Nwa
09-30-2007, 03:29 PM
#11
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 52
I work at NWA. The last time NWA had a push for hiring they received over 12000 applications in the first 2 weeks. This time they receive 1200 in 2 weeks. In August they hired and trained 26 internal new hire pilots. What they don't tell you is that in August they had 50 requests for early retirement and 37 resignations. We had about 800 guys on furlough in January 2007. Only about 300 elected to return to NWA. Although I don't have a specific number, I do know that there have been a percentage of people that were on furlough, returned to NWA, and have since quit.
The work environment at NWA is terrible. However, I would imagine the environment at the other bankrupt carriers is terrible as well. So NWA is no different. Everyone knows they were cheated by the bankruptcy laws, airline management and, more importantly, ALPA. With this knowledge of being cheated, very few and, I mean VERY FEW, people are happy working at NWA. Remember, there is NO PENSION and essentially no benefits to new employees. You will have to fund your own retirement and with the current pay, that would be very difficult if not impossible.
Be very carefull in your decision. If you are educated and have other skills I would HIGHLY recommend that you carefully weigh your career choices. There are very few benefits to this career. And, this is coming from someone who has loved aviation for his entire life. I am nearly 56 and deeply regret my decision to pursue the airline dream. If you are a young guy, you have knowedge that we didn't have in the 1970's. You have already seen what has happened to career pilots. Pilots my age had no idea that companies could, or would do, what they have done to faithful employees.
There are good companies to work for but, the airlines is not one of them.
The work environment at NWA is terrible. However, I would imagine the environment at the other bankrupt carriers is terrible as well. So NWA is no different. Everyone knows they were cheated by the bankruptcy laws, airline management and, more importantly, ALPA. With this knowledge of being cheated, very few and, I mean VERY FEW, people are happy working at NWA. Remember, there is NO PENSION and essentially no benefits to new employees. You will have to fund your own retirement and with the current pay, that would be very difficult if not impossible.
Be very carefull in your decision. If you are educated and have other skills I would HIGHLY recommend that you carefully weigh your career choices. There are very few benefits to this career. And, this is coming from someone who has loved aviation for his entire life. I am nearly 56 and deeply regret my decision to pursue the airline dream. If you are a young guy, you have knowedge that we didn't have in the 1970's. You have already seen what has happened to career pilots. Pilots my age had no idea that companies could, or would do, what they have done to faithful employees.
There are good companies to work for but, the airlines is not one of them.
09-30-2007, 04:20 PM
#12
captains food tester
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 94
Originally Posted by flyguy1
Now that we have covered the tone of your post, I suppose you desreve an answer. I, unlike many who post on the internet, really like my job at NWA. I live in base and have spent almost all of my life in Mineapolis. I believe this makes all the difference.
Though my very unscientific study I have found that of those that dislike or even hate their life at NWA about 90% commute. The reverse is also true, those that like or even love their job, live in base. This would explain why the tone in DTW is generally negative(most pilots commute to DTW) and why the tone in MSP is generally more positive(I would guess a majority live in or near MSP).
I have been flying with very junior guys on the DC-9, most of which have come off furlough and almost without exception, they are thrilled to be back,and seem to enjoy the job.
All to say, it's not what it used to be but if you live in base it's still a pretty good job. The same could be said of UAL, DAL,USAirways etc.
Though my very unscientific study I have found that of those that dislike or even hate their life at NWA about 90% commute. The reverse is also true, those that like or even love their job, live in base. This would explain why the tone in DTW is generally negative(most pilots commute to DTW) and why the tone in MSP is generally more positive(I would guess a majority live in or near MSP).
I have been flying with very junior guys on the DC-9, most of which have come off furlough and almost without exception, they are thrilled to be back,and seem to enjoy the job.
All to say, it's not what it used to be but if you live in base it's still a pretty good job. The same could be said of UAL, DAL,USAirways etc.
09-30-2007, 08:23 PM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: SAABster
Posts: 639
Originally Posted by SCRWDbyMGMT
I work at NWA. The last time NWA had a push for hiring they received over 12000 applications in the first 2 weeks. This time they receive 1200 in 2 weeks. In August they hired and trained 26 internal new hire pilots. What they don't tell you is that in August they had 50 requests for early retirement and 37 resignations. We had about 800 guys on furlough in January 2007. Only about 300 elected to return to NWA. Although I don't have a specific number, I do know that there have been a percentage of people that were on furlough, returned to NWA, and have since quit.
The work environment at NWA is terrible. However, I would imagine the environment at the other bankrupt carriers is terrible as well. So NWA is no different. Everyone knows they were cheated by the bankruptcy laws, airline management and, more importantly, ALPA. With this knowledge of being cheated, very few and, I mean VERY FEW, people are happy working at NWA. Remember, there is NO PENSION and essentially no benefits to new employees. You will have to fund your own retirement and with the current pay, that would be very difficult if not impossible.
