Horizon Question?

[flyn96]

Do any newhires get awarded the CRJ or how long til a newhire could hold the CRJ out of DEN. Also what are the Junior bases these days.

Thanks

 

[crashpad]

Frontiers' CEO mentioned an increase in Horizons' use a few weeks back. Since most Horizon guys like the Northwest, you'd probably slide right in. I hear their schedules are just like Frontiers, with the exception of a heavy last day. Show me a commuter with an 'airline schedule' and you'll have found a place to enjoy life. Also starting to hear talk of e190s' or 318s to replace the RJs.

 

[Flip Conroy]

Horizon "assigns" you an aircraft and base as a new hire, so there is no bid and therefore nothing to be "awarded". You get what they need and you have no say. Their contract makes it very difficult for you to switch aircraft as an FO, although you could change domiciles within your aircraft. So, if you got PDX CRJ then you could switch to DEN CRJ when your seniority could hold it. However, if you got PDX Q400 you are pretty much SOL if you want DEN CRJ. Their contract, the way it is written, pretty much assures a permanent seat lock for FOs.

 

[QXpeon]

Horizon "assigns" you an aircraft and base as a new hire, so there is no bid and therefore nothing to be "awarded". You get what they need and you have no say. Their contract makes it very difficult for you to switch aircraft as an FO, although you could change domiciles within your aircraft. So, if you got PDX CRJ then you could switch to DEN CRJ when your seniority could hold it. However, if you got PDX Q400 you are pretty much SOL if you want DEN CRJ. Their contract, the way it is written, pretty much assures a permanent seat lock for FOs.

damm skippy.

 

[tomdav]

Frontiers' CEO mentioned an increase in Horizons' use a few weeks back. Since most Horizon guys like the Northwest, you'd probably slide right in. I hear their schedules are just like Frontiers, with the exception of a heavy last day. Show me a commuter with an 'airline schedule' and you'll have found a place to enjoy life. Also starting to hear talk of e190s' or 318s to replace the RJs.

EMB 190's.....pure bait.

 

[QCappy]

EMB 190's.....pure bait.

I think he means for Frontier, not for Horizon. Hence the reference to the 318s as well.....I could be wrong.

 

[Flip Conroy]

I heard the folks at Horizon were more than a little worried about losing the Frontier flying and have turned up the heat a bit on working out a plan B to find something for the CRJs to do should that happen.

 

[402CAPT]

With the all the new hiring, will the upgrade time come down from a decade to five years or less? I have recieved a call to set up an interview the other day. thanks

 

[Flip Conroy]

It's not a decade now, it hasn't been a decade in my lifetime. The current junior Captain in training was hired on 9/25/2000. I would expect the current/future hiring would bring it down to the 4-5 year range.

 

[mrnolmts]

I heard the folks at Horizon were more than a little worried about losing the Frontier flying and have turned up the heat a bit on working out a plan B to find something for the CRJs to do should that happen.

Unless Frontier goes bankrupt, I don't think it can happen, since it's a 10+ year contract. I don't think there are provisions for Frontier to cancel it on a whim.

 

[Flip Conroy]

Not saying I thought there was a chance of it happening, just that I heard from a Horizon pilot that the company itself was working on a plan B for just the reason you mentioned. They were "uncomfortable" with Frontier's financial position.

 

[propsarebest]

12 year contract, signed Sept. 03

 

[Flip Conroy]

Maybe I should speak slower.

Horizon---is----worried-----about-----Frontier's----finances----and----is-----therefore----looking-----at------other-----options----if-----it----comes----to-----that. They----would----then----need----work----for----the----10+----CRJs----that-----are------commited-----to-----Frontier-----Jet------Express.

Who cares if the contract is for a gazillion years and was signed at the birth of Christ? If there is no Frontier, or Frontier is not in position to execute this contract as signed, then Horizon needs something to do with these CRJs. At least they accept this possibility instead of sitting around with their thumbs in their azzes being surprised when the rug is pulled out from under them.

 

[tomdav]

Maybe I should speak slower.

Horizon---is----worried-----about-----Frontier's----finances----and----is-----therefore----looking-----at------other-----options----if-----it----comes----to-----that. They----would----then----need----work----for----the----10+----CRJs----that-----are------commited-----to-----Frontier-----Jet------Express.

Who cares if the contract is for a gazillion years and was signed at the birth of Christ? If there is no Frontier, or Frontier is not in position to execute this contract as signed, then Horizon needs something to do with these CRJs. At least they accept this possibility instead of sitting around with their thumbs in their azzes being surprised when the rug is pulled out from under them.

I heard we are selling them to Skywest so we can afford more 76 seat Q400's.

 

[dkwid]

Maybe I should speak slower.

Horizon---is----worried-----about-----Frontier's----finances----and----is-----therefore----looking-----at------other-----options----if-----it----comes----to-----that. They----would----then----need----work----for----the----10+----CRJs----that-----are------commited-----to-----Frontier-----Jet------Express.

