Fly for Great Lakes?

[jhugz]

Hear, hear. Everyone makes his own path some way or another. Best of luck to anyone pursuing Lakes. If they can afford it, I'm sure they'll have some great experiences there.

jhugz:

I won't go into detail, but you're missing a lot of "behind the scenes" stuff at each one of those [tuk Polar's jerb!] companies you listed. This is a fluid business; you can't just come to conclusions based on what you read on APC.

I'm not trying to give you crap Ben about your company, I was just using it as an example to my argument. I really just have a problem with flying 19 people in the back of an airplane for part-time mickey'd wages. Regardless it's beating the dead horse stuff again and I'll try to refrain.

 

[WalterSobchak]

Blame them for what? And by the way, that one guy IS the pilot group.... If you're going to Great Lakes, you're sacrificing QOL for a quick upgrade. Pay is the same based on years because a Great Lakes CA makes the same or more than an RJ FO. It's the first year that's bad.

GL CA - XJ FO
1: 27 - 26
2: 29 - 31
3: 30 - 34
4: 31 - 37
5: 33 - 38

Mesaba FO's have a pretty middle of the road payscale right now due to the blend, but have work rules to boot. GL upgrades are about 2 years right now and having the minimum 1000 pic doesnt mean any one will hire you. So you could be stuck at a POS. Great Lakes.....if you are a glutton for punishment and your wife has a great job!

 

[CoffeeIcePapers]

Blame them for what? And by the way, that one guy IS the pilot group.... If you're going to Great Lakes, you're sacrificing QOL for a quick upgrade. Pay is the same based on years because a Great Lakes CA makes the same or more than an RJ FO. It's the first year that's bad.

The problem is that "rapid upgrade" is a gamble. I wouldn't call it a trap,as some people would call it, but I would say it is a gamble. If you decide to take the low pay (I think every regional FO is grossly underpaid, not just at Lakes) in exchange for a quick upgrade, what happens when the hiring boom goes bust? There are more factors than pay, upgrade time, etc. If someone wants to make that decision, that is up to them. Just don't complain about commuting, crappy pay, scheduling, etc when you knew that when you got there.

 

[Winglet]

well,

I was just called back by their recriutment depatment to schedule an interview.

I told her that I had a few questions about the company.

I asked how much they are paying.
She said $16.24.

I asked how many hours should I expect to fly a month.
She said that they guarentee 75.

I said "So that means that I would be brining in around $1200 a month?".

She said: "I'm not sure about the final amount, but its not much"

At that point I asked aside from the minimum, what does your average pilot make or fly per month.
She was quiet.

I said, "1200 is going to be a problem for me, thats not worth moving out there for."

She said: "Well, it sounds like you are not interested in the position, we will remove you from our lists, goodbye."

And she hung up...

Good riddance.

COME ON PILOTS! KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WORTH! STOP LETTING THE INDUSTRY ABUSE YOU AND YOUR NEED TO RUSH TO GET EXPERIANCE! THEY ABUSE US BECAUSE WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE IT. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Some regionals are fair. Others are slave drivers. I will let you and your own intuition and common sense determine which is which.
My times are: 2049TT, 133ME (and I got there with Instructing, traffic reporting, and other short contract jobs) I took my time, got here debt free and I will never sell myself short. I busted my ass to get to where I am and I am worth FAR more than 1200 a month.
How about you? Whats YOUR worth. What are your hard earned skills worth to you? Do you feel that your hard work and dedication and achievments are worth a decent salary or do you feel that you are worth $16 an hour?

Things wont change until WE change it. Flame all you like, complain all you like, but if you keep bending over, somone is gonna keep kicking you in the rear. It might be time to finally stand up.

 

[Turbine]

well,

I was just called back by their recriutment depatment to schedule an interview.

I told her that I had a few questions about the company.

I asked how much they are paying.
She said $16.24.

I asked how many hours should I expect to fly a month.
She said that they guarentee 75.

I said "So that means that I would be brining in around $1200 a month?".

She said: "I'm not sure about the final amount, but its not much"

At that point I asked aside from the minimum, what does your average pilot make or fly per month.
She was quiet.

I said, "1200 is going to be a problem for me, thats not worth moving out there for."

She said: "Well, it sounds like you are not interested in the position, we will remove you from our lists, goodbye."

And she hung up...

Good riddance.

COME ON PILOTS! KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WORTH! STOP LETTING THE INDUSTRY ABUSE YOU AND YOUR NEED TO RUSH TO GET EXPERIANCE! THEY ABUSE US BECAUSE WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE IT. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Some regionals are fair. Others are slave drivers. I will let you and your own intuition and common sense determine which is which.
My times are: 2049TT, 133ME (and I got there with Instructing, traffic reporting, and other short contract jobs) I took my time, got here debt free and I will never sell myself short. I busted my ass to get to where I am and I am worth FAR more than 1200 a month.
How about you? Whats YOUR worth. What are your hard earned skills worth to you? Do you feel that your hard work and dedication and achievments are worth a decent salary or do you feel that you are worth $16 an hour?

Things wont change until WE change it. Flame all you like, complain all you like, but if you keep bending over, somone is gonna keep kicking you in the rear. It might be time to finally stand up.

Would've been great if you called her back and asked her how they could justify $1200/month.

 

[JamesD]

I am going to at least interview with Lakes because I need that experience. How long will they give you if they were to offer me a job until I have to decide? Anyone know?

