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Leave ASA for F9?

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Ted Striker

Piece of the Portfolio
Joined
Dec 7, 2001
Posts
399
Hi Guys,

I know this is all theoreitcal, but just wanted to get some insight/opinions on F9. I've seen the payscales and right now I make right around $60 per hour as an RJ Capt. It looks to me like I won't exceed that until I would upgrade at F9. I would love to live in Denver and fly the Bus. Is there opportunities for overtime, etc? What about other benefits? If it were just me, it wouldn't be a big deal, but we have a little one on the way and the wife can't work right now. Like I said, this is a bit premature, since they haven't called me or anything-just trying to get some opinions and thoughts. I know money isn't everything either, but the Peanut is going to need diapers! Also, any guesses on upgrade times there now (subject to change of course). Thanks for the help. Everyone fly safe.
 
ASA isn't a career airline the way it is now... in the future it may be one, but for now, I'd jump ship for a better more pay anyday.
 
Go to Frontier. I jumped on the bus (pre-9-11) and I liked it a lot. Denver is nice when it isn't really smoggy, and some parts are fairly inexpensive. Go for it.

Bye Bye---General Lee;)
 
By all means GO....I need to move up a number.

Seriously, good luck with your decision. This friggin' industry is a crap shoot anyways.
 
Look at it this way you can pay now, or you can pay later. When I left a non sched as a captain I thought the same thing but bit the bullet and jumped ship. I saved 10K to get me through the first year which I did not even have to touch, 2nd yr with overtime I made as much as I did or would be making at my previous gig and now on my 3rd yr. at SWA will well exceed. Pay now while you can and get out as fast as you can.
 
What a tough choice!! No, really!!

What looks like stability today at ASA can become a real problem later.

What if Delta sells its wholly owned subsidaries?
What it Delta declares bankcruptcy and changes the way it contracts regional flying?
How much do you really trust Delta management to take care of ASA?

But....

What if ASA continues to grow and gets a bunch of 70 seat jets?


If the regional world ever unites wages will be more stable. You guys need to form a new union that stretches accross regional carriers and includes the low budget operations. Mainline guys usually don't understand how that would stabilize mainline carriers and the industry. Mainline pilots or MECs need to figure that out (or choose to care).


Do you think F9 is going places? If so, I would make the jump. I worry the Ted initiative will eventually affect F9. What are the possibilities for F9 growth a few years down the road?
 
Last edited:
Hey Ted...

Is there opportunities for overtime, etc?
Yeha, but don't count on it for your budget. Can't bid for it on reserve. Only when you are a line holder, and then by seniority only. But 42K for 1st year fo isn't that bad.

What about other benefits?
Full medical,dental,vision are available. 401K with 50% match for 10% of gross.



Also, any guesses on upgrade times there now
Hard to say, but with just over 500 pilots right now and 40 aircraft we would need 1000 plus for a new hire to make capt right now. We have plans for around 65 total aircraft by 2008. Options for 23 more. SO... if we excersize our options you'd be capt soon. If not you'd be a senior fo for a long time (but still make more than you do now in about four years as a fo.)

I love it here, and all the commuter types here seem to too. I don't know ASA, but it was the right choice for me:) I came from the frax, and couldn't imagine dealing with that life again.
 
Why risk your Captain position with seniority at an airline on the verge of entering the big time as their own carrier.
You have a wife that does'nt work and a baby on the way, if this industry so much as burps in productivety the last place you're going to feel secure is on the bottom of a seniority list.
As F9DRVR said; you may be a FO indefinitely....would'nt you rather have kids that know their daddy as a captain?
Can you afford to have one or more kids as an FO?
How will this major change effect your family? Are they ready to move and sacrifice even more for your career? The training may require you to be away for a long time. You won't have alot of time to spend with your baby while you study your butt off for a job that hinges on your passing the checkride. Just seems like a helluva time to pick a career move.
 
Crashpad,

I think you are thinking of ACA, not ASA????

Still a crap shoot....ask the guys that were at Pan Am...Gone......TWA...Gone.....Us Air guys with 15 years seniority...Poof

Who knows who will be a serious contender in the future.
 
Oh my god!!!!! This guy's working for ASA, making babies and wondering if it's a good career move?!?!!!!! I'm sorry, I'm not even going to respond. No wait...yes I am. Here's 2 rules to live by if you fly for the commuters: don't buy a house and don't make babies! Your job will always depend on your company, as well as the company your company serves. If the big company tells the little company 'jump' you jump, 'move' you move, 'your pilots are over paid' your fired or working for less than min. wage!
This is not a plan for a man for a who wants to provide for his family.
 
