None of the ZW instructors gave good orals from what I can remember...

 

Phrasing

 

I second the other comment on phrasing.

With that being said, I have been through about 10 or 11 checkrides at ZW and while some were certainly more chill than others, I have never been treated unfairly. Some still get a stiff in their pants to be able to ask you silly questions but I have never seen anyone failing an oral for not knowing a silly question. If you show up and stumble through the IAC and limitations and then bomb any sort of systems question, you probably won't pass. Other than that, you will be fine.

From everything I have heard, a lot of the senior instructors wish this stuff would be more streamlined like mainline in that you didn't need to do all the IBT quiz, SV test, plus oral silliness but our POI still wants to see it done. He's a nice guy but he is old school and doesn't believe you should show up to a training event and not get an actual oral. That is the word I have been told by several of the senior instructors over the years. Take it for what it's worth. I show up every year prepared for a type ride oral and I never feel like I narrowly escaped failure.

 

Those of you noting that our flights are down...you are right.

Prelim June 2016 Departures: 12,689. This is very low compared to June 2015 departures of 14,292. Matter of fact, summer months are supposed to be our busiest, yet this number is LOWER than our September 2015 scheduled departures of 13,672 which is historically one of our slowest months (this is when time off without pay has been offered in the past). I guess between this and parking the few airplanes is one way of assuring proper staffing.

You know, I can't say anything bad about Air Wisconsin. Have I been screwed by scheduling a few times? Yes, but that comes with the territory. But all in all, my QOL has been good even though I commute, the paycheck has been on time (and correct), and pay has been much better than guys and gals flying newer and bigger equipment (shiny jetzzzzz).

However, even if I am thankful for all the opportunities that AWAC has provided me, which I am, I can not blame anyone one for not wanting to come here. The company has done absolutely NOTHING to attract new hires. The status quo has changed; with companies offering flows, preferential interviews, hiring bonuses, retention bonuses, commuter hotels, and growth there has to be an incentive for people to come here. For a long time our industry leading contract was that key, but even our contract is not enough nowadays because the advances made by other regionals have gotten them close to ours if not better in some areas.

It is a shame because I really do feel we are a great group of pilots and if I had the opportunity to travel back in time, I would choose AWAC again. We get our job done and stay out the CNN headlines.

But in the least give us some hope even if false, because the silence is deafening!



</rant>end.

 

Post of the year.

Without question that is an extremely low number. Good lord we did more this month (March) than we are planned in June. The summer has always been the bread and butter. That is amazing to see.

The fact that they don't have any real incentive to attract people, in my eyes, speaks absolute volumes.

I'm with you, I can't complain (much) about my time here, but there is ZERO reason for anyone to come here. Until mngmt seems to care about that little fact, this place is going to continue to lose pilots and even more every month/year nothing is said.

 

The suits are unwilling to make less money and the pilots are unwilling to make less money. The result will be the work going to those willing to do it for less. Why would anyone pay AWAC to do it when they have people willing to fly for food and a promise of a bright future? It's a game of wait and see. Waiting and seeing if they still need us in 2018 or if they can beef up Brown streak and Peidmonster enough to handle the lift.

 

Since it's a fee-for-departure, they are making less money.

 

That photo of the C-series QRH with AW typeface was pretty convincing when looked at quickly.

The drop in departures can be attributed to stopping the PHL-LGA and PHL-DCA flights. Maybe they don't count our forthcoming double deadheads around the system as departures?

 

I'm talking about the fee for the departure. They will certainly make less when all they have left is ground handling. We the pilots will also make less when we have no choice but to start again somewhere else, retire, change careers or whatever each of us decide to do.

 

Yes but AWAC keeps their own profits. WO's profits go straight to mainline. AND they fly for cheaper. No-brainer for management, business-wise. Terrible for pilots (and passengers). It's a glorified B scale (maybe C scale at this point ). It's one thing to contract an outside company, and another to own a "separate" company, pay below industry average wages, AND have all the profits go directly to the mainline management etc. Promise of flow (that can easily be taken away) is no excuse, imho. I'm not sure how so many pilots can go along with it..

I'm also not sure how getting rid of these terrible scope clauses isn't top on the list for all these unions. But I guess since it doesn't hurt current mainline pilots, they don't care. This industry is cutthroat but the only one's that seem to be selling each other out is the pilots.

Everybody gets one rant. Mine's over.