Spirit Interview MD80 Sim Eval

[Beetle007]

As long as these kids understand what a HUGE oppurtunity this is I can handle it but I have a sinking feeling that some will feel "entitled" to their job.

True, but part of the problem with this industry is that people are expected to work for peanuts and earn their way into a high paying job flying larger airplanes. This is the stepping stone syndrome that has plagued this industry.

Imagine for a second if all legacies and Low Cost Carriers were willing to hire top students directly from universities. People would no longer be able to justify a crappy job as a stepping stone. And maybe people entering this industry would demand higher pay from the bottom up.

 

[Shrek]

Definitely a different way to look at the problem but I am afraid they will never do this so we are back at the problem the way it is now I guess.......

 

[cruxx@9]

I agree with shrek on this. Of course that would be a great idea, but what is more than likely is that these wonder pilots are going to be like, "wow, geez, I get to fly an AirBus....can I pay you to do it?"

Funny part is that they already have "glass time" because the new skyhawks are glass now. Wow how the times have changed.....

At 32, I'm already one of those guys that I used to see around the FBO when I was a ramp rat. Talking about the way it used to be. I didn't think it would happen so soon. We are those "old timers" already. I can hear it now the new 400 hour pilots talking about it. They will say, "those guys were flying back when there were...what is it...I can't remember...they told me about it my first year at Embry Riddle....it had three letters....oh a NBD...no no a NDB and ADF...that's right, something about you had to actually indentify it. How does this VOR thingy work?"

AHHHH the days......

 

[mu2]

At Piedmont we have mostly round dials but our 300s have 2 tube EFIS. It consists of the ADI and HSI but can also pull up a map of the route. None of the engine gauges, airspeed, alt, or aircraft systems are displayed on screens. Is this considered glass?

 

[jmreii]

I agree with shrek on this. Of course that would be a great idea, but what is more than likely is that these wonder pilots are going to be like, "wow, geez, I get to fly an AirBus....can I pay you to do it?"

Funny part is that they already have "glass time" because the new skyhawks are glass now. Wow how the times have changed.....

At 32, I'm already one of those guys that I used to see around the FBO when I was a ramp rat. Talking about the way it used to be. I didn't think it would happen so soon. We are those "old timers" already. I can hear it now the new 400 hour pilots talking about it. They will say, "those guys were flying back when there were...what is it...I can't remember...they told me about it my first year at Embry Riddle....it had three letters....oh a NBD...no no a NDB and ADF...that's right, something about you had to actually indentify it. How does this VOR thingy work?"

AHHHH the days......

The aircraft I fly these days all have garmin equipment with no ADF/RMI, and it getting awfully difficult to find airports that have working NDB's that anybody is using as a navaid.

 

[Beetle007]

I'm guessing that most of these University CFIs are equally knowledgable about NDBs and other types of approaches as any airline pilot. They probably fly more NDB approaches in a week than most airline pilots will fly the rest of their career. Although NDBs will eventually go the way of the four-course radio range.

Ive found most "experienced" Airbus pilots don't even know how to use the BFO feature of the FMS if they had to fly an NDB approach with an underlined three letter identifier.

 

[CaravanMan]

Well holy hell, fellas...I'll go rent a G1000 172 tomorrow for some glass time!! Oh wait, yeah, I can't even afford that. My round dials have glass covers though... Hmmmm... imp:

 

[Shrek]

At Piedmont we have mostly round dials but our 300s have 2 tube EFIS. It consists of the ADI and HSI but can also pull up a map of the route. None of the engine gauges, airspeed, alt, or aircraft systems are displayed on screens. Is this considered glass?

For Spirit's purposes......yup.

 

[cruxx@9]

I'm guessing that most of these University CFIs are equally knowledgable about NDBs and other types of approaches as any airline pilot. They probably fly more NDB approaches in a week than most airline pilots will fly the rest of their career. Although NDBs will eventually go the way of the four-course radio range.

Ive found most "experienced" Airbus pilots don't even know how to use the BFO feature of the FMS if they had to fly an NDB approach with an underlined three letter identifier.

Dude, didn't mean to offend you. You are probably right a guy right out of school can probably out fly most airline pilots on an average approach, since we are running around managed/managed. I was just getting that when I learned how to fly...as probably most of us on here that learned over 10 years ago, there was NO glass at all in GA planes. Well, not the ones most of us could afford. My first C152 had ONE VOR in it. You had to cross tune two VOR's on one head...granted you are only flying at like 90 kts. If that didn't work, or if you were like me and too lazy to tune a freq, you would just buzz a water tower and look at the chart to figure out where you were. Back then very few could afford a GPS, they were really expensive then and big. Now I have a hard time finding a plane to rent without a GPS. Most students now are training on glass cockpits in GA planes and almost all of them have a GPS. Granted now there are more GPS approaches and they need to learn how to use one. It's just a different time than when most of us came into this.....that's all I was saying.