Thanks everyone

F9 Driver, et al.-

Thanks for the input everyone. I guess it's all pretty obvious as far as a crapshoot in this job. I'm going to get in the game and if I am fortunate enough to even get an interview I can worry about it then. I guess I was looking for input from people who have "been there, done that." Thanks again.


Crashpad, I don't plan on defining my role as a father by whether I am a Captain or First Officer. I'm going to be the same dad regardless, even if I am burning steaks somewhere. And yes, I am at a commuter, making babies and buying houses. I don't know anyone who would put their life on hold wondering what the hell this industry is going to do.

Fly safe everyone.
 
Crashpad,

Since when did job come before family? On my list, family comes before job. Striker is right, you don't put your plans on hold with an industry that is so fluid. Obviously, some have priorities that are different. It does not mean that they are wrong.

Happy flying,

Red Baron
 
Re: Thanks everyone

Ted Striker said:

I don't know anyone who would put their life on hold wondering what the hell this industry is going to do.

Fly safe everyone.

Very true...I don't think I would ever have children if I waited for this indutry to be stable again. If I wanted to put my career ahead of family I would have chosen a God forsaken occupation where I was required to put in 50-60 hour work weeks.

Remember, nobody ever lies on their death bed wishing hey had spent more time at the office.
 
Ted, Baron and the mighty Stifler:

You are correct, family does comes first. I would like to recant my comments and thank you for not skewering me when you had the chance. Ted says he's going to be a good Dad even if he's burning steaks. A man with his conviction and foresight will have little problem making the right choices.
 
CP,

How much coffee have you had today???? I thought you knew how the stuff adversly effects your system:D ,

In his defense, I have two kids, one I had prior to entering this crazy business and another while working for Trans States. I also bought my first home on their pay. I then made the jump to Air Wisconsin where I spent the better part of three yrs. I sold the first home for double what we paid and bought the second which by the way is almost three times the size in SQ footage as the first home still while working at a regional. I now sit on the bottom of the list at AWA but with 70something folks below me. Moral of the story, it can be done but be extremely cautious!!!!!

WD.
 
Live in Texas with no state income tax, 60K plus (and that will improve), fly 35 hr naps for 75+ hour pay and see the family everyday!! Sounds like a pretty good life to me!! I stop commuting this week (close on house in Keller, Tx) and I know our quality of life will increase. No crashpad, running through airports, et cetera. This is a great job if you live in base IMHO.

Don't know what you did before ASA but I had to put in 50+ hours a week in the real world to make what I make as a reserve Captain at ASA. I would love to move up a number but I vote for staying on board until the biz shakes a little more. Who knows, in a few years you may the General's F.O!! :D

I wish you all the best!
 
I swear I will treat you well if you are my FO----and I will do 50% of the walkarounds when it is above 50 degrees F. (the 50/50 rule with our Capts)

Bye Bye--General Lee:rolleyes:
 
I left ASA for Gemini in 99. I was a captain on the 120 and life was o.k., but I always felt that I was sleeping under Delta's front porch, and would never be let into the big house. We all make choices, and we all have to live with them, but my bottom line is - if the doors all open up at the right time with little effort, it's karma, man... just do it. by the way - I had a baby and a non-working wife, and it was a tad scary.
 
I left COEX as a line holding captain on the ERJ for AirTran a year ago. At the time there were lots of doubts running through my mind. I loved COEX and the people I worked with but I started to feel as if life at a regional was not going to get much better in the near future. At least at AirTran (insert F9 or ATA or AWA or JBLU) would pay as well and better as an FO than you would make as a 50 seat captain at most regionals. After year 1 you will be paid better and have a retirement plan (B-fund) at several LCC's. If the big show opens up (AMR CAL DAL NWA) and you want to leave and play ball up there, then you still have that option. If that day never comes you can make an easy 120-200K a year as a captain at any of the LCC's listed above.

I am happy with the decision I made as I look back on my year at AAI. Could it have been a bad decision? Sure! Anything can happen. It is a risk and you must decide what your risk tolerance is as a husband and a father. Personally, I think F9 is a pretty safe bet. The worst case scenerio would be a merger with 1 or 2 other LCC's in which the seniority list would become stagnat for a while but might just end up a large seniority list at a healthy airline. Good luck in your decision making process.

IAHERJ
 
IAHERJ:

Glad to hear that you are happy with your decision so far, but I think it's about to get much, much better still.

I have been here about 27 mos and this has been the slowest time for movement, due to the 4 airplanes we did not get. You should be seeing 16-18 days off and 85+ hrs by Summer (on commutable lines), if not by Spring.

Welcome Aboard!
 

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