to leave one dci carrier for ASA now?

[ductleak]

????

to leave my regional or not?

Guys --

I currently fly in the dci system but, I commute. I have been considering leaving due to the QOL that I have now commuting out of DFW. It is not great, as all of us know that commute. I have an interview scheduled with ASA but, now I see this news on the boards regarding the contract and what may be in store. Let me ask you ASA guys this: would it be safer and better, in your opinions to stay here and just put up with the commuting or go ahead and jump ship now for a better QOL w/o the commute out of DFW? I have the chance to hold captain around the end of this year here.... Is the future at ASA looking bad due to this contract? What is the upgrade time looking like over there? Tell me what you think out there and let me have it... I will appreciate all your views...


Last edited by ductleak on 03-14-2004 at 04:25

 

[captainv]

all depends on what you hold dear. I commute out of ATL for CMR, but i hold commutable trips with lots of ATL layovers, so it's not really a big deal.

If you can make captain by the end of this year, i'd stay put. ASA is getting ready for growth, but enough to put you in the left seat. that's a lot of senority to throw away. not to mention pay, days off, bidding senority...

my $.02

 

[jegermeister]

I'd stay put. ASA is my second airline and trust me you're better off where you are now. Let's assume you're hired today. You'll probably go to DFW. Then sit on reserve for at least a year. If we're lucky and they don't screw with the airplanes we're supposed to get, you're looking at a 3-5 year upgrade. Maybe longer. Oh yeah, and we're also in contract talks that have bogged down, so screw sced. is more pleasant than ever. When the economy turns around, put your self in a position that will give you some options. ie... PIC turbine. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.

 

[Ted Striker]

If living in domicile is the most important goal, then maybe jump. Just remember that our reserve "system" (I use that word loosely) is horrendous and it is quite possible that you will get jerked around most of the month. You can only count on 4 days off a month, as they can move the rest of them around at will. OR, you might not fly much at all and sit at home, which is cool. The problem is that reserve here at ASA seems to be feast or famine, with no way of telling which one is coming up. I don't know where you commute from and how important other things are to you, like upgrade. I fully expect those 25 jets to be dangled in front of us like a carrot while we are in negotiations. The pilot/management relationship here is the worst I have seen it in four years. No trust, no cooperation, blatant violation of our contract, etc, etc. I think when things were good and people were shooting up the seniority list like a rocket (1998-2001), most were able to ignore our problems. Now we have been stagnant for over a year and the hens are coming home to roost. My advice is to figure out what is most important to you. Unless living in domicile is the #1 issue, I would probably dance with the one that brought ya. Of course I could be wrong....! Good luck at any rate, it's all a crapshoot!

 

[General Lee]

What if you get hired and put on the ATR in ATL?

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[ductleak]

commuting

Ok -- I am commuting and I am not loving it at all right now... I would rather stay here at home but, I know that I will give up a year of seniority and that we have appx 40 airplanes coming in inthe next year and 1/2. I could upgrade within the next 6 months... I know... Can anyone help me out here... If offered the job, should I just sit tight here at Skywest or should I consider sitting home on reserve make first year pay for another year at ASA...? Your input will be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[Deerkiller]

ductleak

stay put...build seniority...and become captain...nuff said

dk

 

[captainv]

sit tight. who knows, it could be you guys that get the base in ATL. after hearing for months that it was imminent, now the rumors are that it's off again. besides, it seems like Skywest has much more growth potential than any one else except maybe CHQ...

 

[Swaayze]

You need to ask only one question:

Am I ready to make my last change of employer?

If so, and ASA is a reasonable career job for you, then go. If not, stay and get some PIC time asap so you can continue the quest. Upgrade at ASA will be a long time coming IMO.

I have a similar choice (quick upgrade carrier vs. domiciled at home) but I'm starting over (yet again) with a wife and young kids at home. My timing/decisions haven't been very kind to me and I desperately need to add some turbine PIC to my thousands of SIC hours, but the "go anywhere and endure a tough commute in order to speed my career progression" drive just doesn't seem to be there anymore. Living in DFW and flying out of there with a good national airline is a reasonable career move for me, and that's what I'm gonna do (at least for now - still have a number at a dying major, so who knows what the future holds).