 

[iflysky]

For those that care Spirit-ERAU deal: (scroll down)

http://www.erau.edu/omni/db/academicorgs/dbasd/careers.html

 

[brokeMoFo]

when I interviewed over there a couple of weeks ago there was no one there that had any TPIC time. I think that says a lot about the company and what type of pilots that they are looking for. I think they are afraid to hire people with over 1000T 121 PIC because they are afraid you might leave for a better place. The CEO Baldanza or what ever his name is ranks up there with Mr. Orenstien. Who wants to work at place were the CEO makes an ass of himself with a ridiculous reply to a customer complaint and has nothing to say about it after the fact. Their term ULTRA LOW COST airline pretty much explains it. I wonder if the crews have to pay for a soda and a snack on each flight. Its probably payroll deducted. Sorry, I am done ranting..

 

[Shrek]

when I interviewed over there a couple of weeks ago there was no one there that had any TPIC time. I think that says a lot about the company and what type of pilots that they are looking for. I think they are afraid to hire people with over 1000T 121 PIC because they are afraid you might leave for a better place. The CEO Baldanza or what ever his name is ranks up there with Mr. Orenstien. Who wants to work at place were the CEO makes an ass of himself with a ridiculous reply to a customer complaint and has nothing to say about it after the fact. Their term ULTRA LOW COST airline pretty much explains it. I wonder if the crews have to pay for a soda and a snack on each flight. Its probably payroll deducted. Sorry, I am done ranting..

Why did you even come to the interview then?!..........sour grapes :erm:

 

[brokeMoFo]

I went mostly for the interview experience and to learn more about the airline. Im not sour at all. Spirit might be a good place to work for some and maybe not for others.

 

[Shrek]

Glad we could be a part of your good "interview" experience........

Good Luck with the search.........

 

[iflysky]

Personally I don't think it is "being afraid to hire people with 1000 TPIC and loosing them later". It is just that few people are intersted in Spirit. People are getting in without 1000 TPIC just about at every airline that is hiring out there.
Spirit is in a tough position: poor FO pay, one base (FLL is expensive and a difficult commute), brand new ULCC model that is still somewhat in its experimental stage, in the middle of pilot contract negotiations and so on.
So with other more established carriers hiring out there, one can see why this is happening here.
I think however, some way or another things will eventually catch up with the MAN and things will hopefully be changed if it is not too late.

 

[CaravanMan]

Personally I don't think it is "being afraid to hire people with 1000 TPIC and loosing them later". It is just that few people are intersted in Spirit. People are getting in without 1000 TPIC just about at every airline that is hiring out there.
Spirit is in a tough position: poor FO pay, one base (FLL is expensive and a difficult commute), brand new ULCC model that is still somewhat in its experimental stage, in the middle of pilot contract negotiations and so on.
So with other more established carriers hiring out there, one can see why this is happening here.
I think however, some way or another things will eventually catch up with the MAN and things will hopefully be changed if it is not too late.

Speaking of contract, what's the latest anyone has heard? Any talk of pay increase?

 

[Shrek]

Speaking of contract, what's the latest anyone has heard? Any talk of pay increase?

We would be prepared to walk if they didn't !!

Things aren't going to move quickly but we are in mediation so the clock is ticking.........who knows how long though - just ask any current ASA pilot.

If the company wants an IPO quicker.........contract will come quicker.

 

[ultrarunner]

They can't upgrade these pilots for a long time I'm sure,

What's to prevent these new 'wonder pilots' from upgrading when their seniority can hold it, provided they meet the minimum PIC requirements. And the minimum requirements are and ATP and appropriate type ratings.

So, you hire the wonder girl/boy with 800 hours and it's fairly safe to say that they are sporting the minimums after a year or so online, right?

800 hour new hire to Airbus captain in about a year.

This will be fun to watch.

 

[ultrarunner]

Ive found most "experienced" Airbus pilots don't even know how to use the BFO feature of the FMS if they had to fly an NDB approach with an underlined three letter identifier.

Can't an Airbus FMS just fly that approach in White Source?

I can't remember the last time I saw an NDB approch what wasn't a GPS overlay?