Why would they need to? Dripping wets will be beating down the door to get the precious turbine time.

 

I'd probably pay money to see a Great Lakes version of a DC lobbyist.

 

GLA training is the most intense thing I've ever done... and this was almost 15 years ago. While most airlines approach training as a collaborative effort, GLA treats it like military boot camp. While most talk you through the systems and performance, GLA says "You better study". While most slowly work you up in the sim, focusing on company procedures, GLA throws you in day one with ADF partial panel and single engine approaches. They have always had a policy that instrument skills are paramount because of the archaic flying they do, and lack of autopilots/flight directors. And I would dare say pilots who make it through that program have instrument skills that are the best of the best. Of 12 people who begun training with me 3 of us made it online. None of them had less than 1000 hours. I can't imagine <500 hr wonders making it through that unless they plan to start spoon feeding it.

 

This report is true to many others I have read and makes me wonder how many newbies would apply if they knew what was going to happen to them at this company. Internet dissemination of rumors does not seem to put much of a damper on their behavior. Assuming most applicants know what they are in for, it suggests a kind of desperation or madness on the part of the applicants. I would be morbidly curious to read a psych study of them given how eager they are for such a punishing, low paying experience.

 

When I went to work there in the late 90s, I didn't know any better. You pretty much needed 1200/200 to get a job anywhere, and competitive mins were a lot higher at the regional jet operators. GLA was hiring people right out of the interview, and hey, it sure beat flight instructing.

But yeah, in this modern era when you can know everything about a company after a couple hours of research, and the jet operators are bribing people to show up for class, you'd have to be a special kind of stupid to go work for GLA. Or ridiculously low time...

 

I heard from someone who used to work there that their part 135 certificate has not been ‘officially’ approved by the FAA yet, and that it might take a least another month. Any GLA pilot willing to clarify this?

 

There's nothing impressive about a training department that takes pride in how 'hard' their training is. Training for any airline can be enjoyable or difficult based on the quality of the training department. A high washout rate means the training sucks, not the pilot.

Why people think GLA training is 'cool' or 'badass' is perplexing. It sucks. Plain and simple.

 

The flying that Lakes does ( and operators of the sort) *is* challenging. I imagine given the current hiring environment that new hires are given more time to succeed. I don't know that anyone is going around claiming the instructors are pricks.

 

Does an off-line jumpseater count against the 9 allowed passengers?

 

There are only 9 seats, so if any seats are left over, a "jumpseater" will be provided a seat.

135 OpsSpecs signed yesterday. April 1 will be 1st revenue flights with 135 aircraft/OE.