Junkyard Dog

I am no longer at Air Wisconsin. A really good corporate job fell in my lap. I enjoyed my time there. Air Wisconsin is like all other regionals out there. It has its quirks. Every problem AWAC has, every other regional has as well. Training dept issues? I’ve heard it’s the same everywhere. The regionals are not exactly a utopia. They are designed to be stepping stones onto the majors. Management doesn’t want people staying there too long because then they have to pay them more. To them, it’s more cost effective to turn over and train new employees than to retain them. I’ve been friends with one or two instructors from the training dept and they all tell me the same thing. They’ve seen guys and gals show up unprepared and some show up prepared. They don’t want to work with those who are not prepared as it’s wasting their time. As for the staffing issues, extensions and junior mans? Happens everywhere else. Could be worse when some carriers make captains fly as FOs. AWAC doesn’t do that.
The regionals are what you make of it. If you decide to live in base, then life is great and you’ll enjoy a wonderful QOL. If you commute, it can be stressful and aggravating as flights are perpetually full, delayed and cancellations are abundant.
AWAC has a good health insurance program as I only paid $15 copay when each of my children were born.
If you want to work there, just be prepared when you go into training and lie low and stay under the radar.

IDriveJets

I appreciate the honest insight...so I have actually selected AWAC and start class soon. I feel I made a conscious decision (bearing in mind it is a stepping stone to the majors)...do I wish the hourly pay was higher? Yes but I’m sure extra work I pick up will help and balance out.

Another factor is that I live 15 minutes from IAD so if I got that as a base out of training it would be awesome so there’s no issue of commuting.

The health insurance was definitely one of the reasons for my decision and I really wish the school I instructed at didn’t have issues otherwise I’d have finished earlier and been able to take advantage of the $15 baby perk but everything happens for a reason.

Preparation - I’m pretty sure not many people go in prepared but get through and of course I don’t want to make my life hell during training so to speak...I’ve been working with my mentor on IAC notecards, trying to practice with the big cockpit posters, limitations notecards and Sheppard Air prep for the written. Given the time I have left at home (and the fact that I’m looking after the baby while the Mrs works), I hope this prep will help otherwise it’ll be a firehose like everyone.

My mentor did tell me the same as you...in his words - ”keep your mouth shut, listen, don’t ask questions and don’t ask dumb questions (and you’ll see others ask really dumb questions), keep a low profile, cooperate and graduate because they have what you need.”

IFLYACRJ

Welcome aboard. You can ask questions but don’t ask dumb questions or be confrontational. Show enthusiasm of wanting to learn and you’ll be fine. Before CPTs know your flows, memory items, callouts, profiles and limitations and you’ve conquered 90% of the battle. Fly the sims according to profile and you’ll be fine.


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nuball5

AWAC made their LCA’s fly as FO’s when staffing was bad a couple years ago...so they’re not immune to it either.

PassportPlump

Air Wisconsin was a great company. Management and labor relations are terrible and have been for the last decade+, there is not a certain future for their 50-seat regional jets nor is there a plan to refleet the airline.

Would I send someone there knowing what I know now? 100% no. In fact two people that I have sent to Piedmont and Endeavor both saw a quick upgrade, one went to Southwest and the other is waiting on a class date at United.

“Pick your poison” is not quite a fair statement anymore. 10 years ago you had many poisons to pick from. Some of those poisons aren’t even available to pick from anymore. Do your due diligence with regional airlines and make a choice with a carrier that best suits you, your family if you have one, and your quality of life. QOL exists, just not so much at Air Wisconsin.

My last week at Air Wisconsin I was rerouted and they attempted to junior man me on my last trip at the company. The airline had some great days and does offer excellent insurance, but beyond that there are many many many better choices out there.

pilotAE

I did CPT and failed the first time my instructor said you’re showing good progress go home and come back you’ll have no problem passing next time. Went back passed with no problems started sim and got sick in the middle of sim called the training department they got me a ticket back home called me after one week I told them I’m still sick. Got another call after another week I said I was feeling better they said are you ready to come back in two days I said yes. They asked me to email them doctors note. Went back into sim before my Check ride they said we don’t thing you’re ready yet (which I 100% agreed with) I did an evaluation with the examiner. Went back home for 5 days then back to training passed my check ride with no issues. And I am not the only person that failed CPT then did it agin and got extra sim sessions. It’s actually very common here.

Roverruckus

Iunno, it's what you make of it. I just recently hit my two years here with no previous 121 time. Was able to live in base. Hit my 1000 hours upgrade and gross 180k over that 2 year period. So if you want to work a lot and GTFO quick (hopefully), Wisconsin is not a bad choice.

Dr strangepork

I am well aware of the nuances of how they operate and yes, quite a few people don’t make it through CPT the first time. I WASN’T ONE OF THEM.

It is standard for them to allow a person to repeat CPT if it is unsatisfactory, but don’t count on that, because I’ve seen a person(s) bounced from CPT and a sims after being recommended to continue.

I know of at least 8 people in my position who that company felt they could violate the contract and federal wage guidelines on because they felt as the union told me directly that they are “Gods” and because they went to the union they retaliated on them.

But I want to thank you for posting this about how they paid you despite your being sick, etc. You have NO IDEA how much my lawyer and the others done wrong by that company appreciate it. You just gave us a lot of info. Please comment some more.

Turnamdburn200

I doubt a new hire will make anywhere near that right now, all fo lines seem to be built with 90+ hours of credit with a huge amount of people on reserve. Doing that has it set so there is almost no FO open time, let alone critical time. New contract needs to have something that requires extra pay for hours over 80.. or something like that. Hitting 1000 will be easy once you finish training... and get off reserve which could take 7-12months. There are December hires in the sims now. And the most junior lineholder at Columbia on the September award is a December hire.

nuball5

“180k over a 2 year period?” That sounds like a recruitment headline. No other profession would say it like that. I guess McDonalds is a million dollar career if you put in fifty years of service.