Great Lakes Question

[Guitar Guy]

The letter of rec is likely more beneficial to someone with lower time and limited experience. But a letter of rec never hurts, regardless of your time/experience.

 

[Crossky]

why dont you set you sites a little higher than Lakes....maybe GulfStream!!! LOL

Gulfstream is higher up the food chain that Lakes? Why, cause they have an infamous PFT program that puts dreamy eyed jet jockey wannabe's in $25K debt, while Lakes only has you sacrificing pay till you start IOE? Sure Lakes has a 15 month $10K training bond you're liable for if you leave before them.

If you're low on quality time (like Multi, I had 40 when lakes hired me, I knew no one, although it was early 2000) and are ready to kick a & take names, why not give them a shot? Used to hear the hot ticket when times were slow was to fly to SPW (now Cheyenne CYS) and apply in person. Only reservation I would have now about Lakes is don't count on jumping from there to a major or LCC, a few win the lottery that way though. Most go to a regional from the left and right seat.

Teamsters, you suck! WHY are Lakes pilots still starting out at $15.30/hr? Even Mesa pays $3-4 more!

 

[tattoo13]

there is alot of truth to what gt1900 has said, it just my thinking that with all the regionals hiring now you may get upgrade time fairly fast at a place that will treat you better..make no mistake people have upgraded here in under a year. But a buddy of mine also upgraded at skywest just after two years..its completely what you want and nothing more...and like I said the pilot group is awesome and you would have a lot of fun on some overnights...

 

[northernflyer]

Does anyone know when they plan on calling the next round of people to interview?

 

[gt1900]

Crossky....you are sorely mistaken if you don't think you can go from lakes directly to an LCC or major (not trying to bash). I know of 3 people who interviewed at Airtran this year, 2 (at least) at Southwest, 2 people waiting in the pool at Alaska, one who interviewed at Fedex, and several who interviewed at AmWest..Hell, one guy even got a call from Amwest and southwest in the same day!! In the last year over 10% of the pilot group has either gone to majors or LCC's, or at least interviewed at them. PIC turbine is the name of the game. And you get it fast at Lakes. I know of many ex-lakers who went to bigger and better things (ie: other regionals) and are either on the street (many guys from aca) or real nervous right now (ie: the air whiskey guys). While the guys who toughed it out are sitting in the right seat of 737's or 717's after spending about 4 1/2yrs at lakes!!

 

[flying4food]

Well first of all I wont defend lakes in anyway, however flying4food should get his/her facts straight straight...I heard this I heard that...you dont know unless you work here dumb a$$...

Other than insulting me and calling me names, can you dispute those two facts that I posted?? Is Upgrade ground school only 3 1/2 days long?? Was their training dept not shut down by the DEN FSDO??

 

[Guitar Guy]

Other than insulting me and calling me names, can you dispute those two facts that I posted?? Is Upgrade ground school only 3 1/2 days long?? Was their training dept not shut down by the DEN FSDO??

I'd be curious to know more about the training dept. getting shut down by the DEN FSDO. During my 4 years there, I don't remember that occuring. As for the Upgrade ground school, be it 3.5 days or whatever, it meets FAA requirements, they just make the days fairly long. As I recall, we were required to have 32 or 34 hours of ground for Upgrade.

See http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsf/0/2B9C99889C00A984852566EF006CDE22?OpenDocument&Highlight=upgrade%20ground and http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsf/0/8921D00E02D2AF9F852566EF006C8192?OpenDocument as starting points for training program requirements.

I will say that I was told by a former CP there that you better know "everything" before starting Upgrade ground school because you weren't going to learn anything in class.

 

[Guitar Guy]

Crossky....you are sorely mistaken if you don't think you can go from lakes directly to an LCC or major (not trying to bash)...

Crossky is a former Laker and went from GLA to a non-RJ jet. I believe he was just trying to temper any misconception that "everyone" goes straight from GLA to an LCC or large freight hauler. And you must admit that a good amount of the folks who've gone from GLA to the LCC's or other good jobs either had a legacy with the outfit or were well hooked-up.

Best wishes for your future in this crazy business. Let's hope the economy continues to build up steam and move ahead. Lakes was an interesting to work.

 

[Cardinal]

Was their training dept not shut down by the DEN FSDO??

There was a brief (3 days or so) hiatus on checkrides this January while the training department and the FSDO clarified some kind of misunderstanding. I believe it was having to do with how much time was required in the airplane vs. the Level C simulator. Whatever their hangup was, the issue was resolved quickly.

 

[flyf15]

What are Great Lakes' recency of experience requirements?

Also, how much will having your ATP written help you?

 

[Doubleo6point9]

Does anyone know when they plan on calling the next round of people to interview?

I just interviewed today. I believe they called in a total of 20 people. I also heard that they're interviewing two groups next Tuesday as well. From what I was told during the interview, they're looking for a June 6th class date. When I asked about a later class date they said possibly August but they really don't know. Best bet is to just send your resume in or find someone to walk your resume in.

 

[Doubleo6point9]

What are Great Lakes' recency of experience requirements?

Also, how much will having your ATP written help you?

Looks like they want instrument currency and multi currency. They do ask how many hours in the previous 90 days and such. Not sure about the ATP written but I assume it would.

 

[Peace]

hey guys,

I have a friend who has around 2000tt and over 1000 multi, but has not flown over a year in a half, will that effect his chance to get on with lakes. He wants the 121 pic time, so i guess that is why he wants to go there.

 

[northernflyer]

I just interviewed today. I believe they called in a total of 20 people. I also heard that they're interviewing two groups next Tuesday as well. From what I was told during the interview, they're looking for a June 6th class date. When I asked about a later class date they said possibly August but they really don't know. Best bet is to just send your resume in or find someone to walk your resume in.

Do you know what the times of most the people there were, and if the majority had someone walk their resume in, and how long after you sent in your resume they called you?

 

[Doubleo6point9]

Do you know what the times of most the people there were, and if the majority had someone walk their resume in, and how long after you sent in your resume they called you?

Not sure on the times of most of the people there or who had theirs walked in. I would guess that there weren't too many high time people there. I was called about a month after my resume was walked in. Although I can tell you that my friend who's currently at 1000 at 110 just started class with them.