As a Captain at GIA I would like to begin my input on this forum by saying:
None of you who have posted on this subject have given an effective or informative post or representation of my airline. Not one of you has any formal experience with Gulfstream. It is too bad that your ignorance towards GIA and GAA will lead you to hate other pilots who have done you no wrong. GAA pilots are not PFTers and should not be treated as such. There is a wide gap between the definition of PFT and what goes on at GIA/GAA. We are also IBT747 represented pilots who have one of the best contracts for QOL in the industry. After our new contract, we will be even better. As a Captain in the top third of the seniority list I see 15-18 days off a month. I can also pull in 60-70K this year if I wanted less time off (As a B1900 Captain!).
Originally Posted by loudgarretdriver
To all who are interested. I personally know people who went there. You are paying for 250 hours of SIC 1900 time. Once your time is up. You are on your own. The reason this business is so bad now is because these desperate pilots will do anything to advance their career. Nobody wants to put the time in anymore. Everyone wants to have money hungry flight schools shoot them out of a cannon into the right seat of some airliner
No, you are not on your own after GAA. GAA employees will assist you in placement at a regional. You will get hired if you get off your rear and do something about it. Your friend was most likely one of the students who comes through thinking everything should be given to him/her. Those who are like that, or have bad attitudes or are bad sticks do not get hired by GIA or other regionals. Students are monitored by all levels of management, Captains, instructors, and the FAA.
What ever happen to the old CFI route- Where you earned your wings the right way. All who are thinking of pay for training. Stop!! You will be a much more compitent pilot and earn the respect of your peers if you teach a year or two.
The CFI route was not the "old route". In the past, the legacy carriers hired civilian pilots with as low as 250 hours of aircraft experience. These pilots were generally not instructors or did not have ANY commercial experience. Also, some people should not be teaching. Most pilots do not have a good aptitude to convey aeronautical experience to the fresh meat.
I would rather have a past-GIA pilot next to me in the cockpit than a 600 hour cessna driver new-hire at ASA. At least the GAA pilot has real life experience and excellent training.
Could you imagine any other industry where you would pay a company to work there?? You know, walkin into blockbuster video and paying to work there. If this trend continues will are going to looking up to people who flip burgers at fast food places because they make more then us.
As long as unions allow airlines to call 50 seat or larger transport category jets to be called "regional", then we will make nothing.
Thats all I have time for now. If you need real information instead of hearsay, please pm me.