily on FI it still seems like a stable carrier. What do you think?

 

[John Pennekamp]

I guess i'm just a little tired of 3-6 feet of snow and daily 40 knot winds here in Colorado and I'd like to get my airline career on the move. BTW, I am looking at those other carriers too, but despite the apparent problems ranted about ASA daily on FI it still seems like a stable regional. What do you think?

I think ASA is about as stable as building a skyscraper on top of the San Andreas fault. And about as bad an idea with so many better options out there.

 

[Lazy8]

I think ASA is about as stable as building a skyscraper on top of the San Andreas fault. And about as bad an idea with so many better options out there.

Please don't take this in an offensive way, but if that's really how you feel then why do you still work there (I'm assuming you work there) or are you trying to get out?

g

 

[Lolikoka]

ASA...who knows what's next

On a day-to-day basis - ASA is like any other regional; you generally fly with some really good people. The ramp operation is a goat-rope, so every once in a while things work well, sometimes it's a wonder how we stay in business. I'm somewhat concerned about maintenance now - seems like more and more stuff is getting deferred. None of it is major of course, but more and more planes have deferred items, and it makes me wonder why we can't just get the stuff fixed. I'm tired of apologizing to passengers about why we are always late, but I also call a spade a spade - if it's because of a poor decision by management, I tell them that management made a decision to save money, etc, and that's the source of their inconvenience. ASA isn't a bad job, but it's not a good job, and I am looking to get out too.

I think anyone who can fog a mirror could get a job here right now - so apply, but realize that it's got a long way to go.

In the interim, I'm Ready to Strike.

 

[79%N1]

ATR upgrade is nowhere near 4 years. CRJ wil be 5+ again with the closing of LAX, and absolutely NO growth potential on the horizon. The company is a mess. Our leadership is a joke. Promises abound, but results are few! Where is the Concourse C renovation?? Where is the crew of 3 at every T-stand??? Contract???? Just forget about it! I would go to Repulic/CHQ/Shuttle or Skywest if I were anybody. We stay here because we are stuck. Too late to start at another Regional, not enough to get on at one of the few hiring better companies.

 

[atlcrjdriver]

Grove, ASA is just like any other carrier that is in contract negotiations. We are all frustrated with the slow pace and just want to get it done. Upgrade txs will have to come down in the very near future just to keep pace w/ attrition. The closer of the the LAX base should not effect upgrade txs as we are not losing any a/c. The displacement bid shows all the crews simply coming back to ATL. Whenever this contract is done we wil hopefully see some growth a/c online.

 

[jeroom]

No, just some of us. On our days off. 50 feet off the water at night and no transponder.

That used to be my everyday flying before this job! d a m n!

 

[Lazy8]

ATR upgrade is nowhere near 4 years.

I thought the ATR's were being phased out by 2008?

 

[bacardi]

Grove, look somewhere else than asa, please

 

[Speedtape]

Avoid any other regional where they have former Widget and Twa rejects impersonating as Airline Mangagement.

 

[John Pennekamp]

Please don't take this in an offensive way, but if that's really how you feel then why do you still work there (I'm assuming you work there) or are you trying to get out?

g

It's different for me. I have the seniority to hold a decent schedule on the -700 and make decent money.

My comments were directed to you as a new hire.

 

[Jorgy50]

Grove, please look at other companies and use ASA as a last option. I've been here for almost 3 years and what I've come to realize is that your first airline is not going to be your last. 90% of us want to get our PIC time and get to an airline where we can make a decent living and pay our bills. So that being said, go to Express Jet, Chaq, Skywest, Pinnacle, places with quick upgrades. No matter what regional you go to, except for Express Jet, it's going to suck. Get the PIC time and leave. You've got 30 to 35 years of airline flying, get to major airline as quickly as you can. ASA upgrade is 5 years and not coming down and I flew with a captain this month who has been here over 7 years and is still on reserve. Just my 2 cents. Good luck...

 

[doh]

Avoid any other regional where they have former Widget and Twa rejects impersonating as Airline Mangagement.

Recycled management is everywhere. I'm not sure you can avoid them.

 

[regionalcap]

ASA upgrade is 5 years and not coming down and I flew with a captain this month who has been here over 7 years and is still on reserve. Just my 2 cents. Good luck...

?? I have been here just barely over seven years too and hold a line with weekends off as a captain.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Four-day trips on the CR2, you might add.

 

[jenks]

Grove, there are many better choices out there. ASA may be a good place someday, but has a very uncertain future at best.

 

[sweptback]

I really hate being negative about the company that pays me, and I'd never before discourage somebody from working here (in fact I've gotten friends hired here). However, I would have to say that unless you are older and are looking at ASA as a career airline or that you really want to live in ATL, go somewhere else.

ASA will most likely not receive another growth aircraft. I'd be surprised if we did, actually. When SkyWest bought us, they raided our order book and transferred the delivered aircraft to their side of the operation. We all thought that SkyWest would handle the west coast flying and we would handle the east (and that is what was told to us when we closed our SLC base), but now SkyWest has an ATL base and operates 11 900s out of here.

The 80% of flying in ATL that must be performed by ASA is bunk, as all the growth in ATL has gone to other carriers. With no new aircraft, you will only upgrade by attrition. With 1700 pilots and 20 pilots leaving per month, you do the math.

Go somewhere else. Unless something positive happens here, ASA is a dead end.

 

[JettBoii]

I don't like it here. I really enjoy flying with the people I am paired up with but that is about it. Go be a 135 pilot and make your transition over to UPS or FedEx. Don't get married and don't have kids. Buy a nice house and have a few girlfriends. Travel when you want and spend what you want when you want too. Save your money. Make intelligent choices. But do NOT come over to ASA. My 2 cents. Thats what this board is for. Yep, I am a bitter person.

BTW Sweptback, are we really losing 20 pilots a month?

 

[twott driver]

At least...... they can't even keep up with attrition. God help them if they get growth aircraft and have to try and make up the numbers.

 

[atlcrjdriver]

Speaking only for myself, working at ASA has not been a bad experience aside from an extension or two. It is extremely rare that you will have contract negotiations go smoothly like clockwork. Prime example would be XJT contract negotiations. Our sessions have been dragged out by post 9/11 events, union and mgmnt actions. The best things we can do is hope for the NMB to start the clock and put an end to this four year tragedy so we can move on.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

We are loosing more like 30-40 a month. March and April will be really big months here as many of the people that got the DAL job are going to be in class in these two month.
I would say that by the end of the year upgrade will be under three years.

 

[Boxer]

The tally today from the chief pilot's office for attrition: 64 since January 1st.