What do you think of NWA so far?

[Rez O. Lewshun]

The enhancements we got for New Hires were gained by lumping them into larger packages that addressed other items.

Sounds like legislative methodologies on the Hill

 

[PHXFLYR]

Heyas,

What you guys might find is that once at NWA, people don't really chat about it. I noticed that when people get hired, they seem to disappear down a black hole.

Sure, there are a few chatty souls, like myself and Occam, but some of the things you will almost never see about NWA are poolie lists, interview gouge, profiles, class drops, training schedules, and the like.

Once people are on, they just vanish...very creepy...and I'm not really sure of the reason, whether it's the training schedule, shame, self absorption or whatever.

A lot of people come to NWA, and after about a week go "WTF have I gotten myself into?" once they figure out how unconnected everything is, or how important new hire infomration is seemingly absent or unpublished (NWA = Not Written Anywhere), the "blue/green/red" or NB/WB conflicts, or that MSP can be a very strange, depressing place (especially in winter), with a very Stepford Wives like attitude from everone that lives there (after a week, the "MSP is so great, why would anyone want to live anywhere else?" attitude gets REALLY old).

So, to all those that have gotten on at NWA: Welcome, and I'm sorry for "sign of the twins" that new hires have to fly under (Panic & Confusion).

Nu

Gee, sounds just like my 'new job' at USAirways !!


Phxflyr

 

[Spectre]

If a merge happens do you really think those 130+ aging DC-9s will remain on the property? If not, how many pilots will still be on the property then? Fuel effiecient aircraft is a must with today's fuel prices.

Believe me, it is much better to be at a company with growth plans rather one which has an ever shrinking fleet. The A330s just replaced the retired DC-10s. The B-787s are not on the property yet. The DC-9s are past 30 years old and WILL be parked. Growth at NWA is at Pinnicle, Mesaba, and Compass, not mainline. The reason for the cold shoulder for new hires is probably because you won't be there long...

I do agree that the NWA training department is first class from the DC-9s on up. The pilots there are awesome too. It's just everything else about the operation that stinks. Everyone talks big about unions there, yet all the mechanics who work at NWA are scabs from other airlines. Remember the mechanic strike? They all lost their jobs!!!

Retirements at NWA are not happening as fast as you think. Research the seniority list. It has the birthdates of each pilot listed. Don't know where you got your 50% retirement numbers? You'll see a very different picture. You're gonna have to hope a lot of them can't get their medicals vs. retiring at age 60!

I researched all of this before I turned in my seniority number at NWA. The reason for the need for new hires is because the overall low return rate of furloughed NWA pilots. Get the picture? Ever wonder why no one is going back?

 

[Fly4hire]

Heyas,

What you guys might find is that once at NWA, people don't really chat about it. I noticed that when people get hired, they seem to disappear down a black hole.
Nu

Perhaps they are too busy studying systems and preparing for sims than hanging out here.....

 

[JAM-BRO]

If a merge happens do you really think those 130+ aging DC-9s will remain on the property? If not, how many pilots will still be on the property then? Fuel effiecient aircraft is a must with today's fuel prices.
We don't have 130+ DC9s. More like 100 flying. Next 2-3 years that number wont change...
Believe me, it is much better to be at a company with growth plans rather one which has an ever shrinking fleet. The A330s just replaced the retired DC-10s. The B-787s are not on the property yet. The DC-9s are past 30 years old and WILL be parked. Growth at NWA is at Pinnicle, Mesaba, and Compass, not mainline. The reason for the cold shoulder for new hires is probably because you won't be there long...
Go fly there if you think it is better....
I do agree that the NWA training department is first class from the DC-9s on up. The pilots there are awesome too. It's just everything else about the operation that stinks. Everyone talks big about unions there, yet all the mechanics who work at NWA are scabs from other airlines. Remember the mechanic strike? They all lost their jobs!!!
The mechs shot themselves in the foot. The SCABS are all NWA mechs who crossed the line. It stinks here just as much as it stinks over at JB.
Retirements at NWA are not happening as fast as you think. Research the seniority list. It has the birthdates of each pilot listed. Don't know where you got your 50% retirement numbers? You'll see a very different picture. You're gonna have to hope a lot of them can't get their medicals vs. retiring at age 60!
The 50% comes from the fact that 50% of the pilots at NWA are 50 or older. In 10 yrs they will be gone...
I researched all of this before I turned in my seniority number at NWA. The reason for the need for new hires is because the overall low return rate of furloughed NWA pilots. Get the picture? Ever wonder why no one is going back?
Some did not come back, but a lot have. Your research is a bit screwy.

Be happy!!!!

 

[JAM-BRO]

Heyas,

What you guys might find is that once at NWA, people don't really chat about it. I noticed that when people get hired, they seem to disappear down a black hole.

