Trans States New-hires...

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

I've been offered a class date with TSA. I'm still interviewing with a few others before I go but I have some questions.
1. How long is reserve on the EMB145 compared to the J41?
2. Is a commute from Houston possible?
3. Where are the majority of newhires being placed?
4. Is there a training contract?
Feel free to add in any additional info you may have.

 

[Black Water Dog]

I've been offered a class date with TSA. I'm still interviewing with a few others before I go but I have some questions.
1. How long is reserve on the EMB145 compared to the J41?
2. Is a commute from Houston possible?
3. Where are the majority of newhires being placed?
4. Is there a training contract?
Feel free to add in any additional info you may have.

1) Depends upon where you fall in your new hire class. Low last 4 soc security digits are good. Based on that, could be a month. Could be a year. Once you start holding a build-up line, you're not off the hook. The last three months I was there the build-up lines were all reserve days!

2) Yep. Several do it now on SWA (the commuters friend).

3) They are desperate for J41 FOs now, but attrition is heavy across the board. I'll let someone else speculate on that.

4) Not yet.

Best advice - you could do worse, but you could also do much, much better. Keep interviewing.

 

[Broke in CVG]

Have a friend in class now.... I believe he said 4 are going to RIC on the J41, the rest in STL. Said that the four were assigned randomly, not by seniority. Seat locked for 1 year. I told him to go read his contract, because this doesn't sound right.

TSA's contract must realy suck if the above is true...
our vacancies have to be 1. bid for, 2. junior manned - as in the bottom first, not random, 3. If you are junior manned, then they can't seat lock you.... locks only for bidding.

 

[061984]

Everyone keeps saying that "attrition is high", but why have the upgrade classes been so small? Is this to compensate for the 41's that are going away. Almost 700 pilots and only three FO upgrades for August.

 

[POKEY]

Attrition is very high, I think we have lost 80-85 pilots so far this year (most of which are FO's going to other regionals). The reason upgrade classes are small is that they aren't losing that many captains.

 

[cq43vt17t]

Everyone keeps saying that "attrition is high", but why have the upgrade classes been so small? Is this to compensate for the 41's that are going away. Almost 700 pilots and only three FO upgrades for August.

You have to remember than there are also alot of CQFO's transfering to Captians. They are taking some of those upgrade slots. As for August there are 3 CQFOs changing to captains, and 5 captain upgrades from FOs. 4 J41 upgrades, and one jet. The date of hire for the J41 upgrades are all Jan and Feb of 04 hires. Last month we had 4 J41 Capt upgrades, and 10 CQFOs converted to captains. Most of the jet captains have been coming off from 41 captains as of recently.

 

[smokey999]

There were a lot of 41 upgrades from Feb to Sep of last year. All those guys are coming off seatlock and making the switch to the jet. I think in the next few months, you'll see more FO upgrades to the jet.

 

[Superpilot92]

If you can get a job at XJET do it because i live in Houston also. I only sat in Newark for 2 months before getting advanced back to Houston based. Good luck.

 

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

Xjet won't call me back! They called, I sent in the resume and still waiting for an interview a few months later.

 

[pilotkppsg]

Xjet won't call me back! They called, I sent in the resume and still waiting for an interview a few months later.

AMEN!

 

[Tarzan]

I've got an 8 Aug class date. The appeal there is the short upgrade on the turbo prop. While there may some QOL issues, but I'll be logging 121 Turbine PIC time before the guys "who'll climb over their buddy's corpse to get the jet" will be. When I get there, if not assigned, I will request it. I don't think anyone would have a prob switching with me.

 

[Reelbigfish]

I've got an 8 Aug class date. The appeal there is the short upgrade on the turbo prop. While there may some QOL issues, but I'll be logging 121 Turbine PIC time before the guys "who'll climb over their buddy's corpse to get the jet" will be. When I get there, if not assigned, I will request it. I don't think anyone would have a prob switching with me.

