Help from any current Great Lakes Pilots

[WhatsUpNow?]

I've done a search, but found nothing on what I am looking for. So here goes.. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

1. What are the prospects for a current 121 pilot with 1400 TT?
2. Chances of holding PHX out of training.
3. Where is training conducted, pay, length, etc...
4. Chances of being furloughed once hired?

I know that one would be crazy to jump ship from an RJ to work at Lakes, but being home more often and closer to home is worth more than the SIC RJ time. Thanks

 

[Whiskey Tango]

1. I dont know, I know we have hired people with a lot less
2. PHX is pretty junior for FO's but there is only, I think, 7 FO's down there so you would have to wait for them to upgrade or quit. After you upgrade you will probably have a hard time getting back but things could change fast.
3. Training is in CYS. No pay during training. It will probably take 6 to 8 weeks
4. who knows. we have been hiring slow and steady for a long time but there have been a lot of people leaving

Fo's take home about $1200 a month. I probably wouldn't do it if I were In your shoes but I don't know your situation. I guess that would be a novel way for a laker to get jet time, I would get 1000 hours of jet before you leave for lakes. Upgrade is running just under a year.

 

[eight8kcabpilot]

just curious...If you already have a 121 job and 1400TT, why would you not try to go to AWAC or SkyWest or stay where you're at?

 

[WhatsUpNow?]

Leave to Great Lakes, upgrade in a year, then fly a year or so as Captain for the 1000-1500 PIC then move on. Or, stay where I am at, fly as an FO for 4 Years, get some SIC, then upgrade to CA and take 3 years for the same amount of PIC time. 2 1/2 yrs vs 7 yrs.

Plus, I would be so much closer to home, possibly based at home. THAT in itself makes it really attractive.

 

[AWACoff]

Lakes isn't a guaranteed upgrade. It doesn't have cushy training classes like most airlines (at least not when I was there). Here's an example of a question for an FO oral-- You are a molecule of fuel, tell me everything you touch on the way from the fuel tank out the exhaust. PSI, PSID, Temperatures, quantities, system architecture, etc. Now make it even more in depth for your upgrade. Then...hope you don't get a pink slip on the checkride for upgrade. Lakes has some of the toughest training around...you might want to talk to some current Lakers to find out what it's really like. With a pink slip, you won't be out in 2.5 years.

AWACoff former Braykillya

 

[Nixon]

Odds are, a single molecule of fuel probably doesn't touch anything other than other molecules of fuel until it reaches the combustion chamber. (A small minority come in contact with fuel lines and pumps.) Then it probably touches some air, and stops being a fuel molecule.

There, now that wasn't so hard, was it?

 

[Crash Pad]

After flying an RJ you will get your lunch handed to you at lakes. No autopilot, steam gages, and a sim that is a real kick in the balls. Make no mistake lakes is the most fun out there... it is also the most difficult.

 

[be-400xpdriver]

Lakes isn't a guaranteed upgrade. It doesn't have cushy training classes like most airlines (at least not when I was there). Here's an example of a question for an FO oral-- You are a molecule of fuel, tell me everything you touch on the way from the fuel tank out the exhaust. PSI, PSID, Temperatures, quantities, system architecture, etc. Now make it even more in depth for your upgrade. Then...hope you don't get a pink slip on the checkride for upgrade. Lakes has some of the toughest training around...you might want to talk to some current Lakers to find out what it's really like. With a pink slip, you won't be out in 2.5 years.

AWACoff former Braykillya

I got a pink slip and left two years later, just after I got my 1000 pic. There are alot of great pilots out there that have pink slips. Never let the pink slip scare you away from a job. Unless you are a P*&^Y.

 

[CFI2766]

hey just wondering, Lakes has health insurance benefits right? Thanks

 

[Whiskey Tango]

lakes has health insurance. It only cost $130 a month for just you. Be-400xdriver is right. There are many great pilots that had a bad day. But just so you know, lakes has a 20-30% washout rate and 45% of the upgrade applicants pink.

 

[WhatsUpNow?]

Everything is a gamble in this industry. Its a gamble to just stay where I am at! I figure why not take the chance at Lakes. I have never really had problems learning systems and flying. I know Lakes a/c dont have autopilot and all the ammenities that the RJ's have, but that makes it more fun for me. I am tired of being a button pusher. I am looking forward to doing more challenging flying.

 

[beech1900pilot]

Training is tough but you will do fine if you study. Upgrades are running at about one year now, but I have also known people to do it earlier than that. Ugrade is hard (from what I hear) but most people seem to make it through there first time.

 

[808pilot]

i'm an FO at lakes and based in phx.....gotta say i like not having to commute....
training was tough, but not impossible.....
groundschool was in CYS, sim was at fort collins, CO.....
flight training is done at an outstation that we fly to...i was in laramie in march of last year....you fly at night when the plane comes in for the overnight...start at around 1030 or 1100 and fly till about 430 or 5am.....that part is brutal....you become a vampire.....you do about 3-5 flights and then out of the blue while you are flying the checkride begins, which i found to be a good way to do it....gives you less time to freak out....my checkride was about 3hrs long, flew to scottsbluff, shot the approaches, emergencies yada yada....if you screw up something on the ride it isn't over they give you up to three retrains if i remember right....but after that they aren't so nice....the oral can either be before or right after the flight, again not too tough, but i certainly studied my butt off.....lots to know.....4 days later i started IOE doing four days of telluride trips....that was a blast....i got hired w/530hrs.....i was the lowest in my class.....four months in denver, put my bid in for PHX and have been down here since august....it is a junior Fo base and senior captain......there are about 4-5 of us that our a couple of months from upgrade and i haven't heard of too many Fo's that really want to get don here so the chances of getting it are pretty good.....it does have its crap days though like any other company or operation, but the people are the best around, and the pilots stick together.....good luck.....

 

[WhatsUpNow?]

Hey guys, thanks alot for all the info. I do have a friend that fly's there, based in PHX. I have talked to him quite a bit lately also.

 

[Mr.Lucky]

Try www.allregionals.com. They have a Great Lakes section. I don't believe there are any posts there yet, but I know there are several Lakers that visit it.

 

[rdenny]

Might help with your questions.....

Great Lakes Airlines Forum