Xtra Airways
04-08-2016, 06:50 AM
#91
New Hire
Joined APC: Feb 2016
Posts: 6
Originally Posted by hoover
I'll try and answer some questions.
First there would have to be a new hire class to get hired. That still hasn't happened and the new word is mid April, but bear in mind we've been told "next month" since October of last year. Training has to be approved by the FAA first.
As for the base? I'm not sure. We're short everywhere so you'll go where they need you. No one really works out of one base anymore. However, miami is the worst so probably there. Worst because the flying is so short with long days you'll never break guarantee.
Upgrade time is a hard one to answer as well. Depends on your experience. If you have lots of time especially in the 737 already you'll probably be a street captain. If you don't have any jet pic in something similar to a 737 then you'll keep getting bypassed for guys who do who are street captains. There are guts who have been FOs for 4 yrs who are great guys who keep getting bypassed for street captains. So don't think you'll come here and upgrade and walk away in 3-4 yrs with 737 pic. It'll take that long to upgrade.
Now the other part for credit and flying hrs. Right now everyone is timing out. This is the peak season for xtra. After March madness the flying goes to nothing. I would plan on guarantee and flying maybe 40 hrs a month and thats if you work a lot. Lots of sitting reserve.
Also the pilots just voted in a union. Have yet to get the companies response, but I doubt it will get better anytime soon.
Lots of other places hiring. If its supplementals you want check out Atlas.
First there would have to be a new hire class to get hired. That still hasn't happened and the new word is mid April, but bear in mind we've been told "next month" since October of last year. Training has to be approved by the FAA first.
As for the base? I'm not sure. We're short everywhere so you'll go where they need you. No one really works out of one base anymore. However, miami is the worst so probably there. Worst because the flying is so short with long days you'll never break guarantee.
Upgrade time is a hard one to answer as well. Depends on your experience. If you have lots of time especially in the 737 already you'll probably be a street captain. If you don't have any jet pic in something similar to a 737 then you'll keep getting bypassed for guys who do who are street captains. There are guts who have been FOs for 4 yrs who are great guys who keep getting bypassed for street captains. So don't think you'll come here and upgrade and walk away in 3-4 yrs with 737 pic. It'll take that long to upgrade.
Now the other part for credit and flying hrs. Right now everyone is timing out. This is the peak season for xtra. After March madness the flying goes to nothing. I would plan on guarantee and flying maybe 40 hrs a month and thats if you work a lot. Lots of sitting reserve.
Also the pilots just voted in a union. Have yet to get the companies response, but I doubt it will get better anytime soon.
Lots of other places hiring. If its supplementals you want check out Atlas.
04-11-2016, 11:35 PM
#92
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: Ex-B756 Right and staying west of Gander for a while.
Posts: 51
Low Time Pilots?
Originally Posted by Wheelit
Thanks... 4yr Fo's with that much movement? That sucks! Must be some really low time pilots. Hope it gets better soon for you guys.
Upgrade is not an issue of low time pilots. If there is no movement in the upper echelon of senior Captains and First Officers, then the lower ranks will not move up. Pretty simple.
BTW, ALL of our pilots are more than qualified for all the challenges of ACMI flying. Xtra Airways is not a "puppy mill" for wet ATP pilots.
As for working conditions and rules, we're working on that.
Last edited by IFly86N; 04-12-2016 at 12:09 AM.
04-12-2016, 09:56 AM
#93
At your mom's house
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: cpt 737
Posts: 2,656
You mean the 1 or 2 FOS who have chosen not to upgrade?
How can you say there isn't movement of senior cpts when check airman have left and over half the pilots have left in a yrs time?
I agree Xtra is not training guys with wet ATPs. Those guys are smart enough to go to a regional or somewhere better.
The working conditions have improved so much that a union was just voted in. Hopefully they can make it so people might actually stay but I doubt that.
It depends on how much the parent company wants to spend to keep their airline going as to how long xtra will stay in business. Just not enough pilots, FAs, or mechanics to keep it running.
I believe 4 captains have interviews this month somewhere better. Hopefully we can make some movement so those junior FOs can upgrade.
How can you say there isn't movement of senior cpts when check airman have left and over half the pilots have left in a yrs time?
I agree Xtra is not training guys with wet ATPs. Those guys are smart enough to go to a regional or somewhere better.
The working conditions have improved so much that a union was just voted in. Hopefully they can make it so people might actually stay but I doubt that.
It depends on how much the parent company wants to spend to keep their airline going as to how long xtra will stay in business. Just not enough pilots, FAs, or mechanics to keep it running.
I believe 4 captains have interviews this month somewhere better. Hopefully we can make some movement so those junior FOs can upgrade.
04-28-2016, 11:16 AM
#96
At your mom's house
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: cpt 737
Posts: 2,656
As far as I know Mike is still the DO. I don't see him moving on. The CP position is tough cause he gets it from both sides. Management telling him to screw over the pilots and pilots telling him they're being screwed.
Xtra just lost the Apple vacation contracts so who knows what will happen now. That was their biggest contract. Normally I'd say they'd furlough but there isn't enough pilots anyways. Sure wouldn't want to be in the new hire class right now.
Xtra just lost the Apple vacation contracts so who knows what will happen now. That was their biggest contract. Normally I'd say they'd furlough but there isn't enough pilots anyways. Sure wouldn't want to be in the new hire class right now.
04-30-2016, 05:08 AM
#98
At your mom's house
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: cpt 737
Posts: 2,656
I agree apple does that but these contracts were 3 yr contracts signed in December and because of them we lost home basing due to the contracts being permanent. So all the people who had to go sign leases on apartments are once again out money because as the company is being cheap.
In the supplemental world there should only be home basing as contracts come and go constantly.
I'm sure there will be some other flying to do, there always is, but this should be a lesson to the new management that nothing is permanent.
In the supplemental world there should only be home basing as contracts come and go constantly.
I'm sure there will be some other flying to do, there always is, but this should be a lesson to the new management that nothing is permanent.
04-30-2016, 02:00 PM
#99
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B-737NG preferably in first class with a glass of champagne and caviar
Posts: 5,904
Originally Posted by threeholeblower
Apple usually changes contractors every 2-3 years. Who is going to pick up the work? Not to many supplemental operators with aircraft available. ??
05-01-2016, 05:28 AM
#100
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: Retired 121
Posts: 52
With the loss of the Apple Contract recently, my question is
"Has that flying stopped already, or will it be ending in the weeks to come"?
Yesterdays Xtra website had 16 out of 20 flights to several international vacation destinations that look like to me they could be Apple trips.
Just guesswork on my part !!!
I am curious if Xtra will see their flights drop by 75-80% real soon, so I can attempt to figure out their real staffing needs versus possible upcoming classes.
(Hate to see someone sign up for a class that probably isn't real, and resign their previous employment with no chance of return because the new place might be playing "We don't know what the hell is going on").
Thanks to anyone that can help the uninformed become a bit more informed !!!
jabr800
"Has that flying stopped already, or will it be ending in the weeks to come"?
Yesterdays Xtra website had 16 out of 20 flights to several international vacation destinations that look like to me they could be Apple trips.
Just guesswork on my part !!!
I am curious if Xtra will see their flights drop by 75-80% real soon, so I can attempt to figure out their real staffing needs versus possible upcoming classes.
(Hate to see someone sign up for a class that probably isn't real, and resign their previous employment with no chance of return because the new place might be playing "We don't know what the hell is going on").
Thanks to anyone that can help the uninformed become a bit more informed !!!
jabr800
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Frisky Pilot
Regional
20
01-01-2022 05:02 PM
