What's Great Lakes up to?

[flythere]

Has anybody else heard from Lakes?? Oh ya, did they indeed close their Chicago base, that was rumor a month or so ago??

 

[Cardinal]

Alaska,

If you think $18,000 is horrendous, check this out.

15.30 (1st year FO pay at Great Lakes)
X 75 (hourly guarantee)
X 12 (months)
----------------
= $13,770 gross wages annually

One factor to add is Per Diem. Admittedly, most of it'll be burnt on food but it is to be considered. With such small numbers a little can mean a lot. Almost all of the March lines have at least 300 hours away from base, therefore:

1.00 (Per Diem rate)
X 300 (TAFB)
X 12 (months)
----------------
= $3,600 tax-free Per Diem annually


13,770
+ 3,600
-----------------
= $17370

ORD is no longer a crew-base, and with the death of ALO last Thursday, has but one outstation, OSH. It was still operating last week, dunno if the end has come.

 

[Cardinal]

Hey, Dmitry, nice stuff on Airliners.net!
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/309929/L/

 

[Alaskaairlines]

Cardinlal, thanks for the post and kind comment!

Check you e-mail.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

There was an article on them in the latest "Aviation International News". They have a new CEO who's trying to turn things around there and make money for the 1st time in 3 years or so.

They wanted me to come in as a Capt off the street after not flying for 10 years. I didn't think that was very realistic and didn't come in for the interview.

It is a flying job, and they are hard to come by.

It I was a CFI, I would continue that until I got in at a better airline. I was at TSA last year, and they are a huge improvement over Great Lakes, in my opinion. THey take guys with similar time that Great Lakes wants.

Cliff
GRB

 

[Future SNA]

You won't get on with TSA right now with anywhere CLOSE to what you could get on with lakes at. I do agree they used to hire lowtimers, I interviewed with all of 650 hours back in the day, luckily I didn't get the job cause I'd been furloughed 4 months later. But now, I hear the competitive minimums at TSA, no matter what is posted on the web, are easily double that.

 

[Maxx Power]

GLA MX

This was several years ago, but remember Great Lakes shut down for a short while to get the MX side of the house in order. They had to do that or the Feds were going to shut them down. I quit 3 weeks before the shutdown. I was not surprised by the shutdown. They once dispatched us in an E-120 with 13 MELs!!!!

I sure hope things are better now. Although when I was there it was the worst airline I have ever seen.

 

[Kaman]

Hi Guys,
I'm with you all the way on the pay, benefits and work rules stuff. Like you I've worked hard, finished college on active duty and now I'm making a meager salary flight instructing ( although, shovelling more snow than flying this past week). HOWEVER, here is the secret...Marry a nurse! My wife makes $25.00 an hour works 32 hours a week and gets paid for 40, she has great benefits and lots of room for growth within her profession!
So, I consdier myself being very fortunate to have a "Sugar Momma" to subsidize my flying career. Granted I change a helluva lot of diapers, had to learn to cook, etc...ad nauseum...
Best of luck to all you guys out there struggling, believe me I know how you feel after a career in the military as an enlisted flight crewmember.

Regards,

ex-Navy Rotorhead