Horizon Air

[Matt777]

Lines this bid in Q200/Seattle are anywhere from 13-16 days off in a 5 week period. Can't speak for the other planes. Never seen their trips.

Us pilot types and management get along ok - depending on who you talk to. Some guys swear we're getting screwed at every turn. Other guys are more forgiving. Depends on what you believe, I guess. I think we're doing ok overall. Every job has its gripes, and this is no different...

Everything I've read regarding pilot schedules is always better than having 5 9-hour days on with only 2 days off!

... Go to the state of Alaska. Or fly boxes in a crappy plane. You'll thank me later.
Seriously, whats the rush??? Do something fun. No one is going anywhere anyway.

Funny you'd mention Alaska- my mother used to babysit for the owners of Everts Air Fuel and Air Cargo 40 years ago. I think they have around 10 DC-6s and a C-46 or two. Even if I do have a connection I doubt there is much attrition there!

I'm too lazy to look it up, but I seriously doubt it. I'm not starving, but I'm sure as hell not getting fat, either. Do what I did. Marry a woman with a good job.

As long as I can pay the bills, money doesn't equal happyness (though QOL does), so I don't really care about money as long as I can make my $500/month loan payment!

Good for you! We need more people like that.

Ok. I need more beer. Good luck. Keep buggin the CP and he'll call someday.
B

If the 8 year upgrade time causes any would-be applicants to go elsewhere, that will be advantageous for me! Therefore, I am glad that the upgrade time is so long!

If I can start at ATP by the end of this month I should be able to start instructing in 4 months.

thanks for your response!

 

[Q400 Gear Bitch]

I was talking to a friend who who bids reserve so he can be at home with his kids at night. He said he only had to fly one 5 day trip all summer. He enjoys his airport reserve for the QAL.

Obviously he/she flys the RJ. I don't know about the q200 in pdx but the q400 reserve folks have been working their azzes off. I ran into an FO who said last bid she had like 110 credit hours (86.5 or something is min guarantee). So it depends on the airplane you go to. I'm guessing most of the new hires will go to props.

 

[Buschpilot]

As long as I can pay the bills, money doesn't equal happyness (though QOL does), so I don't really care about money as long as I can make my $500/month loan payment!

With that kind of loan payment, I hope to hell your driving a Ferrari.

Obviously he/she flys the RJ. I don't know about the q200 in pdx but the q400 reserve folks have been working their azzes off. I ran into an FO who said last bid she had like 110 credit hours (86.5 or something is min guarantee). So it depends on the airplane you go to. I'm guessing most of the new hires will go to props.

I've flown three times this bid on reserve. I'm diggin it. I feel like a normal person again.

Does anyone know the military leave poilicy for Horizon and first couple of years pay?

Yes, we have one. I dunno the specifics, but I imagine that it falls under the federal law. See airlinepilotpay.com or whatever they changed their name to for the pay scales.

 

[Matt777]

With that kind of loan payment, I hope to hell your driving a Ferrari.

That's to get my licenses and ratings. So far I've spent $8,200 to get my PPL. I can spend $30,000 more at the same FBO and get only 50 hours multi or spend $40,000 more to go to ATP and get 140 multi, including 85 hours cross country.

I'm currently in the process of deciding what to do.
I realize this is totally off topic for this forum, but that's the answer to what that $500 payment will be paying off.

 

[WestSide]

How long do you think the hiring will continue? I am thinking about leaving to try and go to Horizon arond the end of the year.

 

[taloft]

Who can say? Hiring typically starts in the fall and ends sometime in the spring. They try to push hiring/training away from summer to free up pilots for the busy season. If you wait until hiring has started for the year, it's probably too late to get your resume in for the round. However, don't let that discourage you.

If you want to apply to Horizon, don't wait until you hear they are hiring. Apply now and keep on applying until you get an interview. In some cases, they take a long time to call. I guess it's part of the process of how they weed out those who really want to work there vs. those who want to work anywhere.

