Spirit Questions

[PCL_128]

You dang well better!!!

You just want me to go so I can help get you in.

Really, I just don't know. It depends on how commutable the schedules are. I've been trying to go to Airtran since I live so close to the airport at ATL, but if all of the schedules at Spirit are really commutable then it might not be a bad choice. Anyone have any insight?

 

[durchdringen]

The schedules are better, no far better than the regional world, if that is where you are working. As far as commutable schedules go, for a new hire the four days off between trips including resereve make it worth while to commute for me at least. I'm sure you already know that Spirit flys into ATL, also a plus.

 

[PCL_128]

The schedules are better, no far better than the regional world, if that is where you are working. As far as commutable schedules go, for a new hire the four days off between trips including resereve make it worth while to commute for me at least. I'm sure you already know that Spirit flys into ATL, also a plus.

I guess what I'm wondering is whether the typical trip will allow you to commute the same days of the trip starting or ending, or would I always be commuting on the days before and after the trip (as I do most of the time now at Pinnacle)?

 

[durchdringen]

PCL,
I have either done one or the other but I have never had to commute in the days before and after for a trip so far.

 

[C77MD80]

depends...

where you are at on the seniority list. We do a lot of early morning departures out of DTW. Typically flying a 3 to 4 day trip followed by a one day trip that arrives too late for a commute. You never know what the next contract might bring. The 4 day off rule between trips is great but by all indications the company doesn't like it.

Personally, I would find the commute tough but again it depends on seniority and how much time you like spending in a hotel/crashpad.

 

[FLYBOYMATTHEW]

Take a look at flights from ATL to DTW or FLL. From MSP, I can get into DTW by 0830, and get out of DTW at 2230. This makes it a fairly painless commute for me. I still sometimes need to spend a night in DTW on the front side of a trip though because of the early morning flights (i.e. tomorrow). The stretch of 4 days off is key though, and I pray we don't lose that. The bottom line is that commuting sucks, but it has been much easier here than it was at the regionals I worked for.

BTW, is your friend JT?

 

[PCL_128]

BTW, is your friend JT?

Nope. MW.

 

[castle bravo]

I guess what I'm wondering is whether the typical trip will allow you to commute the same days of the trip starting or ending, or would I always be commuting on the days before and after the trip (as I do most of the time now at Pinnacle)?

You will have a rather wide variety of trip construction to choose from in DTW. Popular with many of the commuters are red-eye only lines which typically have a first day report time of around 1700 local and a last day release time around 06:30 local.
The number of 3-commute/month day trip lines has seemed to be increasing lately which will typically include most trips being commutable on one end of the trip (3 commuting RON's in DTW).
The majority of the lines have 4 commutes/month and are a mix of
commutable, and non-commutable pairings.
Reserve is reserve- it's just as lousy as it is everywhere else.

Overall, I'm sure you will find the company and QOL to be a vast improvement over where you are now.

 

[castle bravo]

How is the QOL on reserve if you live in domicile? Do you guys have short/long call?

Reserve:
Long call/ short call is being looked at but is not currently in place. You have 3 hrs from trip notification to push. Short notifications are relatively rare, but do occur. 12 days off, or 13 days off in 31 day month. Reserve days may be traded in open time. 4 immovable days off selected by pilot. There is a no jeopardy, friendly commuter policy in place.

Reserve A: Duty is 0400 to 1800 base local time
B: 1000-0000
C: 1500-0400
D: 1800-0700
These times may be modified by the company (with MEC concurrence), but you get the general idea.

 

[enigma]

As I've posted before, we are in contract negotiations. Therefore, NOTHING that we presently have can be counted on to last. I hope that the QOL can be maintained, but that remains to be seen.

I believe that we face a long battle with our owners, Indigo Partners (part of the Texas/Pacific Group) over contract improvements.

Good Luck All,

 

[beechjetdriver]

What is the average credit hours/month, and how many days off/month can a lineholder expect to have? Thanks.

 

[shindler]

So if they ordered 30 more a/c, how many more pilots they need (total)??

 

[DC9stick]

What is the average credit hours/month, and how many days off/month can a lineholder expect to have? Thanks.

Guarantee is 72 avg varies from month to month but probabaly about 76. Lines run from 13-16 and occasionally a 17 or 18 day off line tossed in.

 

[psw757]

Spirit?

Anyone know what pay during training is?

 

[naglasair1]

Does anyone know what the training schedule is like for ground school/sim?

 

[Shrek]

First you go ground school - then SIM - in THAT order.....lol

 

[gatorbird]

First you go ground school - then SIM - in THAT order.....lol

I'll elaborate a little more on Shrek's insight...

Pay during training is $1000/mo plus $750/mo per diem; I know, it hurts, but tough it up, you're getting an A320 type. Pay goes to normal contract wage at completion of OE.

Good news is they are trying to get everyone through from Day 1 to OE completion in 6 weeks. Didn't work out for us in January (no hotel rooms for 12 days--Super Bowl); I'll be exactly 2 months from start to finish OE. But hey, I got a 12 day vacation after a month with the company, so I'll make lemonade out of it.

