yes one just started early november from what i hear.

Where did you guys stay during training?

There are quite a few crashpads within a mile or so of the Mall of America. After your one day in MSP for orientation, you can join the compass pilot web boards and there are plenty of people on there with listings or knowledge of MSP crashpads.

I was up there in summer 2010 and found a training crashpad for $150 for the month. I needed my car up there but still, not all that bad of a deal.

How have you guys been getting to MSP for the medical and orientation? JD was adamant
about quitting your current job, and there goes CASS. Perhaps if I asked my current employer to leave me in CASS until the last possible moment? Additionally, what is the cheapest hotel with a courtesy shuttle to PanAm? Thanks!

They want you to quit your current job for the month long study at home? They didn't care before. I would keep my job, it would help me get to orientation, and it would give me some sort of real income for that month.

Perhaps there has been a revision to the Compass FOM as an email from JK reads "Based on Compass FOM, if you are currently flying for another carrier you are required to cease flying prior to starting with Compass Airlines". I guess we could split hairs and stop flying, however still be employed.
The problem arires when Compass goes to place you in CASS on your first day, and there you are. It's illegal to be in CASS twice.
Back to my original question please...

Depends on where you live... Maybe drive? Some of the guys in my class drove and others bought a flight. It is really the only options.

I stayed at the homestead studio. They picked you up from the airport and took ou to the training center.

Sounds like you answered your original question. May I suggest a plane, a train, or an automobile?

The FOM states you must get written approval for "other commercial flying" from the Chief Pilot or DO. They didn't seem to have a problem with our class working during our 30 days. I even asked the HR folks at the interview and it was talked about again on our orientation day. Heck, two folks in our class stayed employed for a couple months after that and just dropped all their trips at our previous employer till they could take a buyout.

I had heard a few people didn't show up to class after the 30 day home study and didn't call the company to formally withdraw. Which to me isn't real professional and just ruins it for everyone else.

Oh and there was no problem with CASS either. It is not "illegal". To my knowledge, each company maintains their own database (physically on company property, hence how they can see if you got cass cleared on a sick day). There is not a centralized database where your company goes to see if you are already in it.

If you don't stay employed during your 30 days at home you are only screwing yourself out of a paycheck. The company does not care that you are working during that time. Probably 75% of the pilots were working during that time and the others had already been laid off from their job. There is no problem with CASS either.