Frontier Info.

[Jeff Helgeson]

Thanks for the post!

From a F9 Captain who saw this on the the FAPA site today.

"We are very pleased with the membership ratification of the Tentative Agreements for Sections 4 and 5 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The effort to make these changes has been underway for well over a year and we believe the new pay and scheduling rules will greatly benefit both our pilots and the Company. My thanks to everyone involved on behalf of the Association and the Company. This was a long, arduous process that will require even more work ahead.

We are now beginning the implementation of these changes. This involves significant changes to our way of building schedules, lines of flying, and payroll. In the course of this transition questions and situations will arise that will challenge everyone. Please ask your questions and raise the issues. We have worked through countless scenarios in developing these sections but it is impossible to anticipate every possibility. We ask that everyone understand the complexity of the task at hand and be patient as we implement these changes. The BOD is committed to working through issues that arise, and making the adjustments to ensure the best outcome for the pilots and the Company. I have received assurances from Jim Sullivan, Sean Menke, and other senior managers that they will work cooperatively and constructively to ensure the success of this changeover.

Over the next week we will begin to provide answers to questions you may have and details of the implementation.

At this time, in addition to the BOD, all our Scheduling Committee members are involved. In order to implement the software side of the scheduling and pay issues, a project team has been formed with the Company and members of FAPA."

My buddy indicated it will be a a few months to impelement the program and therefore the companies hiring plans have been altered. The fact is that they will need more pilots but not right at this moment. So they should keep you in the pool slightly longee then they planned on initailly a few months ago.

Good luck!

Thank you!

 

[Ricky]

Oh Oh, I was right

For all F9 hopefulls, I got an email cancelling my interview in September, however, F9 said (in the same email) they'll call me back as soon as they can. And so, let the wait continue, sigh.....
Any one else?

 

[Daddy]

Ditto...DAMMIT!

 

[crashpad]

Ricky and Daddy;


I'm sorry. If there is ever a good reason to postpone a class, then making sure everything is in place when you get on board is a good thing. Look at it this way, a decision was made to enhance efficiency/profit and thereby further secure your future with Frontier. When you get onboard there will be many more benefits awaiting you that we presently do not have.
We're all grateful for your patience and definitely look forward to your arrival.
I'll try to pick you out of the class and and treat you to lunch at my favorite restaurant.....

 

[Ricky]

Thank you

Crashpad:
Thanks for the kind words. I'll take you up on your offer, and will second it with a promise of libations (on me) after work time. By the way, you shouldn't have a problem finding me in a crowd. I sound like your avatar (Scarface) when I talk.
Mai naim is tonee montana, sai helo tu mai little frend!

 

[Daddy]

Thanks, crashpad...more pay and benefits, secure future, free lunch, libations...all good things...sign me up!

 

[fredgalaxy]

Got the cancellation email as well. Bummer. Any idea how long before interviews will resume? I guess if those in the pool won't be in training for a few months, they won't even be interviewing for 3 or 4 months. Do you think that is the case? I've had my sights set on F9 for years and was so psyched to finally get the interview--when I got the cancellation notice I have been totally down in the dumps. I'm sure it will be worth waiting for, but I'd sure rather wait in the pool than on the deck!


Thanks for the info.

 

[crashpad]

One nice thing about F9 is the flow of communication throughout the company.
It's pretty honest and consistent, so we'll be keep our ears out for you guys and post info. as we get it.

 

[starchkr]

Whats up with all the military pilots getting the interviews at F9. Do they secretly wish all applicants to have some sort of Mil time or something. Man...I just don't get it. Do you think if i pretend that i have military time they will eventually give me an interview as well?!?! Oh well, i will just continue to fly my Lear 100+ hours a month until they give me a shot...I can't wait to fly less and be paid more at the same time. I'm just down in the dumps with all the news about hiring slowing or stopping for awhile.

 

[USMC319]

Our Fleet Manager in charge of the pilot hiring proccess is a retired Colonel, so there may be a slight preference for us military sorts (very different than a few years ago, when all they required was a Metroliner check-out), however, internal recommendations are the best way to get your foot in the door. I heard from the Fleet Manager that a candidate with 10 internal recommendations was denied a job offer because he didn't look like he would "fit in" during the interview, so regardless of how you get the interview offer, know that everyone is solely judged on their interview performance.

By the way, being in the pool is great, but it doesn't necessarily put you into a class before someone who has not interviewed yet. The pool is designed as an emergency reserve just in case marketing demands an increase in flying in a short period of time. I know of several new-hire pilots that have been offered classes before those in the pool were assigned classes. Hope this helps.

 

[F9 Driver]

Some news about the hourly pay.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/business/article/0,1299,DRMN_4_3152319,00.html


Frontier's pilots approve hourly pay


Carrier says switch from monthly salary to boost productivity

By David Kesmodel, Rocky Mountain News
September 1, 2004 Pilots at Denver-based Frontier Airlines have agreed to revamp their pay system in a move that potentially will save the company millions of dollars a year.

The pilots, represented by the Frontier Airline Pilots Association, voted overwhelmingly to be paid on an hourly basis instead of receiving a set monthly salary regardless of hours flown.

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The agreement, to be attached to the pilots' contract with the discounter, means the 500-plus pilots will have an incentive to fly more hours, boosting productivity.

Pilots will see pay increases, on average, through the switch, which will result in higher pilot costs in the pact's first six months, said Frontier's chief financial officer, Paul Tate.