8 days of std 121 indoc, followed IMMEDIATELY by 8 days of systems (immediately--expect one day off at a time until you get to the sim). The systems class is shortened (by what I was used to, anyway) because the training dept. made a pretty darned good powerpoint disc for it; if you get the job, they'll provide it (along with all other manuals on disc and cockpit posters) before you show up. The pp disc should become your Bible for the next few weeks; that's pretty much the depth of the oral. If you don't look at it before you show up, good luck to ya. Class is divided everyday, as everyone will go to SITs (systems-integrated training) in an FTD (pretty lights and neat sounds--you'll like it Shrek). Helps a lot for understanding systems.

Oral is next; very straightforward, no surprises. Heck, my DE even brought me a cup of coffee from Dunkin'.

6 PTs in the FTD (basically non-motion sim); invaluable for procedures, profiles, callouts, etc. Really primes you for the full-motion.

Full-motion sim in MIA at Airbus facility. 6 sessions, rating ride, LOFT last. So far, so good.

Training dept. is changing quite a bit of stuff as far as curriculum, manuals, checklists, etc. My training was different than the Oct06 bunch, and yours may be different than mine. Good news is they have a pretty good product now, and I'd expect it to only get better. You will be taught what you need to know. The only downside I've noticed is instructor standardization is sometimes an issue (small but noticeable). Typical for a training dept. in the process of changes; they are aware of them and are working to get everyone on the same page.

Show up with a good attitude, use your little time off wisely, and I'll see you on line in no time. As a side-note, I have been treated a thousand times better than I ever was at a regional (rental cars, positive space wherever I wanted to go during my "vacation", etc.). QOL is a good thing.

See you when you get here; hurry up, I don't want reserve too long .

gator

 

[saviboy]

I'll elaborate a little more on Shrek's insight...

Pay during training is $1000/mo plus $750/mo per diem; I know, it hurts, but tough it up, you're getting an A320 type. Pay goes to normal contract wage at completion of OE.

Good news is they are trying to get everyone through from Day 1 to OE completion in 6 weeks. Didn't work out for us in January (no hotel rooms for 12 days--Super Bowl); I'll be exactly 2 months from start to finish OE. But hey, I got a 12 day vacation after a month with the company, so I'll make lemonade out of it.

8 days of std 121 indoc, followed IMMEDIATELY by 8 days of systems (immediately--expect one day off at a time until you get to the sim). The systems class is shortened (by what I was used to, anyway) because the training dept. made a pretty darned good powerpoint disc for it; if you get the job, they'll provide it (along with all other manuals on disc and cockpit posters) before you show up. The pp disc should become your Bible for the next few weeks; that's pretty much the depth of the oral. If you don't look at it before you show up, good luck to ya. Class is divided everyday, as everyone will go to SITs (systems-integrated training) in an FTD (pretty lights and neat sounds--you'll like it Shrek). Helps a lot for understanding systems.

Oral is next; very straightforward, no surprises. Heck, my DE even brought me a cup of coffee from Dunkin'.

6 PTs in the FTD (basically non-motion sim); invaluable for procedures, profiles, callouts, etc. Really primes you for the full-motion.

Full-motion sim in MIA at Airbus facility. 6 sessions, rating ride, LOFT last. So far, so good.

Training dept. is changing quite a bit of stuff as far as curriculum, manuals, checklists, etc. My training was different than the Oct06 bunch, and yours may be different than mine. Good news is they have a pretty good product now, and I'd expect it to only get better. You will be taught what you need to know. The only downside I've noticed is instructor standardization is sometimes an issue (small but noticeable). Typical for a training dept. in the process of changes; they are aware of them and are working to get everyone on the same page.

Show up with a good attitude, use your little time off wisely, and I'll see you on line in no time. As a side-note, I have been treated a thousand times better than I ever was at a regional (rental cars, positive space wherever I wanted to go during my "vacation", etc.). QOL is a good thing.

See you when you get here; hurry up, I don't want reserve too long .

gator

hi gator,
1)any news on any future interviews dates
2)any updates on amount of aircraft for 2007?
thanks.
120 hours to go to reach 2500 hrs

 

[gatorbird]

hi gator,
1)any news on any future interviews dates
2)any updates on amount of aircraft for 2007?
thanks.
120 hours to go to reach 2500 hrs

here goes:

1) haven't been around miramar since last month, so I don't have much for ya there. I do know that the indications were to continue hiring throughout the year, so I would guess the inteviews will continue.

2) above my payscale and seniority number of any importance. the 30 more are supposed to be here between 2009 and 2013, so your guess is as good as mine as to what will happen until then. I'm not a bettin' man, but if I was, I'd put money on it that we'll take 'em sooner. Why else would they say they'll be interviewing "for the foreseeable future" (quoting CP)?

no go get your @ss in that san antonio sewerpipe and get some hours...

gator

 

[frapper]

Gatorbird,

Appreciate all the info you've been posting about Spirit! One more quick one for ya -- is it true that you're only chance of a call is through an internal rec? I've had my app on file for around a year now, and nada. ...just trying to get back home to MI!