What's Up at CommuteAir

[MJG]

What's the deal over there these days??? Anyone know?? Something about the contract was up on the first of March?? Good to see you guys still flying.

We (XJET CLE) keep hearing all kinds of crazy rumors these days, apparently we don't have enough of our own to keep us busy.

 

[AutoBus]

What's the deal over there these days??? Anyone know?? Something about the contract was up on the first of March?? Good to see you guys still flying.

We (XJET CLE) keep hearing all kinds of crazy rumors these days, apparently we don't have enough of our own to keep us busy.

Actually it's CommutAir (no E)

 

[Amish RakeFight]

I hear they are a crappy place to work. Real low wages and poorly maintained equipment.

 

[CA1900]

Well, you're about 1/3 right, Amish -- we do have low wages. (Not Great Lakes low, but pretty low.) But it's not a "crappy place to work," pay aside. There are all kinds of things that "better" places do, like junior manning, that simply don't happen here. I'm never afraid to answer my phone.

And you're dead wrong about the maintenance -- the equipment is maintained extremely well. It's very rare for an MEL to live more than a day or two, and it's almost unheard of to carry multiple MELs. They may be small, but we take very good care of them. You can tell whoever you "heard" that from that they're getting -- and giving -- bad information about our company.


MJG, to answer your question, it isn't the CAL contract that's up -- in fact, that's been extended and improved. It's something to do with the leases on the 1900s; I'm not sure of the exact details. But it looks like things are falling into place to exchange the bulk of the fleet to larger turboprops, probably to the DHC-8-200 (I hope) or Saab 340B+. The timeframe and equipment choice are still TBA, but that's what the big day was.

 

[NEDude]

I recently left CommutAir but can back up CA1900. MX there is top notch. No junior manning, 12 days off per bid (28 days/bid), no pressure from mgmt to push the limits (you say it's unsafe - end of story) and the best crews to fly with.

CommutAir does have its problems, don't get me wrong, but overall I enjoyed my five years there.

 

[indianboy7]

I hope you guys get the dash-8s too...the saabs are ugly....:beer:

 

[stupidwork]

Any word on if they are hiring....what are there mins???

 

[Quillpig]

Any word on if they are hiring....what are there mins???

Not currently hiring. If attrition continues (it will) and fleet plan is implemented (it might) hiring will be required this spring. Mins have historically been 900 Total/100 Multi. Internal recommendations are highly valued, especially at the beginning of a hiring swing.

That said, if you want to fly for CommutAir, I'd recommend getting a resume in now. Via a company pilot, if possible. When they start hiring, it will likely be with little notice, so there won't be much time to collect resumes.

NEDude, that is one bad-looking dog.

QP

 

[Prop2Jet]

Saabs are ugly, so is the A-10 what's your point?

 

[Smacktard]

I hear they are a crappy place to work. Real low wages and poorly maintained equipment.

You heard wrong.

 

[WSurf]

I recently left CommutAir but can back up CA1900. MX there is top notch. No junior manning, 12 days off per bid (28 days/bid), no pressure from mgmt to push the limits (you say it's unsafe - end of story) and the best crews to fly with.

CommutAir does have its problems, don't get me wrong, but overall I enjoyed my five years there.

Spent time there also! It is what it is! Small airline, these guys (mx) know the 1900D's like no others, the flying you get is great....... But thats about it! When you look at your paycheck, it really humbles you. Back when I was there you got paid on a weekly basis! I was getting about 260.00 a check! That was 1040.00 a month, or about 12,500 a year as a FO. I was making more money as a Flight Instructor at FSI. I know the pay has gone up (16.00) since i was there. But I had college loans, flying loans... I was still calling mom and pops to help pay my bills... ouch
You can imagine how I freaked out at PDT when I was in my second week of groundschool and they handed me a check for 960.00 bucks.. And with the working contract at PDT, you were making more as a FO at PDT then a Captain at Commutair. Its tuff.
Good place to get your time, and if you can live off the pay then get a fast upgrade and move on. I don't regret leaving, but it did take me awhile to upgrade at PDT. While a few of my buddies stuck it out there and got the PIC time faster then me and are at AirTran, And a few other places.
You fly a 1900, fun plane, great in icing condition! But its a 19 seat aircraft and the pay is tuff!

 

[commutair]

I would avoid this place as if it had herpes. It will literally make your blood pressure rise 50%, no joke. No complaints at all on crews or maintenance. But dude theres no retirement, The 1900 is a good airplane but trust me, when your on the ramp getting treated like a red-headed step child from Continental your gonna be pissed. Also 12 days off a month sucks. the pay is horrible. Also 70% and this is a true statistic, 70% of the pilots make a lateral move, comair, coex, chatauqua, air wis etc, etc. Only 9 pilots that I know of been hired from here to a major. Why on earth would you come here? The owners are full of sh1T. They stole money from there own employees. Does this sound like a good company?yeah you'll have fun flying the crews here are a lot of fun, but man go to colgan, chatauqua. Get bigger plane experience. I recommend you stay as a flight instuctor until you can get on at chatauqua. I have an interview coming up there soon. Upgrade time is 18 months...

 

[AutoBus]

Only 9 pilots that I know of been hired from here to a major....

Well, trust me there were dozen's, probably 100's of pilots hired directly from commutair to majors.

Otherwise you are correct, I would avoid them.

 

[NEDude]

NEDude, that is one bad-looking dog.

Quillpig:

http://www.samugliestdog.com