Reminds me of an old used car salesman saying..

"There's an a$$ for every seat."

As long as there are saps who will pay for training, there will be.

SF

On this last ten day trip, I've been looking at their airplanes on the ramp @LAX,ANC,and ORD.
A couple of my neighbors work there and seem to be enjoying it. They are both retired pilots form major carriers.

I wonder if they got on before '360 required payment for the back ground check, drug testing, and direct personal training bond guaranty?

Don't know, I'll ask em this week, Heading home tonight for a week off after ten days of abuse.

Just to set the record striaght...

I did an interview with them back in Sept...just found out I was hired!

1. SSN on the electronic app is not unusual - Almost 90% of non-flying openings I've applied for require it. Easy way for HR to see if you can work in the US and do an initial child molestor check before they call you back.
2. Very professional company, great group of folks, solid business plan and the money (A LOT OF MONEY) behind them is there for the haul. Seems their biggest roadblock is going to be getting jets to expand.
3. Everything about the company (and interview process) is more "business" oriented than "airline" oriented. Minimal tech - it's assumed you know your stuff, focus seemed to be on your ability to work with the group there and move into the leadeship as the company grows.
4. Because of #2, and the fact their initial cadre is OLD, potential for fast upgrades. Merit based, as they have some PFE's (expats) who can't upgrade.
5. If your a military pilot, look at Cargo360. Everyone I met had been in/was retired from the military, and if you look at the employment brief on their website and from my interview with them, they seem to place a high emphasis on the dedication, international experience and trainability you've shown, as opposed to being able to find a FSS freq on a Jepp chart in 5 seconds. You'll be taught that. If you're a C-17 guy from McChord or a COD guy, this place is for you.
6. The bond - only comes into effect if you volutarily leave within two years. If they go under, you are off the hook. If you lose your medical, off the hook. It's only an agreement - no money is changed up front.
7. $325 for urine test and background check. Hmm. ($67.50/hr x 60 hrs (min)) - $325 & 747 Capt in 4 years or ($24 x 72) and RJ FO for 7??? Whatever.
8. Base is SEA, and you have to have a WA address for the benefits...otherwise they will fly you from the nearest major airport to meet the plane.

The above said, I'd love to work there. But, I've taken a non-flying job and will turn them down. Had they sent me (or given me an earlier "heads up" when asked) the offer a couple of weeks ago I would have jumped on it.

Overall, I was very impressed.

HTH
Spongebob

^^^^
 

Good post Square Pants! Nice to hear some factual information for a change instead of rant and raves about social secutrity numbers or training bonds. I do have a couple of questions for you... You said based in Seattle, but would fly you from the nearest airport to meet the plane... So does that mean for me living in Colorado I would just have to go to Denver and they would pay for my ticket from there? Or is Seattle the Gateway that I have to get to on my own and they would pay from there?
Last question is what did they say about pay while in training? Is it full pay or something like what some of the other 747 outfits do?
Thanks for any info.

Dutch,

Their "base" is Seattle, but they don't actually fly from there. As it was explained to me, they would fly you (in your case) from DEN to where ever your trip was starting to meet the jet, so JFK, ORD, ANC, Inchon, etc. etc. and the reverse when you ended. In my case, I live just outside LA so they had said most of my trips would start/stop with a jet @ LAX. Not a bad deal. Their schedule guys sounded S.H. - no reserve, and good about giving you good "off" blocks and minimizing your commute, which makes sense with the $ they are going to spend getting you to a jet.

Pay in training is $2000/mo; they don't cover lodging for indoc @ SEA (two weeks), but they do cover lodging during ground school and sims in Minneapolis. Pay (S/O or F/O) is $67.50/hr from the start of IOE onwards. 60hr guarantee with a target of 80hrs. The impression I got was not flying enough was not going to be an issue.

HTH
Spongebob

Thanks Spongebob
 

Not bad. Thanks for the insight. I called them yesterday for an interview. 2 weeks Indoc and they don't pay for your hotel! OMG! Do they at least pay per diem? And what of per diem?

Thanks again for the info.

Unless things have changed it is only one week in SEA then five weeks of training in MIA. The one week in SEA is on your dime for hotel. That is reasonable due to the fact that SEA is your crew base and they assume that you live there. Training pay is 2000 per month in training. True that the company will fly you from your home, read that as the nearest reasonable airport for cost reasons, to start your trip. You get a hotel room on the front and back side of each trip and a ticket home.

Basically, unless you live in the way out in the middle of no-where you do not have to worry about getting to and from work. Two 747-400's planned for early 08. Medical coverage is quite nice. Blue cross Premeria. After a year, you will get 401k with a 3% company match, and are eligable for profit share. 15% of profits are going to be shared with the employees.

Plans are to hire about 30 people in the next year.

The slide show says "appropriate military fixed wing time." I read that to say, "no military conversion necessary and we'll see." Anybody have a similar or totally different interpretation of that statement?