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Air Wisconsin QOL?

Old 10-04-2010, 11:38 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by VanDriver208
Would the commute from CMH be easier than from SEA?
Yes.

Or does it matter, commuting is commuting and it always sucks?
Yes.

When I commuted at AWAC, I had 9 direct flights on two airlines between my home and my domicile, making it "relatively easy"...and it still sucked.
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Old 10-04-2010, 05:14 PM
  #12  
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With all the doom and gloom about AWAC that has been posted, let me put it in perspective.

Reserve sucks...HOWEVER...reserve sucks equally as bad EVERYWHERE. Don't think that by going somewhere else that you will get away from reserve sucking. I was hired in '07 and I couldn't pay them to fly me. Now reserves fly everyday of a reserve sequence. My last reserve stint was in April of '09 and they were well into their abuse of the reserves, however I didn't have it THAT bad. I GENERALLY was able to commute home on the last day and it was 50/50 commutable on the first day. With that said, I have an easy commute of ATL from DCA and there are flights on the hour through 9pm at night.

Bases: LGA=SENIOR! It started very junior and now went senior since we rarely overnight airplanes there, so there were no late late finishes which meant commutable trips for people. Same on the front end.
RDU=I think fairly senior. Was an ok base for those who wanted to move there. Seems to have a lot of the "day trips" which is preference on whether you like them. People that live there LOVE them. People who don't hate them. Take your pick.
PHL=Fairly senior just because it is the biggest and generally the commuting options are better for the old "ex-united express" FO's and CA's who lived anywhere from ORD, MKE, ATW to DEN. Trips are ok. Don't know about the low end but I think you can get fairly commutable trips.
DCA=my base...fairly senior just because no one wants to leave. I have been in dca since '07 and I am about 10-15 from the bottom of the lineholders. I have not had an uncommutable schedule in over a year. In fact, we generally do either commutable on the front end or the back. There are a handful that are commutable both ends but obviously go senior. I generally finish between Noon and 3pm on most of my trips. NOT ALL but most.
ORF=The worst from what I hear and see. 90% of the lines are uncommutable both ends. Start before 6am and end after 9pm. I think the only reason people are still putting up with that foolishness is because they live there. Don't seem to be many commuters so I doubt they care.

Like was mentioned before...new hires are practically going to every base so anything is a possibility. AWAC is a great place to work. As much as we complain (me included), and as much doom and gloom you hear, it is still better than anywhere else I can think of. I make almost $4 more an hour on 4 year pay than the most senior Republic FO flying the 170/175/190 and have since 3yr pay so take it for what it's worth. It is a correct statement that our resever language is pretty weak but once you are on line, your life gets a lot better. AWAC defiantly needs to improve in A LOT of places, but from the people I talk to at other carriers, it is no better and usually A LOT worse so when you hear how bad AWAC is, please look at how much worse it could be. So regardless of where you go, until the new regs come out, here is what you can expect from a regional carrier with specifics to AWAC: 12-15 days off. 3 and 4 day trips with junior lines containing 1-3 day trips back to back. 10-12hr duty days blocking 5-8hrs containing 3-6 legs and a few 7 leggers. 9-12hr overnights with a few exceeding 12hrs. Decent pay that arrives on time or early. Never had it late. Good medical benefits. Slightly above average contract with work rules that are better in some areas, not as good in others.

With all that said, I vote for you to try and come here and I wouldn't turn ANYONE away from working here if you are looking for a regional.

CHEERS
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Old 10-05-2010, 03:42 PM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by Pilotdude3407 View Post
With all the doom and gloom about AWAC that has been posted, let me put it in perspective.

Reserve sucks...HOWEVER...reserve sucks equally as bad EVERYWHERE. Don't think that by going somewhere else that you will get away from reserve sucking. I was hired in '07 and I couldn't pay them to fly me. Now reserves fly everyday of a reserve sequence. My last reserve stint was in April of '09 and they were well into their abuse of the reserves, however I didn't have it THAT bad. I GENERALLY was able to commute home on the last day and it was 50/50 commutable on the first day. With that said, I have an easy commute of ATL from DCA and there are flights on the hour through 9pm at night.

Bases: LGA=SENIOR! It started very junior and now went senior since we rarely overnight airplanes there, so there were no late late finishes which meant commutable trips for people. Same on the front end.
RDU=I think fairly senior. Was an ok base for those who wanted to move there. Seems to have a lot of the "day trips" which is preference on whether you like them. People that live there LOVE them. People who don't hate them. Take your pick.
PHL=Fairly senior just because it is the biggest and generally the commuting options are better for the old "ex-united express" FO's and CA's who lived anywhere from ORD, MKE, ATW to DEN. Trips are ok. Don't know about the low end but I think you can get fairly commutable trips.
DCA=my base...fairly senior just because no one wants to leave. I have been in dca since '07 and I am about 10-15 from the bottom of the lineholders. I have not had an uncommutable schedule in over a year. In fact, we generally do either commutable on the front end or the back. There are a handful that are commutable both ends but obviously go senior. I generally finish between Noon and 3pm on most of my trips. NOT ALL but most.
ORF=The worst from what I hear and see. 90% of the lines are uncommutable both ends. Start before 6am and end after 9pm. I think the only reason people are still putting up with that foolishness is because they live there. Don't seem to be many commuters so I doubt they care.

