Great Lakes question

[flyboydk]

Ok, lets say when and if GL starts hiring again... what would any of you from Great Lakes say my chances would be of getting hired there if one of my friends who worked there and moved on to Alaska Airlines hand delivers my resume. He says he knows whoever is in charge of the hiring over there. I've got a little over 300 hrs and about 90 multi, I will have cfiimei in the next few months also. I have the feeling its a real longshot, but you never know, gotta try it if its a possibility. Thanks

 

[General Lee]

90 multi? You might want to get some more through flying freight, or using that MEI. I have heard of people getting on with low hours, but that usually happens when everyone is hiring, not when there is a glut. But, amazing things happen and you might get lucky. Good luck.

Bye bye--General Lee

 

[Cardinal]

With 90 multi you'll have more than the average pilot in the 11/2002 class. Total tmes ranged from 300 - 2000, with the median probably 800. Every pilot was a CFI. 300 total is on the low side, but if you start instructing, by the time they actually interview again you'll be in decent shape. The class that is starting Monday is made up of poolies. They've been flying since being hired almost a year ago, so their total times will appear inflated. A longshot? Every airline job is attained against long odds. Your qualifications, however, will at least be in the realm of the possible.

 

[WyoHerkdriver]

The question is why would you want to work there - unless you feel the need to qualify for food stamps. What is the starting pay at Great Lakes? Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't it around $14 per hour? If you can get by on about $12,000 a year, than "knock yourself out".
One of the problems with the whole airline profession is that there are pilots out there willing to work for nothing These guys typically go to work for horrible airlines like Great Lakes and Mesa and, in doing so, drive down the wages for those pilots at other airlines. I am not going to tell a guy what to do, but as long as pilots continue to work for nothing at places like Great Lakes and Mesa, we will continue to see wages across the board being driven down. Before long, we may see captains flying the 777 for $40,000 a year.

 

[Cardinal]

1st Year FO gets 15.30/hr. That does less damage to the industry than an FO at Eagle/ExpressJet/Comair/Wisconsin thats making 19-25/hr to fly an aircraft that generates 4 or five times more revenue by virtue of moving twice as many seats twice as fast. Anyway, we have a contract that's 3 years expired and a strike vote that passed 100%. We're working on it.

 

[NightFlyer]

HerkDriver,
Where do you suggest that he works? The pay at all the regionals sucks. The guy needs to get his time in somewhere so why not at Great Lakes and he'll probably upgrade faster than anywhere else. I'm assuming his ultimate goal is to fly for a major someday so the sooner he gets his time in the better. I understand that Lakes isn't the best regional to work , my wife works for them, for but you can't be too picky these days.


NightFlyer

 

[WyoHerkdriver]

Actually, when I think about it, $15.30/hr to fly a 1900 is not as bad as what they are doing at Mesa where they find people willing to fly 70 and 90 seat regional jets for $20/hour. I guess it just bothers me to see highly trained professional pilots willing to work for what the average unskilled fast food worker makes.
I guess I can't fault someone for working wherever they want, but as a furloughed major airline pilot, I am really worried about the profession when guys are standing in line and happy to take a job that pays $13,000 a year. Again, I do not fault anyone for taking a job such as this, but I am worried as hell that it will just continue to drive down wages at the major airlines (and regionals for that matter).
Also, the bs line about someone needing to work somewhere like Great Lakes in order to upgrade quickly and build PIC time in order to get on at a major airline is just plain silly. I would say that we will not see any hiring at the big five for at least six to seven years (and probably even longer).

 

[Cardinal]

Lately it does take considerably better dice rolls to get out of Lakes, but people continue to leave for Airtran, ATA, and America West, even Frontier with surprising regularity. I guess that's what people are holding out for now.

 

[NightFlyer]

FedEx and UPS while not a member of the "big 5" will be hiring again soon so I would say that it would be prudent to upgrade and get the turbine pic time if that's where one wants to work. Good luck to ya.

NightFlyer

 

[210FR8DOG]

majors?

How about going to Great Lakes or Mesa just to get turbine time, period, so MAYBE I could get a call one of these years from a GOOD regional like ASA or Comair?

Is that pitiful? With my flight times I believe it is

Does it suck? Absooolutely!!

Is that what I'll end up having to do? Apparently

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[tattoo13]

If you know anything about Lakes, your not coming here for the pay. It's good time and great people. I am not sure what will ever become of the contract but some of the people here have been moving on to some good places (Frontier..Air Tran). If you want to fly than give it a shot..

 

[Visceral]

I would say that we will not see any hiring at the big five for at least six to seven years (and probably even longer).

From what I hear, SWA will be hiring a couple of pilots in the next few years. I'm sure many people wouldn't mind driving a 737 as a career option. Since Great Lakes isn't PFT, it would appear to be a decent way to build PIC in a turbine aircraft.

 

[socalpilot]

One of the problems with the whole airline profession is that there are pilots out there willing to work for nothing These guys typically go to work for horrible airlines like Great Lakes and Mesa and, in doing so, drive down the wages for those pilots at other airlines.

It's the law of supply and demand. Basic economics of a free market economy. When you go shopping for goods do you pay top dollar or do you shop for the best deal? You try to get the best deal. If you can find what your after at store B for a better price than store A then your most likely going to be shopping at store B. It's just part of our free economy. I know it sucks for the pilots of good paying airlines but if someone will do it for less those pilots will eventually be replaced.

 

[Prop Trash]

$16 bucks an hour is quite a disgrace when there are companies out there that are paying BE-1900 FOs $28 dollars an hour. That's how much Continental Express paid me as a 2nd year FO on the 1900. What's even worse? I only make $32.41 per hour now as a 5th year EMB-145 FO from a contract negotiated in 1997.

 

[NightFlyer]

I don't seem to remember Coex paying their Beech FO's $28/hr unless you were pay protected on the RJ while flying the 1900.

NightFlyer