USA3000 - A320 Operator - Questions...

[Starshipper]

Recently saw a USA3000 A320 at ORD and wondered if anyone out there could share information about this outfit. Yes, I have looked at their website and I have conducted a "search" for relevant posts. I noted that a number of furloughed UAL and USAirways pilots were either hired there or considering it...

Anyone care to comment on:

1. Pros and Cons of working for USA3000 (besides just having a job)

2. Schedules and variety of destinations (looks like a lot of Carribbean flying)

3. Conditions, pay, work environment, etc.


How do you like it vs. your previous position?


Looks like a cool operation - would love to fly those A320s - nice sidesticks....


Cheers

 

[Starshipper]

Can't wait for some good answers....


Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[General Lee]

I've got one:

A horse walks into a bar, and the bartender asks, "Hey, why the LONG FACE?" (Get it? A horse has a LONG face......) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH HAHAHAHHAH

Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Starshipper]

Very comical General Lee. Nice to see that you can type good.

 

[CCDiscoB]

You want the truth!!

...you can't handle the truth!!

Not to sound negative, in fact I wish you the best of luck and I hope you get hired, but why do you care? Are you hoping to get hired by them? Forget it, they look to be hiring high-time pilots with A320 type ratings (a dime a dozen these days). Why should they train a low time pilot like you when they can hire someone that requires no training.

Good Luck, we're all counting on you.

 

[General Lee]

CCdiscoB,

What type ratings do you have? Great, you fly F15's! So does everyother guy at the Majors. Don't slam Starshipper, maybe he just wanted to know about that airline, you don't know his intentions. Sure, this is an interview board, but I am on here and I am already flying for a Major. Guys like you give F15 pilots a bad name. A lot of them are really cocky, and when it is time to hang up the pressure suit and put on the airline uniform, you aren't any better than the rest of us. Guess what? You can't bomb stuff with a 737, and no formation flying. Leave Starshipper alone and do something else productive, like kicking Saddom's butt. That is what we pay you for.

Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[jll]

He's a F-15C guy

He can't bomb anything anyway. He flys limited role fighters!

 

[CCDiscoB]

Oh Brother

You took that reply as a slam?! Oh brother, you civilian guys really are super sensitive. If stating that the "emperor has no clothes" which is truth, gets me a bad rap, so be it. By the way I'm not the kind of guy that gives Eagle pilots a bad name. Notice how I wished him luck.

The "you can't handle the truth" is a quote from a movie, a tongue in cheek reply to his request for answers. In the movie that line is in reply to, "I want answers!" Next time I'm be more serious in my replies, like your horse face one.

You're right, I did assume he's looking for a job, asking the questions Starship was asking, but where did type ratings come into this conversation? Other than me speculating that you need one to get hired. Oh I get it, that was you're way of slamming me? I suspect that you might be the kind of guy that gives civilian pilot a bad name.

Lighten up Frances.

 

[CCDiscoB]

Your right role limited, not limited role (i.e. FCIF)

 

[Starshipper]

CCDiscoB,

Yes, I take your reply as a slam. Does anyone else notice that almost all of CCDiscoB's postings are negative? I don't feel the need to slam you and your botched attempts to join a major. Good luck - it will take you at least 5-10 years with all of the furloughs...

Let's remind everyone what Flightinfo is: it is an informational forum. People who are not interested or don't have positive things to add DON'T NEED TO RESPOND to postings. I am looking for information related to USA3000 - that is all. I am hoping that either USA3000 pilots or people who know these pilots can answer my questions - that is ALL I ASK. And, even if I can't use the information myself because I don't have an A320 rating, I bet OTHERS MIGHT BE INTERESTED - ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE A320 RATED.... Other pilots might really value this information - some people might not know much about USA3000 and would appreciate this conversation and any relevant information.

So, CCDiscoB, do us all a favor, if you don't have anything positive to add to the posting, hang your huge Maverick or Goose (more likely) ego at the door and don't respond. Your negativity is not appreciated.

Now, anyone who knows anything regarding flying conditions at USA3000, I'd be happy to hear from you...

Thanks

 

[JayDub]

Starshipper,

Please take all of this for what it is...3rd, 4th, or 5th hand info. They are a division of Apple vacations. Apple decided they could own their own airline instead of contracting from lower tier contractors. When they started (shortly after jetBlue started), they were going to do to the charter biz what this young upstart airline called jetBlue would do to the airline business. It turns out the managers-that-be were better at running a vacation company than an airline. It has not lived up to the initial hype. I have heard they weren't even organized enough to take applications from A-320 typed guys. They had big plans to open 5 or 6 based, and that hasn't happened, yet. They started out of PHL, and that's all I've heard they have so far for bases. Time will tell.