Be very carefull in your decision. If you are educated and have other skills I would HIGHLY recommend that you carefully weigh your career choices. There are very few benefits to this career. And, this is coming from someone who has loved aviation for his entire life. I am nearly 56 and deeply regret my decision to pursue the airline dream. If you are a young guy, you have knowedge that we didn't have in the 1970's. You have already seen what has happened to career pilots. Pilots my age had no idea that companies could, or would do, what they have done to faithful employees.
There are good companies to work for but, the airlines is not one of them.
The work environment at NWA is terrible. However, I would imagine the environment at the other bankrupt carriers is terrible as well. So NWA is no different. Everyone knows they were cheated by the bankruptcy laws, airline management and, more importantly, ALPA. With this knowledge of being cheated, very few and, I mean VERY FEW, people are happy working at NWA. Remember, there is NO PENSION and essentially no benefits to new employees. You will have to fund your own retirement and with the current pay, that would be very difficult if not impossible.
Be very carefull in your decision. If you are educated and have other skills I would HIGHLY recommend that you carefully weigh your career choices. There are very few benefits to this career. And, this is coming from someone who has loved aviation for his entire life. I am nearly 56 and deeply regret my decision to pursue the airline dream. If you are a young guy, you have knowedge that we didn't have in the 1970's. You have already seen what has happened to career pilots. Pilots my age had no idea that companies could, or would do, what they have done to faithful employees.
There are good companies to work for but, the airlines is not one of them.
10-01-2007, 08:57 AM
#16
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 52
Ladies and Gentleman... If FILEJW thinks that the majority of the NWA pilots are at a "somewhat happy median" I am happy for him. I notice that his postion is DC10CA. That would make him a wide body/international pilot.
The wide-body guys took the same paycuts that all the rest us of did. So FILEJW has had his INCOME sacrificed dramatically as well. However, what is never discussed at the wide-body level is that the draconian contract cuts in trip rig, layover hotels, minumum days, reserve rescheduling, bidding, pattern values, i.e., the stuff that makes your life bearable was stripped out of the NARROW-BODY flying with VERY LITTLE effect on the WIDE-BODY crews. One of the primary negotiators that came up with all these neet give-backs to the contract was a SENIOR WIDE-BODY CAPTAIN. He knew his suggestions would have VERY LIMITED impact on international flying. The contract for Domestic flying was raped. By the way, that SENIOR WIDE-BODY CAPTAIN is no longer flying the line and now works for ALPA National.
To be fair, other carriers quality of life issues are worse, UAL as an example. I am happy for FILEJW if he is enjoying a "somewhat happy median" in his wide-body fleet. I would estimate that 80% of the domestic pilots are extremely bitter. And, a bitter work environment does not lead to a "somewhat happy median"!
The wide-body guys took the same paycuts that all the rest us of did. So FILEJW has had his INCOME sacrificed dramatically as well. However, what is never discussed at the wide-body level is that the draconian contract cuts in trip rig, layover hotels, minumum days, reserve rescheduling, bidding, pattern values, i.e., the stuff that makes your life bearable was stripped out of the NARROW-BODY flying with VERY LITTLE effect on the WIDE-BODY crews. One of the primary negotiators that came up with all these neet give-backs to the contract was a SENIOR WIDE-BODY CAPTAIN. He knew his suggestions would have VERY LIMITED impact on international flying. The contract for Domestic flying was raped. By the way, that SENIOR WIDE-BODY CAPTAIN is no longer flying the line and now works for ALPA National.
To be fair, other carriers quality of life issues are worse, UAL as an example. I am happy for FILEJW if he is enjoying a "somewhat happy median" in his wide-body fleet. I would estimate that 80% of the domestic pilots are extremely bitter. And, a bitter work environment does not lead to a "somewhat happy median"!
10-01-2007, 12:51 PM
#17
Get's Every Day Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Retired
Posts: 1,858
Typical
Originally Posted by filejw
Ladies and Gentleman....I too work for NWA and somewhere between Flyguy 1 and Screwed by Management is the truth...a somewhat happy median..
10-02-2007, 07:24 AM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: G550 Captain
Posts: 1,206
Originally Posted by ExAF
Typical wide-body international airline answer. Life goes on with very little change other than a pay cut. QOL didn't suffer one bit. Most of them are "relatively happy." The narrowbody fleet has an entirely different outlook and demeanor and it ain't a "relatively happy median" (whatever that is).
10-02-2007, 07:57 AM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Brown
Posts: 1,126
Originally Posted by Lighteningspeed
From my observation while jumpseating, I think you are right. Whatever happened to Senior CAs on widebodies looking after the entire NWA pilot welfare. It appears, widebody CAs only look after their own interest at the expense of everyone else.
Is there any effort at NWA or other carriers to move towards a single pay scale?
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