Champion Hiring
 

Anyone in the know on the state of affairs at Champion? Rumor is that there will be an August class of 10. Interviewing for it now. Some say that they are looking to replace all but 4 of the 727's with either 737 or A320 next year.

They sure have been on again, off again with furloughs. Going from a 3 man crew to a two man crew might put them in that situation again next year?

Anybody on at Champion or know a friend that can shed some light into the future as to if this is a good place to go for a while?

Thanks

I can tell you they are gearing up the A-320 program. A friend of mine was hired to head up the ground school training aspect of the program. I think training is to start sometime in the late summer to early fall.

They called me for an interview after I sent my resume to them. The rumor is true. The August class is for 727 SO positions. I looked at the pathetic pay and said no thanks.

Sadly, it would be an increase for me.

What is to become of the SO's when the cockpits loose a seat? Will there be enough attrition to keep the new hires on the payroll, or is this a "we need to hire to staff during transition and then let them go" scenario?

Well it would be cool to get an FE rating and fly the dinosaur just to say you did it

It was probably the greatest 5,000 hours of flying I did.

Maybe so but I have a rule. I do not allow myself to live below poverty line just to fly airplanes. I came into this business to make a respectable days pay for doing a respectable job working for respectful people.

I made a respectable living flying the good old 727. Realizing the good old three holer's days were numbered, I had to switch gears last year and went to the 737-800... still making a good respectable living. Its not nearly as fun as doing 87 in the 27. Flying the 727 with -219s on the sides was a rocket ship... hold on to your seats.

A320s are still a rumor, this place has potential,we are in the middle of negotiating our second ALPA contract,unfortunately being a plumber for awhile for less than stellar wages is part of the equation, rumor has it that all 6 VIP 727s will be kept on the property when the A320s do come, but the word on the street is 727s till '08,fine with me, love the tri-jet, just wish she did hot&high better.

3-holer
 

When our MSY base lost the DC-9, an old-timer was forced to upgrade to the 727. He said "They told us in school that there's a yeller light what comes on so you'll know if an engine quits. I figured right then that I was gonna like that plane".