 

[WestSide]

Speaking of the weeding out process, does Horizon weed out a lot of new hires? I have heard that they do...although not from a credible source.

 

[ReverseSensing]

I would say no. I'm told (by the recruiter Joanne) they hire "Captain material" as opposed to filling the right seat. (Although everyone has to start in the right seat.)

First time anyone ever accused me of being "Captain material." Clearly, the process is somewhat flawed.

 

[ReverseSensing]

Speaking of the weeding out process, does Horizon weed out a lot of new hires? I have heard that they do...although not from a credible source.

The sentiment is that there has been a recent streak of unsuccessful new hires; however, the overall success rate is historically quite high (high-90% range). I have seen no evidence of the training/standards folks attempting to wash people out. But perhaps the high success rate encourages some folks to rest on their laurels. Or perhaps the interview process is flawed in some way. Or perhaps it's just a streak of bad luck.

If Horizon is the kind of company that interests you (very-conservative to virtually-non-existent growth, long upgrades, reasonably good QOL if you want to stay/live in the NW) , and you can make a good impression in the interview process and fly a Frasca passably well, getting through training should be no great challenge. Work, yes. Particularly difficult, no.

 

[WestSide]

I definately want to work for the company...it has everything that I want. The only part that worries me is the Frasca ride. I have been flying glass for so long, it woeuld be tough to get right into a Frasca. My comany also does not do NDB approaches, so that part about the ride worries me too. Any suggestions? Will it help me out in the interview or even getting called for an interview if I have 121 experience and RJ time?

 

[ReverseSensing]

The only part that worries me is the Frasca ride. I have been flying glass for so long, it woeuld be tough to get right into a Frasca.

Just go buy a few hours of Frasca time at Hillsboro Aviation beforehand, then. Small investment if you really want to work there, though probably not really necessary.

My comany also does not do NDB approaches, so that part about the ride worries me too. Any suggestions?

There was no NDB approach on some recent sim rides. There was one in the old profile. Perhaps they throw one in occassionally to prevent the gouge from being very good, but I doubt it.

Will it help me out in the interview or even getting called for an interview if I have 121 experience and RJ time?

Getting an interview seems to be somewhat hit-and-miss, but definitely do-able. Pester, cajole, beg, send flowers to Kim, get an internal, call Lamar and tell a good joke. Experience will always be beneficial, IF you make the kind of impression they are looking for. What kind of impression is that? Well, that's a good question.

 

[Q400 Gear Bitch]

I would say no. I'm told (by the recruiter Joanne) they hire "Captain material" as opposed to filling the right seat. (Although everyone has to start in the right seat.)

[fake english accent]
Then there is the aging process, whereby we take a humble, nubile FO and place them in the right seat and age them until they are 59 1/2 and slightly incontinent or until a nice bouquet of pear, spice and oleander emerges with a hint of old spice....err i mean oak. [/fake english accent]

 

[ReverseSensing]

[fake english accent]
Then there is the aging process, whereby we take a humble, nubile FO and place them in the right seat and age them until they are 59 1/2 and slightly incontinent or until a nice bouquet of pear, spice and oleander emerges with a hint of old spice....err i mean oak. [/fake english accent]

Why are fake English accents are sooo hot!?!

 

[DashTrash400]

400GB, all the Q400 FOs on reserve last bid flew their azzes off. Not one of us did under 100 credit, and I know at least two FOs besides myself who did 110 or better. This bid I have a line & I've been called on my days off like 5 times. Forgot not answering my phone on days off, I think I'm just gonna turn the damn thing off!

I suspect that with the recent PW150A problems, Q400 flying will slack off a bit and the Q2/CRJ guys & gals will get a little busier.

 

[Sioux115]

Westside-
I interviewed at Horizon after flying only glass for the previous year and did fine, or should I say good enough to get hired. I was really concerned about it too before my interview but the round dial scan comes back fast, and once you are at this level of your career (professional pilot) anything they throw at you at in the sim (ndb) shouldn't be a problem.
Good luck!