I live in FL, fly for a regional, have my 1000 121 and all that stuff. Want to not have to commute much and fly around FL and the caribbean. I have been looking into Swift Air from MIA, but decided to check out this forum to see what people are saying. It's a 600+ page thread so sorry if I'm asking stuff that was already posted 300 pages ago, but do you think Silver with realistically raise the pay to be more aligned with that others are offering? Are they really planning on dumping the Saab as quickly as possible, or is that what they say to try to fill classes? Also, assuming you guys transition to the ATR pretty quick, do you still expect fairly fast upgrades, and by fast I mean by a year or so if you have the legal hour requirements. Do they try to force people that have the legal requirements to the left seat right away, or can you sit right seat, learn the plane a bit and then move over when you feel ready? Seems like QOL is good over all, with mostly day trips once you get out of MCO?

 

Silver is really short staffed right now. So you will be flying a lot. They don’t force people to upgrade, you put the upgrade whenever you feel ready. Quality of life is not that bad here but right now they have a pilot shortage so they’re extending and calling people on days off offering flts so you don’t really have control of your schedule as a line holder. Rsv pilots make more money when there’s a shortage you credit 70.5 and after that is 1.5 time. They’re doing SJU helping seaborne with the operation so jr people are sent to SJU company pay your hotel and DH you back and forth between Puerto Rico and your base. ATR it’s almost ready for certification after almost 2 years on that process. They are doing proving runs now then IOE the initial pilots group and it will start revenue flts. That’s one of the big issue with the pilots now they’re sending people to the ATR by seniority plus flying in PR and seasonal summer flying in Bar Harbor starting in may, It’s gonna be interesting how they gonna run the show! Pilot contract right now union filed mediation. Eventually contract will come whenever management and the union gets into an agreement on the scope section. Also they’re renegotiating the pay again. Rumors above 23% just rumors. Their plan with the saab apparently they want to fly cargo operations with them, that’s why Union and management are stuck with no agreement with the scope section that’s very important. Eventually it should be all ATR fleet 42 and 72 and may be some saabs flying cargo for fedex in the caribbean.

Overall if you don’t like commuting is not a bad place to get the experience enjoy your time in Florida and move to a major. Pilot group it’s awesome at Silver.

 

Cool thanks for the info! If they call you on your day off and you don't answer do they try to discipline you? I'm not at a bad spot now, so I'm just evaluating options. Seems like you guys are going through a lot of transitions right now. The biggest issue would be the pay scale I guess, hopefully they go up with the ATR, that's probably a big reason for the shortage.

 

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

So are majors going to look at Silver air time differently now that they will have glass cockpits in the new atrs?

 

Florida Man wants jet experience credit from turboprop job?

The only carrier that seems to care about glass experience is Kalitta. That's already been joked about in a different regional thread.

 

No disciplinary action at all. Your day off is your day off not required to answer. Silver still loosing people to LCC, Cargo like Atlas some corporate and other regionals. Whenever they bring a contract, maybe that could stop little bit the exodus of pilots.

 

I really would love to go as I live in FLL but yes, that pay is tough. Add in medical expenses, holy hell it costs a fortune today, My ID travel, on other carriers, it too is expensive, and it adds up. The FLL base is tough too as the parking lot is in Fort Myers, the bus is atrocious and those 4/5/6am shows are tough. The summer in a Saab is brutal. Sad cause it seems like it would be a nice job. Yes, I think the ATR will change that, if you can get the ATR.

 

I have been thinking about Silver, staying in FL as opposed to commuting to ORD, as an example has is appeal to some. I know of course those will say "Hey is this what you love doing?.. Then deal with it..." but at the same time, while the pay maybe lower than other carriers, it might not be a bad place to start. Hopefully with the fleet upgrade things will improve, although I think the Saab is going to stick around for awhile.

 

ALL is a big word but I've been with 3M for 15 months and never had a non Silver or FAA employee in the jumpseat. We generally become weight limited before we fill all 34 seats.