Also this isn't necessarily a Lakes question, but in general when do you get vacation at a regional as a new hire? I only ask because my whole family is going on a cruise to celebrate my parents 30th anniversary in July. I would love to go, but obviously if I can't I can't. But how does vacation time work for a new hire within the first 6 months? Is it basically your not going to get any at all or do you get some from the start?

Again I realize it may be different at different regionals, but I am just looking for a ball park idea. Thanks!

 

[Bandit_Driver]

Kalitta, I'm pretty sure looks at the individual first rather than the experience. Int Cargo flying I would imagine requires a different breed.

SoCal321, Kalitta is pretty firm with their qualifications. If a applicant doesn't meet their mins they in general don't even get called in. Yes, the individual plays a part in the interview but it is only a piece of the interview. A pilot could be a great person and click with everyone but if the pilot doesn't do well in the other areas forget it. In this type of flying the crew cannot afford to carry a weak pilot.

well,

I was just called back by their recriutment depatment to schedule an interview.

I told her that I had a few questions about the company.

I asked how much they are paying.
She said $16.24.

I asked how many hours should I expect to fly a month.
She said that they guarentee 75.

I said "So that means that I would be brining in around $1200 a month?".

She said: "I'm not sure about the final amount, but its not much"

At that point I asked aside from the minimum, what does your average pilot make or fly per month.
She was quiet.

I said, "1200 is going to be a problem for me, thats not worth moving out there for."

She said: "Well, it sounds like you are not interested in the position, we will remove you from our lists, goodbye."

And she hung up...

Good riddance.

COME ON PILOTS! KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WORTH! STOP LETTING THE INDUSTRY ABUSE YOU AND YOUR NEED TO RUSH TO GET EXPERIANCE! THEY ABUSE US BECAUSE WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE IT. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Some regionals are fair. Others are slave drivers. I will let you and your own intuition and common sense determine which is which.
My times are: 2049TT, 133ME (and I got there with Instructing, traffic reporting, and other short contract jobs) I took my time, got here debt free and I will never sell myself short. I busted my ass to get to where I am and I am worth FAR more than 1200 a month.
How about you? Whats YOUR worth. What are your hard earned skills worth to you? Do you feel that your hard work and dedication and achievments are worth a decent salary or do you feel that you are worth $16 an hour?

Things wont change until WE change it. Flame all you like, complain all you like, but if you keep bending over, somone is gonna keep kicking you in the rear. It might be time to finally stand up.

Good job and knowing what you are worth. Hang in there and you will find something better. Also when you do make it will be that much more rewarding personally. Chasing the left seat doesn't work out for a lot of people. Don't rule out 135 flying and check out some of those companies too. There is some good money out there in the 135 world.

I am going to at least interview with Lakes because I need that experience. How long will they give you if they were to offer me a job until I have to decide? Anyone know?

Also this isn't necessarily a Lakes question, but in general when do you get vacation at a regional as a new hire? I only ask because my whole family is going on a cruise to celebrate my parents 30th anniversary in July. I would love to go, but obviously if I can't I can't. But how does vacation time work for a new hire within the first 6 months? Is it basically your not going to get any at all or do you get some from the start?

Again I realize it may be different at different regionals, but I am just looking for a ball park idea. Thanks!

Taking an interview for experience is not always a bad idea as it can be a good way to gain interview experience in the begining. Vacation time is seldom given to first year pilots. Pilots are also on probation for 90 days, six months, or a year as a new pilot depending on the company. If you have a specific time off you need in the first year don't bring it up in the interview unless specifically asked. After you are offered the job I'd bring it up and see if there is anything they can do with it. But be prepared for the answer being no.

 

[BobDDuck]

And even if first year guys do get vacation slots, good luck getting anything between June and August unless you are in the top 50% of your seat and base.

 

[WalterSobchak]

well,

I was just called back by their recriutment depatment to schedule an interview.

I told her that I had a few questions about the company.

I asked how much they are paying.
She said $16.24.

I asked how many hours should I expect to fly a month.
She said that they guarentee 75.

I said "So that means that I would be brining in around $1200 a month?".

She said: "I'm not sure about the final amount, but its not much"

At that point I asked aside from the minimum, what does your average pilot make or fly per month.
She was quiet.

I said, "1200 is going to be a problem for me, thats not worth moving out there for."

She said: "Well, it sounds like you are not interested in the position, we will remove you from our lists, goodbye."

And she hung up...

Good riddance.

COME ON PILOTS! KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WORTH! STOP LETTING THE INDUSTRY ABUSE YOU AND YOUR NEED TO RUSH TO GET EXPERIANCE! THEY ABUSE US BECAUSE WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE IT. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Some regionals are fair. Others are slave drivers. I will let you and your own intuition and common sense determine which is which.
My times are: 2049TT, 133ME (and I got there with Instructing, traffic reporting, and other short contract jobs) I took my time, got here debt free and I will never sell myself short. I busted my ass to get to where I am and I am worth FAR more than 1200 a month.
How about you? Whats YOUR worth. What are your hard earned skills worth to you? Do you feel that your hard work and dedication and achievments are worth a decent salary or do you feel that you are worth $16 an hour?

Things wont change until WE change it. Flame all you like, complain all you like, but if you keep bending over, somone is gonna keep kicking you in the rear. It might be time to finally stand up.

You must have a soul. Apparently you aren't willing to sell it "for the upgrade".:clap: