Does Southern Air Furlough often?
03-20-2008, 02:00 PM
#91
He who lies first, wins!
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: back in the saddle with sores!
Posts: 546
Originally Posted by Spongebob
I'm starting to have my doubts about that based on the recent emails coming from the home office....
Spongebob
Spongebob
04-08-2008, 03:22 PM
#93
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: holding pattern
Posts: 128
More Southern questions
Hello all. This has been quite an enlightening thread, and I thank you. I'm USAF retiring soon, and am strongly considering long-haul cargo type jobs. I see Southern airplanes routinely here at my deployed base; clearly they're doing some AMC movements.
I do have some simpler questions, more at the day-to-day level flying at Southern, vice the overall business level which I understand can be volatile (keep in mind that reading Airline Pilot Central is my sole contact with actual Southern crewmembers.)
So:
1. Are you home-based, like World Airways? i.e. does the company buy your airline ticket to where your trip starts?
--And if so, what's the call-out time? i.e. WHERE would you sit reserve?
2. The person who had trouble getting off IOE--How long did that last, and is that common?
3. Are we talking 20 days STRAIGHT for trips? Or just 20 days of work with some of it being reserve at home?
4. Are you unionized or not (conflicting reports)?
Thanks for any info.
Zach
I do have some simpler questions, more at the day-to-day level flying at Southern, vice the overall business level which I understand can be volatile (keep in mind that reading Airline Pilot Central is my sole contact with actual Southern crewmembers.)
So:
1. Are you home-based, like World Airways? i.e. does the company buy your airline ticket to where your trip starts?
--And if so, what's the call-out time? i.e. WHERE would you sit reserve?
2. The person who had trouble getting off IOE--How long did that last, and is that common?
3. Are we talking 20 days STRAIGHT for trips? Or just 20 days of work with some of it being reserve at home?
4. Are you unionized or not (conflicting reports)?
Thanks for any info.
Zach
04-09-2008, 06:05 AM
#95
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Posts: 42
Hello Zach, here's a few quick answers to your questions:
1. Are you home-based, like World Airways? i.e. does the company buy your airline ticket to where your trip starts?
Yes, it's one of the better things about Southern. You'll be riding coach until you gain elite status with a a few carriers, but you'll get your ticket bought, you don't pay tax on them, and you get to keep the miles.
--And if so, what's the call-out time? i.e. WHERE would you sit reserve?
R1 reserve is done at home, R2 is on the road. It used to be where all reserve was at home, then we started doing some R2 in MIA for the LAN contract (South America flying), and now they've added some R2 in ANC too. But usually you end up sitting at home on reserve because they would rather use someone that is already in Korea (for example) than to pay to fly you out there. A lot of it depends upon where you live too, if you live in ANC, you get called out a lot. Ditto with Miami. If you live somewhere that we do not normally operate into, then you usually only get called out to fly a whole trip (as opposed to one leg).
Callout is 4 Hours
2. The person who had trouble getting off IOE--How long did that last, and is that common?
We are soooo backed up right now, that the backlog on getting guys out and with a IOE Captain has left some guys sitting for sometime. It seems like they are starting to get a better grip on it, but then again they keep adding planes and running classes, so it might vary based upon how many people are in the system at once. Obviously, if you have not been in the sim for awhile, and are new to large aircraft, it can be a daunting challenge. Wish I could paint a prettier picture, but it is what it is.
3. Are we talking 20 days STRAIGHT for trips? Or just 20 days of work with some of it being reserve at home?
You are talking 20 days. Meaning this: plan to work 20 days, because like I pointed out, if you are out in Korea (for example), and they need someone to fly something, then you will. But then again, other months you fly a week, and spend the rest of the month completing your "honey-do list" at home. I wish I could give you a solid answer, but the thing about Southern is that it changes month to month. You just have to be ready for the worst, and that way you and your family will not freak out if you are gone for awhile.
Honestly, most of our crewmembers fall into two categories, the "like time off" guys, and the "like big paycheck" guys. The company kinda figures out which kind of pilot you are, and usually you can find yourself with a schedule that fits your style (especially after you gain some seniority)
4. Are you unionized or not (conflicting reports)? Yeah we are. No, it's not ALPA or Teamsters. It's an in house union, and it is pretty new, working from our first contract. Meaning there is still a learning curve for both the union and company. Sometimes they come through with great things like pay raises or bonuses for the pilots, but sometimes there are ongoing contractual "differences of opinion" that you can only hope get resolved.
