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Question for World Airways pilots

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bandit317

bandit317

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 25, 2004
Posts
105
Not sure if this belongs in the Major section, but this is where most pilots look. Anyway, I have a recommendation from a World Airways pilot and am considering making the move, but have some big issues. Right now I am a captain for a large bottom feeder regional airline, but the job is going nowhere and of course the schedules and work rules suck. I am married and have a 2 year old son who I like spending time with. World has much better opportunities than where I am currently, but I'd like to hear from the pilots who have kids and your feeling about being away for such long periods of time affects your relationship.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.
 
Actually works well. Home long enough for her to say "When are you leaving?" Gone long enough for her to say "I miss you, when are you coming home?" Seriously, the lifestyle is good, home basing is good, One of the last adventures left in aviation. You hear horror stories about the schedule, but in reality, its not that bad. Just remember to spend your days off with the kids and your days at work with your buds !
 
757jetflier said:
Actually works well. Home long enough for her to say "When are you leaving?" Gone long enough for her to say "I miss you, when are you coming home?" Seriously, the lifestyle is good, home basing is good, One of the last adventures left in aviation. You hear horror stories about the schedule, but in reality, its not that bad. Just remember to spend your days off with the kids and your days at work with your buds !
Click to expand...

Can you post some typical schedules from different seniority levels?
 
Very senior - 95 credit, 20 days off
Mid - Reg line 16/17 off, 13/14 on the road
Junior - open time 12 off, 18/19 on. Does not mean gone for 18 just the potential for it. Guarantee = 65 hrs = 13 days.
Home reserve - 12 off, 76 hrs, short call = go to guy.
 
I checked the World website and did not find any info about hiring. Is World hiring? What is the best way to apply? Thanx
 
Rumor from our company chat board, that the hiring people will be at the 11 November Air Inc job fair in ATL looking for about 10-12. That is how I got on. Good Luck
 
World seems like a great place to work, but I hear they furlough often and have very slow upgrades.

1. What kind of 401k match does World offer?
2. How has the furlough history been at World?
3. How long is upgrade?
 
Can you be away from family for 18 days at a time? They were warning pilots that intervied that is was best to be single. They even said at Airinc that they would be hesitant to hire a family man.
 
I would guess the last real furlough was in the early 90s. We furloughed about 20-30 I think after 911 and I think they were all recalled within 2 months if memory serves me correctly.

I have to say.. when it rains it pours... I have seen a few times here when we are gone abunch, meaning 20 days in a row. Most of the time though this is self induced, meaning you chose to work the last 2 weeks of the month and the first part of the following month.

As far as junior bidlines go.... I probably hear most guys complaining they dont fly enough. I am a fairly junior captain here and in the last fifteen months I have had 2 or three months where I was gone 20 plus days and have 2 months where I never left home. I would say the average trip is about 7 days on reserve.
 
It is a great pplace to work. The old world ways was to furlough at the drop of a hat but that practice has gone away. We had a pretty good CP later DO who convinced Mgmt. it cost more money to furlough if the expected duration was less than a year. Right after 9/11 we had 22 guys to get fuloughed 11 were back in 6 wks and the other 11 in 8 wks. Part of it was WOA was applying for the stabilization loan and had to show steps were taken to cut costs.

The 401K is not matched but we do have a descent retirement plan not tied to the company in any way but that the company makes qaurterly payments to.

The furlough history was discussed (see above).

Upgrade is currently at 6 +/- years.

If you like the scenery to change and don't mind being gone 14-16 days avg. then WOA can be a great place. Homebasing= no jumpseating to work, no crashpad and live where you want to in the lwr 48 served by 3 carriers. Involve the wife in your descision because if she hates the job and the time you are away then life is tough. But if she can handle the schedule then there are 3 rules to live by at World.

1) Leave the stories of the road on the road.
2) Come home Horny!
3) Try not to whistle too loud while you are packing for work.

Good Luck!




timetoquit said:
World seems like a great place to work, but I hear they furlough often and have very slow upgrades.

1. What kind of 401k match does World offer?
2. How has the furlough history been at World?
3. How long is upgrade?
Click to expand...
 
Two questions for you World guys:

1. How do you like flying the MD-11? Positives and negatives?

2. Best and worst layovers on the MD-11?
 
I've had entire months off at a time. The longest I've been gone is 18 days and I did get a little homesick. But sometimes during those long stretches at home I wonder if I'm still employed.

Without a doubt we have the best layovers in the industry. 5 days in HNL. 5 days in Australia. Lots of Germany.