Who cares if the contract is for a gazillion years and was signed at the birth of Christ? If there is no Frontier, or Frontier is not in position to execute this contract as signed, then Horizon needs something to do with these CRJs. At least they accept this possibility instead of sitting around with their thumbs in their azzes being surprised when the rug is pulled out from under them.

Word from Horizon management is that they would love to have the airplanes back in Horizon colors. Don't get me wrong, the Frontier arrangement has gone very well and if it continues all is still happy, but there is apparantly ample opportunity that Horizon could be using those airplanes for and actually bring in more revenue while expanding the Horizon Air brand name.

 

[flyer7rm]

i am interviewing . I hope that it will be for the RJ but anything will work. I have to cummute but oh well life is good. By the way no 4 year degree here. just lots of good PIC experience

 

[QXpeon]

while expanding the Horizon Air brand name.

"expanding the Horizon brand name"

You obviously don't work here.

 

[FlyinScotsman]

Horizon and Frontier both have ways to get out of the contract if they wanted too.

 

[dkwid]

"expanding the Horizon brand name"

You obviously don't work here.

Flame away but perhaps you can acknowledge what the company does have (it's own route structure, that is self sustaining). We all have issues with where we work but I feel fortunate that I can still see the positive things also.

 

[QCappy]

I hope that it will be for the RJ but anything will work.

Hope away. I guess you wish for a life of two hour legs with old guys that don't say a word to you. I guess you hope for a life that includes getting to the hotel and spending the best 15 hours of alone time you have ever had. Hope as you may. The real fun is in the dash!:beer:

 

[mrnolmts]

I agree with dkwid in that *if* DEN flying goes away, we won't have any problems putting those jets to work in the native system. I think most everyone will agree we need more airplanes.

 

[1900dr]

Just a side question. How long are guys/gals waiting since they've submitted their online app. before the get a call for an interview? Are the times on aviationinterviews.com site correct postings?

 

[onewithwings]

I heard the folks at Horizon were more than a little worried about losing the Frontier flying and have turned up the heat a bit on working out a plan B to find something for the CRJs to do should that happen.

That couldn't be farther from the truth. Horizon will have plenty of work for the CRJ's once the F9 ten year contract is complete. They have made F9 a priority and thus deprived their native system of the CRJ's.

 

[8AF]

I have yet to decide whether to interview on the 25th. Want to know how long is the reserve at QX? What is a typical line like on the CRJ and Dash? Any overnights in Vancouver and Calgary? Thanks!

 

[check6]

I have yet to decide whether to interview on the 25th. Want to know how long is the reserve at QX? What is a typical line like on the CRJ and Dash? Any overnights in Vancouver and Calgary? Thanks!

I've heard Horizon is overstocked on FO's so reserve does last a while.

 

[unwashed]

In the next year we will bring on 14 more 400's and maybe lose 9 200's. YVR and YYC are both RON's. We will not be fat for long on FO's in the 200. We are short on CAPT's in the 200's, FO's in the 400's and CRJ's. Read into it what you want. We also are losing people to other carrier's, Capt's not FO's.

 

[PumpkinPony]

I've heard Horizon is overstocked on FO's so reserve does last a while.

If they were overstocked on FO's you'd think they'd actually let us drop or trade a trip once in a blue moon.

Oh, did anyone else see that quote from LaMar in the June Airline Pilot Careers mag, saying he just approved a 1.5% pay increase for first year FO's and Captains? Really?

 

[QCappy]

I've heard Horizon is overstocked on FO's so reserve does last a while.

No airline is overstocked on anything these days. If they were they wouldn't be in business very long. Besides, who gives a crap if you're on reserve. I would rather be on reserve than fly the crap you do when you have a line. Oh, and usually you end up spending way more time at home too. Sure you're tied to the phone, but at least your not flying an 8 leg day on 9 hours of "rest".

 

[WestSide]

Having worked for another "larger regional", I couldn't be happier here. Take that for what it's worth. Sure QX has it's "problems", but they are non exisitent in comparison to other regionals. Great comopany with great people, as far as regional life goes.

 

[ReverseSensing]

No airline is overstocked on anything these days. If they were they wouldn't be in business very long. Besides, who gives a crap if you're on reserve. I would rather be on reserve than fly the crap you do when you have a line. Oh, and usually you end up spending way more time at home too. Sure you're tied to the phone, but at least your not flying an 8 leg day on 9 hours of "rest".

I don't know, man, a lot of your fellow SEA 200 CA's on reserve are getting beat to death on reserve. 12 off in 35. Constant threat of junior-manning. Constantly being extended. Doing all the same crappy trips line-holders are, but with fewer days off and probably getting flipped from early to late to early shows more frequently than line-holders.

For a few bids, SEA 200 FO's on reserve were forgetting they had a job they were used so little, but I sure wouldn't count on that lasting, with all the training, deliveries, changes on the horizon (no pun intended).

It's cyclical, I know, but God forbid anyone come to QX this fall and get unlucky enough to get assigned the 200. You could spend a long time on reserve. Same for the RJ's. Hope for the 400. You'll see some growth under you in your own domicile and equipment, which is really all that counts for QOL.