Sure, there are a few chatty souls, like myself and Occam, but some of the things you will almost never see about NWA are poolie lists, interview gouge, profiles, class drops, training schedules, and the like.

Once people are on, they just vanish...very creepy...and I'm not really sure of the reason, whether it's the training schedule, shame, self absorption or whatever.

A lot of people come to NWA, and after about a week go "WTF have I gotten myself into?" once they figure out how unconnected everything is, or how important new hire infomration is seemingly absent or unpublished (NWA = Not Written Anywhere), the "blue/green/red" or NB/WB conflicts, or that MSP can be a very strange, depressing place (especially in winter), with a very Stepford Wives like attitude from everone that lives there (after a week, the "MSP is so great, why would anyone want to live anywhere else?" attitude gets REALLY old).

So, to all those that have gotten on at NWA: Welcome, and I'm sorry for "sign of the twins" that new hires have to fly under (Panic & Confusion).

Nu

You keep spreading negative crap. Be happy!!
When I went through indoc, we spent about two days going over med benefits, PARS, ACCESS, etc. I thought it was a waste of time. Has that changed? 98 hire.

 

[NuGuy]

You keep spreading negative crap. Be happy!!
When I went through indoc, we spent about two days going over med benefits, PARS, ACCESS, etc. I thought it was a waste of time. Has that changed? 98 hire.

The only thing we had were two two ladies that came in from crew scheduling. One sat down and put her feet up on the desk and said (an this is an actual quote) "we basically own you.".

As for benefits, computer usage, Classbid (as it was called then), nothing....

Nu

 

[123]

I am not sure what the new hires are getting now, but I will say that for my recall class, Troy S. was absolutely awesome and actually cared about us. He took us through some of the computer stuff and benefits, told us who to contact for other questions, etc. Now, he is the manager, and I am sure his time could have been better spent with other things going on, but he always made us feel welcome. I guess the rest of indoc is really so dry that there isn't a way to dress it up (duty times, FOM, etc).

Just for the record, I am extremely HAPPY to be here at NWA (even after 5.5 yrs on the street). Could things be better, you bet, but things could also be worse!

Livin the dream...........

 

[John Pennekamp]

I had made a bad choice at the time since I had left another major that served coffee and donuts at Indoc served by young hotties in short skirts and was way laid back.

Details? Company?

 

[Spectre]

Heck, my first day at NWA training, the instructor said, "Congrats, you guys have all just become millionaires." He was referring to the NWA 6 figure retirement we'd all have after 20 years of flying...We all know what happened to that eh?

 

[avrorj-85]

Where is your ALPA?

I guess I do not understand this whole discussion about new hires at NWA not knowing what is going on. If that is truly the case, why doesn't your MEC do something about it. Here at Mesaba our MEC just started a mentoring program for all of our new hires that pairs them up with a ALPA volunteer. As mentors, we are given a manual that addresses pretty much everything that a new hire would need to know like where to park, where to get a badge, where ops is, how to check in, and much much more. So far the program seems to be working fairly well. If XJ can use a program like this to get all of our 21 year old new hires pointed in the right direction, why can't NWA?

Why wait for your inept management to do something that ALPA could probably do much better?

Just curious.

 

[Spectre]

Originally Posted by Spectre
If a merge happens do you really think those 130+ aging DC-9s will remain on the property? If not, how many pilots will still be on the property then? Fuel effiecient aircraft is a must with today's fuel prices.
We don't have 130+ DC9s. More like 100 flying. Next 2-3 years that number wont change...
Believe me, it is much better to be at a company with growth plans rather one which has an ever shrinking fleet. The A330s just replaced the retired DC-10s. The B-787s are not on the property yet. The DC-9s are past 30 years old and WILL be parked. Growth at NWA is at Pinnicle, Mesaba, and Compass, not mainline. The reason for the cold shoulder for new hires is probably because you won't be there long...
Go fly there if you think it is better....
I do agree that the NWA training department is first class from the DC-9s on up. The pilots there are awesome too. It's just everything else about the operation that stinks. Everyone talks big about unions there, yet all the mechanics who work at NWA are scabs from other airlines. Remember the mechanic strike? They all lost their jobs!!!
The mechs shot themselves in the foot. The SCABS are all NWA mechs who crossed the line. It stinks here just as much as it stinks over at JB.
Retirements at NWA are not happening as fast as you think. Research the seniority list. It has the birthdates of each pilot listed. Don't know where you got your 50% retirement numbers? You'll see a very different picture. You're gonna have to hope a lot of them can't get their medicals vs. retiring at age 60!
The 50% comes from the fact that 50% of the pilots at NWA are 50 or older. In 10 yrs they will be gone...
I researched all of this before I turned in my seniority number at NWA. The reason for the need for new hires is because the overall low return rate of furloughed NWA pilots. Get the picture? Ever wonder why no one is going back?
Some did not come back, but a lot have. Your research is a bit screwy.

