FO Great Lakes
#31
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,940
Because being a CFI might actually pay better (it has for me) and get you to ATP minimums just as fast (guys flying 900 hours a year at my school), plus being a CFI is valuable experience.
Last I checked, Great Lakes was asking for 600 hours TT.
The biggest problem people have with Great Lakes is that they lower the bar. If they came up to the same level as other companies or even raised the bar, people wouldn't be wishing for them to go away. It is definitely good experience, but at what expense?
Last I checked, Great Lakes was asking for 600 hours TT.
The biggest problem people have with Great Lakes is that they lower the bar. If they came up to the same level as other companies or even raised the bar, people wouldn't be wishing for them to go away. It is definitely good experience, but at what expense?
On the flip side though, it is likely they are not going to survive seeing that they used to be 300 pilots and are now 38 with 5 leaving this month.
#32
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2014
Posts: 338
Because being a CFI might actually pay better (it has for me) and get you to ATP minimums just as fast (guys flying 900 hours a year at my school), plus being a CFI is valuable experience.
Last I checked, Great Lakes was asking for 600 hours TT.
The biggest problem people have with Great Lakes is that they lower the bar. If they came up to the same level as other companies or even raised the bar, people wouldn't be wishing for them to go away. It is definitely good experience, but at what expense?
Last I checked, Great Lakes was asking for 600 hours TT.
The biggest problem people have with Great Lakes is that they lower the bar. If they came up to the same level as other companies or even raised the bar, people wouldn't be wishing for them to go away. It is definitely good experience, but at what expense?
In order to become a CFI it usually means taking on an even greater cost burden (10-15k). Furthermore, you may be one of the lucky ones with regular students. In my experience it is much more likely that an instructor does not fly that often. Also, are guys that are flying that much getting 10 or more days off a month?
As for Great Lakes lowering the bar; I really do not see it that way. Great Lakes plays in a different playground than other airlines. Once EAS flying is drastically cut (it will happen eventually) then the only option left for Great Lakes will be to close their doors. In the meantime they are operating aircraft no airline wants, into destinations no airline wants, with pilots no other airline can hire.
If they are hiring people at 600 hours (and not 250 like I was told) that does mean that most pilots will have to find a way to fill the gap between 250 and 600. This will more than likely mean being a flight instructor. My advice at that point would be to evaluate how long it took you to fly the additional 350 hours and project that out to 1500. Great Lakes may be a better option in the long term. Pay is horrendous tho.
#33
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2014
Posts: 338
I don't see a big deal if someone with 250 hours wants to go to GLA. I agree with you that a CFI is valuable though. I don't see how they lower the bar though, they are not even in the same league anymore, they are 135 mostly.
On the flip side though, it is likely they are not going to survive seeing that they used to be 300 pilots and are now 38 with 5 leaving this month.
On the flip side though, it is likely they are not going to survive seeing that they used to be 300 pilots and are now 38 with 5 leaving this month.
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,940
Don't know. If you go back a page though someone seems to be in the know.
#35
Last time I was in denver seemed like at least half the fleet was just sitting around?
#36
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: I pilot
Posts: 2,049
Ok so an update to the pilot numbers, as that number is dynamic, less than 20 captains. They have more than that in FOs, as it is easy to produce FOs. FOs are upgraded to Captain in order of seniority. I don't know the exact number of FOs at this exact moment.
#37
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: 7ER B...whatever that means.
Posts: 3,966
...but I guess this would explain it!
#38
I have seen the recently updated payscale for FOs that breaks the pay down between 135vs121. What I haven't seen is an updated CA payscale, surely it was addressed too? Any updated on the current hour requirements? Their website still says 600 but I know things change fast.
#39
Banned
Joined APC: Dec 2014
Posts: 228
17 captains 33 first officers. Statistically going to fold by august.
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