Air tran interview
 

Hi guys and gals any info in which you can shared about the interview process at Air tran? Life? questions? anything will be gladly appreciated!;)

I currently been out of the USA Airline Industry, and I presently fly as Cap A320 on a Indian carrier

Why would you go to AAI? There are so many better airlines! Don't jump at the first one and I am sure you will get choice of carriers espeecially if you have bus time. UAL, DAL, CAL are all hiring and they are far better then AAI. I had 4 friends that went to AAI and the longest they stayed was 9 months. They hated it to say the least.

RobLAX, who do YOU work for?

Someone far better then AAI!

Hey Rob since you always have your mouth open, why don't you just answer the question?

Will that make AAI better? You really think working for AAI is better then UAL, CAL, DAL, UPS, FEX? Can we say NOT! With his bus pci time he can goto one of the above mentioned and hang his hat. AAI would be a lateral move (more suitable for a guy leaving the commuters).

Man you answer quick. You must really have no life outside of your stellar flying career. Its ok, tell us what regional you fly for?

Ha ha sorry. No regional here. Can we say legacy :eek: Oh yeah sorry, I like watching football on the boob tube. My life does indeed suck :D hahaha

Air tran interview
 

No Air tran pilots yet with any info they want to shared about the interview?:)


RobLAX do you have any info of why not? :cool:like I wrote before, I haven't been active on the USA market.

I saw first hand my buddies work long duty days, 5-6 days in a row and get to the overnight late and wake up early. I am sure they could go on and on. Plus they are out of gate space in ATL, TA was turned down and there stock is around $9 when everyone else is in the high 20's to high 40's. Plus, plus they lost the buyout of Midwest Express to NWA and another investor.

You have bus PIC time. With that you are highly competitive! I would go to one of the big boys like UAL, CAL, DAL, UPS, FEX, SWA. Airtran is a stepping stone for a lot of regional guys trying to get to the majors. With your experience it doesn't sound like you need a stepping stone.

Yea the thing is the big boys haven't called, the last time I applied in the US was before 9/11, being Polar and ABX the only ones that I receiveda called. I flew for TACA in CA for 14 years earning peanuts and know India is great buttttttt, I will leave it there. I am 34+ 9500+ 8000+ on jet type A320 and B737 with some college where should I go? Best Jet320

Umm, I've been here for almost a year and haven't had less than 15 days off a month since reserve. Reserve lasted all of two months. Last 3 months I averaged 17 days off and about 85 or so hours. This month is 16 off with 93hrs. I can't remember the last time I had an overnight under at least 14hrs. The TA being turned down was a GOOD thing. The union now has some solidarity that was previously missing, but I'm sure you know more than I do. I just work here at my little "stepping stone" airline. :rolleyes:

You need to educate yourself a little better before you start spouting off.

RobLAX

This may come as a shock to you, but not everyone is seeking the same thing out of an airline career as you. Some of us are willing to work for certain airlines primarily based on QOL and yes I work for AirTran for this reason. To put it in my perspective when I went job searching: 1. retired military, so I don't need the big bucks at my family's expense. 2. live in GA & I don't want to commute at my family's expense. 3. I don't want to work past 60 (15 years shelf-life). 4. Have done multiple military tours overseas, so international flying has no more appeal to me (3 hour time changes are more than enough for me). 5. spent way too many nights flying military to consider cargo attractive (& I have too many friends there pushing 50 that look like they are turning 70). 6. DAL was not hiring at the time & when I ran the numbers for my situation/wants when they started again, it was not worth switching.

As for my life at AAI....it works great for me!!! Only spent 3 months on reserve, average 93 hours/month with 15 days off, and my family life is great!

The guy is looking for advice, not airline bashing. Not everyone has travelled the same career path as you (or may even want to). Each person needs to figure out what works for them. I'm sure you'll have some negative comment back, so let it fly!

SGRogue, hi good to hear from an airtran pilot, I have been called for an interview and would like some guidelines, can you help me out??

Hey jet320, I'm trying to get an interview with AirTran. Went to the job fair in DC,shook hands with FO Mark Now......something. So when you get the guidelines,can you help me? Oh yeah I was a 757 Legacy now Capt.So It ain't my first rodeo!!!
Thanks....
Vernon Williams BNA

Yeah I'm still failing to realize the whole AAI sucks thing Rob has going.....If you fly at a legacy as you say then great....quit bashing an airline you don't work for. AAI never did anything to you.....what is all the negative remarks you put out about AirTran accomplishing really? 4 of your buddies didn't like it and there's 1600 pilots at Airtran....

