As of two weeks ago CP said they need FO's only no DEC's. Also weren't hiring into the Saab just now either. FWIW.

I think last capt is a 11/11 DOH.

 

So in all reality and for the time-being the mods do need to change this...

"Hiring. Hiring captains and first officers into the Saab only."

Airline Pilot Central - Silver Airways | Regional

 

There is a Saab class on July 23; don't know if there are any DEC in it. I got hired as a DEC in the 1900 and start class tomorrow. The CP told me in the interview that they need 1900 crews right now. But if the Saabs keep arriving as planned, then obviously there will be classes. It then just depends on staffing bids to see if those positions can be filled internally from pilots coming off of the 1900. If not, then they will put new hires in it. The CP did tell me that my class is probably gonna be the last DEC class. FWIW. Best of luck to all.

 

Just finished first trip of OE on the Saab. It's a sweatbox, but a very solid airplane. Autopilot makes life sooooo much easier, and landings are a cinch as long as you remember to slow down early. FMS is easy once you get the hang of it; we had no training on it at all in MSP. The 2 FAs I've flown with seem to be very sharp and are fun to work with. One more day of OE tomorrow and then the signoff and moving days begin. Staffing bid results should be posted sometime tonight, so I will see if I am going to end up in FLL or somewhere else in FL. My seniority guarantees me one of the FL bases, just a question of which one.

As far as training, systems was a piece of cake, oral was done in about 40 minutes, sims were very straightforward and the check ride was a breeze. I remember how much they grilled everyone when I came through initial for the 1900 3 years ago, and this was a night and day difference. Still learned everything I needed to know, just seemed like it was much less painful this time around. Maybe this is a symptom of our new management - the kinder, gentler airline? Or maybe the airplane is that much easier to learn?

 

Or the fact that this time around you had 121 experience, you had already completed a 121 program and flown the line for a while. Maybe the experince you have gained over the years has helped...

 

That probably helped a LOT. But they were definitely not making us know a bunch of useless details this time around. They just taught us what we need to know, not stupid BS like what the service life on the onboard oxygen bottles was and what they were made out of (no joke, several of the CAs in my transition class and others that I've flown with had plenty of horror stories from their orals on the 1900 upgrade). Only the relevant stuff about how the systems worked...you know like pretty much EVERY other 121 program does. I've heard a bunch of testimonials from various 3M alums about how much easier the other 121 training programs they went through down the road were compared to old-school 3M. I think having Pan Am doing the training instead of our in-house instructors was the key. I only hope they don't spoil the party down the road when they take over. If things stay like this, I'm actually looking forward to my upgrade next year instead of dreading the experience.

 

It's still challenging as my initial training back in December, but when the instructor says "what good does it do me to know that?" is great. We can focus on learning the stuff that REALLY matters. The oral for the Saab is yet to be determined as things have been pushed back up here, but I'm working on getting ready for the oral and sim training.

 

I just tried to interview with Silver this morning. Mr. Knapp told me, not even 60 seconds into my interview, that they are not hiring street captains at this time and that they are overstaffed on captains--bummer! After getting up early and driving almost four hours to FLL, that was not what I wanted to hear. Not to mention all the prep I put into getting ready. Whelp, you win some and you lose some, I guess. Back to my old flying job.

 

Do you mean 550 total guys or 550 new guys.......???

Another question reg min flight experience... Posted mins are 1500 TT with 500 Multi.
Are you guys sticking firm on the posted minimums or is the company flexible on Times ...??

 

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For those of you who were looking, here it is:

http://www.ibt1224.org/Downloads/GIA...ct/GIA_CBA.pdf

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