Virgin America Latest and Greatest
02-17-2013, 04:50 PM
#111
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,898
Originally Posted by alphonso1
First Of All...NOBODY is CURSING the system....So don't be accusatory....makes you seem like an ASS...
Second Of All...Chicken before the Egg, Cart before the Horse, call it whatever you want, the BOTTOM Line is that I found out from 2 people in my group from that day----2 people got the call---The rest of us got nothing....
I think it's pretty OBVIOUS what one can infer from that...
SOME COMMUNICATION on our outcome would have been nice....
It's called "Transparency"...But, Like I said, " That's Aviation ", I Hold NO Grudges....
Second Of All...Chicken before the Egg, Cart before the Horse, call it whatever you want, the BOTTOM Line is that I found out from 2 people in my group from that day----2 people got the call---The rest of us got nothing....
I think it's pretty OBVIOUS what one can infer from that...
SOME COMMUNICATION on our outcome would have been nice....
It's called "Transparency"...But, Like I said, " That's Aviation ", I Hold NO Grudges....
02-18-2013, 06:10 AM
#114
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2010
Posts: 107
Originally Posted by okbk
Why not ask this question to your close friends that work at VX?
I did, and they gave me a similar answer to what you stated below. They don't commute, both live in domicile and are happy with QOL but not the financial situation of the company or it's future.
anyway, just going to VX to get an A320 type doesn't make much sense, unless you stay and get time in type to qualify for an overseas job and then it would be only SIC time. Also, the minimums are 4000TT, so most everyone hired has a good amount of experience and at least a decade in this industry. It's not like they are hiring 500hr flight school wonder pilots. Up until the announcement of slowing the AC orders and overall growth, VX had one of the quickest upgrades in the industry, that of course will now be longer and guys on the bottom may be looking at other opinions that will increase their QOL.
Lots of Airbus aircraft here in the U.S. not just overseas, the point being, goto VX to get the experience in the Bus to set u up for a better paying flying job, at least that's how I understood it.
As far as the people that have left, they are UAL furloughs (which makes sense, I'd go back with that new contract and keeping my longevity), and the rest are FO's that have been hired mostly within the last year at VX. I know a couple that went to Spirit, Jetblue and USAir and for most the deciding factor was to no longer have the transcon commute and improve their QOL.
I did, and they gave me a similar answer to what you stated below. They don't commute, both live in domicile and are happy with QOL but not the financial situation of the company or it's future.
anyway, just going to VX to get an A320 type doesn't make much sense, unless you stay and get time in type to qualify for an overseas job and then it would be only SIC time. Also, the minimums are 4000TT, so most everyone hired has a good amount of experience and at least a decade in this industry. It's not like they are hiring 500hr flight school wonder pilots. Up until the announcement of slowing the AC orders and overall growth, VX had one of the quickest upgrades in the industry, that of course will now be longer and guys on the bottom may be looking at other opinions that will increase their QOL.
Lots of Airbus aircraft here in the U.S. not just overseas, the point being, goto VX to get the experience in the Bus to set u up for a better paying flying job, at least that's how I understood it.
As far as the people that have left, they are UAL furloughs (which makes sense, I'd go back with that new contract and keeping my longevity), and the rest are FO's that have been hired mostly within the last year at VX. I know a couple that went to Spirit, Jetblue and USAir and for most the deciding factor was to no longer have the transcon commute and improve their QOL.
02-18-2013, 08:48 AM
#115
escaped
Joined APC: Aug 2011
Posts: 227
A sophisticated hiring process by experienced personnel, can implement hiring practices to avoid the potential loss of pilots to other airlines.
When, and if, this becomes a priority, the hiring selection criteria will adjust accordingly.
Although, no expert could predict, with high accuracy, the probability of a new hire retiring with the airline, there are certainly parameters to separate the "higher risk" candidates.
Is this in your recent experience the case for VX?
Does it seem that the hiring selection is focusing more on retention, than in the past?
Thank you for your constructive input.
When, and if, this becomes a priority, the hiring selection criteria will adjust accordingly.
Although, no expert could predict, with high accuracy, the probability of a new hire retiring with the airline, there are certainly parameters to separate the "higher risk" candidates.
Is this in your recent experience the case for VX?
Does it seem that the hiring selection is focusing more on retention, than in the past?
Thank you for your constructive input.
02-18-2013, 09:41 AM
#116
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: md11
Posts: 87
Originally Posted by jc23
Lots of Airbus aircraft here in the U.S. not just overseas, the point being, goto VX to get the experience in the Bus to set u up for a better paying flying job, at least that's how I understood it.
The logic behind this would be for someone with low time and not lots of experience. By the time you meet the mins for VX you meet the mins for all the other majors hiring and are most likely a regional Captain, Furloughie from an ACMI (heavy intl. time), etc. At this point in the game it wouldn't make sense to go to VX to get some SIC in an A320 just to add to your resume, at least in my opinion. In fact, if you were anywhere but on furlough and your goal was to fly at one of the other majors I would stick with your current gig and patiently wait for the hiring to increase due to the upcoming retirements and market yourself as much as possible (job fairs,connections,etc).
