What Is Life Like At ASA?

[mtsu_av8er]

I'm a freight guy thinking about going to ASA. I know that the contract negotiations are a huge issue right now. Aside from that, I'm wondering what life is like for you guys.

-Quality of life?
-How long are guys sitting reserve?
-How good/bad are most of the trips?
-How much flying are junior guys getting?
-What are the travel benefits?
-How long is training? What is the training sequence? What can one expect?All done in Atlanta?

I'd appreciate any help - thanks, folks!

 

[Oakum_Boy]

-poor
-two days
-mostly bad
-a lot
-not lasting
-two months; g/s-sim-check-ioe-scareeveryone; they'll pass anyone; yes

-you're welcome.

 

[Tarzan]

1) By what you read on this board, you'd think it to be the worst place on Earth. It isn't that by a long shot. There are some very improvements in the new contract provided we ever finish it.

2)Depends on what aircraft you are assigned. The 700 could have you sitting there a while. The 200 isn't very long and the ATR-ah is a while as well. If your older, you should have no problem getting the 200 though since they assign seniority in class based on age.

3) The trips are looking better as we get caught up on hiring. I predict we'll be behind again shortly.

4) Depends again on how staffing is. They will keep an adequate number of reserve guys and try to make the rest up with premium pay for open time pick ups. Some months you'll fly a bunch, some months you won't. I'm blocked at 89 hours this month with no deadheading.

5) Travel beenies are good but airplanes are extremely full. I've seen more jumpseaters in the cockpit than I have in a while. Delta wanted to change the S2's but they know if that happens, ASA will lose half of it's FA force.

6) Training time can vary with backlogs. Indoc goes 2 weeks. Systems goes another 2 weeks. CPT takes a week. Sim is eight sessions, a check ride and a loft. This generally takes a couple of weeks as well. IOE is 25 hours with at least 15 cycles. About 2 1/2 months to get on line. Training department is excellent though. They actually care if you get through and work if you if attitude stays right. All the training is done ATL.

 

[ASA_Aviator]

What Tarzan said is correct. The first guy is just jaded. If you come to ASA knowing that we are in negotiations, and it will get better once they are completed, you will be much happier.

 

[Smacktard]

I'm a freight guy thinking about going to ASA. I know that the contract negotiations are a huge issue right now. Aside from that, I'm wondering what life is like for you guys.

-Quality of life?
-How long are guys sitting reserve?
-How good/bad are most of the trips?
-How much flying are junior guys getting?
-What are the travel benefits?
-How long is training? What is the training sequence? What can one expect?All done in Atlanta?

I'd appreciate any help - thanks, folks!

Get ready to hear awful things about us poor ASA pilots. The reality is there are a handful of loud people on this board that swear life at ASA is dreadful. From my perspective as a 3rd year FO, I think it's pretty good.

Yes, I think our managment team makes boneheaded move after boneheaded move, but that's always how it is when you're working for someone else with little input on how things should run. I don't hold a grudge against scheduling, ops or dispatch. I think most of those folks haven't been given the tools to do the job I think they should do. I think we could be more profitable than we currently are if our managment team would treat us as part of the solution, not part of the problem. But that's ingrained in the ASA Management pysche, I don't think that can change. I think that's what gets the guys that hate this place so much.

I hear all sorts of different things about reserve, some say they're called all the time, others sit at home all month long. Sitting at home was mostly my experience on reserve, I flew 10-20 hours a month and had 20-some days off. That is one of the big complaints that hopefully is in the next contract, a reverse seniority reserve system.

As for schedules and quality of life, I'm in the lower end of the top 3rd on the 70 seater. I've been getting back-to-back 2 days or 3 day trips with 16-17 days off. I take home between $2800-$3100 a month. I'm lazy. I look for the easiest trips with the longest overnights and fewest number of legs. I'm thinking next month will suck because I have 3, 5 leg days and 16 days off. I'm only away from home 6-8 nights a month. I'm looking to upgrade in the next class or two after 3 years. Compared to my friends that work 50 hours a week in some small office (used to be me), I feel like a hero.

 

[VeeOne]

ASA is a good outfit with good people. We definately have some problems, but it's nothing that alot of the other regionals don't suffer from. I would put ASA in the top 3 to work for, IMHO. Yes, the contract situation is a pain in everyone's @$$, but even without one now, the pay is better 2nd year than most, second to none training, and a good group of pilots to work with. Plus, you are based in the south where the cost of living is lower than most parts of the country. Two weeks of indoc, one week of systems, and one week of ops/mod (performance training/calculations), and 8 sims is about all I can remember. Expect a week or more off between segments, as it is getting a little backed up at the moment with all of the hiring going on. Oh, and don't listen to all the bitching here- many make it out to be worse than it really is. After all, we are still getting many FO's from other regionals.

