I am glad most of you guys are happy here. Most FOs I have been flying with told me they were going to stay. But recently I started to fly with many junior guys again, guys in the 1000 range. Almost all who were less than 40 years old had applications at AA, UAL, DAL, and some at UPS and FEDEX. They are not unhappy here, but they would rather be at a legacy. I can totally understand them.
When I came over from a regional I was very happy. Compared to that this was awesome. But the novelty does wear off rather fast and after you upgrade things start to become really annoying on certain days.
Like my last trip. I walk into an absolutely filthy cockpit at midnight for my red eye transcon flight. Every cockpit is filthy at Spirit unless it is a brand new plane. When I say filthy, I mean it.
The crew is gone, but the plane has several MX items that were not reported. Never mind they came from an MX base.
On a side note: I see this all the time. Some CAs even brief me: "Hey this is this but it is not in the book". These are guys I have never met before. Well I am glad people out there still have faith in humanity because for all they know I could be the largest a hole and call the CP. Some CAs do that here. Good old S.A. the local FLL favorite just to mention one.
... But this night my FO is sharp and he catches everything. It all goes into the book and we take an 1h+ delay. One hour delay for two minor items. Tops 10 min fix in DTW. Not so in LAX. Thanks guys!
This is all not a big deal because at Spirit you learn how to manage your sleep cycle so an extra hour for this red eye is nothing. My new (and happy to be here) FO is already yawning and we have not even pushed. He said he had a great layover, he saw the Queen Marry and the Russian sub in the afternoon. Ouch... that will hurt. I am glad I gave him the LAX leg
I go back to my duties. Now I have time to do everything properly. This delay is really a win win situation I just don't have a good attitude anymore. At Spirit we got some additional preflight items to take care of. For example you get to do some origami with the paperwork because due to a software error some printers still don't recognize page brakes. Once I am done tearing all the paperwork into peaces I have to reference some existing DMIs in our brand new MEL! It is about 10-15 lbs now. It is in a gigantic binder. Spirit has miniaturization backwards. It is THE largest MEL I have ever seen in my career. If the Space Shuttle has an MEL, I bet it is smaller than ours. Meanwhile I can't download the PDF version (not that it is approved for use) because our IT department does not support my apple devices. They are hardcore droid guys over there. But that is OK because iPads are coming! They have been coming for 4-5 years now. Next, my 55+ very friendly senior FLL lead wants ice and catering but we don't cater this flight. Why would we? It is only 5h block and we are loosing money on catering. The MX items get addressed fast but we end up waiting 30 min for an amendment. That is because MX, Dispatch, and Crew Scheduling do not communicate with each other even though they are all sitting in the same room. It is either that or the roach coach must have pulled into the parking lot at Miramar.
May be 5-6 years ago I would have written an e-mail to the CP about the dirty cockpit, about the 30 min wait for an amendment, and about all the other things that I did not care to mention in my rant. But our CP does not return phone calls or e-mails. Some assistant CPs do, but it is not 5-6 years ago so I do not care to write anything except this rant on this forum.
So back to the topic... working here is fun for a while. The place is getting better. It is much better than 7-8 years ago. But it will never be a legacy. It has no culture and it will never have one except perhaps the culture of Walmart. I am too old and have too much seniority that I just can't throw away. I wish I would be 30-35. I would be gone so fast if AA or UAL would call. Not that I am their top candidate but assuming they would want me over there I would leave. Just before posting this I just looked at AA's job page... MIA is junior. But I just can't do it. Too expensive. I will not see the return.
Even two years ago I was arguing that Spirit will not have an exodus of pilots. But now that we are in the 1000 range, I think this will change. With the raises all the legacies are getting even a 3rd 4th year CA will make the switch as long he or she is relatively young. Yes we do have QOL and yes pay will get better but who knows what QOL and pay will be exactly in the next contract? I don't. It is one in the hand or two in the bush. If you get the call that is. The biggest draw back IMHO is that one who leaves now for a legacy will be sitting on the furlough range for some time. That would be my biggest fear.