MSP FOs break guarantee sometimes, the DTW FOs almost never do. They are super fat on FOs right now so reserves are not flying much. I have no idea how the flows and attrition will effect the reserve usage and overall staffing levels. My guess is they will become super fat for the first few months since the training plan has about 20 FOs hitting the line before upgrades even start. Then things will take off when the flow and upgrades kick in.

If the big thing is pay then maybe you shouldn't consider going on 1st year pay at regional... expect to take home less than $1500 a month. Then you take a pay cut for 3 months when ALPA dues kick in after a year (you dont hit 2nd year pay until a year after you finish IOE which is BS).

Oh and keep in mind you make only 18 hrs pay your first month during the home study course, and you are not provided a hotel during training so you are on your own for that.

All great info and insight for Compass. Thanks !

Why so many hires?
 

The page on APC says 140-180 hires in the next 6-8 months.
I was under the impression that over the first 12 month period, only about 115 could flow. Why hire 25-65 more than you need?
Thanks!

Flight time/Duty time regs and additional upgrades from other attrition.

Anybody know a timeframe for the internal CP forum to be back up and running?

It's back up.

Here's a solid question!

I've got a class coming up --- how are the new-hire guys/gals staying in MSP with transport to training? Is there a common crashpad, hotel deal or other that I should know about?


Thanks!

Anyone interview in Miami?

The crew hotel is just down the road, Holiday Inn Eagan... crew rate is like 54 a night out the door, so if you could find someone to share it with I guess that's an option.

I had a crashpad and my roommate, who was also my sim partner, brought his car from out of state.

Sharing a hotel room with your sim partner seems like a good idea too.

Couple questions for the Compass folks,

A lot of gouge suggest that the Delta Knowledge test is a bit of a pain. Anyone have any good tips or advice to study for this test? How do most people feel about it once their done? And what is Compass's general pass rate once someone gets into the interview? 50%, 15%, etc.

Do most people stick around MSP during the home study, or do they go home?

Are the CBT's pretty good in terms of keeping the person in tune or are they like a lot of CBTs that have you wanting to rip your hair out after 5 minutes, haha.

Thanks!

Out of curiosity, did you get an interview?

Not interviewing, just asking.

The DAL knowledge test is difficult. I studied aerodynamics for naval aviators mostly and I passed. I've heard other people had luck with "everything explained for the professional aviator". There are some really in depth questions about wing design and aerodynamics. I dont know the pass/fail rate. There is also a cognitive test where your memory and reaction speed are tested. Also a personality test - "do you enjoy hurting animals?" Etc..

I think the majority of people return home during the 30 day period between indoc day 1 and ground school. Some people keep their previous jobs during that time as well. The cbt modules have good information, but once you've learned it a dozen times it might make you want to rip your hair out. Once you are in training I remember the country inn & suites had a $45 rate a few years ago - included hot bkfst and transport. May be higher now. But you can find other guys to split the room with.

Good luck!

Test sucks but at the same time it wasn't bad. Lots of mental math. They send a study guide. I've heard they do expect about 50% not to pass it.
The people I know went home during CBT.

O and keeping the old flying job is not allowed anymore, atleast another 121 job.

Cool, thanks guys! As far as the Delta test, is it actually a pass/fail test where they'll boot you if you fail or is it a combination of all tests?

The delta test is all 3 tests. So yes you have to pass them all.

Not to be dramatic but they do send home 50% of those that come in for the interview. I'm assuming they don't come prepared... for the majority, if you don't honestly study a good amount, you will not pass. It's more than common aviation knowledge, it's a lot of definition based and formula based stuff that you need to be pretty brushed up on prior.

Edited:

I'm not actually sure how it is scored. I don't know that each test is scored individually... I have heard many times and perhaps even in the interview it was relayed to me that there is some cumulative score. A computer prints out a piece of paper when you hit submit at the end, and it says right then and there whether you P/F. No good answer there.

I am by no means a super book sharp pilot and I studied a couple hrs a day for about a week right before the interview. The gouges online help a ton. The test is passable to anyone willing to put it modest effort in studying. I have no idea what my results were since they don't tell you. I'm guessing they look for 80% or higher to pass. All 4 in my interview group passed. Once you get through the tests the actual interview is very low stress and laid back.

BTW- if anybody has an August class date, shoot me a private message. Would be nice to get in touch and discuss crashpad, hotel options.

These tests were put in place because of the Delta flow right? I wonder if they will change the interview process seeing as the flow is gone?

Doubt it. Expressjet uses them too and they've never had a flow.

Ya it seems like from reading the gouge that the ExpressJet test and Compass test are the same.

Does Compass usually take a break during the holidays as far as classes go? Maybe 3 instead of 4 in November and 2 in December? And fire everything back up after the new year?

In the past, yes, but this time could be different

The training plan I saw showed a break for thanksgiving. As far as start dates...

had a good discussion with one Compass new-hire so far, so figured I would repost: I have an August class date fast approaching... if anyone else is in the same boat shoot me a private message. thnx

Anyone who has an August 22nd class PM me if you need a crash pad.

Class Date
 

I have a start date of August 15th... Let me know when yours is... after the 30 day home study when we come in for the week long course I may be able to work something out for a person(s) to stay cheaply but I'm about 45 minutes from the training center...

anyone know of where a current gouge is? Have an interview coming up soon.. thanks

How soon? I am sure gouges from lat year will work.

The tests were actually implemented because the old interview system wasn't working and was outdated. Compass invested tons into getting these tests up and running. Plus, they're also part of the "Delta Guaranteed Interview Program". So, I think they're here to stay quite a while.

Just to add to this:

About half get sent home, and about 2/3 of that 50% get knocked out by the test. The other 1/3 fail the interview.

I think some people make the mistake of only preparing for the test and not the interview portion.

Are these the same battery of tests the ExpressJet is using now? I just had a buddy go through that interview and his take on it sounded as if they were almost identical. However, I don't think there's a pass/fail at ExpressJet. Could be way off though.

Same tests. One of the XJT interviewers told me there is a minimum percentage they are looking for. Sorry I won't say what it is though. Don't know about CP

Gotcha. Yea, he said and the others all felt like they flat out bombed them. I'm sure they did better than they thought though. Got to love aerodynamics. :p

Told an additional 20 pilots will be hired just due to duty times alone...that was included in the current staffing model of 140-160 new hires. I'm guessing they want to be fat because there may be some attrition outside the flow...

Also, the training footprint is 28 days after your 30 days to do your CBT. CBT is roughly 30 hours, and is very detailed. Contract states you must have 2 days off in 7 while conducting ground school after CBT which puts the training cycle just around 9.5 weeks, with no hiccups. OE is 25 hours, if you don't have any issues. I'm planning on 3 months before I will be able to bid for any kind of schedule.

You should get your badge the first day of training but in our case, a lot of people didn't get them because our previous employer had failed to take us out of CASS, I would make sure, before you show up to training that you confirm with your previous employer, especially one that just underwent a name change ;), that you have been taken out of CASS. That way if you decide to go home and you need the Jumpseat, you can actually occupy it. Otherwise if you have turned in your badge at your previous employer and have not been taken out of CASS, and don't receive a new one from CPZ on day 1, you are SOL.

You are still put into the Deltanet system on day 1 so you will have travel bennies from the start. Just may not be able to jumpseat if you are not in CASS. Otherwise I don't see why you wouldnt be able to non rev

there were a couple guys in our class that wanted to commute and both places they were commuting to were full loads...just a nice option to have

helpful information, dj. seeya on the line in a couple months.