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PSA or Air Wisconsin

Old 06-07-2019, 04:07 AM
  #1  
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Default PSA or Air Wisconsin

Hello,
I just recently got an offer with both airlines, living close to DC both would have a base that i can drive to easily.
Wanted to see what people's opinion would be in this case.
Psa does pay more and mainly has a guaranteed flow to AA, since i don't have a Bachelor's this is very interesting.
Air Wisconsin does have opportunities to credit more hours at quite lower rate and better Healthcare, but Career Path i only after i get a Bachelor's and guarantees only an interview with United, which honestly i can do at PSA since the Bachelor degree can be done thru ALPA.
I have flown in the Airline industry for 11 in Europe so hour wise i am good.

Wonder if people have insight or come up with things that i haven't thought about yet.
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Old 06-07-2019, 04:37 AM
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Air Willy does have some awesome health care. That said, I would lean PSA. Over the long haul, you'll make more money, not work for a company that is slowly shrinking with zero investment (how many planes have been beer canned since the delivery of El Guapo?), and have a solid path to a major airline. The CPP time is in the 7-8 year range and the success rate is somewhere between 1/4 and 1/3. If you wanted to go to UAL via a CPP, Commute Air's time is 2-3 years. And as always, there is the 11th (I think that's right) year of never ending contract negotiations.
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Old 06-07-2019, 04:59 AM
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Here is my take. I have been at AWAC 13 1/2 years. At my age, I doubt I’ll be able to go anywhere. I do get 4 weeks vacation, make good money, have excellent health insurance and a good 401K.

We have had nine new hires in the past two months get awarded Captain RSV right out of new hire ground school. They will end up in CAE and MKE for a while and will be on RSV for quite a while. IAD seems quite senior for Line holders. As for being RSV in IAD? It’s hit or miss as it depends on vacancies. I’ve seen new hire go directly to IAD and ORD in the past as FO RSV. We have two statuses per seat, line holder and RSV. As a line holder you’ll only get a RSV line if you deliberately bid it. You’re guaranteed a line each month.
If you want to fly and make money, you will at AWAC. All the RSV FOs I’ve flown with are flying their butts off.
As for the CPP, I have my personal opinions of it. Upgrade is very quick now if you want it. You can chose to bypass if you so desire. As for flying older CRJ 200’s? So does Skywest and ExpressJet. As for operational snafus and staffing? It’s all the same anywhere you go.
I love flying for AWAC. It’s a great fit for me. If you decide to come on board, then welcome aboard.


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Old 06-07-2019, 08:10 AM
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Originally Posted by AZwiz View Post
Air Willy does have some awesome health care. That said, I would lean PSA. Over the long haul, you'll make more money, not work for a company that is slowly shrinking with zero investment (how many planes have been beer canned since the delivery of El Guapo?), and have a solid path to a major airline. The CPP time is in the 7-8 year range and the success rate is somewhere between 1/4 and 1/3. If you wanted to go to UAL via a CPP, Commute Air's time is 2-3 years. And as always, there is the 11th (I think that's right) year of never ending contract negotiations.
Not accurate as far as time and there’s more to the story on some of the interview failures.
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Old 06-07-2019, 08:26 AM
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Originally Posted by DarkSideMoon View Post
Not accurate as far as time and there’s more to the story on some of the interview failures.
I know guys in the June class. They've been here just over 8 years.
And I agree, there is more to the story on the interview failures. There are now folks getting 'washed out' after the review board. There is no transparency to the back of house on the CPP.
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Old 06-07-2019, 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by AZwiz View Post
Air Willy does have some awesome health care. That said, I would lean PSA. Over the long haul, you'll make more money, not work for a company that is slowly shrinking with zero investment (how many planes have been beer canned since the delivery of El Guapo?), and have a solid path to a major airline. The CPP time is in the 7-8 year range and the success rate is somewhere between 1/4 and 1/3. If you wanted to go to UAL via a CPP, Commute Air's time is 2-3 years. And as always, there is the 11th (I think that's right) year of never ending contract negotiations.
I agree, PSA has a defined path, while Air Wisconsin not so much. No growth, no investment and a new guy that just got hired who’s a specialist at shutting down airlines. Plus training pay at slick Willy is LOW, no 24hr per diem like at PSA, any way Air Willy can save a dime they will, like send you to PHX or CVG with no per diem even though your away from your base ATW no food allowance, nothing. So if you like that, go for it. And the clapped out CL 65’s from Mexico and here. Hope you like that’s deffered, time to do a manual w/b on every leg.
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Old 06-07-2019, 09:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Bullfrog82 View Post
Hello,
I just recently got an offer with both airlines, living close to DC both would have a base that i can drive to easily.
Wanted to see what people's opinion would be in this case.
Psa does pay more and mainly has a guaranteed flow to AA, since i don't have a Bachelor's this is very interesting.
Air Wisconsin does have opportunities to credit more hours at quite lower rate and better Healthcare, but Career Path i only after i get a Bachelor's and guarantees only an interview with United, which honestly i can do at PSA since the Bachelor degree can be done thru ALPA.
I have flown in the Airline industry for 11 in Europe so hour wise i am good.

Wonder if people have insight or come up with things that i haven't thought about yet.


You ask a very complex question here. I have been at AWAC 18 mo. Im a CA. I used to work at an AA wholly owned. You will not make more money at PSA You will make less. Pay rate is not the end-all. Segment is what we are paid on. I never fly more than 70hrs a month and I never credit less than 100. The flow is not guaranteed. The flow is NOT guaranteed. I know plenty of guys that can’t flow for various reasons. You can prob get IAD reserve FO within 12 mos. at AWAC. CA prob a decade. Go where you can drive to work. Living in base makes your life waaaaaaaaay better.
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Old 06-07-2019, 09:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Bullfrog82 View Post
Hello,
I just recently got an offer with both airlines, living close to DC both would have a base that i can drive to easily.
Wanted to see what people's opinion would be in this case.
Psa does pay more and mainly has a guaranteed flow to AA, since i don't have a Bachelor's this is very interesting.
Air Wisconsin does have opportunities to credit more hours at quite lower rate and better Healthcare, but Career Path i only after i get a Bachelor's and guarantees only an interview with United, which honestly i can do at PSA since the Bachelor degree can be done thru ALPA.
I have flown in the Airline industry for 11 in Europe so hour wise i am good.

Wonder if people have insight or come up with things that i haven't thought about yet.



P.S. If it matters, travel benefits better at AAWO.
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Old 06-08-2019, 01:22 PM
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Originally Posted by injun21 View Post
The flow is NOT guaranteed. I know plenty of guys that can’t flow for various reasons.
You do? Please tell us the reasons.
I don't believe there's anything that will prevent you from flowing indefinitely.
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Old 06-09-2019, 07:18 AM
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Originally Posted by injun21 View Post
The flow is not guaranteed. The flow is NOT guaranteed. I know plenty of guys that can’t flow for various reasons.
You have to do a lot in order to not be able to flow. To be honest, otherwise it is a guaranteed backup card. Treat it as such while trying to get hired off the street to the majors.

Otherwise, if DC is what you want, I would go PSA over AWAC. You’ll hold it a few months after training as an FO and and by the time you upgrade at PSA, you’ll hold it sooner as a CA then you will hold it at AWAC..... but yes driving to work makes qol much much better..
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