Usajet Interview

[freightdogfred]

There are rules in this? if so, please list them for my enlightenment

Work the least amount of hours, for the most amount of pay, that will keep employee/employer healthy. Promote harmony with your spouse. Turn off your beeper at least 14 days a month.

Reasonable hrs+reasonable pay+beeper shutoff 14 days=harmony with spouse.

 

[pilotyip]

Close I think

dogfred we are close, The DC-9 guys get slightly over 13 days per month beeper free and many of them make over $100K per and I mean some way way over. Things must not be too bad, which is demonstrated by our low turnover. There is no training contract, few pilots leave, so something must be going the right direction. We may not be up to your standards, but I think we have the best work rules and pay in the on-demand industry. Average pilot is gone from YIP 132 hours per month. Here is great idea, you should go to the capital markets, tell them of your plan to build the workers paradise and then start your airline. Why with your works rules, you will have the pick of the litter, and force everyone to match your standards.

 

[belchfire]

There are rules in this? if so, please list them for my enlightenment

I just might send my stuff in if the pager plays the "empire
theme" and I don't have to give my wife the number! ( Laugh
track now)

1) If you don't know what it is, don't frack with it!
(the following three #'s 2,3 & 4 are for FO's)
2) "Nice landing sir"
3) "It must have been the wind sir"
4) "I'll take the large one sir"
5) What goes up, must come down.

next???

 

[pilotyip]

belchfire: Those are the rules I remember, except I remember it as the "fat one"

 

[freightdogfred]

Speaking of the rules, I know POI's in the ypsilanti area have been known to somewhat resemble Mr Magoo when came to oversight of their airlines, but how does yours allow the "24 hr" beeper? Aren't your sled dogs-err, pilots allowed at least 8 hrs rest after 16 hrs of beeper duty? Don't you feel they deserve 8 hrs rest? I wonder if your POI's boss in DC knows what's going on?

Hmmm...

 

[pilotyip]

100% legal all the time? Inspected almost every day since the FSDO is right next door, no findings ever.

 

[okcplt]

but how does yours allow the "24 hr" beeper? ...

I have a bud that has a friend who works for the FAA here in OKC. He says that the non-sched regs are currently being revamped and when done will closely mirror scheduled reserve (IE, on a "pager"...on duty) forcing them to go to 2 or 3 tier duty rigs for reserve. Anyone know anything about this?

PS, the reason I ask is I am not a guy who would do anything to fly and I have two standing rules:

1. I won't fly for a regional because of the pay.

2. I won't fly non-sched because of the work rules.

 

[pilotyip]

Time will tell

I have seen the NPRM on the new 135-crew rest. It is pretty wide open, one of the proposals was three categories of status, Rest (same as now) Duty (assignment by the company of a trip or other duty such as travel or ground school, much like right now) and Not Rest, Not duty, (where a crewmember will be fully rested but not assigned a duty, but must be available for duty assignment. There was something the FAA may allow companies to draft their own rest and duty rules for approval by the FAA. Time will tell, it is not a done deal by any means. If the rules make 135 like part 91 K, it will make it very hard on the flight crews. Read the old Netjets threads. We would probably convert to 121-crew rest for all pilots. BTW okc I guess you have never been unemployed to have rules like that.

 

[pipejockey]

I like you yip, no hard feelings. You are from an era when being an airline pilot was something nifty! But comparing our wages to other professions, well...we fall way short. I am sick and tired of seeing every 3rd vehicle being a 50K plus suv, or every 3rd house being well in excess of 300 grand. I mean how does one not struggle to live a semi modest life on 50 to 75 grand, which is about the average pilot wage in the country.

Anyway, I am glad that yall are hiring. And for those who want to relocate to Ypsilanti it doesn't sound too bad when compared to the dismal state of things everywhere else! is commuting possible over there or do you only hire people willing to relocate?

 

[mnboyev]

USA Jet

I was there a few years ago.... I enjoyed my stay.. Great People.. Good Flying.. Safe equipment. Fair and decent pay, for non-sched, on demand flying. I started about 38K ... checked out quick..the last year there I made about 75k.. I did commute... not for the weak .. but it worked. Dont miss your check in.. better be on call when they need ya.. pretty thin on pilots.

On the road we were well taken care of: (short of being given an expense account and unlimited car rentals..) Nice hotels, a little bit of free time if they can work it out. Sometimes a car if it made sense..

Great experience for anyone. The on call 24-7 does get old.. But the followers are cool and will work with you within reason. However, you are there to fly safe and work hard.. do that .. and it is a good job. Ok health care, 401K, good standardized training, and the best J bars in the industry !! LOL...

Thanks for the memories.. USA Jet is good. Their pilots are good folks !! Yip.. well...he's ok too for an older fella. Tough boss... but fair.

I have a DTW layover later this month.. PM me YIP.. I'll stop by for coffee.

 

[pilotyip]

mnboy, too bad you were not in town last night we had our Basic Indoc graduation party at the Wedge. About 25 guys showed up, including some old timers, but I don't think anyone you would remember. A couple guys have gone to those all modern Airbus and EMB computer gee wizz airplanes and they miss flying a real airplane. Is the 717 still a Douglas Cable car like its ancestors the DC-3 and DC-9? If so you are still flying a real airplane

 

[okcplt]

BTW okc I guess you have never been unemployed to have rules like that.

You are right-on pilotyip, I have never been unemployed because...

I would rather work construction ($60K a year minimum...skilled) 5-6 days a week than be an aviation whore. Plus I'm not skinny and pasty from sitting on my arse all day.

It's called self respect, something that is lacking in the "Industry" right now.

 

[jergar999]

How is this job commutable? I have seen ads and details discussed here and never heard anything about commuting.

 

[pilotyip]

Can be done, but hard

Yes it is commutable, we have a number of happy commuters, they never mention they are commuters, they never mention they are stuck in their crash for 10 days with four other commuters when there is no flying going on. They never mention that they get about 6 days a month at home while the YIP locals get about 24 days a month at home. They never mention that the YIP locals make about $20K/yr more than they do. Those commuters have no problems, however in the past we have had some unhappy commuters who wanted us to move our operation to their hometown and never missed an opportunity to lets know how we did not have any family values. We were happy when these guys found other jobs. So we hire potential commuters when we can not get enough local pilots. Do a search under USA Jet you will find a lot of info, I think commuting is addressed.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

About 1/4 to 1/3 of the pilots commute, and even more depending on how you count them. A lot of guys live in SE MI within a couple of hours of YIP, so they have crashpads or other arrangements to be close to YIP on their days on.

It is a lot easier to commute when you physically are close enough to drive if you want/need to. USA Jet had a commuter from AK, but he ended up moving to SE MI. I think the longest commute now is 1 guy who lives N. of Sacramento, up in the Redwoods area of N. CA.

CLiff
YIP