But for the long term, the airline expects savings through more efficient scheduling of pilots and a reduction in how many pilots it will need to hire when it adds planes and routes, Tate said. It costs Frontier about $30,000 to train a pilot.

The airline, the 16th-largest U.S. carrier by traffic, expects pilot productivity to increase by about 10 percent. That "certainly will get us in the top half of the industry," Tate said. Frontier has been in the middle of the pack, which "isn't good enough" for a low-cost carrier.

Average percentage wage increases will be in the single digits, he said.

Under the old system, a first-year captain's base pay equaled about $115 per hour of flying, and a 10-year captain's equaled about $151, according to AirlinePilotPay.com.

The majority of U.S. carriers pay their pilots on an hourly basis.

The salary system at 10- year-old Frontier not only was hurting productivity, but also was affecting pilots' quality of life, Tate said. Pilots couldn't easily switch schedules to attend family functions or other events.

An agreement on pay and lifestyle changes in the middle of a contract term is unusual in the industry. The company heralded it as evidence of good labor relations at Frontier.

"It's a feather in our cap. It's quite rare," Tate said.

The move comes as the two sides get ready to work out a new contract. The existing agreement ends next May.

The union is "really happy" with the so-called side-letter deal, said Jeff Thomas, an Airbus captain and president of the pilot union. "We're looking to compete long term. There's a real emphasis on making this thing work."

Previously, a pilot who flew 85 hours in a month would get the same pay as a pilot who flew 65 hours in the month. Flight schedules are now built to guarantee pilots at least 75 hours of flight time each month, and a pilot must fly at least 70 hours to get paid.

Federal rules limit pilots to 100 hours of flying per month.

"Any time you can go from fixed costs to variable costs, it's a good event," Helane Becker, an airline analyst with Benchmark Co. in New York, said of the agreement.

Frontier, whose lone hub is at Denver International Airport, is striving to cut costs amid sky-high fuel prices. Fuel costs and a rash of low fares have caused the carrier to report losses for two straight quarters.

Frontier's unit costs - the cost to fly a seat a mile - were 8.09 cents in the April-June quarter. That was as good or better than the figures at two of the top U.S. discounters, Southwest and AirTran.

Analysts on average are forecasting a profit of a penny a share in the quarter ending Sept. 30, Frontier's fiscal second period.

The airline carries the second- most passengers at DIA after UAL Corp.'s United.













[email protected] or 303-892-2514

 

[Ted Striker]

Great news!

Thanks for the update. The longer I spend here at ASA the more I realize how important it is to have good labor/management relations. Sounds like a great place.

 

[Daddy]

So...the retired Colonel...is he USAF or USMC?

 

[Hdawg]

F9 Interview Info

Interviewed in mid Aug and just got the good news letter. Six total interviewed; 2 military, 2 regional, 1 national and 1 corp, all good guys. Previous posted interview info is still good. I used http://www.flytheline.com/ for prep and highly recommend them!

 

[jetalc]

Welcome to F9, Hdawg - you're going to love it! It's bizarre in some ways - people simply do their jobs, rampers are courteous, mechanics truly work WITH you, and the environment is positive, even in these tough times of high fuel costs. Congratulations!

 

[MICK]

Jetalc


Is that you Duct Tape??

 

[props8]

Frontier updates?

Just to pass on to those that had class dates or were awaiting interviews. After my Sept 8 class was cnx'd I made alot of calls. HR thinks next year, possibly as late as April. The word from a buddy of mine who has spoken to the chief pilot and some check airman think 1 to 2 months until classes start. In the same sentence they think no later than the begining of the year? The reason given for the delay is the new pay system (salary to hourly). F9 is unsure until the dust settles whether they have too many pilots or not enough. In addition, they want to park all 737's. What I have been told is training is not big enough to handle all the retrains and the newbees. After uprooting from Florida and moving to Denver and then getting the class delay, I welcome any info anyone has on the future of classes. Everyone I've talked to loves flying for F9 and I can't wait to be one of them. Oh, and by the way, did I say that the Denver area kicks ass!! Good luck to those still to interview, very laid back and enjoyable. Aviation Interviews.com has excellent info (read all of it). Until then, back to being a reserve bum.

 

[batsky2000]

Good luck getting on with us, it is great here, but I decided not to move from FL to Denver, I commute from Orlando, and find it no big deal, I will be a commuter for life, and love it, but good luck, and enjoy Denver

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

F9 and Spirit rumor?

A buddy of mine mentioned he had heard of merger/partnership rumors between the two carriers.

I thought the sudden stop in hiring was more abrupt than would be expected. Anyone hear anything.

I wouldn't think it very likely, but you never know.

 

[F9 Driver]

Props 8 - Don't fret too much (easy for me to say I know) but we have new planes coming and need pilots to fill the seats. The info your friend gave you is spot on as far as I know. This change to hourly represents a HUGE shift in how we do scheduling / OT / staffing.

Crew planning at every airline I've heard of is about as accurate as a divining rod The gurus here at least understand they need to let the dust settle and see how many hours each pilot ends up flying. No furlough - no hiring. Just wait a few and see what happens.

Jeff Helgeson - I've not heard anything of a merger, and can't see one coming about.

I DO (and as a line pilot I've got a lot of pull in strategic planning) believe that you'll see some code sharing between LCC's in the near future at the legacies get their feet back under them. Until Spirit gets their new Airbusses (Airbi?) up and running, Indy Air gets theirs, or Airtran gets a bunch of 737s I don't see us doing much with them either. With Jetblue... who knows

I'm just waiting for mgt to ask me for my opinion!