stickwiggler

True, that a new pilot group is cheaper than an experienced one. It is also true that their are tons of pilots that can't meet min's to make captain and that is the problem when the only people applying now and in the future are so low time. Because of the cyclic nature of who's hiring and who's not (remember 5 years ago ASA was the Skywest of today with crazy growth, and quick upgrades) ASA has a couple hundred 4 to 5 year F.O.

BUT..... as I've said many times people internalize things. It's not all about pilots. Gates, equipment, staffing, etc. all go into the decision.

ANPBird

I don't know about this one but could be. The class I am in now is big and we are all far from from having wet tickets, and thats for the EMB. Everyone showed up for class. I haven't heard any rumors of dropping mins to try to get people in the door. There seems to be a lot of folks coming in for interviews everyday. Yesterday I popped my head into the interview group during lunch and they had already sent 4 of the 6 home. They haven't dropped there standards yet to just fill classes.

avi8tor4life

all the guys I interviewed with the other day were all from other airlines. No wet tickets there. And one guy didn't make it through the morning. so just like ANPBird said they ain'y dropping standards.

L1a4u4r0a

spreading rumors... whoever said ASA is having trouble filling classes the last couple classes have been so big they have to give people two week paid vacations because they don't have enough room in the systems classes to follow basic indoc. so they don't seem to have problems filling classes in my opinion.

stickwiggler

My guess is you are a young SW pilot, and the idea of taking away the jobs of ASA pilots so SW can get more planes not only doesn't bother you, but is your hope. I'm just snow ballin here, but my guess is that after you have 10 maybe 15 years under your belt, that you will realize that is no way to do business.

But to address your theory directly, I am sure that is not the plan. Why? Because ASA/SW inc. has already (with our union negotiating comittee) agreed to language that would allow ASA pilots to Transfer to Skywest and keep their seniority for pay (just not for bidding) if the reduction in ASA fleet causes a furlough.

stickwiggler

Of course they have dropped mins...... They just haven't drop the mins since you were hired. Ask the 20 year guy what the mins were when he was hired.

stickwiggler

Warm bodies does not mean they are not having a difficult time. In just 10 years the standards have gone from 1,500 total and 500 multi (no exceptions) to 500 and 50! Many new hires are actually having the 500 hours waived if they have simulator experience. I know it's true because I had a 215 hour total time FO!

This is not just about sticking your head in a classroom and making an observation, then assuming you have the facts. Crew planning is more than a 1 week, or even a 1 year event. Enrollment in aviation schools are down do to the soaring cost, and the continued race to the bottom of pay is making many people feel it's just not worth it.

Trust me, after 10 years flying for the regionals, the standards have been lowered. It's not an assurtion to the quality of the person, just the degree of their experience.

stickwiggler

Yeah, I know a lot of them. They were 200 to 500 hour new hires at ASA, sat on reserve for a few months, maybe held a line for a month or two. Now they are up to a whopping 1,0000 hours total time. Still far below the standards of just a few short years ago.

I realize this is not everyone in a new hire class. There are probably a few really seasoned pilots looking for a quick jet upgrade to move onto a legacy carrier. We have hundreds of pilots that came to ASA thinking the same thing. Expansion waves come and go.

reelbigchair

Perhaps this is the way this one person feels, but as a SkyWest pilot, I can tell you with certainty that this is not the opinion of any SkyWest pilot I have spoken to.

stickwiggler

RBC, It is good to hear the voice of reason, far too often we hear the "threat of a union is better than a union" crowd who is more than willing to gain from other pilots' loss.