Silver Airways - Page 10 - Airline Pilot Central Forums

#91

DirectTo , 01-04-2012 03:12 PM

Gets Weekends Off

Sandrich, don't get me wrong, I'm not telling you to walk away from it, and I genuinely hope it works out for the best and that the company really does a 180 and becomes a good solid place for pilots (as much as a regional can be anyway). I just hate to see someone get there thinking it's going to be wonderful without looking at all the facts (same as any other regional).

FWIW, I think Dominos is pretty good now with the new crust, and I'd be happy to split a couple of their pizzas over some beer with you, just as soon as we both get better paying airline jobs!

#92

VanHalen , 01-04-2012 03:18 PM

Line Holder

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImperialxRat:1111066

Wow, the pay listed on APC for Gulfstream/Silver is abysmal. To the OP, good luck with your decision. You said that your *longer* term goal was to get into corporate... often times it is more challenging to move from a 121 environment into a corporate environment, due to the corporate/charter guys developing a prejudice against 121 guys. It is not a career killer, but it does make it a little more difficult.

Also, the type of airplane you will be flying will make it easier or harder to transition to charter/corporate. I don't know turbo props that well... is a B1900 the same type rating as some of the larger king airs? If so that could help you. If ya went to Eagle, it would be easier to transition to the Legacy type aircraft, although getting hired into a Legacy without any corporate experience would be pretty difficult.

I think no matter where you go right now, you will get some good experience. You need to build time, and so go somewhere where you can fly a lot. Looks like Silver's most junior captain was a 2007 hire, so you'll have plenty of time to build TT before upgrading.

Good luck and the key to getting into corporate/charter is to network network network. I made the move from ExpressJet to 135 charter and seriously regretted it. The charter company I worked for was horrible, however now I have a good corporate gig on a Legacy and am pretty happy =) This career is all about monitoring the forums, checking climbto350, and just being aware of who is hiring and the relative health of the industry. Once you get to whatever company it is that you want to hang your hat... then you can stop following the aviation trends.

Cheers,

Thank you.

#93

sandrich , 01-04-2012 03:31 PM

Gets Weekends Off

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirectTo

You had me at Dominos. How about some pizza and a couple beers, instead?

#94

Cruz5350 , 01-04-2012 04:14 PM

Respek

The only thing you will be splitting is a tuna fish sandwich between lunch and then dinner. lol

#95

nancy33 , 01-04-2012 05:03 PM

Gets Weekends Off

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandrich

DirectoTo, I do not disagree with you at all. Every airline starts out well and it does not take long to drive it into the ground (exhibit A: long list of defunct/bankrupt airlines). I'm sure every regional pilot in these forums were lured in and excited by what seemed at the time to be a great deal and even better opportunity, and long and behold 2 years later, they hate their job if they still even have one. I can't speak from experience, considering this is my first 121 gig. But as the saying goes, everyone has to start somewhere. It doesn't take long for a pilot trying to get his Commercial to read some of these threads and instantly want to reconsider his or her decisions. I'm not going to lie, when I was offered the job, I was skeptical because my CFI job seemed a lot more secure, especially when living at home rent free with a second job that paid the bills. But I knew if I didn't take it, I'd have that "what if" thought for years to come. Could I, and everyone else heading to Silver, regret this decision? Of course, anything could happen. We could be back on the streets in a few months. But for now, I'm just looking forward to some fun people, exciting flying, and hope to learn as much as possible. Because if theres nothing to look forward to, whats the point? You only live once, right? Dont take this as one of those "im the best pilot, so watch out" posts, because I realize that just a few years ago, I was in the same seat as my students. Everything you said I think is completely true. Do I know that GIA is miraculously some new leading company? Nope. Do I hope so? Yes. Domino's changed their pizza crust and claim to use new "organic" ingredients, yet people still hate their food (not this guy) The job will lose its luster, the company could easily lose money, and us pilots can and will be extremely overworked and underpaid. But for now, let us have that aforementioned excitement
Cheers,
Sand.

PS- I'm sure someone here will quote something I just said, maybe even bold a few words, put a catchy "picture with words" response, and shove it right back in my face.

Go Get'em tiger and don't look back just do it and cross a that bridge when it comes been through so many aviation jobs for various reasons and you just have to keep pushing forward and get to the end goal.

#96

nancy33 , 01-04-2012 05:04 PM

Gets Weekends Off

ok sorry for the super sized pic did not want it that big

#97

On Autopilot , 01-04-2012 05:40 PM

West Coast livin

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandrich

Any chance they'll be in the same hotel?

uh oh...............

#98

On Autopilot , 01-04-2012 06:58 PM

West Coast livin

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirectTo

There ya go. "Or whatever". You guys might think it's a nice little gravy train right now, but once the shine wears off those nicely polished spinners and the management sees that profits and losses run in the single digit percentages, it'll be back to being just another airline.

Many of the posters point out that the new owners have 'deep pockets'. And? The goal of deep pockets is to make them deeper...not empty them out running a loss-making airline.

You guys WILL be screwed like any other airline pilot. You'll be treated like hell and run hard every single day. Extended and min rested. And the bonuses will most definitely cease flowing.

It's hard to be positive in this industry period, but the fact that so many of the new guys at GIA think it's going to be some industry-leading carrier because they have new ownership is laughable.

We all go in with eyes wide open. I appreciate your sobering assesment of the situation and the industry. I do know that the new owners seem like they want to do things different, yes we all know about the hard realities of this industry. Best I can say is let's see what they do okay?

I like the celebratory cake and stuff they gave us plus grad certificates for completing the first part of training. We also got to chat with upper management who told us about the plans for this company. Very exciting to say the least. We also have majors looking at us for some more work. I can't say who, but they like what they see so far. VPAA knows that happy employees are the best product you can give to potential big name suitors along with the other things that go with that. Another thing. This company is actively seeking out bad attitude problem employees like a fly to fecal. No, not whistle blowers, but those who think this is still the old gia.

#99

The Juice , 01-04-2012 07:08 PM

ULTP-Ultra Low Tier Pilot

Quote:
did not want it that big

That's what she said!!

#100

nancy33 , 01-04-2012 07:54 PM

Gets Weekends Off

Anyone that is already there when do you get your travel benefits and who are they with? is it both United and Continental or just Continental.