To tell you the truth, it reminds me a whole lot of Trans Meridian Airlines. TMA would hire low time guys like yourself, and give them some great experience. It may not have been the best job in the whole world, it would probably be a great place to start your airline career. You just never ever know. Give it 100%, and see how the pieces fall.

As far as CCDiscoB, take a look at his previous posts. He didn't start out this negative. However, as reality set in that not every airline is going to lay down the red carpet for any body when they are furloughing back 3-15 years, he has evolved into what you have witnessed on this thread. I am sure he'd heard all about the land of milk of honey for anyone that's flown a pointy airplane. The surprising part is how little time it took for him to become bitter. Every time he posts anymore, it seems he is telling people how impossible it is to get on any place.

His is exactly the attitude you should avoid. As you gain experience, don't listen to other people when they tell you are super qualified for anything. Always try to be better. CCDiscoB is exactly what can happen when you think the world should just be your oyster. DO NOT think you are owed anything, and you'll be fine.


As for now, try to get any PIC turbine job. SICc time is tough to market. Even if it's an MU-2 freight job, every little bit helps. I wish you and everyone else looking all the luck possible. Sorry I can't give you better, first-hand info. But if you can think of any way I can help, please let me know.

JayDub

 

[CCDiscoB]

Copy the constructive criticism. I shall endeavor to sound less critical in the future.

 

[Starshipper]

Jaydub,

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate your attitude and helpfulness. I realize that I have a LONG road ahead of me. Regardless, I am very inquisitive and when I see interesting airlines/operations, I like to ask questions. I was so happy when I found this informational forum - I like to leverage it as much as possible.

Thanks again - and congrats on flying for such a great airline (Jetblue) - I love those A320s. I recently flew on some Jetblue flights - best non-first class flights I have ever flown on - I love the TVs... Beats economy in Southwest any day!


Cheers

 

[AlbieF15]

Hey dudes,

Before we get all upset at Eagle Drivers, there are more than a few on these boards that have tried to help out. Eagleflip and RueterF16 (okay...he went Viper in his later years...but he drove Eagles a while) both work at Jetblue and have tried to pass out gouge. I've helped quite a few with gouge for JetBlue and FedEx as well. Zulu, T-38Dude, and F-18FDX are all fighter guys who have tried to pass on info about Fedex, so don't get too carried away putting down anyone because of one or two posts by a guy who is just frustrated by the lack of jobs.

If someone seems less than friendly on the boards, you have to realize there may be other underlying issues. Most of us who actually got a job with a major in the last 2 years consider ourselves very lucky if we are still working, and all of us know tons of guys who are suffering at the moment. Those who had a "plan" only to see dreams put on hold feel a certain amount of justifyable frustration--its just that this tough period and is going to take a while to get through. I don't know the whole story, but it seems CC was just about to get his turn to start the interview derby when 9/11 changed the world and put his plans (and a lot of others) on hold.

CCDisco--what comes around goes around. For whatever reason your wit sometimes comes off a bit too aecerbic for some tastes. Throw out some good karma for a change and try to stay positive--you'll likely end up at FDX in the next year or so. You have people pulling for you--but the process takes time and the numbers of apps are huge at the moment. Keep the ANG gouge rolling--I know you can be a big help for lots of young guys trying that angle.

For all us, saying "please" and "thanks" along the way will make this time much easier to bear on all of us. I guess Peaguses had the same feeling by the thread he started below. We are all really sick pups considering the amount of time we spend on these silly boards, so you might as well be nice to each other because we're all gonna end up in the same "Betty Ford Internet Junkie Ought to Get a Real Life Class" pretty soon anyway.

As for you out there who want to fly for some of these upstarts--somebody has to fly them! Why not you? I don't think the chance of an upstart flying A320s hiring off the street is high, but I ain't no upstart airline exec either! I do know there is a pool of US Air A320 talent that is now out on the market, so odds are those guys will have the best shot. Throw in your apps, network like crazy, and good luck to all of you.

Fly safe and play nice...

 

[Starshipper]

Well Said

Amen.

AlbieF15 - I like your attitude!

Thanks to those who contributed to this post.

 

[TOGA]

Starshipper -
You wouldn't happen to be out of LAS in that upside-down, backwards thingie you fly, would you? That's where I flew 'em.

 

[eagleatr]

I hate to admit this, but I went to an Air Inc show in DCA that USA 3000 was at. They had two very nice HR ladies there. They stated that starting salary was 45K, and you flew about 15 days a month. They are the sole provider of charters to Apple Vacations, with trips going primaily to Mexico and the Caribbean (they didn't say that they were owned by Apple, but I don't know). They also said they had about 100 pilots, but only 3 planes. They were planning on getting 3 more in 2003. The minimums were 4000 tt, and I think 1000 turbine PIC. As I recall, they have three bases, and I think it was either PHL or EWR, ORD, and I don't remember the other one. I was told the upgrade time was less than a year.


Hope this helps,

EagleATR