 

[FmrFreightDog]

As much as I complain, I really don't think this is all that bad a place to work. Having said that, however, if you are looking for stability (relative term in the regional industry), I would recommend looking at an airline that has more than one "client". Chatauqua (sp?) guys don't seem to have it all that bad. At the end of the day, though, if you have a real motivation to come to ASA (ie. live in Atlanta, want to live in Atlanta, etc.) then I think you'll find it just as agreeable as working for any other regional, and a whole lot better than most.

 

[John Pennekamp]

I would look into Republic or Skywest. Maybe even Pinnacle. That seems to be where the future growth is going. As said above, having only one mainline partner is limiting. We're also owned by a parent company that views us and treats us like the red headed step children of the family. This means we seem to be getting the scraps. Morale is the lowest I've ever seen it at ASA, and everyone seems to be wondering what's going to happen and if we'll have jobs at this time next year.

Just search "ASA" in this forum, and you'll have enough opinion on the future of ASA to read for months.

 

[mtsu_av8er]

-poor
-two days
-mostly bad
-a lot
-not lasting
-two months; g/s-sim-check-ioe-scareeveryone; they'll pass anyone; yes

-you're welcome.

Thanks! I need the negative with the positive. Care to share why you feel this way?

The trips are looking better as we get caught up on hiring. I predict we'll be behind again shortly.

Thanks, Tarzan!

Could a junior FO expect to be able to commute from another city in the south - a city with a lot of flights to/from ATL? Say, Orlando or Nashville? A ton of 2-days with 2 days off in between would kinda suck . . .

Travel beenies are good but airplanes are extremely full. I've seen more jumpseaters in the cockpit than I have in a while. Delta wanted to change the S2's but they know if that happens, ASA will lose half of it's FA force.

Mind explaining what an S2 is? Sorry - I'm a freight guy . . .

Training time can vary with backlogs. Indoc goes 2 weeks. Systems goes another 2 weeks. CPT takes a week. Sim is eight sessions, a check ride and a loft. This generally takes a couple of weeks as well. IOE is 25 hours with at least 15 cycles. About 2 1/2 months to get on line. Training department is excellent though. They actually care if you get through and work if you if attitude stays right. All the training is done ATL.

That's not so bad. With the time off between training segments, are you able to go home and hang out with family? Do you actually get your ID and non-rev bennies while in training?

As for schedules and quality of life, I'm in the lower end of the top 3rd on the 70 seater. I've been getting back-to-back 2 days or 3 day trips with 16-17 days off. I take home between $2800-$3100 a month. I'm lazy. I look for the easiest trips with the longest overnights and fewest number of legs. I'm thinking next month will suck because I have 3, 5 leg days and 16 days off. I'm only away from home 6-8 nights a month. I'm looking to upgrade in the next class or two after 3 years. Compared to my friends that work 50 hours a week in some small office (used to be me), I feel like a hero.

I appreciate your insight! I'm assuming that you live in-base? From your experience, how difficult would commuting be on a junior schedule?

Oh, and don't listen to all the bitching here- many make it out to be worse than it really is. After all, we are still getting many FO's from other regionals.

Such is life on The Internet!

Thanks for all the help, guys!

 

[John Pennekamp]

Could a junior FO expect to be able to commute from another city in the south - a city with a lot of flights to/from ATL? Say, Orlando or Nashville? A ton of 2-days with 2 days off in between would kinda suck . . .

Depends on the city. BNA might not be bad. Anything in Florida would be very bad because of the huge number of senior commuters.

Commuting on reserve will be difficult, because ASA generally schedules reserves 5 on/ 2 off or even sometimes 6 on/ one off. You'll need a crash pad for sure.

Mind explaining what an S2 is? Sorry - I'm a freight guy . . .

We get passes on Delta. "S3" is standard priority. They are unlimited. "S2" is high priority, and we get 6 per year to use. Our parents go "S3B", which is below all S3s. Skywest pilots and Republic pilots go "S3C" which is below all S3Bs. Buddy passes go "S4". Clear as mud?

That's not so bad. With the time off between training segments, are you able to go home and hang out with family? Do you actually get your ID and non-rev bennies while in training?

You will probably be well advised to remain at the training facility and study instead of running home on the weekends and breaks. If you've never trained in the 121 environment, it's very much like drinking out of a fire hose.

