Spirit Airlines Hiring

[hmmurdock]

Greetings..

I was Looking on airline pilot centrals website and saw that spirit is accepting applications and hiring. Can anyone who works for them tell me a little about them such as contract, quality of life, reserve, commuting etc. I also noticed on Spirit's website that there is no specific amount of PIC turbine time required for the application. It did mention total time, turbine, multi etc, but not pic. How much time is considered competetive there? Any info is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[GonFishin]

Probably around 5000 TT !

 

[:-)]

Probably around 5000 TT !

I made a few calls and found that it'll probably take about double that amount of time. Unless you have previous time in the right seat of a Gulfstream Beechliner. Then the Spirit CP loves you.

They did hire a lot of ex-UAL and TWA pilots last year, and I hear that those pilots were extremely high time.

 

[MX Rider]

Do a search on Spirit! (for more info)

Contract - OK and getting better (amendable 01/07 ALPA).

Pay - not so good but getting better slowly..........10% raise coming in 5 months. Check out airlinepilotcentral.com of course.

QOL - OK if you live in base (FLL or DTW) and getting better.

Commuting - Had to give it up..don't know anymore. Quite a few Commuters @ NK.

Spirit is in the process of changing their fleet, md-80 to A319/A321.

In summary, no big complaints...... life is pretty good (OK) and getting better all the time but that is all subject to change of course.

Just let it do what it do baby!

Blue Skies

 

[enigma]

In general, Spirit is ok. But as with any growing business, or an business that is struggling to grow, risk exists.

Do a search on Spirit! (for more info)

Contract - OK and getting better (amendable 01/07 ALPA).

OK, maybe. That depends upon your basis. In my opinion, this contract is worse than the last, but that is partly because management takes liberties with this that they didn't/couldn't take with the last contract. The getting better part is purely speculation. The company shows ZERO intent to make this contract better in the future. In fact, they have demanded concessions on numerous occasions these last few years.

Pay - not so good but getting better slowly..........10% raise coming in 5 months. Check out airlinepilotcentral.com of course.

I agree, but don't forget that the company has been/is trying to scare us into giving back that ten percent.

QOL - OK if you live in base (FLL or DTW) and getting better.

Unless you happen to be a Florida boy who just got displaced to DTW. Lately, Spirit has given a lot of points to applicants who live near a base, but is now displacing them. I don't think that some of us think that QOL is getting better.

Commuting - Had to give it up..don't know anymore. Quite a few Commuters @ NK.

Spirit was once commuter friendly, not anymore. See above.

Spirit is in the process of changing their fleet, md-80 to A319/A321.

In summary, no big complaints...... life is pretty good (OK) and getting better all the time but that is all subject to change of course.

Just let it do what it do baby!

Blue Skies

man, oh man, where do I start. No complaints Huh?

About 25% of us are shorted pay in any given month, for the first complaint.

Next, the phone rings off of the hook for junior assigns.
And, it rings at hours that are contractually forbidden. Like in the middle of the night.

The company has recently suspended a union rep who refused an obviously illegal trip. BTW, they had to reinstate him, and the fallout will continue.
___________________________________________
I'll return to my opening statement. Risk exists. BUT, the reward could be great. If Spirit's new investors ever manage to rid the management team of the old guard and replace them with personel who actually desire to succeed in the airline business, we will go far. Our costs are low, at least until the first Airbus goes out of warranty or requires a heavy inspection.

Now for the good part. The people you get to fly with at Spirit are darned good people. We have pilots on staff with widely varied backgrounds. From retired Colonels to bush pilots, from pool cleaners to real estate moguls. I'd guess that we are about one quarter ex-military, but we haven't hired the stereotypical ex-mil pilot. We've got lots of old C130 boys, a few C9 guys and even an F100 guy or two, but I'll bet anyone a c-note that they can't pick out the retired F106 pilot. We've got pilots with hundreds of Atlantic crossings in single engine Cessnas and pilots with hundreds of crossings in a 767.

Our check airmen/DE's/instructors are top notch people who (mostly) attempt to impart knowledge and build skill instead of beating you up in the sim.

If you are the kind of pilot who is able to take a chance on a company which might not be here in five years. Give us a chance. The upside is that you could be an international A330 pilot in that same five years. (Yes the Big Bus rumors continue)

enigma

 

[pilotyip]

Last year four pilots hired by Spirit from USA Jet. They had between 4000 and 6000 hours with over a 1000 TJ PIC and DC-9 time, but not necessarily DC-9 type. All were local DTW pilots.

 

[MX Rider]

man, oh man, where do I start. No complaints Huh?

I said no BIG complaints.......there are always going to be some complaints and the several people who just simply love to complain!

Ya Know

 

[enigma]

I said no BIG complaints.......there are always going to be some complaints and the several people who just simply love to complain!

