GAMA / WHEELS UP - Current Pilot Experiences
#291
New Hire
Joined APC: Dec 2010
Position: Captain
Posts: 1
What’s Missing
Gama is a great choice for a employer as they do a good job representing the best interests of their pilots when they can, but let’s be real about who is actually running the show and that’s Wheels Up. The Wheels Up has been in business for 6 years now and yes they are still a young company but we are at the point that significant issues need to be addressed. Currently we are losing almost as many pilots each month as we are hiring and that’s simply going to continue until Wheels Up finally decides that it’s going to make changes to better the quality of life for it’s pilots for the long run. It’s just too easy in this current environment where there is not enough available pilots for people to simply just make a change that will better their personal situation. This is the same reason that even trying to have a union may not work. So where’s Wheels Up falling short? The four main areas are schedule, vacation, retirement and post tour travel home policy. If 8 and 6 schedule sounds like a long time to be away from home it is. A 7 and 7 schedule would be preferable. As far as vacation, even the guys that have been here for the whole 6 years are only getting 1 week a year compared to the 2 or 3 offered by the competition. A better contribution to the 401k needs to be made. Currently it’s 50% of the first 6% that the pilot contributes. And lastly the day 8 travel home can exceed 18 hours depending on how much flying you end up doing and where you end up in relation to where you live. Yes it’s legal. Until these items change the revolving front door will continue to spin without an end insight.
#292
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2017
Posts: 59
FO’s already having an ATP also lessens the chance that a pilot will jump ship to a regional at 1500 hours. In other words, the answer to “why GAMA?” is less likely to be pure BS.
#293
VW Bus Driver
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: ERJ145XR
Posts: 140
Gama is a great choice for a employer as they do a good job representing the best interests of their pilots when they can, but let’s be real about who is actually running the show and that’s Wheels Up. The Wheels Up has been in business for 6 years now and yes they are still a young company but we are at the point that significant issues need to be addressed. Currently we are losing almost as many pilots each month as we are hiring and that’s simply going to continue until Wheels Up finally decides that it’s going to make changes to better the quality of life for it’s pilots for the long run. It’s just too easy in this current environment where there is not enough available pilots for people to simply just make a change that will better their personal situation. This is the same reason that even trying to have a union may not work. So where’s Wheels Up falling short? The four main areas are schedule, vacation, retirement and post tour travel home policy. If 8 and 6 schedule sounds like a long time to be away from home it is. A 7 and 7 schedule would be preferable. As far as vacation, even the guys that have been here for the whole 6 years are only getting 1 week a year compared to the 2 or 3 offered by the competition. A better contribution to the 401k needs to be made. Currently it’s 50% of the first 6% that the pilot contributes. And lastly the day 8 travel home can exceed 18 hours depending on how much flying you end up doing and where you end up in relation to where you live. Yes it’s legal. Until these items change the revolving front door will continue to spin without an end insight.
I left Gama and accepted a very large pay cut simply because working the 8/6 became such a drag. If Gama offered a flex schedule, I would still be there. The tours are long and you will work harder than most people are accustomed to working. My current job feels like a vacation in comparison to Gama. I do miss the variety of the flying and the health and hotel benefits were nice.
#294
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2019
Posts: 162
Gama is a great choice for a employer as they do a good job representing the best interests of their pilots when they can, but let’s be real about who is actually running the show and that’s Wheels Up. The Wheels Up has been in business for 6 years now and yes they are still a young company but we are at the point that significant issues need to be addressed. Currently we are losing almost as many pilots each month as we are hiring and that’s simply going to continue until Wheels Up finally decides that it’s going to make changes to better the quality of life for it’s pilots for the long run. It’s just too easy in this current environment where there is not enough available pilots for people to simply just make a change that will better their personal situation. This is the same reason that even trying to have a union may not work. So where’s Wheels Up falling short? The four main areas are schedule, vacation, retirement and post tour travel home policy. If 8 and 6 schedule sounds like a long time to be away from home it is. A 7 and 7 schedule would be preferable. As far as vacation, even the guys that have been here for the whole 6 years are only getting 1 week a year compared to the 2 or 3 offered by the competition. A better contribution to the 401k needs to be made. Currently it’s 50% of the first 6% that the pilot contributes. And lastly the day 8 travel home can exceed 18 hours depending on how much flying you end up doing and where you end up in relation to where you live. Yes it’s legal. Until these items change the revolving front door will continue to spin without an end insight.
#295
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2013
Posts: 460
Gama is a great choice for a employer as they do a good job representing the best interests of their pilots when they can, but let’s be real about who is actually running the show and that’s Wheels Up. The Wheels Up has been in business for 6 years now and yes they are still a young company but we are at the point that significant issues need to be addressed. Currently we are losing almost as many pilots each month as we are hiring and that’s simply going to continue until Wheels Up finally decides that it’s going to make changes to better the quality of life for it’s pilots for the long run. It’s just too easy in this current environment where there is not enough available pilots for people to simply just make a change that will better their personal situation. This is the same reason that even trying to have a union may not work. So where’s Wheels Up falling short? The four main areas are schedule, vacation, retirement and post tour travel home policy. If 8 and 6 schedule sounds like a long time to be away from home it is. A 7 and 7 schedule would be preferable. As far as vacation, even the guys that have been here for the whole 6 years are only getting 1 week a year compared to the 2 or 3 offered by the competition. A better contribution to the 401k needs to be made. Currently it’s 50% of the first 6% that the pilot contributes. And lastly the day 8 travel home can exceed 18 hours depending on how much flying you end up doing and where you end up in relation to where you live. Yes it’s legal. Until these items change the revolving front door will continue to spin without an end insight.
GAMA sets the schedule at 8-6 because it’s cheaper than 7-7. Simple as that. Same thing with everything else they do. Could it be better? Yes. Could it be worse? Absolutely.
#296
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2012
Posts: 230
Pilot domiciles
I ran into some guys I new from a past life that now flyfor Wheels Up. They told me the list of possible domiciles is a lot larger now than I remember it being. Can anyone tell me what the criteria might be in order for a domicile to be approved, or is it still just the major airports?
#297
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2013
Posts: 460
I ran into some guys I new from a past life that now flyfor Wheels Up. They told me the list of possible domiciles is a lot larger now than I remember it being. Can anyone tell me what the criteria might be in order for a domicile to be approved, or is it still just the major airports?
#298
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2018
Posts: 313
Gama is a great choice for a employer as they do a good job representing the best interests of their pilots when they can, but let’s be real about who is actually running the show and that’s Wheels Up. The Wheels Up has been in business for 6 years now and yes they are still a young company but we are at the point that significant issues need to be addressed. Currently we are losing almost as many pilots each month as we are hiring and that’s simply going to continue until Wheels Up finally decides that it’s going to make changes to better the quality of life for it’s pilots for the long run. It’s just too easy in this current environment where there is not enough available pilots for people to simply just make a change that will better their personal situation. This is the same reason that even trying to have a union may not work. So where’s Wheels Up falling short? The four main areas are schedule, vacation, retirement and post tour travel home policy. If 8 and 6 schedule sounds like a long time to be away from home it is. A 7 and 7 schedule would be preferable. As far as vacation, even the guys that have been here for the whole 6 years are only getting 1 week a year compared to the 2 or 3 offered by the competition. A better contribution to the 401k needs to be made. Currently it’s 50% of the first 6% that the pilot contributes. And lastly the day 8 travel home can exceed 18 hours depending on how much flying you end up doing and where you end up in relation to where you live. Yes it’s legal. Until these items change the revolving front door will continue to spin without an end insight.
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