JB, SWA, Frontier Slots

[check six]

Trying to get an idea of what the landscape looks like now.

1. Are any major furloughed guys going to JB, SWA, Frontier or are they waiting it out to get back to their company.

2. If I am sitting at 2200 TT with 450 Turbine SIC, do I have a shot at one of the nationals like JB, SWA, Frontier in the near future or is my best hope the regionals.

Thanks

Check Six

 

[trainerjet]

Trying to get an idea of what the landscape looks like now.

2. If I am sitting at 2200 TT with 450 Turbine SIC, do I have a shot at one of the nationals like JB, SWA, Frontier in the near future or is my best hope the regionals.

Thanks

Check Six

I believe those times do not meet the minimum requirements for jetBlue and SWA. That would also go for AirTran. Not sure about Frontier.

 

[rice]

Believe your time is low for Frontier also. Word from a bunch of friends there is 5k TT with some Jet PIC. Of course F9 is a major bubba club and a LOR carries much weight from what I'm told.

 

[PilotAg]

Speaking out of pride, SWA is the fourth largest airline in the U.S. and has been a major since 1990. I was visiting family this past weekend and I still get "you know, none of the major airlines are doing well right now." They don't get it that SWA is a major airline. Oh well.

Check six -

1. Yes, furloughed pilots are going to SWA, JB, Frontier, and AirTran. The way things are shaking down in this business, you won't find anyone leaving SWA to go back anywhere. I also doubt the same with Jet Blue. Not sure about Frontier or AirTran. AirTran is doing really well right now.

2. Those times won't get you very far with these companies. You don't meet the minimums for one and the competition is fierce right now. To be competitive, you need to be closer to 4000 TT with at least 1000 PIC turbine. The regionals are your best bet at this time. Good Luck.

 

[check six]

Pilot Ag,

My bad. SWA is the definition of a major in most people's eyes.
I'm aware that I need more time to be competitive. Just trying to get a handle on how far back I am in the line.

Check Six

 

[AJWick]

Hey Check 6

My guess is you are pretty far down the list but dont get discouraged.

I would still to all to show that you are interested. But as others have stated....best bet would be the regionals. (though some of them are no longer regionals)
The flying there aint so bad either. Its what you make of it.

Good Luck

aj

 

[AFcitrus]

Major pilots at AirTran

I have seen the last several class rosters at AirTran. In just about every class there are at least three to four former major airline pilots. I've seen United, American/TWA and US Air.

For what "major" status is worth these days, I hear we are supposed to gain the status by the end of 2003, maybe first part of 2004. I think those former "major" airline pilots that come to AirTran realize that they are getting in on the ground floor of the next big success story in the airline business. They have a much better future at AirTran than they could have expected at their former job had they waited for a recall.

I think it's safe to say that you won't find people leaving AirTran to go anywhere either, unless they don't have a desire to be a senior captain at a "Major" airline in the amount of time it would have taken them to get recalled to the bottom of the first officer list.

Just my opinion.

 

[PilotAg]

To be considered a major, a company has to have over one billion in revenue in a year. I have several friends at AirTran and they all feel it is going places and really enjoy being there. Anyone know anything about Frontier?

 

[dlredline]

Not going back . . .

Check Six,

You can see my flight time and experience. I'm furloughed USAir (15years), got hired early there and was projected to be #17 on their list at retirement. I have an interview with JetBlue in June, and if I'm lucky to be offered a class, I'll resign my seniority at U that day and not look back. Sometimes your cut your losses , be thankful for the good experience, and look forward to the next adventure. I've got the "major airline" t-shirt. Now I'd like to enjoy my career, and I'm sure you'll find many others in my situation with the same thought process.
Your times may be on the low side for consideration at a lot of the bigger carriers, but keep plying the trade. It seems like only yesterday I was where you are, trying like heck to get my foot in the door. It'll happen, and you'll be poised to take advantage of the upturn.
Best of luck!
DL

 

[P3-Adub]

Like a big ship !

Takes a while to tunr this mother around, when it does, times will be good again and you will be in a good position. That is once all of the furloughee's are recalled, my prediction is for major growth in the next few years and everyone including the hurting companies will get a slice of the pie ! Twill be a good career and when the economy is doing well the salaries will rebound ! Keep at it, get that regional job and build that PIC time, it will build that time the quickest !

 

[check six]

dlredline,

Dam, the camaraderie in this business is great. I'll be looking around the corner for the next opportunity.

One SWA guy told me that if you have a 73 type, you may get looked at ahead of guys with more time but no type.

Check Six

 

[PilotAg]

That is true about the 737 type, unfortunately SWA is only accepting apllications from pilots with the type. Hopefully in the future they will open it back up again. Good Luck.

 

[flx757]

One SWA guy told me that if you have a 73 type, you may get looked at ahead of guys with more time but no type.

Check Six

Currently, SWA requires a 737 type rating (along with their minimum time requirements, which include 1000 hrs turbine PIC) as part of their minimums to be considered for interview. The 737 type requirement for the interview was relaxed for a while (it has always been required before they would assign you a class date), but was reinstated effective Nov 1, 2002 as a minimum requirement for interview. They are also stating that they do not anticipate accepting pilot applications until sometime next year.

JetBlue lists their minimums on their website, as well.

Prior to being hired at my current position with AirTran, I was a 757 captain/check airman, and had been with 2 different majors in the past. In my class, there were furloughees from U S Airways and AA, as well as many other high time 121 jet captains. Since then, I know we have hired many furloughed pilots from various majors. I'm sure they all feel fortunate to have this opportunity, and hope, like I do, that this will be the last stop. I am confident that will be the case.

As others have mentioned, while you might not be competitive for some companies today, you certainly are for others, and I would use this time to continue to prepare myself for the upturn, which most definitely will take place. It's a sometimes wild and always uncertain ride, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I also wouldn't be discouraged by what might appear to be the bleak outlook of today. Just do whatever you can to put yourself in the best postion when things turn around. And who knows, that opportunity you find around the next corner could turn out to be the one you've been looking for all along.