so?
 

the management pilots (CP, DO.....) can be the greatest or total douche bags. if there isn't enough pilots the place won't exist.

is Via Hiring or what? The positive aspects of the company are clear. seems if the applicant/pilots were happy with the pay, schedule, and treatment, maybe they could keep them around. Not everyone is looking to go to a major or the like. There are many diff kinds of pilots of all ages and aspirations. The new regional airline model is basically a pilot turnover machine. If Via doesn't do anything different (and it seems they are trying) its gonna be tough to get the sim time to keep people current

I don't have much info but there seems to be some other issues here. dunno

Staybridge Suites, Hampton Inn... that type of stuff.

Never had any problem getting the days off I needed so long as you told them well in advance

They seem to be making Orlando and Austin their focus cities.

The bad is the schedules. It can’t be understated enough that the schedules will come late (often on the last day of the month)... and the reassignments happen often. The plus side is the days on/off pretty much stay as scheduled... you just end up doing different flights or RAP at a hotel. Doesn’t matter much since it’s salary, so lost flying doesn’t cost you anything.

I liked it there. if You want to work, aspire to instruct ground or sim, or be a check airman the opportunities abound.

The guys that have been leaving were all going to significantly better jobs. 2 to Omni, 1 to Fedex, 1 to Western Global and 5 to a large 135 operator. That happened in March-July. It’s a small pilot group to begin with, so that many moving up all at once hurt. They aren’t rushing to leave to go to other regionals or even LCC’s, so that should say something at least. Most of their pilots came from other regionals and enjoy being treated as a valued member of the company. At least one guy is a retired BA heavy driver, and a few are mid life career changers that weren’t interested in commuting to crashpads, and like the business plan of larger planes as the company grows.

I also agree with WalkerAviator. The CP is a top notch guy. The ACP left long ago. This other guy sounds like somebody with a personal ax to grind.

OK I get it. Everything sounds good. But what is the deal with lack of pilots? All sounds good to me.?

Same deal every regional airline is having. Guys that want to move up are doing so fairly easily. Being such a small pilot group, when people leave it's noticed more. When those guys that leave are your sim instructors, ground instructors and line check airmen, it became a one man show (the Chief Pilot) to train all the new people.

Unlike other regionals, instructors still fly the line at Via. Very easy to get a schedule doing an 8 day block teaching in the sim, and later in the month and 8 day block flying the line. So, when those guys leave, you lose teacher and line pilot.

ok copy.....thanks for the insight. hope they get crews ramped up...for the sake of the instructors!

Mid life career changer here possibly looking into Via. Reading some good and positive things about how they treat pilots. And quite a few questions have been answered on this thread. Sounds like they will work with you on the schedule so you can get the days off you need. Trips appear to be out and back, so your home very night.( barring weather and maintenance ) Pay looks reasonable. CP is a hard worker doing the best he can. Planned expansion on routes and equipment.
Here are some questions I didn't see answered in the thread or I missed them.
How is the benefits like health and 401k?
Pay for working your days off?
Is there a training contract?
What is the likely hood of getting base in Orlando?
Where does training take place?
How does the company plan on resolving the bad press they have received with customer service?
It may be a waste of time asking all these because I'm not sure I would meet the qualifications Via is looking for, but it never hurts to ask and it might help someone else. ATP, CFI, CFII, MEI, 2900 hrs

Any of that 2900 turbine, or EFIS, or FMS?
They do have a 401k, I do not recall the match
They had a training contract, but have never actually enforced it
Training Orlando ground, Houston or STL for sim
The have replaced the DO, VP flight ops, and an HR manager
Health insurance is BCBS of FL and a family plan loaded up is about $800 when all is added up for all coverages.

Seriously, if you can deal with schedules being given to you very late. Schedules changing (not dates, but assignments on the dates changing) then you’ll like it there. Get your time off requests in and they make it work the vast majority of the time.
While there, you’ll either be short call in a hotel, or flying a max duty day load of flights.
If you live in Orlando or Austin you’ll really love the place as you’ll be home each night barring mechanicals and weather. If you live elsewhere you’ll love not having to commute, and never needing a crash pad. They will two leg you home from work to save $50 bucks though.

37 year old company, bought 3-4 years ago, taken 121 two years ago.
They’re still learning, and open to suggestions from experienced folks.

In your case, I’d apply anyway. You meet the mins for the FO side.

No turbine but over 1100 in TAA/EFIS.
If I’m scheduled to work a particular day, then my mind set should be to work whether they change the assignment or not. Guess I’m old school.
Don’t need a fully loaded health plan. Just me and the Misses, besides I try not to use conventional medicine anyways.
SFB would be perfect. Already there 5 days a week.
Never thought I would try to enter the 121 world, but this is worth a look. Might be time to dust off the resume’ to see what they say. Thanks for the info!!!