Military Rotor Transition Program
 

Compass pilots,

I'm a Military Helicopter Pilot about to retire and I am really looking at coming to Compass using the RTP and VA funding. My questions are:

1. How do you like Compass vs. other airlines?

2. If you have been through the RTP, where did you do your time building? Recommendations?

I have not interviewed or anything yet because I am looking at my options. I heard that people on APC do not hold back and I want no **** upfront opinions.

Thank you for your input

I'll be at the CTP/ATP course in a month and almost finished with my FW stuff. Had an offer from Envoy and Compass (only two I applied to), chose Compass, would do it again.

Most RTP guys I know are going to Envoy, but you'll see tons of negativity about reserve rules, displacements, forced upgrades where you'll switch air frames and bases, flow for new hires is about nine years, and on and on. Then you have to go to Coast to do your ratings and time building which has a big backlog right now. I got the CJO back in May, couldn't get me to Coast until January. Don't know what it's looking like right now, but hear it's still a long wait. Then you'll have to go to Texas, live there college style with roommates, leave any family behind for that time, etc.

With Coast, you choose a 141 school near you or whatever is cheapest that you don't mind going to. They'll pay the school directly, you fly, that's it.

Is convenient for me since I'm at home in Colorado Springs, using an AF Aero Club that is only $93/hr for a T41C (210hp 172), $99 for a T41D (210hp, IFR, constant speed prop), $145 182RG, and $244 for a 600hp Baron.

I got in the club when the VA was still paying for the private add-on, but they stopped paying for that around May or so. Between the GI Bill and Compass I won't come out of pocket at all. Once you get your instrument, go IFR everywhere with a safety pilot so you can both log PIC time and split the cost.

I'm only slightly ahead of you in the process. I choose Compass because they're domiciled on the West Coast and they have an RTP. There has been an on-going rumor about Horizon starting an RTP, but it's just that...a rumor. Just like Taco280AI, I'm using my GI bill for most of my FW certs and then maybe a little from Compass for the last bit.

Keep in mind that any money that you use from the $17,500 that Compass is offering is coming out of your pocket as you'll get that amount less in your bonus.

I have three friends that are working for Envoy. One made it through before the training backlog and he loves it, but the other two hate it and one is actually thinking of quitting, paying the money back to Envoy and moving to PSA.

My advice based on my vast experience in the airline industry (not sure if the sarcasm made it through there...) is to find an airline that works for you and yours. Commuting works for some and not for others. Some can take a paycut from their current rotor jobs and some can't.

Whatever you decide, start your application now. It will take awhile to compile all the information.

Thanks for the gouge. Please keep us up to date on how the RTP goes. I have 2 years until I retire and would appreciate any additional info you would be willing to provide.

I saw that there is a bonus the first year and up to $73,000 a year.
One major question I have is what second year pay looks like? I also saw that FO pay goes up to $42 an hour in the second year. Have any bonuses been offered after the first year to keep people around? Did I read it correctly that RTP candidates don't require 25 multi hours?

Everyone is required to get at least 25 multi hours, FAA doesn't care if you do some RTP or not. The other 25 come in the sim

Pay attention to the details of those first year salary numbers. That "$73,000" includes hourly salary, bonus, health insurance, 401k match, per diem and hotel benefits. I'm not saying it isn't good money, but it's a little misleading.

I also had the same question about the second year salary and was told "the general rule of thumb is to multiply your hourly rate by 1000 to gauge your annual salary". My math makes the year two salary at $42,000 plus all the health insurance, 401k match, per diem and hotel benefits. One plus is that the bonus is paid out in three lump sums with the final $7,500 coming at your one year anniversary.

It also includes snacks from the snack basket and the 'complimentary' water from the crew room :)

A more accurate way to find out you yearly earnings is 75x hourly rate x 12. Most regionals have a min guarantee of 75 hours a month. That’s what you are guaranteed to make.

Good to know. Funny that's not how the recruiter explains it. It changes the math a bit...

The way the recruiter explained it is pretty much industry standard. Unless you get minimum guarantee for the entire year, wage x 1000 is a quick estimate. Most places you will make significantly more than that. In this case, the recruiter was not giving you a line of bs.