Out of gate space? True....but we get by everyday just fine...our completion % is always high and we're meeting OT goals for the month.....the ship ain't going down.....TA turned down? GREAT....hope they get what they want....you make it sound like a Sh*thole because a few friends didn't like it....complete misrepresentation of what goes on....

Hope this helps
 

I am an ex military guy like Rouge so I understand the deployed perspective

AirTran interview was great. Easy going friendly, I thought they were genuinely interested in the person I am.

One on one with 2 pilots 1 HR.

Questions like "what was the best decision i ever made?" My answer lead to a 20 minute friendly discussion.

I asked one interviewer about the pictures on his wall and we had a 20 minute dicussion of his carreer and mine.

5 of 6 who interviewed here were hired. I have heard it go the other way too.

The 737 training department here is sharp. I have never felt better prep'd for a checkride in my life. They had a interest in me being a good FO.

I intervied at SWA, Alaska, and UPS. I thought the UPS interview went wll too. (but here I am) Alaska was almost hostile ( like I was trying to hide something),

SWA was interesting they seemed more concerned about picking me apart than trying to find out what kind of person I am and whether I fit their coorporate culture. I would re-apply there to get a second look. I would like to be a fly on the wall there to understand the way they interview.

Life at AAI. I held the line after 3 months of reserve. Life would be good if I lived in ALT but I commute 3 hrs (+ time zones) makes it tough. We need new domiciles, one per time zone.

There are some problems here too. I like 95% of the people I work with and fly with, that said I see no vision.

Big surprise but the Union and Management do not get along. Both sides have major failings. The union is more right.

This company is managed, some might say very well. The management has turned AirTran from a sows ear into a silk purse, that said this place is in dire need of leadership. There is none. Neither union or company.

You manage assets, you lead people.
The company is interested in cutting costs.
Thats it....

Management only concern should be leading the workers toward prosperity. They quickly squander all good will with stupid little S*&t.

Hey most costs are fixed, the only major one that is not is people. People are not going to work for free. The company wants good will, hard working inspired workers, with great ideas at zero costs.

The union has conflicting interest that does not seem to involve the members, that is why they were voted out. The problem seems to be that when we vote in people who have our best interest the company undermines them (fires, suspendeds, investgates).

If this company had some leadership and vision it could make huge strides.The company wants good will but offers nothing in return. There are a lot of little things that could create good will but the company seems to turm a deaf ear to any ideas. There seems to be no strategic vision. I have no idea were the company is going so even if I want to help it get there I have no idea which way to pull. I am just another employee number working in the trenches with no inspiration. I am just a guy doing the best job can because that is who I am, but others need to be inspired to give there best.

Too much rumor, too much uncertainty about the future.

This company has great potential. Management and the union need to lose this old school train of thought and move on. There are a lot of great ideas in the minds of our people who only need to be inspired to give them up.

Hey I know there are no guarantees, but I could be very happy here if I felt the Union / Company shared a vision and had our best interests and the companies at heart

The company could stand to spend some money and make some inprovements in the quality of the lives of the people working. (no new planes are not enough). Hire more schedulers and innovate the scheduling process to avoid the continual break downs we seem to have. Invest in facillities, infrastructure, and people.

The union could look to the future of all not a few, and gain the confidence of the membership agian. If the membership has dead weight in its ranks it has a duty to eliminate it to the betterment of all.

I know I will get some greif for not being a 100% behind the union but it has lost the confidence as the company has by not leading us "the great unwashed." ( last two TA's as example)

Sorry about the rant, I really hope we pull it together.
On the whole this is a good place to work but it could be far in advance of where it is.
Hey things change every day, maybe some vision will come tomorrow:rolleyes:

GOOD LUCK ON THE INTERVIEW
Boogie

Hey if you have a lot of 320 time try Virgin America too.

AT THE RISK OF REPEATING MYSELF>>>
RobLAX what is your grudge? Great you don't like AAI, get over it. Yeah we are not perfect move on. You obiviously think you are superior but you add nothing to the discussion. Quick little quips, ingnorance in abundance. You primary purpose seems to be to encourage ire, and not of the topic at hand only ire towards you. You really must be some ego maniac to think so highly of your oppinions and I got to wonder that it would really be a long 4 day with you in the seat next to me.

If I may throw my two cents in...

ROBLAX is entitled to his opinion based on people that he knows that work there. I live with an AirTran F/A that finds the airline difficult for a reserve F/A, but she has quantifiable reasons.
Airport Reserve, standup overnights, mechanicals, ATC delays when there is one rain drop in ATL, no pay for D/H for reserves, no hotel reservations, and minimum wage, etc.

With that being said, the thread is not about my roommate or where ROBLAX works, it's about getting the info to this cat that is interested in working for AirTran.

