Dash Trash said:
Spirit Airlines sure is in the news today for opening all kinds of new routes. Anybody have any info on the pilot group there? how big? Pay? Contract? F-Lhanow? Min's? Any info or a point in that direction would be great. I can not find much on thier site or ALPA.
The core of the pilot group is made up of pilots from: Midway (the original ), AirFlorida, Eastern, PanAm, Braniff, USAJet, Zantop, PrivateJet,or anywhere they could find people with previous DC9 experience. No scabs, by and large a great group of pilots. In the past, one just about had to have previous jet experience to get hired. Now, we hear that the criteria pretty much matches the major carriers requirements.
Currently about 350 pilots. Rumors of about another 100 this year.
Pay is not great, but I upgraded in less than two years. Ya gotta take the good with the bad.
ALPA. We're on our first contract, and are currently working on the necessary studies to renegotiate. We are presently the lowest paid MD80 guys with the possible exception of Vanguard. However, we have some really good work rules and we do make more than most regional pilots. Also, our business niche makes for a real easy job. (hardly ever more than two legs a day)
F-Low, what the heck is this?
Mins, much higher than early last year. I'd say that competive numbers would be in the 8000hour range, with previous DC9, or comparable, time.
Spirit is privately owned, so it's impossible to know how we are doing. However, the big guys are not playing with stockholders money, so we assume that we are making money because they wouldn't lose their own. I doubt that we will be the next SWA, but if one chooses to look at the bright side, Spirit has tremendous potential.
Good Luck.
