stickwiggler
You bring up some interesting points. I hope you don't mind if I pick your brain a bit. Let me give you a little background on me. I am defiantly low time (850 and 80 with the twin time all in a C421) graduated from UND went to a little flight school far from ND so I could enjoy my flying. Loved it for about six months then they started bouncing my pay checks... It sucks to have to call mom and dad to ask for money when you have it... its just a rubber check. lol sometimes I wish flight schools had unions. So you can imagine why I am ready for a change of pace.
First a bit of good news, 850/80 is not all that low, you're close so hang in there as long as you can. Flight instructing is an excellent enviroment to make you a better future FO. it's more the 200 hour products of the flight academies that i see the most problem with.
Do the captains have trouble with the low time guys? What would the CA want to see most from the new hires?
No trouble with the person but their ability level- yes. Also some of the really low time guys get here and make it through the first 500 hours and start to get cocky and want to start telling 10,000 hour captains how it's done. Probably a type A thing.
I think I am confused people can't fly a Visual approach? I can see why that would be a problem but why are they unable?
Visual approach can be a little misleading especially taking it from a CFI point of view. you're probably thinking traffic pattern work. In the 121 world think planning a descent from 20,000 ft and speed reduction from 450 knots to 140knots. As P1ayn notes it can be a problem.
I take it your a CA? Is that why you are still at ASA?
Is there nothing you like about ASA?
Yes, I'm a captain upgraded to EMB 120 captain in early 99 and RJ captain in late 99. My personal reason for being at ASA is a little different then some.( I got a violation years ago) and with my seniority and pay rate 290 out of 1700 something and $81 an hour) finding a better job is not that easy. My goal is Fed Ex. Yes, there are some things I like about ASA; our training department (bar RH) is exceptional and our pilot group has a good rep in the industry. Right now, our travel benefits on Delta are good, but subject to change. The list of reason I don't like it is much longer. only one domicile to chose from, perpetual bad management, scheduling that is among the worst in the business, etc.
My train of thought is this, I love flying just as much as the next guy, so if I love what I am doing I will enjoy ASA or any other regional (mesa excluded).
For some "the love of flying" never goes away. For many, this is work. After flying Blackhawks in my youth, RJ's with their advanced cockpits and airline rules are a little boring.
Now some questions on the Union matters.
Obviously I am new to all of this stuff so can you shed some light on what they are trying to do to the scope? Why would managment NOT want to keep flying and lose A/C to SKYWST?
Two part question;
1. the scope language we are asking for is unclear to a lot of the pilot group. One thing I've heard is that we are looking for "if a plane goes to Skywest then 5 pilots go with it and keep their seniority.
2. I'm sure ASA management wants to keep the aircraft, but these managers are pretty much puppets to Delta. If it is in the best interest of Delta or Skywest Inc. that takes priority. ASA management desires are much lower on the scale.
How much of a pay raise does the pilot group want (Just curious)?
It's not so much of the pay raise we are looking for. Management first came at us with a 13% pay CUT, but that has been saved by our union negotiators, now the company is up to Skywest rates on the 50 seater. The problem is on the 70 seater (and most people feel that we will shrink the 50 fleet and grow the 70 fleet, so pay on that is important) the company offer a one time 1% raise, with no cost of living raises.
Is the back pay for the guys that worked with no contract while in negotiations? (makes sense)
Another 2 part answer:
1. Retro pay (back pay) is the difference between old rate and new rate times the number of months between the last contract expiring and the new one signing.
2. Signing Bonus is a one time pay out divided up among the pilot group by a formula.
Does ASA currently not have Rigs? My only exposure to them have been what was on this site (
http://<span style="color:blue">No w...070311214.html )?
And lastly since you actually post about ASA on this site (I think everyone else just lurks lol) Do you think they will finish negotiations soon. I guess soon is a relative term but before the next 5 years lol. Honestly though, like by the end of the year?
I, and no one else on the planet has a straight answer for that. Our union leader told me a year ago that we would have something with in a month.
As for the lurking comment, I fear that is optomistic. There have been several people on here that aren't even a pilot let alone and airline pilot. Plus, many are very jr. FO's who although bright young men and women, lack the years at a carrier to know all the ends and outs and management tricks. I'm still learning.
Thanks for any info,
Mike