Ya Know

When I have to spend my time making the company get my pay correct, I call that a BIG complaint. I don't love to complain, I'm just tired of getting the run-around from payroll and scheduling.

mx, I understand that some of us don't like complainers, neither do I. However, we are seeing way too many complaints, complaints from otherwise positive people. I'm glad that you try to be positive, but eventually the perfum wears of and the pig smell starts to seep through. This string was started by someone asking about Spirit as a prospective employer and I think he deserves an honest answer. I'm certainly not anti-Spirit, but the truth must be told.

enigma, one of the FLL "complainers"

Note to all: FLL is full of "complainers" and DTW is full of "weak sucks" . That's a joke boys

 

[MX Rider]

I hears ya Brotha........just remember there are alot of fellow flyers in worse predicaments than us (ATA,FLYI,NWA?,UA? & others) but, things DO need to improve at the Spirit Hissy. In this crazy industry, the term "big complaint" is getting redefined on an hourly basis. Almost everybody is getting a whiff....if not a taste of the steaming poo sandwich. If we keep hangin together and applying the pressure maybe...just maybe we can clean this mess up! Then it will be steak sandwiches for the duration....ok for at least a little while....ok maybe cheese burgers.

MX
one of the FLL "semi-complainers"

OK one of the FLL "complainers"

 

[RJET]

Spirit not being commuter friendly? Meanning mostly daily trips, not commutable at all, some commutable? Thanks in advanced guys.

 

[enigma]

Spirit not being commuter friendly? Meanning mostly daily trips, not commutable at all, some commutable? Thanks in advanced guys.

Early shows, late releases. The contract requires five day off blocks when possible, it's NEVER possible. The lines in FLL are fifty percent relief lines, meaning that the company builds the lines after the bid closes.

But part of the reason I say that we are no longer commuter friendly is that they have given locals such an advantage in the hiring process. They obviously prefer South FL, or DTW locals. Those pilots are much easier to junior assign.

But again, I must say.......again, Spirit could turn into one of the better jobs in the industry. If you're a person who can be happy dealing with a growing/struggling company, come on down.

enigma

 

[MX Rider]

The CBA does call for five day blocks on off days whenever possible and we don't see many schedules (but there are some) with the fivers in them. However, in the event the company can't or should I say won't use the fiver they are required by the CBA to build all lines (regular, relief, & reserve) with four day blocks on off days. This requirement is complied with by the company. The only exception to this is at the request of the pilot during the bidding of relief lines. A pilot can also waive this requirement by picking-up trips from open time. The problem with the fiver is that the language in the CBA does not require its use and it does not contribute to high productivity. The company obviously avoids its inclusion in the schedules.

As far as commutability, I think the four day blocks help all the commuters; the rest is left to senoirity. The MD80 fleet is being retired company wide and quickly phased out of the FLL base. This fact is inflicting severe damamge and extreme transformation to the FLL MD80 schedules. So, I believe that FLL MD80 commuters are probably hating life about now and will soon be commuting to DTW if they wish to stay on the 80 until it leaves the property. In general, I believe the fleet change is causing the majority of the scheduling issues. The transformation is something short of graceful. IMO, even though I am not a commuter, I have had lines in the past that seemed very commutable.

As far as problems between the pilots and the company, the main issues of late have been pay discrepancies, annoying (badgering) phone calls, and illegal phone calls. When I do not want to be disturbed I do not answer the phone (turn it off, vibrate, whatever). Works for me! Pay issues are a problem. I have been victoriuos in all my battles but it has been an unnecessary pain in my *ss.
They must be stopped!

Hope the info helps..........

MX

 

[DC9stick]

Just to set the record straight, Spirit has always hired pilots close to it's crew bases. Just ask those who commute from or have moved from: ACY, EWR, MYR, CLE, MLB Did I miss any. Spirit hired pilots who lived near all these locations when they were crew bases. If you join Spirit be ready to move or commute at a moments notice when they close the next base. Overall Spirit would be a great place to work if management would just stand up and abide by the contract they forced down our throats.

Forced to commute!!!

 

[RJET]

I think the answer is no but I will ask anyways. Does Spirit have commuting policy?
Are theere any upcoming changes on crew bases opening new ones or closing?

 

[MX Rider]

Yes. There is a commuter policy in the CBA. You need to have 2 flights that could have got you to work and notification to the company that you will not make it to work at least 2 hours prior to your scheduled work segment.

HHHhhhmmm....crew bases? It is just FLL and DTW for now and I don't see that changing anytime soon. I think right now DTW is staffed a bit heavier than FLL, however the company hq and training facility is in the FLL area.

 

[RJET]

MX Rider and Enigma thanks for all the info.
Do you happen to know how may Spirit plans to hire?
It is because of growth or people quiting?

 

[MX Rider]

Very few people (2 or 3 ?) have retired and maybe 8 or so have quit since the begining of this year, so I think it is very safe to say that we will be hiring due to an increase in flying hours. I wish I could give you a number but I do not have one. I will snoop around and see what I can find out. I do know that we will be getting at least 6-7 more Buses before the end of this year and they are trying to figure out a way to increase that number. Maybe someone will chime in with some more info during the silence.


MX

 

[BLUE BAYOU]

What about those 15 or so pilots displaced earlier this spring? Where are they now? Should they not be recalled first before they hire away?

 

[MX Rider]

They have all been recalled but I still have not heard how many of them are coming back. I would guess that some have moved on to other offers.

 

[enigma]

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