GAMA / WHEELS UP - Current Pilot Experiences
#321
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2018
Posts: 64
You upgrade after a year unless you get into trouble. We are losing a lot of pilots right now, so it could be sooner if you make a good impression on everyone. I’m not sure about how much IOE is backed up, but their are only so many instructor pilots. I would say QOL is about the same as it has been for a while.
#322
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2013
Posts: 459
A couple of questions.
So recently got a CJO from Gama, and I read through this thread, I'm wondering if there has been any significant changes at Gama that impact QOL.
All in all I've heard mostly good about Gama, but recently heard that hiring on as an FO you will wait a long time to upgrade to PIC even though you have the hours/quals (3500hrs?) to upgrade, 18 months was mentioned as fast to me, I just wanted to either verify this as maybe something that was happening, or even if it was still occurring?
To be fair, in the interview it was mentioned that at 1 year (3500hrs FW) I would do the upgrade and if the PIC check-ride/IOE was delayed I would still get paid as a PIC while waiting.
Also heard the IOE was backed up coming out of initial training, any insight to that?
Thanks in advance
So recently got a CJO from Gama, and I read through this thread, I'm wondering if there has been any significant changes at Gama that impact QOL.
All in all I've heard mostly good about Gama, but recently heard that hiring on as an FO you will wait a long time to upgrade to PIC even though you have the hours/quals (3500hrs?) to upgrade, 18 months was mentioned as fast to me, I just wanted to either verify this as maybe something that was happening, or even if it was still occurring?
To be fair, in the interview it was mentioned that at 1 year (3500hrs FW) I would do the upgrade and if the PIC check-ride/IOE was delayed I would still get paid as a PIC while waiting.
Also heard the IOE was backed up coming out of initial training, any insight to that?
Thanks in advance
If you study, work hard, and make the effort with learning the SOPs and the GAMA way, along with keeping your nose clean, you’ll be evaluated for upgrade by the end of the first year.
#323
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2018
Posts: 164
I'm wondering if there has been any significant changes at Gama that impact QOL.
All in all I've heard mostly good about Gama, but recently heard that hiring on as an FO you will wait a long time to upgrade to PIC even though you have the hours/quals (3500hrs?) to upgrade, 18 months was mentioned as fast to me, I just wanted to either verify this as maybe something that was happening, or even if it was still occurring?
Also heard the IOE was backed up coming out of initial training, any insight to that?
All in all I've heard mostly good about Gama, but recently heard that hiring on as an FO you will wait a long time to upgrade to PIC even though you have the hours/quals (3500hrs?) to upgrade, 18 months was mentioned as fast to me, I just wanted to either verify this as maybe something that was happening, or even if it was still occurring?
Also heard the IOE was backed up coming out of initial training, any insight to that?
There is a 1 year seat lock being enforced. They don't call it a seat lock because...well...I have no idea. But either way, coming in a FO comes with a year seat lock. It's only a company policy, so of course they could waive it, but I have not seen that happen recently. As another post said, stay off the bad list and, from what I've seen, you'll get the upgrade right around a year (maybe not exactly but likely within a couple months depending on availability of instructors/check airman).
How do you stay off the bad list? Well there is the obvious ways such as don't do anything major that draws attention to you. Unfortunately I have seen good people make it on the bad list for seemingly minor reasons. So come in, do your job, make sure nobody in management ever hears your name, follow SOP/policies, make sure the plane stays clean, don't have issues in training, and you should be just fine!
There does not appear to any backlog right now for IOE. If anything the opposite. My last several IOEs have been pilots that have very recently (within the last two weeks) finished their type.
#324
As an WU pilot when do you interact with company employees other than the person you’d be flying with for 8 days? Does it feel really autonomous when you get airlined to the aircraft and then right home after the duty is complete? The same question applies to all home basing companies but I’m more interest in WU and XO.
#325
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2013
Posts: 459
As an WU pilot when do you interact with company employees other than the person you’d be flying with for 8 days? Does it feel really autonomous when you get airlined to the aircraft and then right home after the duty is complete? The same question applies to all home basing companies but I’m more interest in WU and XO.
#326
Ok that’s what I was imagining, all through the phone. So besides CQ you would ever see a management type or rep from the company? I assume maintenance is contract other than when the aircraft is rotated to a preferred airport?
#327
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2013
Posts: 459
#329
On Reserve
Joined APC: Mar 2022
Posts: 10
So digging up an old thread from 3 years ago and asking about a part 91 gig in a fractional forum was the best idea you could think of? Are you unencumbered with the process of thought?
#330
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Standing in front of the tank with a shopping bag
Posts: 917
Go to the Part 135 WUP Thread..
I hope that helps,
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post