Wow, there are only 100 DC-9s flying there now? When I was furloughed in 2001, we had 173 DC-9s on the property. I really don't think those 100 you have left will remain if a merger happens or if oil stays at its current prices. I'd just have a backup plan if those 100 aircraft get parked for good!


There are no unions at JetBlue and we'd like to keep it that way. We've been in business for 7 years now and no work group thinks we need one as our management is taking care of us just fine. Don't get me wrong, it's not hard to vote a union on the property. That just hasn't happened because we actually have a good relationship with management. No us vs. them here like at NWA.


There's no way 50% of the pilots at NWA are over 50! You have your numbers WRONG. I'd say 50% of your flight attendants are over 50!


I'd say very few pilots on furlough went back. Why do you think they are hiring off the street right now? That would not have been necessary if "a lot" of pilots returned. I'd say less that 20%.

 

[Superpilot92]

Originally Posted by Spectre
If a merge happens do you really think those 130+ aging DC-9s will remain on the property? If not, how many pilots will still be on the property then? Fuel effiecient aircraft is a must with today's fuel prices.
We don't have 130+ DC9s. More like 100 flying. Next 2-3 years that number wont change...
Believe me, it is much better to be at a company with growth plans rather one which has an ever shrinking fleet. The A330s just replaced the retired DC-10s. The B-787s are not on the property yet. The DC-9s are past 30 years old and WILL be parked. Growth at NWA is at Pinnicle, Mesaba, and Compass, not mainline. The reason for the cold shoulder for new hires is probably because you won't be there long...
Go fly there if you think it is better....
I do agree that the NWA training department is first class from the DC-9s on up. The pilots there are awesome too. It's just everything else about the operation that stinks. Everyone talks big about unions there, yet all the mechanics who work at NWA are scabs from other airlines. Remember the mechanic strike? They all lost their jobs!!!
The mechs shot themselves in the foot. The SCABS are all NWA mechs who crossed the line. It stinks here just as much as it stinks over at JB.
Retirements at NWA are not happening as fast as you think. Research the seniority list. It has the birthdates of each pilot listed. Don't know where you got your 50% retirement numbers? You'll see a very different picture. You're gonna have to hope a lot of them can't get their medicals vs. retiring at age 60!
The 50% comes from the fact that 50% of the pilots at NWA are 50 or older. In 10 yrs they will be gone...
I researched all of this before I turned in my seniority number at NWA. The reason for the need for new hires is because the overall low return rate of furloughed NWA pilots. Get the picture? Ever wonder why no one is going back?
Some did not come back, but a lot have. Your research is a bit screwy.

Wow, there are only 100 DC-9s flying there now? When I was furloughed in 2001, we had 173 DC-9s on the property. I really don't think those 100 you have left will remain if a merger happens or if oil stays at its current prices. I'd just have a backup plan if those 100 aircraft get parked for good!


There are no unions at JetBlue and we'd like to keep it that way. We've been in business for 7 years now and no work group thinks we need one as our management is taking care of us just fine. Don't get me wrong, it's not hard to vote a union on the property. That just hasn't happened because we actually have a good relationship with management. No us vs. them here like at NWA.


There's no way 50% of the pilots at NWA are over 50! You have your numbers WRONG. I'd say 50% of your flight attendants are over 50!


I'd say very few pilots on furlough went back. Why do you think they are hiring off the street right now? That would not have been necessary if "a lot" of pilots returned. I'd say less that 20%.

Well they haven't hired in 6 years, maybe thats why they are hiring? The numbers on the retirements are accurate from all the info i have seen. The numbers were something like 55% or the pilots retiring in the next 10 years, which is higher than any other carrier today. That doesnt count medical outs or early outs. What "numbers" are you using? As far as the DC-9s go I was told in my interview that the company plans to keep about 75 or 85 9's on property. So that is a reduction but they are paid off and the no lease-fuel cost equalize each other. Of course that is all subject to change as is everything in this industry. But i am sure you know that already. That was the info i was given while at NATCO.FWIW

 

[n6604f]

By 2020 over 3900 NW pilots will be retired (age 60).....Out of roughly 5400 pilots....I would have to say that is some movement. Better movement/ ratio than any other legacy but AMR who is not hiring! Life can only be better than where I am at in the regional business.

 

[123]

Originally Posted by


There's no way 50% of the pilots at NWA are over 50! You have your numbers WRONG. I'd say 50% of your flight attendants are over 50!


I'd say very few pilots on furlough went back. Why do you think they are hiring off the street right now? That would not have been necessary if "a lot" of pilots returned. I'd say less that 20%.

Using the Jan 07 list: there are 5457 pilots, 2911 or 53.3443% are 50 years old today and older. Another 2226 are in their 40's.

Just giving the facts.

Last I heard was about a 60% return rate for furloughees, and we still have just over 200 on long term bypass so I don't know what they will do.