Originally Posted by
twoshadesblue
I'm on the outside looking in and I truly hope there are only a select few that feel this way. Not trying to pick a side but is this the feeling across the board for both groups. I'm a mil guy and recently interviewed! How would a new hire be treated? I've searched the forum for QOL as a Airways pilot with no luck. Can someone please give me the latest goods (sched days/lines, new hire doms, reserve, act hrs flown, etc)? How soon could a new hire get CLT? Will the pay ever change? Please no east-west bs!! Don't you guys remember what happen to Tupac and Biggie???
I'm trying to make right decision should I get the offer. Thanks to all serious replies.
twoshades --
As a 3rd-lister, I can tell you that most of the time it is very professional in the cockpit. The vast majority of the guys are great, and don't even talk about it. But, like anywhere, we have our 10%ers that want to keep yapping about it all. But, if those are the guys that if they didn't have the West guys to hate, they would find someone or something else to hate. But, thankfully, they are few and far between.
As for QOL, we get 11 days off on reserve. Short call is a flexible call-out, the only stipulation is that you have to be physically located within 90 minutes "normal drive time" of the airport. There is no set limit on how long you have to get there. Long call is a hard 9 hour limit.
You could hold CLT right out of the chute, or get here within a bid or two if you're on the 737/320. On the 190 you'll be stuck in PHL for the year equipment lock. But, even that isn't bad, as most of the guys were great to fly with, and we all held blocks fairly quickly.
As for here vs Atlas, that's a tough call. I was at 2 non-scheds prior to Airways. I would be making a hell of a lot more money and would be a 777F Captain had I stayed where I was. But, I'm much happier here. I'm home and see my family a lot more, and I enjoy most of my trips here. If I lived in base, it would be even better -- for now in CLT we fly about 5 days a month on short-call. That's a lot of time at home. Atlas will pay more and you'll see a lot more of the world. But, you'll pay for it with time away from home. What's more important to you -- time with the family or money? That's your real decision.
As for the East vs West poop-flinging contest, I wouldn't worry about it. Yes, it sucks we don't have a contract. Yes, the pay is abysmal. Yes, people insult one another on the message boards (and some won't talk to each other in vans). But, as a 3rd-lister, you'll be pretty much left alone. The East guys are pros in the cockpit, and most of them are pleasant people to be around, and the West guys know that as a new-hire you're not the problem, and most of them (yes, they have their 10% too) are civil to us third-listers.
Eventually this mess will be settled and we'll move on. In the mean time, this job (even on LOA 93) is better than the regional or 2 non-scheds where I worked before...