Was the interview process easy or hard...where's a good gouge ? How is pay during training ? How long to upgrade ? Where are the contract talks going ? Will there be any farming out of flying or new domiciles after the contract passes ? Will the pilots strike ? Good benefits ??? Can you commute and be on reserve ? Crashpad network ? Any rumors of other pilot bases besides the current ones ?

I think the answers to these questions are probably more helpful to jet320, then anything else...just my two cents, your conversion rate may vary.

Good Luck on the interview jet320, a lot of good folks at AirTran.

FF

FF, I agree ROBLAX is entitled to his opinion but you are right too the point is to help on the interview.

Rumors are rampant, but that is the problem. I have heard everything from Vegas to Orlando for new pilot bases. I have heard too that the union does not want new bases! How does that make sence? All these rumors come from people who are in a theorectial position to know. So i am left with no one seems to know anything. I have heard too we are going to try to go after Sun Country. If NWA does not want us in Milwalkee I am pretty sure they do not want us in Min.

The other emplyee groups have it far worse than the pilots at AirTran. Again low costs, cutting costs. My mom was a FA for 41 years for AA so I have some perspective on a FA lifestyle.

My advice as far as the interview is go be relax and really be yourself, and I mean it. You hear it alot but in this case itis true.

Lastly you are right my life would be in much clearer perspective if I have the answers to the questions you posed.

"Airport Reserve, standup overnights, mechanicals, ATC delays when there is one rain drop in ATL, no pay for D/H for reserves, no hotel reservations, and minimum wage, etc."

I have never had hotel problems, mechanicals few, drops of rain..... Hey I flew in Grand Forks for four years with the Air Force, AirTran is the same as everyone else when it come to WX. ATL is the worlds bussiest field. Weather will mess with that. WAGES YES, Pilots get paid for DH reserve if it (total duty) goes over 4 hrs (guaranteed min). Standups stink. Long call reserve would be great!

Good info Boogie, even better avatar.

Anyone that flew out of Grand Forks knows all about drops of rain and flooding !!

Honestly though the flood was the best thing to happen there. I was there for it. It basically forced the town to rebuild and it is far in advance today of what is was.

As for the avatar, I am a part time beach lifeguard on the west coast.

roblax is a jaded baby. every post he makes here is always negative. he admits to being at TWA in one post and that he is still with A.A. in another. I wish I had the numbers of how many of his ex buds are here from twa/aa. most of the ones i know say they are happy with the home we have here and are NOT taking a recall at A.A.. I would love to go back to A.A. but even at 6 year 757/767 f.o. pay i am still making way more here. I would love to get out of this stinking commute but there is no way i can afford it right now. From the post AA management made the other day the pay is going to be a long fight uphill. welcome to the club!.

The interview was great, I found it even more laid back and friendly than the SWA interview. Only been on property 1 month (fresh from the AF) and I love it, zero complaints.

Rob the anal LAXative is a douche bag.

Buzz,

I'm in the December class- any gouge now that you've got a month behind you? Stuff you wish you'd have brought? Stuff you'd have studied up on beforehand? Places to stay? Any ideas gladly welcomed!

Stetson20

welcome aboard to both on you. enjoy the ride!

guys thanks for the info, I have my sche. interview on December 07, any more head'"s up information the better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grand Forks during the flood?
 

Small world... I was with the 905th from '94 - '97. I have just been recently hired with AirTran - I'm waiting to retire in May 08 and I'll be on board!

906th from 95-99. Welcome. Job is not glamorus, being in a union is weird. Airlines/Unions manage people they do not lead them. Get the 737 if able better trips. Seems like a strong company, I suspect there will be lots of changes in the near future. Airtran needs more pilot bases, and could use some innovation in the way it schdules (reactive rather than proactive)
My 737 training program was great, never felt more prepared for a check ride. You need to study though. Most of the pilots 98% are at least good guys.
My only complaint is commutting from the west coast, but I accepted the job so it is my cross to hoist. If you can gut out reserve it is not bad.
Lots of current ex tanker, fighter guys here
Welcome email me if you have any questions

Boogie Nights, this is my first post so wasn't able to PM you. I'm a tanker guy with a question, so could you email me? Thanks

Boogie Nights - good post.

Boogie Nights.....nice ass....LOL

I'd like to email a former coworker that now works for AirTran. Can anyone tell me what the company email address is for pilots, such as "[email protected]" Thanks in advance.

There is no company email for pilots, unless you have a position that would require one. Training, check airman, etc...

Hey BN, I would like to e-mail you and pick your brain about a few things but I guess I don't post enough to see your e-mail address . Could you drop me a line at [email protected] ?
Thanks,
John