FO Great Lakes
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: I pilot
Posts: 2,049
To piggy back on what M20EPilot said, I know a few guys who went to Great Lakes because it seemed to be their best option at the time. They have all said that the flying is great, but pay is not so great. A friend of mine stayed at the company for 7 years and loved every minute of it, but left for better pay. I know several guys who went to Great Lakes and got hired straight into Frontier Airlines. I know a couple others who left Great Lakes and went on to fly jets at various part 135 companies and later move on to the majors. Your experience may vary.
I debated going there several times, but the reasons why I did not were:
1. no pay during training, and I couldn't afford that, but some people can afford that
2. 15 month contract (begins after training is complete). I knew that I would get to 1500 hours well before the 15 months and would want to fly somewhere else
3. I made more money flight instructing than I would have made at Great Lakes
4. High chance of PRIA event. I have a lot of friends who made it through the company successfully and I don't view myself as being behind the power curve on this one, but the idea of high attrition in a training program was a secondary factor for me.
I debated going there several times, but the reasons why I did not were:
1. no pay during training, and I couldn't afford that, but some people can afford that
2. 15 month contract (begins after training is complete). I knew that I would get to 1500 hours well before the 15 months and would want to fly somewhere else
3. I made more money flight instructing than I would have made at Great Lakes
4. High chance of PRIA event. I have a lot of friends who made it through the company successfully and I don't view myself as being behind the power curve on this one, but the idea of high attrition in a training program was a secondary factor for me.
#23
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2015
Posts: 10
Thanks!
#25
#26
I dont understand what you mean. I never care about the airplane I fly - I tell people I would fly a metroliner if you pay me right and I do not have to commute. Most people agree. Except people who actually have flown the metro who then slap me saying I am talking crazy.
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2014
Posts: 338
Again, this would be the fastest way to hit 1500 all while getting paid (very little) and flying a turbine powered aircraft in a crew environment. If you get out of there clean you will be able to go to any regional or maybe even Frontier (some guys have).
In my opinion it's able all about getting your time fast. Why "grind it out" as a cfi if you don't have to?
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: I pilot
Posts: 2,049
Because being a CFI might actually pay better (it has for me) and get you to ATP minimums just as fast (guys flying 900 hours a year at my school), plus being a CFI is valuable experience.
Last I checked, Great Lakes was asking for 600 hours TT.
The biggest problem people have with Great Lakes is that they lower the bar. If they came up to the same level as other companies or even raised the bar, people wouldn't be wishing for them to go away. It is definitely good experience, but at what expense?
Last I checked, Great Lakes was asking for 600 hours TT.
The biggest problem people have with Great Lakes is that they lower the bar. If they came up to the same level as other companies or even raised the bar, people wouldn't be wishing for them to go away. It is definitely good experience, but at what expense?
#30
Works Every Weekend
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,210
The biggest drawback of going to Lakes in my opinion is the possibility of a failed training event. Is getting your time a month or two sooner really worth the risk of going through a program with a rather high washout rate?
I'll go ahead and say it: Looking back from where I am now, I didn't know my @$$ from a hole in the ground at 250 hours. I've always been pretty good at studying and memorizing things, so I very well might have been able to make it through their training with no problems... but holy crap that would have been sketchy. And not just during training either.
I'll go ahead and say it: Looking back from where I am now, I didn't know my @$$ from a hole in the ground at 250 hours. I've always been pretty good at studying and memorizing things, so I very well might have been able to make it through their training with no problems... but holy crap that would have been sketchy. And not just during training either.
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