I've been lurking, and reading the complaints about compensation etc.

There are valid points being made but there is a LOT of history behind the rates. F9 employees have sacrificed to keep the doors open - waiting for the economy / oil prices / ownership / union representation to get "right". Timing (and luck) is EVERYTHING!

If you are judging your choice to leave or stay at F9 purely on hourly wage - don't waste your (and our) time interviewing. Nobody knows what our future holds but Goldman just predicted that the average WTI price for 2015 will be $75/bbl.

We survived to fight again at twice that price - with SWA working hard to put us under, a joke management team trying their hand at running aspects of an airline they had no experience with ("It couldn't be that hard! We're smurter than all the failed management teams.") and a raid by an unfriendly / totally unproductive union.

Failure to respect and PROACTIVELY acknowledge the sacrifices made by the folks interviewing you MAY be a reason for not getting the job.

Our work rules weren't touched (but aren't exactly being followed by the company right now - arbitrators will fix that eventually) during the bankruptcy / post-bankruptcy concessions. Our CONCESSIONARY pay rates suck, but, without any (likely) intervention, return to just slightly sucking at predefined intervals spelled out in the contract. The Legacy airlines had their "time in the barrel" too (lost their pensions / work rules / pay), but have gotten most, but not all, of it back.

I wouldn't bet a beer on what this industry or company will look like in a year, much less over the 20 until I retire, but for all its warts, I think Frontier is in a better position to survive and thrive than its been since I started pre 9/11.

To the guys and gals who are just making the jump from the RJ / Fractional / Military worlds I'd recommend doing some homework about the multimillion dollar career you want to have. Read "Flying The Line (1 & 2)" and Google all the news about airline bankruptcies and pilot furloughs around 1990 and 2007,8. I linked a good timeline of what we at Frontier have been through. I hope it can help interviewees understand the lens through which you're being looked at.

I still like working at "The Land of Misfit Toys" that F9 was - and can be again. The diversity of employee backgrounds (from Generals and Special Forces to Commuter Chief Pilots to piston only freight dogs) and their attendant stories taught me a lot about myself, aviation history, and how to get along with some interesting personalities - Frontier didn't hire the cookie cutter employees identified by the MMPI. Some days I wish I had stayed in landscaping... but most of the time I have fun at work. It's about attitude.

Good luck to us all!

Frontier Airlines and its turbulent journey (Slideshow) - Denver Business Journal

 

I personally wish you guys all the best. I think the worst is behind you and you guys have a bright future (hopefully not at the expense of Spirit, lol) either way I think someday we merge but until then, good luck

 

Thanks F9 Driver.

 

Quick question for you guys. I've read several pages back and it seems the pool of people they are calling for interviews is pretty mixed. Some TPIC/PIC, some none. I applied about week ago and was wondering if a guy like myself from the east coast even stood a chance of getting the call.

Thanks in advance, I really appreciate it!

Current Qualifications:

4,300 hours
3,800 hours 121 SIC
190 hours PIC (c172/pa44)
0 Turb PIC

 

Qualifications:
2500 hours total
1500 hours multi-engine *Military candidates with 1,500 hours of single-engine military aircraft time will be considered*
500 hours pilot in command (PIC)
500 hours jet/turbo-prop

 

Thanks, I'm aware of the minimums. Maybe my question was to vague. Is the PIC time a hard requirement or is there some flexibility? I've heard of and read about a few guys getting the call without the PIC time, thats why I'm asking.

 

It's a hard requirement.

 

Definitely a hard requirement, I have 4500tt 4200me-turbine 2200jet and numerous recs but only 220pic...and never got a call. Heard from my buddies at F9 that it's a hard requirement and HR has no plans to lift it. Best of luck in the world!!

 

Thats right Jeckyl; well said! But I won't give you the satisfaction of the bump in seniority, I'm staying right here!

 

You got hired at a 121 with 500hrs? The guys back when that was happening would have a bunch more than 3800 by now I would have thought. Did you sit reserve a lot?

Also, how did you only get 190 pic in that first 500? Shouldn't everything after solo and multi be pic?