You get you ID the first day, and your travel benefits kick in after 30 days, I believe. You can jumpseat as soon as you get your ID.

 

[Tarzan]

Let me add on thing to the discussion. I'll agree with most everything here with the exception of Pinnacle. There seem to be some deeper issues there.

Don't commute if you can help it. With the way things have been going, it is getting harder and harder to do it. The load factors have been up and main line is getting more airplanes but it'll take some time to help. Even then it may not be that much help as the FAA predicts travel to be up another 3%. Rather significant when most load factors are at 90%. The commute is just one more stress in life that you don't need if it can be helped. I did for a short while and nearly went nuts. But I have young kids also.

The lines are looking more commutable. I've only been around a year after coming over from another carrier. Most of my line is commutable this month and is somewhat commutable next month. That however will likely change as attrition continues and the company has to increase block hours on the lines.

 

[jstyle13]

Could a junior FO expect to be able to commute from another city in the south - a city with a lot of flights to/from ATL? Say, Orlando or Nashville? A ton of 2-days with 2 days off in between would kinda suck . . .

Uhh..Nashville is uhh...REAL tough...yea you'll want to move to ATL......
Nah actually BNA to ATL is a pretty easy commute. Mostly mainline flights (starting at 6am) mixed with a few of the crappy DCI Rj's in the middle of the day. There are about 6 capts and 8 fo's that commute out of here. It has been getting tougher as of late. Lot of full flights. Still a lot easier than Florida though.

 

[COOPERVANE]

Everybody is real negative right now but the job is the same as when I started. Great crews, good training, good equipment, good maintenance (which, you'll probably appreciate more coming from freight)

It really is not a bad place to work. Lot's of vocal people on this board have never worked for mesa or the equivalent.

good luck

 

[Smacktard]

I appreciate your insight! I'm assuming that you live in-base? From your experience, how difficult would commuting be on a junior schedule?

I do live in base. Most of the time the more senior trips are the 3 on 4 off or back to back 2 days. Just about everyone in the middle gets 4 day trips, best for commuting. With a little seniority, the 4 day trips work well. Reserves will be next to impossible to commute in for. You only get 4 golden days a month, ie hard time off that scheduling can't rearrange. The other 6 days off on a reserve line are 'adjustable'. There is no long call, short call for reserve, it's a 2 hour call out. Atlanta would be a good base to commute into as there are a lot of flights everywhere. Like someone else mentioned, the Florida spots are hard to commute in from. You can always commute in, but seniority determines WHEN you commute in...ie the day before etc.

The only other thing I haven't seen mentioned is our attendance policy. There are no personal days, an incident is; late to work, sick, no show etc, they all count the same. I think after 5 a year it starts getting serious (warning letters, suspension etc). They're on a rolling calendar so they drop off after a year from the date. I'm sure others will post the exact details.

 

[av8er2]

ASA is not growing, they are just replacing the pilots leaving. There are upgrades now but what if ASA ever gets a contract. Then upgrades will probably slow as pilots stay. Go where you think growth will be. Upgrade at this stage is everything.

 

[gear goes down]

How would commuting from GPT be? If not, what about MOB or MSY?

 

[Long Time Gone]

Could a junior FO expect to be able to commute from another city in the south - a city with a lot of flights to/from ATL? Say, Orlando or Nashville? A ton of 2-days with 2 days off in between would kinda suck . . .

I commuted out of MCO for over a year before moving up to the Atlanta area. The commute wasn't much of an issue. My wife being a single mom for 5 days a week was an issue. Not seeing my baby walk for the first time was an issue. Not pushing my oldest off on his first bike ride without training wheels was an issue. Get the issue???

That's not so bad. With the time off between training segments, are you able to go home and hang out with family? Do you actually get your ID and non-rev bennies while in training?

During training, I went home every Friday afternoon (late) and came back up from MCO every Sunday afternoon. I drove my car up prior to the first day so I had transportation to get some groceries. The jumpseat is available as soon as you have your ID, which is usually during the first week.


ASA is not a bad place to work. It used to be a "career" airline, but no longer is.

Good luck.

 

[wms]

ASA is ok unless you're based in ATL.

 

[mtsu_av8er]

The commute wasn't much of an issue. My wife being a single mom for 5 days a week was an issue. Not seeing my baby walk for the first time was an issue. Not pushing my oldest off on his first bike ride without training wheels was an issue. Get the issue???

LOL - I do. Former military guy here for a couple of stints. Not an issue for me!

I appreciate your input as well!

 

[dal757]

How's the commute from IAH or HOU?