Does Silver have pass privileges on any majors? How are the interline deals?

 

No bennies from majors, the UA bennies are gone, nothing but zed travel and jump seating pretty much. I hear about the nightmares of silver guys trying to Jumpseat on their own aircraft getting crap from the rent a gate agent.

If you go to silver you're pretty much going because you live in FL or IAD. Really no benefit to say regional airline of the year worthy.

 

Silver's SAAB's are quiet...I guess you guys didn't rip out the ANR

 

ANR has been disabled in all aircraft, along with the FMS, hot water jugs and anything else they can disable. Silver flight benefits are non existent. ZED fairs are hundreds of dollars for the LOWEST standby pass, which today is useless. I think there is a sim evaluation, but interview shouldn't be to hard. Right now the airline is struggling badly with about a 10-40% on time departure and arrival rate (more than half our flights are late). I have heard cancellations over 25% as well.

 

If you want IAD, you might as well go to Mesa, TSA or Commutair. All would be better gigs.

 

I was just released to the line after OE and I can report a very positive training experience here at Silver. I interviewed in December at an open house with HR, the Chief Pilot and one other check airman. (I almost did not go to the open house because of all I had read and heard about Silver and I only went because I was in the area anyway.) A union rep was there, too, also a line captain and FO to ask questions on the side. The written exam was 40 questions or so and all on FAR's. The next day, we had a sim evaluation at American Flyers, which was done by the Chief Pilot and a base chief pilot. The task was to fly a piston twin around the pattern to get familiar with the sim, then another takeoff, intercept and track a radial, a hold and a vectored ILS approach to a landing. What appealed to me was the small company and start-up feeling with Silver.
Ground school was one week basic indoc and three weeks systems and miscellaneous (emergency equipment etc.).
We had single suites with kitchenettes in very nice hotels during training (a brand new Residence Inn in Fort Lauderdale and the Element at the Miami Airport). Pay is 4 hours per training day at the current hourly rate of 25.sth plus per diem 24/7 at 1.80. Ground and sim instructors really show that they want you to pass training. The schedule was 2 CPT's, 2 Fixed Sim Sessions, 6 Full-Motions Sims, Pre-Checkride Sim, Checkride, LOFT. I passed through training without, but with people who needed it, they took them out of sim, back into the CPT with an instructor until they were up to speed on flows and/or callouts and then back into the sim. And they cared about a comfortable training environment. Almost all of the sim instructors are guys in the top 20 of the seniority list. They do it because they like doing it and it shows.
Now that I had some line experience, it is evident the airline is currently facing some operational issues, but they are tackling those. Today, we parked planes in Fort Lauderdale at hardstand and passengers were bussed, which is not as comfortable as pulling up to the gate, but certainly better than idling on the ramp waiting for a gate to deplane. So, I think they will get things up to speed again. The VP of Ops and the Chief Pilot have a weekly phone conference to which every pilot can dial in for news, sharing information and questions.
Junior base is IAD right now, but with the current hiring rate, a Florida base should be in reach after two or three bid terms. I hope!

 

Well said BP!

That and I'll add "Come to IAD...join #TEAMD.S."

 

How are the flight loads on MCO-RSW? Trying to jumpseat on you guys tomorrow. Was curious about flt 113 if anyone has a chance to take a look. Are you guys cool with taking someone up front if need be?

 

Any thoughts on what this Phase 2 announcement will be this month for our 5 year plan?

 

Yes but I won't spoil the fun