Great Lakes Info?

[TxFlyerDave]

Does anyone have information about the situation at Great Lakes? As a "low time applicant" they're my best chance to get my foot in the door. Heard something about a strike. Filled out the personality profile a few weeks ago. Hope to hear soon.

Info=peace of mind

Thanks

 

[wanabe_fo]

Good Luck

I filled out the profile paid the 38$ even sent in two updates in the last 7 months. Still havent even goten a phone call. welcome to the club TxFlyerDave. I have not heard any new news on the company but I am sure they have at least a few thousand resumes on file.

Good luck on the hunt though!

 

[ERJpusher]

I hear the only way to get consideration at GLA is to have someone walk your stuff in or to have worked for the GLA in some form or another at one time. I worked customer service for GLA for 2.5 years (1996-1998) and got an interview and a job offer back in July 2002. My advice is to find someone- anyone- with the company and get them to carry your stuff in. Most guys are more than willing to help out a fellow pilot. Good Luck!!

 

[Cardinal]

Knowing someone isn't the only way to get in the door, I sure didn't, but it does seem to improve your odds and/or position in the stack. Keep in mind the small scale of this situation. A bit more than 200 pilots on the seniority list. A newhire class represents either growth or turnover of 10%! That doesn't happen overnight. Air Wisconsin thievery predominantly drove the last couple classes, but lately there hasn't been movement on that front, so things slowed down again. This aint the late 90s anymore, and there simply aren't that many places to go. Growth is nil, perhaps negative, attrition alone has driven hiring.

The watched pot never boils. I had entirely given up on the possibility of ever seeing a return on my $28 when they called out of the blue 3 or 4 months later. It's a thick stack and it'll take some time. Do stick with it though, the flying rocks, and the Beech blows the doors off a Skyhawk. Run a search on "Great Lakes" many have shared in your angst. I'm still a youngin' in the industry, but it seems like all you can do is check the boxes as far as your qualifications go, then just cast the net far and wide. Once every eon or so you'll catch a fish.

 

[khsgt]

I am a 1200 hr CFI, and is there any GLA pilots that would be willing to consider walking a packet in for a stranger. Feel free to e-mail me if you would be willing to help, and thanks in advance everybody!!
Cory
[email protected]

 

[FR8ROCKS]

Most people are not very happy over there at Great Lakes. Currently they are not hiring because of many internal problems. There is a chance of a strike within the next month, and possibly a new CEO (that would be the best thing that would happen to them). Even though they hire low time guys, and promise uprgrades in six months, its still not the best choice. The argument in the old days was that you would get your time and leave. But, realistically, within the type of training they give you, upgrade in six months is nearly impossible. Along with the high pink slip rates. (No, I didn't get pinked). Basically, they treat you like crap.

 

[Cornelius]

Lakes has slowed down the hiring mostly because we're staffed pretty well and even have reserve lines. We do have a new CEO, which is the best news I've heard since I've been here and he seems like he wants to get negotiations over with and start making some plans. Raytheon also owns 36% of Lakes now which is also good news. Upgrade classes are still running 1-2 a month and it is still pretty junior. It still sucks here on the most part.

 

[Cardinal]

Air Wisconsin thievery?!?!?! Wow, you must REALLY be new to Lakes. I wouldn't call it thievery in the least. If anything, they are throwing Lakes pilots a lifeline who can't take this place anymore. Hey Air Wis recruiters, STEAL ME!!!

LOL, make no mistake about it, STEAL ME TOO!! It's simply amusing to see 12% of the pilot group jump to the other concourse all at once. I hope for both our sakes that they steal you as well. In the words of one particularly eloquent rapper: "MOVE, #####, Get out the way, get out the way!!"

 

[Homer Jay]

You got that right Cardinal!! Hey Cornelius...do you really think it's good that Raytheon owns 36% of us? I'm afraid that with them having a stake in us we will NEVER fly anything but the 1900 and that the 120's will once again disappear...but for good. There are definitely some interesting times ahead!!!

 

[Cornelius]

I heard chuck has big plans in the EMB-120, but we won't know anything until negotiations are over. Did you hear the rumor of management trying to work with a 20% raise accross the board?

 

[Andy Neill]

SkyWest has gotten some GREAT folks from Lakes and I appreciate what they bring to the company.

That said, I don't have a clue as to how they keep running from a business standpont. The figures I see show they have a half a million cash in the bank but are losing 20-40 thousand a day. ASM's are down, load factors are down. That says they SHOULD be broke in 25-50 days, but they stay at that level month after month.

What kind of magic is going on over there?

 

[Homer Jay]

It blows my mind, too...but that's the way it's always been here. I do know that we make a killing with EAS money and there have even been stories in the Cheyenne newspapers saying we are doing much better financially...how? I have no clue. Great Lakes will always be a mystery to me. As the saying goes, after a nuclear fallout, only two things will remain, cockroaches and Great Lakes Aviation!

On another note...20% RAISE?!?!?! Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it. I hope it's true...I'M BROKE!!!!

 

[flythere]

Hey Cornelious,

Any word on the new hire/upgrade class next month, dates, how many etc,

thanks

 

[flyredair]

No News

I talked to C this week, and they don't have any plans for a new hire class yet.

They need "FOs to upgrade or Capts and /or FOs to leave for another job before they will start any new hires." Could be Feb or could be next year. We will have to wait until the Chief Pilot gives the OK.

Sorry I can't be more Otimistic.

At this time I think the chance of interviews will be slim (opinion)

Keep sending out your resumes!

 

[Cornelius]

No news for newhire in Feb. I got a systems class with another guy starting Feb 4th with the 5-day upgrade class to follow shortly after. It doesn't sound like there will be a Feb newhire class. There are 2 uprade classes running in Feb.

 

[Wally]

Re: No News

They need "FOs to upgrade or Capts and /or FOs to leave for another job before they will start any new hires." ... We will have to wait until the Chief Pilot gives the OK.

That's hilarious and typical Great Lakes. After another month of 10+ folks leaving, THEN they will start a newhire class. How many are already in the pool at Air Willy? When those people start leaving, it will be business (or should I say junior mans) as usual. The Chief Pilot and most everyone else running the "show" have always been REactive, not PROactive. Maybe a new contract will help make some gains in this dept.? Only if the pilot group sticks together however.

 

[staylow]

The 20% Raise Across The Board

As a Laker...I think 20% is a great rumor...but in reality 5% is more likely...and that depends on 97% of all flights being on time at departure for the month. If the 97% is not met then 0% is the reality. Sorry fellas...

Staylow

 

[Cardinal]

Raw Data

This is verbatim from the January in-house newsletter:

As many of you know, Great Lakes went to an on-line application June 1, 2002. To date, we have been very successful in receiving over 1000 qualified applicants looking to become a part of the Great Lakes team. We will be taking the next few months to review these applications in determining our next interviewees. Due to the large volume of application received, we are not currently accepting on-line applications. We will continue to update interested applicants through our company web site.

From the horse's mouth, do with it what you will.