Unofficial Spirit hiring news

[enigma]

Crashpad, the incident that you refer too has been discussed here before, I suggest you search for Spirit and read about it there. I will agree with DC9stick (for those who don't have the time for a search). The flight departed Denver, but the incident happened over Kansas. It was not a dual engine flame out. The crew reported the incident to the ASAP (sort of a 121 NASA program) and gained immunity. No one except the crew knows what happened, and they ain't talking. I too would like to know the details, but since I don't, I've decided not to speculate.

The best source of info on the incident may be a deadheading MiamiAir crew riding as pax. Go ask them.

regards,
enigma

 

[enigma]

Did not mean to offend, there Crashpad. It was just a conclusion drawn from the available data at the time three years ago....you remember, the days when 737 and DC-9 captains were making 150K/yr and you only needed ATP minimums to apply for a job - not 90K/yr max and TT>4,000 hrs! I mean, who else would work for that kind of pay and have that many hours?

If I'm wrong, I stand corrected.

Fly Safe.

Kool, let me let you in on a little secret. In this business, timing is everything. Spirit happens to be inhabited by a lot of good men/ladies, who's timing was not as lucky as yours may have been.


You ask, "who else would work for that kind of pay and have that many hours?"

Let me tell you who: how about a Miami based EAL pilot who took the best job available in the early 90's and who also found himself closer to 60 than 50 when the late 90's hiring boom started, Or how about a former AirForce One pilot who exited at the wrong time an who also finds himself too old to start over, Or how about a successful aircraft dealer who decided to be a pilot at a later stage in life and would rather be atop Spirits seniority than be at the bottom of AA, or how about a retired Fighter pilot who flies for the guard at Selfridge and would also rather be atop Spirits list than furloughed from AA etc, or take myself, a longtime part91 corportate pilot who didn't want to start at Mesa as a way to get 121 time.

You see, there are lots of legitimate reasons for an excellent pilot/person to work for an airline like Spirit. Your viewpoint seems to me to quite condescending; if that is because of your lack of real world experience, I hope that I have enlightened you. If your attitude is based upon some idea that everyone except a Big7 pilot is unworthy, then I have no hope of enlightening you. I will say this, I would rather be an employed Spirit pilot than a furloughed UAL pilot, and Spirit has hundreds of resumes from those unfortunates who seem to agree with me.

I just reread your original post, and have decided that you didn't mean any slight, neither do I.

One more point, you mention three years ago. Let me remind you of something, three years ago, this forum was deluged daily with posts made by dissapointed UAL hopefuls. Three years ago, the major carriers were hiring less than 50% of their interviewees. If someone was not quite qualified enough to be a Delta pilot in 2000, he could go to a regional, or maybe to a Spirit. I choose Spirit, and I think I made the correct decision. I sort of wish that Jetblue or Airtran had been as attractive back then, but they weren't. Besides, Spirit called first. See, its all about timing.

regards,
enigma

 

[Dieterly]

The story goes that they really frucked up (who hasn't). The full report is schedueld to be released in October. Personally, I think NTSB will come down hard on the flight crew.

 

[I.P. Freley]

Hear, hear, Enigma.

Timing, luck, and "who called first" means quite a bit in this business.

I echo your feelings about those who think that anyone not in the "big7" is a loser. As a captain in a lesser-known regional who has found himself being slighted (on Flightinfo) by captains at "better" regionals, I feel like we are in the same canoe. I'd rather be a captain here than an FO at ExpressJet, just to name one source of the pooh-poohing I refer to.

I basically feel that anyone who looks down on someone else because of where they work is an irrepressible tool. You may think "I'd never work there" about someone else's company, but to TELL THEM THAT shows a remarkable lack of class.

 

[DarnNearaJet]

Hear, hear, Enigma.

Timing, luck, and "who called first" means quite a bit in this business.

I echo your feelings about those who think that anyone not in the "big7" is a loser. As a captain in a lesser-known regional who has found himself being slighted (on Flightinfo) by captains at "better" regionals, I feel like we are in the same canoe. I'd rather be a captain here than an FO at ExpressJet, just to name one source of the pooh-poohing I refer to.

I basically feel that anyone who looks down on someone else because of where they work is an irrepressible tool. You may think "I'd never work there" about someone else's company, but to TELL THEM THAT shows a remarkable lack of class.

Agreed. "Oh but for the grace of God I go ..."

 

[FL717]

When I first heard of them about three years ago I thought Spirit must be a place for black balled pilots go since they had such high requirements and their top Captain paywas only like 90K/year. I still think that, but it's looking alot better than it used to. Wierd how it's come to this.

Interesting that you post this statement, then give a "There I was ... 800 miles from anywhere getting shot at" analogy because several people call you on that statement.

Your original impression of Spirit was wrong, and your original post was insulting to some.

They called you on it.. thats all.

 

[enigma]

Re: let me tell you something...

[editortial disclaimer by the author] -- You know, I really try not to give credence to rediculous postings on this board, and actually up to now have been successful, but I couldn't resist, although I am sure I will hate myself in the morning....


Enigma and I.P. Freely,

Gosh, thanks for setting me straight on so many things in shuch a short time. You guys are so intuitive to realize that my timing must be impecable as I have never flown civilian, only military. I'm not sure where all of us military pilots would be without guys like you setting us straight from time to time emphasizing how difficult flying can be, I mean, golly, we fly only in the cushiest of weather conditions and never get shot at (BTW, when did you ever find yourself single-engine 800 miles from your only airport which was in the middle of an ocean and was in total less than 1,000 feet long and it only had one runway?) Is the sarcasm regarding how I don't find the way you came up any tougher than mine seeping through yet?

My comment was an observation, not a judgement nor a criticism, and to assert I look down on any airline is quite an assumption. Grow a thicker skin and present the facts for your point of view instead of preachings.

And as you were so kind to give an honorable mention that perhaps I did not mean 'a slight', I guess I will afford you the same, but come on...enough with the 'let me tell you something' attitude....in this business we've all walked a mile in some difficult shoes.

No blood, no foul....it's all good.

Kool

Kool, You started your second post off with "If I'm wrong, I stand corrected". Well you were wrong, and you were corrected.

After reading the post that I currently reply to, I believe that it is you who needs a thicker skin. If you re-read my posts in this thread, you will discover that I never mentioned Military or Civilian. You did. I never insinuated that your experience was not difficult. I made no attempt to cut down your experience or background. I did say in only a slightly veiled way that you don't have a real world perspective on pilot hiring. I have flown with way too many ex-military pilots who, I'm sure, are just as good as yourself. Yet they ended up at places like MESA and Spirit. I only explained that there were legitimate reasons that someone might work for a carrier like Spirit. If you carefully re-read the post that set you off, you'll find that I accused you of either lacking experience in this business, or of assuming that anyone who didn't work for one of the big 7 was somehow unworthy. I never mentioned your flying experience. Got a chip on your shoulder?

I stand by my last post.

enigma

BTW, My first CFI was an out of work ex-naval F4 pilot, and the best Captain I ever flew with had extensive experience landing on floating postage stamps. He flew H-1's off of frigates. Neither of those excellent aviators ever made the big show, I guess that they must not have had the right stuff like yourself, huh?

 

[MD80JAD]

I thought this post was supposed to be about hiring. Info is available but who wants to post and then get BI#ched at!