I can understand leaving for UAL or USAir, but the other airlines you mentioned are lateral moves IMO. At any rate, just strange to hear flight school folks recommending this.
Why yes it is somewhat a lateral move to those specific other airlines, you have to understand that the guys that are going there are going because quality of life issues. Most of those guys live out on the East Coast where VX has no base (JFK too small/senior to be an option) and the weekly commute to the west coast is either too hard on themselves or their family. If they can get a job where they can have a base at least in the same time zone, and improve the QOL for their family, then it makes complete sense to make the move. Add the fact that they are on 1st year pay, the financial impact is minimal on this type of lateral move.
The logic behind this would be for someone with low time and not lots of experience. By the time you meet the mins for VX you meet the mins for all the other majors hiring and are most likely a regional Captain, Furloughie from an ACMI (heavy intl. time), etc. At this point in the game it wouldn't make sense to go to VX to get some SIC in an A320 just to add to your resume, at least in my opinion. In fact, if you were anywhere but on furlough and your goal was to fly at one of the other majors I would stick with your current gig and patiently wait for the hiring to increase due to the upcoming retirements and market yourself as much as possible (job fairs,connections,etc).
I can understand leaving for UAL or USAir, but the other airlines you mentioned are lateral moves IMO. At any rate, just strange to hear flight school folks recommending this.
Why yes it is somewhat a lateral move to those specific other airlines, you have to understand that the guys that are going there are going because quality of life issues. Most of those guys live out on the East Coast where VX has no base (JFK too small/senior to be an option) and the weekly commute to the west coast is either too hard on themselves or their family. If they can get a job where they can have a base at least in the same time zone, and improve the QOL for their family, then it makes complete sense to make the move. Add the fact that they are on 1st year pay, the financial impact is minimal on this type of lateral move.
02-18-2013, 09:51 AM
#117
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Posts: 492
Who, in their right mind, would leave a regional at most likely captain pay, to go back to $44/hr at a 60 hour guarantee during training, while paying to stay at a crashpad or a hotel. Then on top of that, sit reserve!
If you're going to Virgin/Spirit/JetBlue/Allegiant to go get a type rating to be more marketable to the majors, you've got some serious issues. Unless you maybe enjoy 121 training, along with the stress involved of type rides.
If you're going to Virgin/Spirit/JetBlue/Allegiant to go get a type rating to be more marketable to the majors, you've got some serious issues. Unless you maybe enjoy 121 training, along with the stress involved of type rides.
02-18-2013, 10:34 AM
#118
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Position: A320 eff oh
Posts: 277
Originally Posted by atooraya
Who, in their right mind, would leave a regional at most likely captain pay, to go back to $44/hr at a 60 hour guarantee during training, while paying to stay at a crashpad or a hotel. Then on top of that, sit reserve!
If you're going to Virgin/Spirit/JetBlue/Allegiant to go get a type rating to be more marketable to the majors, you've got some serious issues. Unless you maybe enjoy 121 training, along with the stress involved of type rides.
If you're going to Virgin/Spirit/JetBlue/Allegiant to go get a type rating to be more marketable to the majors, you've got some serious issues. Unless you maybe enjoy 121 training, along with the stress involved of type rides.
02-18-2013, 10:38 AM
#119
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Posts: 492
Originally Posted by ThrustMonkey
Because I live in San Francisco, currently commute to ORD for a not so great regional and my qol will improve tremendously, even if initially based in lax. I also believe in the product and like that everyone I've come in contact at VX seems happy, upbeat and encouraging.
For you, it would be good for you to join VX. However, for people saying to go to VX to get the type so they can leave, it's ludicrous, a waste of time for the people at the airlines, and unfair to the people who actually want the position.
02-19-2013, 01:40 PM
#120
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Posts: 216
Originally Posted by atooraya
Who, in their right mind, would leave a regional at most likely captain pay, to go back to $44/hr at a 60 hour guarantee during training, while paying to stay at a crashpad or a hotel. Then on top of that, sit reserve!
If you're going to Virgin/Spirit/JetBlue/Allegiant to go get a type rating to be more marketable to the majors, you've got some serious issues. Unless you maybe enjoy 121 training, along with the stress involved of type rides.
If you're going to Virgin/Spirit/JetBlue/Allegiant to go get a type rating to be more marketable to the majors, you've got some serious issues. Unless you maybe enjoy 121 training, along with the stress involved of type rides.
Flying for an airline to earn money is not my main purpose: my main job is something completely different and earns me more money [more money than any major airline would EVER be able to offer me in any position in any seniority] the moment I log on to a ‘certain’ server in my pajamas.
Fair number of companies I work for are located in SFO and SEA area!
Contrary to what many of you believe, there is a certain percentage of pilots for whom working for Legacy carriers is not a goal!
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