Great Lakes Question

[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.

 

[northernflyer]

Do you know if there was anyone there who didn't have thier resume walked in?

 

[Doubleo6point9]

I was only able to talk to one other person for a few moments so I really don't know how many had their resumes walked in. But I was told that if you know someone you can get the interview well under the posted minimums. If not then you probably won't get a call unless you have those minimums or a bit more. You should just give it a shot since it looks like you already meet their mins and a bit more.

 

[northernflyer]

Yes, I am above their minimums but I haven't gotten a phone call and my resume has been in for quite some time now. Do you know how many people they plan on hiring, and if they are planning any furloughs?

 

[Cardinal]

It appears we may forego the annual spring furlough and keep hiring. Don't plan on a July class, they don't bother to secure any hotels in CYS during Frontier Days.

 

[northernflyer]

How long do the furloughs usually last?

 

[Crossky]

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!!

gt 1900, I don't need a lecture, as Guitar Guy said I was at Lakes (if you had read my post you could have inferred that) and I was on the street after Vanguard died in summer 2002 after being there 4 months. Been at AWAC 2.5 yrs witnessing our gradual slide. Yes I know Ex-Lakers at LCC's and majors who were my FO's and my initial classmates thank you. I'm dealing with it so please read my post better next time. Plenty of Lakers leave to go places other than LCC's or majors, and I never wrote that they can't make it to LCC's or majors straight from Lakes. I wrote 'don't count on it'.

 

[Cardinal]

How long do the furloughs usually last?

3 months, but it just doens't look like it's gonna happen this year.

 

[gt1900]

Crossky...I did read your post, I just disagree. The guys who stay and build 2-3 thousand hrs of PIC time can count on it. As a matter of fact, if you become a check airmen and get both types, I would say that you pretty much have it made. And from what I have seen, that is for the case for the most part!! Not to start a pissing match but you have been gone for 3 years, so you are probably not the best person in the world to be making assumptions! I know that most of the guys on the EMB-120 (when I left) had interviewed at majors or LCC's. Its just most people at lakes bail before they become competitive. 1000 hrs PIC is not the magic number anymore. At 2000 hrs you can start to become competitive (3000hrs and you are sitting pretty). Add 2 types and a check-airmen letter and you are golden. And from what I saw when I was there, that was the case, and will continue to be so!! No hard feelings!

 

[meatwallet]

Do you know if there was anyone there who didn't have thier resume walked in?

I did not have my resume walked in and was hired a couple months ago. One other person in my class--out of 13--didn't have it walked in, so it definitely helps. There's a new hire class going on right now and likely another in June. Definitely No for July, and maybe one in Aug. Very short on CAs, but quite a few FOs. As far as training being too hard, FAA shut it down, etc...Bulls!t. Put your nose in the books for 3 weeks and it's easy. Where else can you get on the line in 1 month!

 

[Crossky]

Its just most people at lakes bail before they become competitive. 1000 hrs PIC is not the magic number anymore. At 2000 hrs you can start to become competitive (3000hrs and you are sitting pretty). Add 2 types and a check-airmen letter and you are golden. And from what I saw when I was there, that was the case, and will continue to be so!! No hard feelings!

No hard feelings, but you didn't qualify your statement that 'you have to have 2-3k T PIC and/or check airman status before you can 'count on it' ' before now did ya? I took my chances and rolled the dice like many others and got bit like many others who thought they would stay employed at their major or LCC.

Peace