Are you saying that you are going on the 41 because you can upgrade faster on it? If so, be aware that the FO jet guys can upgrade over to 41 Captain. It's a matter of seniority, not which equipment you started on. Plus, since the jet FO's usually get more hours, if you are not already captain qualified, a jet FO may be able to upgrade before a 41 FO.
If that's not what you meant, then nevermind...

 

[Spinplate]

Xjet won't call me back! They called, I sent in the resume and still waiting for an interview a few months later.

I hear that!! They frickin tease you! ASA just did the same thing. Called me to ask me some questions about my background and they said they will mail out an app and to hurry and send it back so that I can then maybe get an interview. Fu#k that!! Pinnacl emailed me a day after I faxed my resume and gave me a list of dates to choose from for my interview...plus a free ticket to get there. Mesa called me 30 minutes after I sent them what they needed. From what I have gathered, dont choose based on what you hear as much as how would it affect your life when your off because commuting could wast a whole lotta time. Try Pinnacle and Mesa. Good Luck!

 

[aviatornick]

for the class now there's 7 in the props. the whole class is going to RIC. they're telling us that upgrade on the prop is a year to 2 years. ure able to bid out of the prop after a year, but chances of u getting the jet are slim. they're need prop guys in RIC and they need them bad. some people are saying that our reserve time will be 3 months or less. tsa is going to keep hiring til december and the classes, for the most part, will be split in half when it comes to handing out equipment!

commuting is possible
no training contract which is nice

 

[Black Water Dog]

Are you saying that you are going on the 41 because you can upgrade faster on it? If so, be aware that the FO jet guys can upgrade over to 41 Captain. It's a matter of seniority, not which equipment you started on. Plus, since the jet FO's usually get more hours, if you are not already captain qualified, a jet FO may be able to upgrade before a 41 FO.
If that's not what you meant, then nevermind...

From December to June 15 people were awarded the captain upgrade, 7 or 8 (I don't recall which) were jet FO's. Trans States has a 1000 hour lower total time requirement on the J41, so it's tempting for the jet guys to upgrade on the prop.

As to hours, jet FOs easily get more. My seniority would have held an 85 hour jet line with 12 days off instead of 45 hour reserve/build-up lines with 11 days off on the J41.

 

[millhouse21]

I've been here for 1.5 yrs as a jet FO and I'm upgrading to the J41 in the next class. Obviously, I would prefer to go to the jt as a capt but I think it will be a much longer wait. The J41 is actually going VERY junior right now (me) because of all the Jet FOs who don't want to fly a prop(or something like that). I think that this situation will reverse itself pretty soon when the senior jet FOs get tired of waiting for the 2 or 3 spots going to the jet each month. Of course, the flood gates could open soon and I'll be stuck for a year on the 41. In any case, it's long been my plan to take the first upgrade offered so here we are. See you guys in class next month!!

 

[210FR8DOG]

Way to go!

Congratulations!!! I have other reasons for not upgrading right now. It's not because I'm too good to fly the 41. I think it would be cool. Besides, you know what I was flying before I came here!!! The 41 is king compared to a Baron! Anyhow, it's still tempting and I'm seriously considering changing my mind. Good luck in training. We'll have to get together and down a couple.

 

[millhouse21]

Jeff,
I know a couple other guys who are changing their bids or at least considering it. It seems like they will have to upgrade more guys in the jet but so far they are saying "2 or 3" per month. Who knows...
Definitely give me a call. Hey, do we still stay at the same cr@ppy hotel in STL?

 

[210FR8DOG]

yep

Holliday Inn, baby!! I don't know if they have a deal worked out to get you to Simuflite(I think thats it) for 41 sim training. I'll try to remember to ask Joe. He is in 41 upgrade right now. I do know they go to the training center for ground school and you can check out the latest and greatest hot-azz FA's in training. And don't forget to stop by the Blowjets offices (just down the hall from the TSA offices!!!!) and give 'em a nice warm welcome!

 

[cq43vt17t]

The Aug bidpack states that they are upgrading 10 for next month, hiring another 14