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Spirit or Airtran?

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saviboy

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2003
Posts
506
If one had a choice between the two airlines, which would be the best and why?


1) growth/size of pilot group: airtran has about 1500 pilots , spirit has about 1/3 of that. If the age average is higher at one the companies it might mean faster upgrade time.


2) salaries look very similar to each other

3) atmosphere , which one has the better employer/eployee relayionship?

thank you
 
airtran.... One reason: Bill Franke is now in charge at Spirit. In my view it means hes gonna go after the pilots and start gutting the company.

Good luck Spirit folks.
 
I worked at Airtran in the 90`s, it was just ok then, but I think things are better there today. I do believe Citrus is the stronger of the two. Dont know a whole lot about spirit.
 
I'd go with the Tran. Spirit looks good on the outside, but we've got a few "defectors" over here that said it was a scary operation (MD-80s from everywhere). Now with some financing and newer Airbuses, things are looking bright, however, with a privately held company, no one really knows how well or how bad they're really doing...
 
I had the choice 2 and 1/2 years ago and I chose Spirit. It became a quality of life decision for me. I am a terrible commuter and I couldn't see myself living in Atlanta so I chose Spirit as I reside in Michigan. In addition to that I could still see myself leaving the industry altogether or moving into a corporate environment possibly in the future.

The transition is about complete with the Airbus fleet and apparently we are going to head into the future in a growth mode. I have "heard" but not seen hard evidence that we just firmed our orders to 65 aircraft total. Right now we have 31 total with a few MD80s left to go.

Our pilot management relationship was extremely strained until DO Carlson came in from NWA and J Schorr was bought out as majority stake holder. I still send Jacob Schorr "water faxes" daily. Now it seems that many positive changes have taken place in the last 6 months or so. That being said the new investor is Indigo and as posted above the wild card could be a new management relationship. I have heard negative things from the America West pilots so far about Bill Franke.


Article:
http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_aviationdaily_story.jsp?id=news/SPIR07146.xml

I have no regrets with my decision. I will give the current regime another 6 - 12 months to prove that we are headed in the right direction. I see them either going public in a few years or selling us as is to an Airbus operator.

Our aircraft are extremely full and I believe we are making money now although it's always hard to get the real picture with a privately held company. Pilots here are great. A mix of backgrounds: Midway, Commuters, Cargo, TWA, a few UAL, USAir, etc. Not real heavy ex-military.




Hope this helps.
 
grog_sit_reserv said:
airtran.... One reason: Bill Franke is now in charge at Spirit. In my view it means hes gonna go after the pilots and start gutting the company.

Good luck Spirit folks.
Click to expand...

I second that, I am a current Us Airways (Old America West Pilot) stay as far away from Bill Franke as you can.
 
PICK DA TRANNY..... or esle everyine will think your crazy!
 
No college degree required at either airline, gosh it has bee na long time since we have sen that.
 
no comment, jsut a statement that we have not seen the college, no college debate going on here for a long time. I miss Bobby's and G200's enlightening comments.
 
pilotyip said:
No college degree required at either airline, gosh it has bee na long time since we have sen that.
Click to expand...

That's why Bosley and Ty Webb work at Airtran. But, they are both working on their G.E.D. I say go to Spirit just so you won't have to fly with those two clowns at Airtran.
 
saviboy said:
thanks for all the answers\

anybody know the age average at both airlines?
Click to expand...

Don't know about either one's average pilot age but upgrades are currently going around 3 years or so at AirTran. I'm guessing that we will see that extend to more like 4 years pretty soon. Still not bad considering everything these days. Good luck with your decision if you have one to make.
 
You will know 5 years from now if you made the right choice
 
BLUE BAYOU said:
" Spirit looks good on the outside, but we've got a few "defectors" over here that said it was a scary operation"


As if B6 should brag....
N509JB
21 Jan 2001
JFK Rwy 04R

About 11 seconds after touchdown, Captain unable to restore runway heading and keep the aircraft straight as it departed the runway to the left side.

NTSB probable cause: "Captain's decision to perform an auto rollout on a snow contaminated rwy, which had not been demonstrated, and which resulted in a loss of directional control, ...while the capability of the system was exceeded."
Click to expand...
 
My 2 cents. Is Joe Leanord still at air tran ? If so do not go!! Fork lift Joe was the reason that an AA dc-10 went down in ORD. He ok'd the use of a forklift to change engines on the DC-10 which saved time and money!! That was the cause for the accident. Then after he left AA he left his mark at EAL and director of Maint. He was one of Lorenzo's men. Do not know but a bunch of the line crossers from EAL were over there!
Good luck.
 
AA and forklift were not the only airline doing the cheap and quick engine change technique. list the rest of the airlines and maybe you will look like you know what you are talking about not just spitting stuff that has been said on this site hundreds of times b4.

while you are at it list the other airlines that have a few scabs working for them. your fingures may get kind of sore.
 
My name is EARL said:
Fork lift Joe was the reason that an AA dc-10 went down in ORD. He ok'd the use of a forklift to change engines on the DC-10 which saved time and money!! That was the cause for the accident.
Click to expand...
I don't know "Fork Lift Joe" but I know a few of the details surrounding the accident at ORD and the events leading up to it. The procedure was OK'd by M-D long before anybody actually performed it. And jetdawg is correct...it was SOP at many other DC-10 operators prior to the accident.

There were very specific procedures and equipment that were used when pulling engines with pylons attached. It's ludicrous to think that some Director of Maintenance would get a hair in his a$$ some afternoon and decide that using a fork lift to drop the engine of a $50,000,000 plane without getting the FAA's and manufacturers approval was a good idea.
 
Nice fellas, hijack the thread from Pilotyip wanting to start throwing flames regarding your GED to statements bashing the safety of Spirit, Jetblue and Airtran with forklift Joe all in a few posts. Come on kids, my Dad can still beat up your Dad.

I'd like to comment on the "scary operation" comment. I've worked at TWA/AA for several years before coming to Spirit and I can say that Spirit has just as good operational record and I do not see anything scary on the line. I don't see any safety issues when comparing the three airlines and I'll take the above comments as flame bait. We'll I bit, just gotta defend the mothership. It's been a descent place to work.

As far as the hiring goes; everything points to hiring this fall. Airline apps handles the information gathering and I assume that you'll need to know somebody to get a foot in the door. I have seen a few resumes recently on the desk of the CP, so I if you are interested start the process now.

Back to the playground kiddies!:beer:
 
C77MD80 said:
I've worked at TWA/AA for several years before coming to Spirit and I can say that Spirit has just as good operational record and I do not see anything scary on the line.


Entirely my point. And since JetBlue sent one into the snowbank due to pilot error themselves, they really should refrain from throwing safety stones at anyone else. NTSB docket NYC01IA068 for those who are interested...
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Recent performance and size should also be considered.
Airtran is growing and turning in a profit.

Spirit has been losing money over the last couple of years (a recent thread had some numbers from SEC filings).

Airtran has 85 717s and 31 737s with orders for another 69 of the 737s.
Spirit is considerably smaller (65 Airbii?)

Airtran is not buying any of those sissy French airplanes either...:D
 
I have enjoyed Spirit. It is already a different airline to fly for since arriving in 2002. I enjoy the crews, the contract and the flying. I think there is a real support for the international business plan and thus far...everything that management has said has happened. I would say simply go with where your heart says to go.
 

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