Be sure you want to come here. There's a $48,000 training contract involved. No second-guessing yourself after the type-ride: you're commited for 2 years.
 
MD11Drvr said:
live where you want to in the lwr 48 served by 3 carriers.
Click to expand...
I know a few guys at a similar company who live overseas, but still show a US city as their "base" for commerical travel reasons. The company usually takes this into consideration and allows them to commerical to the nearest point on a trip.

Does World allow this?
 
WOA has a few folks doing the overseas living, However; I would not do this as a new hire nor would I mention the desire to live overseas in the interview if you want the job. Lower 48 and life is simple but if you can work it out and make it work you would not br the only one. But to answer your question WOA does not have a specific policu prohibiting this, its just your job if you screw it up. That is the best info I know but other opinions are welcome if I am wrong............


timetoquit said:
I know a few guys at a similar company who live overseas, but still show a US city as their "base" for commerical travel reasons. The company usually takes this into consideration and allows them to commerical to the nearest point on a trip.

Does World allow this?
Click to expand...
 
Everyone has been a great help. Sound like World would be an increase in my family life compared to whre I am.
THanks!
 
I flew with a guy who had been with World and left it because of the time being gone. He had been on a trip where he was gone about 18 days...then had 6 days off but his days off were overseas. He then had to do another 18 days. So he ended up being away from home for over a month. He said it was tough on a family.
 
I am not sure when this guy worked for WOA but the contract has 144 hours (6Day) in it at home. Now the new contract has the 144 and another 144 built into lines so you know the 12 days you are off in advance. By the contract you may sell for a overtiem rate up to 144hrs (6 days) back to the company on a volunteer basis but you must have 6 days off at home. The pilots at WOA were out on strike over a year in the early 70's fighting for those 144 hours off at base. 6 days off overseas has been nearly impossible since the early 70's. there have been isolated cases of encrouchment on the 144 hours but it costs the company upwards of 2000.00 per day for thre violation that gets paid to the pilot on top of his regular pay.......




regionalcap said:
I flew with a guy who had been with World and left it because of the time being gone. He had been on a trip where he was gone about 18 days...then had 6 days off but his days off were overseas. He then had to do another 18 days. So he ended up being away from home for over a month. He said it was tough on a family.
Click to expand...
 
regionalcap said:
..then had 6 days off but his days off were overseas. He then had to do another 18 days. So he ended up being away from home for over a month. He said it was tough on a family.
Click to expand...

Days off are at home. Period. This is not Atlas Air. You can have a stretch of days sitting in a hotel (in HNL for instance, or Germany) but they are by definition not "off." You still get 4.8hrs plus per diem for each day.

BTW: World just had a guy retire after thirty-nine (39) years on the property. Now he's going to the panel. Food for thought.
 
Last edited:
Do pilots have to buy there own uniforms? If so, then how much? Is there a union? How much are the monthly dues? Are there any interline travel discounts for the family? (I.D. 90 on Delta,Northwest,or American)
 
jscflyer said:
Do pilots have to buy there own uniforms? If so, then how much? Is there a union? How much are the monthly dues? Are there any interline travel discounts for the family? (I.D. 90 on Delta,Northwest,or American)
Click to expand...

Yes. About same as everyone else. Yes, Teamsters. About same as everyone else. Yes, All of those airlines come to mind, as well as BA world fare. Overall, better pay and bennies than any commuter and most if not all LCC's.
 
I came from Air Wisconsin (as a fairly senior captain) to World and have absolutely no regrets. I could never go back to the regionals again - the QOL is so much better here. I do not have kids, but the vast majority of the pilots I fly with do. They actually like the schedules, as they get to spend more time with the kids overall.

The trip I am on now is a long one, 19 days, which is the most I can be out since I didn't bid this line (won't go into why, kinda complicated). I have only been out for more than 14 days twice in the last year, and have been home for 3+ weeks at a stretch several times. I have been home more days in the last year than 3 years combined at AWAC.

If you're curious, this trip has overnights in Toronto, Memphis, Milan (for 2+ glorious days), Brussels, JFK, ATL, Leipzig Germany, Bangor, ORD, ANC, and LAX flying ferry flights, troops, and cargo. Needless to say, lots of variety! The total hours of flying works out to about 62 with mostly 3 man crews. It also includes 5 commercial flights, which is least enjoyable aspect of this job.
However, we rack up quite a bit of frequent flier miles which is nice perk.

Good luck if you decide to apply!
 
B&b.With that screen name and those layovers you must come home with zero money in your pocket no matter what you get paid.LOL.Sounds like a pretty good gig.
 

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