Is there alot of open time at Air Wisconsin these days? And if so what do guys usually credit per month? Thanks.

 

Tons of open time... couple that with the 200% critical time pick-ups and you can make decent money (relative to the norm).

 

I'm thinking about submitting my application today. I see that they recently raised the pay and the minimum days off are around 11-12. Will they give me difference training as well on the 700-900 or is it just the 200?

 

We only fly the 200, so no difference training. And just keep in mind that we still have no flying beyond a year from now. Min days off are 12, but they've been crushing FOs both on and off of reserve. If something is announced all of this might change, but that's the state of things for now.

 

If you haven't yet, I would suggest going back in this thread about 6 months and reading it all forward. Caveat Emptor.

 

Everything could change for the better with some new flying announced. Until then, expect to be on reserve for a very long time. And expect trips that last up to 6 days due to junior manning, and lost days off. As a line holder, the lowest I've had in one month was 9 days off when things got really rough. But again, with an announcement and some better recruiting, everything could get better.

 

Twelve is the minimum. If you ended up with 9 that's your own fault for not putting in for 3.

 

AirWis might be a good place to go if they land a new contract and where that new contract takes them. Things to keep in mind before I would commit to AirWis
-They have not announced any flying after January of next year. Rumors are flying, but there is nothing formal. They could go belly up or they could get a great contract. Everyone is hoping for the sake of the employees there now that they land something.
-If they do land something, there is no guarantee that the bases will stay at their current locations. If base location was important to you and you were counting on PHL or DCA then I wouldn't hold my breath. Norfolk might still be there as a maintenance base, but nothing is certain.
-The $33k in new hire bonuses doesn't provide any breakdown. I don't think I would count on all of it in your 1st year. My guess is about half might be 1st year with the rest spread out over the next two years.
-AirWis still has a very senior CA list with upgrades right now sitting at around 5+ years. If they land a contract, odds are it will not fix the upgrade problem unless there is some huge growth associated with it. Even if they cut the upgrade time in half, if you need PIC time, there are other options that will get that for you much faster.

Take a hard look at AirWis before heading to them. I could see some Navy pointy nose folks out of Norfolk going to them because they have the Norfolk base and they feel they just need to get some 121 time or currency before being competitive for a call from a major. If not, then hopefully you have some time before you need to commit to an airline and AW comes out with what their future holds.

 

They will just end up making you work on your awarded day off in lieu anyways.

 

As far as the bonus goes, I can't get an answer (even a lie) out of their recruiters as they don't answer emails or return phone calls. However, here is what got appended to their profile this Friday on APC:
15,000 at completion of IOE
10,000 at 1 year anniversary of IOE
2,000 each quarter throughout 2nd year

So, it adds up to 33k but hardly a "signing bonus". Tester 130's assessment is correct, pretty attractive for a non-current guy with plenty of PIC time and can drive easily to PHL, ORF, or DC rather than commute and doesn't intend to spend a career in the regionals.