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".

yeah,It was love at first flight for me too. The 727 is my first jet,I came from the straight wing piston Convair(another great ship), and developed an instant respect and affection for the Boeing beauty. Noise,black smoke, 3 JT8D-17s, controls that are light and quite sporty,oh yeah,plus a 3 man crew to spread the workload, she is God's gift to pilots.

The first 727 I flew was the -100 series built in 1966 for American Airlines. Other than the 737-100 and 200 series, it was the only jet you could chop the power, flare, hold it off, and grease it on everytime. The 727-100 was the best airplane that Boeing ever built... although I can't comment on the 707, 717, or 777. The are good, but there is something special about the old -100.

I guess it could be equated to the affection that pilots have for the good old DC-3.

It's a same that GE terminated the unducted fan engine program which would certainly have given the 727 a longer life.

They did "studies" and concluded that (passengers) would be "scared" of it. It did look like something that tom hanks put together with macguyver on a desert island

Worst landing I ever made was on a 727-100 into SBA. When I flared, all I did was drive the main gear into the ground harder. Used 40 deg flaps (hardly ever did that). Arrival (can't call it a landing) was like a runaway elevator that got to the bottom of its shaft. No masks deployed, however.

I was the F/O and no one said a word taxiing in. At the gate the other two crewmembers got out of their seats right after the parking checklist was completed. I stayed in my seat "arranging" my Jepp charts - I just didn't want to face any passengers. Anyway, after the last pax got off, I opened the cockpit door and was a surprise waiting for me.

The 1st flight attendant was standing there with her pantyhose down to her ankles, and she said in a LOUD voice "All right who made that ******ing landing!". The Capt and S/O were almost on the floor they were laughing so hard.

I bought the beer later that night. :)

I preferred the 727-Adv to the -100.

great story! lol

It is funny though, how quick the FA's are to judge bad landings. I keep their choice of perfume to myself.:eek:

I am a charter member of the cult of the DC-3, flew them 10 years 87-97,the best airplane ever.

Same here....I got the call a few days ago for the interview. The class begins on August 9th. I told her no thanks.

Trust me, they had no trouble defining that landing!