Like was mentioned before...new hires are practically going to every base so anything is a possibility. AWAC is a great place to work. As much as we complain (me included), and as much doom and gloom you hear, it is still better than anywhere else I can think of. I make almost $4 more an hour on 4 year pay than the most senior Republic FO flying the 170/175/190 and have since 3yr pay so take it for what it's worth. It is a correct statement that our resever language is pretty weak but once you are on line, your life gets a lot better. AWAC defiantly needs to improve in A LOT of places, but from the people I talk to at other carriers, it is no better and usually A LOT worse so when you hear how bad AWAC is, please look at how much worse it could be. So regardless of where you go, until the new regs come out, here is what you can expect from a regional carrier with specifics to AWAC: 12-15 days off. 3 and 4 day trips with junior lines containing 1-3 day trips back to back. 10-12hr duty days blocking 5-8hrs containing 3-6 legs and a few 7 leggers. 9-12hr overnights with a few exceeding 12hrs. Decent pay that arrives on time or early. Never had it late. Good medical benefits. Slightly above average contract with work rules that are better in some areas, not as good in others.

With all that said, I vote for you to try and come here and I wouldn't turn ANYONE away from working here if you are looking for a regional.

CHEERS
Great post pilotdude! Thanks.
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Old 10-05-2010, 03:53 PM
  #14  
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Hey pilotdude,

Do you know if they are planning to do any hiring after the november class? Maybe after the new year?

I'm trying hard for a job over there!

Cheers,

CEFO
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Old 10-05-2010, 05:19 PM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by CEFO View Post
Hey pilotdude,

Do you know if they are planning to do any hiring after the november class? Maybe after the new year?

I'm trying hard for a job over there!

Cheers,

CEFO

To be honest, I am not sure. I flew with the PHL chief pilot last week and he is about as clueless as the rest of us. To be honest, no one knows what ATW is going to do until the day arrives. The was speculation on maybe through December but I am not sure. As far as next year, I would expect more hiring than this year but that is a GUESS based on how bad we got destroyed this year. Also, we lost 4 CA to DAL alone out of 150 they hired "off the street" so if they ramp it up to more than that next year, we will have a lot more leave. I would imagine most of the bigger companies will start hiring soon so I can't see us going stagnant much longer, so keep your eyes open. As I tell most people that are looking for jobs, you probably know more about what is going on than we do since we don't get any face time with anyone from ATW. Good Luck!
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Old 10-05-2010, 07:58 PM
  #16  
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I'll keep bugging HR for a job! Thanks again Pilotdude.
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Old 10-06-2010, 02:44 AM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by Pilotdude3407 View Post
With all the doom and gloom about AWAC that has been posted, let me put it in perspective.

AWAC is a great place to work. As much as we complain (me included), and as much doom and gloom you hear, it is still better than anywhere else I can think of. I make almost $4 more an hour on 4 year pay than the most senior Republic FO flying the 170/175/190 and have since 3yr pay so take it for what it's worth. It is a correct statement that our resever language is pretty weak but once you are on line, your life gets a lot better. AWAC defiantly needs to improve in A LOT of places, but from the people I talk to at other carriers, it is no better and usually A LOT worse so when you hear how bad AWAC is, please look at how much worse it could be. So regardless of where you go, until the new regs come out, here is what you can expect from a regional carrier with specifics to AWAC: 12-15 days off. 3 and 4 day trips with junior lines containing 1-3 day trips back to back. 10-12hr duty days blocking 5-8hrs containing 3-6 legs and a few 7 leggers. 9-12hr overnights with a few exceeding 12hrs. Decent pay that arrives on time or early. Never had it late. Good medical benefits. Slightly above average contract with work rules that are better in some areas, not as good in others.

With all that said, I vote for you to try and come here and I wouldn't turn ANYONE away from working here if you are looking for a regional.

CHEERS
It really sucks when what is considered a slightly above average contract is concessionary language and pay rates from somewhere around 2003.

Not much of a poiint to make, but it is amazing how the expectations of the career have been lowered over the past decade.
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Old 10-06-2010, 06:20 AM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by Pilotdude3407 View Post
With all that said, I vote for you to try and come here and I wouldn't turn ANYONE away from working here if you are looking for a regional.
Thats not what I understand based on some of the pilot pushing decisions I've heard management is making over there...
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Old 10-06-2010, 06:28 AM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by UpThere View Post
Thats not what I understand based on some of the pilot pushing decisions I've heard management is making over there...

Know what the scary thing is? It goes on at every single other airline in this country. AWAC is no different, they have lost their "mid-west family values" big time. Its too bad, really is.
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Old 10-06-2010, 07:40 AM
  #20  
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I heard through the grapevine of a possible Jan. class.....
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