Thanks for any info.
Zach
No Problem.
1. Are you home-based, like World Airways? i.e. does the company buy your airline ticket to where your trip starts?
Yes, it's one of the better things about Southern. You'll be riding coach until you gain elite status with a a few carriers, but you'll get your ticket bought, you don't pay tax on them, and you get to keep the miles.
--And if so, what's the call-out time? i.e. WHERE would you sit reserve?
R1 reserve is done at home, R2 is on the road. It used to be where all reserve was at home, then we started doing some R2 in MIA for the LAN contract (South America flying), and now they've added some R2 in ANC too. But usually you end up sitting at home on reserve because they would rather use someone that is already in Korea (for example) than to pay to fly you out there. A lot of it depends upon where you live too, if you live in ANC, you get called out a lot. Ditto with Miami. If you live somewhere that we do not normally operate into, then you usually only get called out to fly a whole trip (as opposed to one leg).
Callout is 4 Hours
2. The person who had trouble getting off IOE--How long did that last, and is that common?
We are soooo backed up right now, that the backlog on getting guys out and with a IOE Captain has left some guys sitting for sometime. It seems like they are starting to get a better grip on it, but then again they keep adding planes and running classes, so it might vary based upon how many people are in the system at once. Obviously, if you have not been in the sim for awhile, and are new to large aircraft, it can be a daunting challenge. Wish I could paint a prettier picture, but it is what it is.
3. Are we talking 20 days STRAIGHT for trips? Or just 20 days of work with some of it being reserve at home?
You are talking 20 days. Meaning this: plan to work 20 days, because like I pointed out, if you are out in Korea (for example), and they need someone to fly something, then you will. But then again, other months you fly a week, and spend the rest of the month completing your "honey-do list" at home. I wish I could give you a solid answer, but the thing about Southern is that it changes month to month. You just have to be ready for the worst, and that way you and your family will not freak out if you are gone for awhile.
Honestly, most of our crewmembers fall into two categories, the "like time off" guys, and the "like big paycheck" guys. The company kinda figures out which kind of pilot you are, and usually you can find yourself with a schedule that fits your style (especially after you gain some seniority)
4. Are you unionized or not (conflicting reports)? Yeah we are. No, it's not ALPA or Teamsters. It's an in house union, and it is pretty new, working from our first contract. Meaning there is still a learning curve for both the union and company. Sometimes they come through with great things like pay raises or bonuses for the pilots, but sometimes there are ongoing contractual "differences of opinion" that you can only hope get resolved.
Thanks for any info.
Zach
No Problem.
04-09-2008, 10:03 AM
#97
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: -400 F/O
Posts: 33
13 last I heard
I just left that place. Please listen to me closely, if you have ANY other choice, STAY AWAY FROM SOUTHERN AIR. It has turned into a deplorable operation. People are being fired left and right and they are not being given any reason for the firings. I know most of the guys fired and for the most part they are good people. Do some of them complain? Yes, but you are not the bad guy if what you are complaining about are issues of; legality, fatigue, quality of life etc. There isn't MUCH complaining about money, you are paid fairly there, what people are upset with are managers (Thiel Gillies and Cline) literally threatening you to fly beyond the limits of the FAR's, SACG argeement or a normal human beings ability (ie deadhead for 15 hours then operate for 9). Please, you have no reason to trust me, but please, stay away for your own good. This comes from 3 years of experience at Southern Air. It wasn't bad in the beginning, but it is now. Do NOT sign that training contract, and do NOT work for Southern Air.
04-09-2008, 11:53 AM
#99
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Posts: 42
Nope.
I'll offer what information I can to people interested in working for Southern (That's the purpose of this forum after all).
But stuff like you mentioned is between the Company, Union, and the people involved. (that's the purpose of a Union after all)...
I'll offer what information I can to people interested in working for Southern (That's the purpose of this forum after all).
But stuff like you mentioned is between the Company, Union, and the people involved. (that's the purpose of a Union after all)...
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