Asa
 

What is the current time spent on reserve at ASA right now?

When I interviewed in March they said somewhere around 3 years give or take. But that was months ago and even to get that answer from them was like pulling teeth. All I kept hearing was "Work here if you want to get on with the big D!" Anybody with the company got an updated time?

I work at FlightSafety in Atlanta and I know alot of the ASA guys....last i had heard was if you are awarded the CRJ 200 its around 2-3 months. the 700 is around 6 months as well as the ATR. The ATR reserve is getting shorter becuase alot of Captains can now bid Captain on the CRJ-200

I think what your thinking of was upgrade time. Right now its looking about 1-3 months on reserve with an upgrade of about 3 years and droping. I actually know a few guys that never even sat on reserve! They are in a huge hiring boom right now. I belive they are hiring 49 a month. They just lowered the mins for upgrade to 2500TT 500 company and 1500 ME. There is a lot of movement here right now which is good for the new guys. It been awhile since ASA has had some movement! Now all we have to do is get the contract finished and start growing again! If your thinking of applying here do it. Its a good company with a good reputation.

[quote=jetracer5;177308]I think what your thinking of was upgrade time.

Yep, sorry I misread/brainfarted. And I agree about the reserve time. With all the current movement, hardly anyone is on reserve very long.

What is the deal? Is first year pay going to increase at all???? $19 is brutal, I know 2nd year it goes up tremendously, but....any thoughts???? How s training there?? are they good? thanks in advance

First year pay does suck, but after that its pretty competitive with others currently. As for training and QOL I don't know.

First off let me say that first year pay does blow and I'm not condoning it, but it's how the airlines offset your training cost which runs between $10K-15K. Add that to first year pay and you'll usually fall inline with the normal ascending pay relationships. Remember, even the major’s/legacies first year pay blows.

This statement couldn't be farther from the truth....

ASA has an excellent training department.

Reserve probably will last 2 to 3 months. The lines are pretty much all four days blocked to 19 to 23 hours, so you might like reserve better than holding four day trips with 6:30 duty in and weekend flying.

Lots of turnover at ASA due to the impossible contract quagmire. No one thinks the place has a future - but - Flight Operations management has been steadily improving things and for what it is worth, the place is run like it will be around.

Management says if ALPA gets a good contract the airline will go away. So far, SkyWest has kept every threat they have made.

ASA training department is probably one of the best, they managed to get through a 3 year spurt of 1500 hour Captains back in the late 90's/early 00's, without any big problems i.e;Pinnacle (No offense),Skywest.

J.A. seems hell bent on breaking ALPA, and the Skywest people don't mind flying CRJ 900's around for 50 seat pay. So, the future at ASA is in doubt. The ASA pilots will probably burn the place down before capitulating to 50 seat rates across the board, and as a result, Skywest could probably perform much of the struck work. It would take time, but he could be fully staffed within 8 months, ala Eastern/Lorenzo.Small timeframe to bust ALPA. I know some of the Skywest pilots will be upset with that statement, but they have proven time and again that they just want bigger, new, more aircraft. They have chosen not to organize, so when JA says New Big base in Atlanta, they have no choice but to submit their bids. 30 days after the NMB releases us, we will have a good contract, or we will be walking the streets.

I hate that I will miss it, I am leaving for brighter pastures. I wish all the ASA pilots the best. And I hope the Skywest pilots awake some day, and realize what they are doing to the industry..

Feel free to fire away jetjock!!

sounds about right. where are you off to?

These are your opinions and I respect that. I wish the best for all ASA pilots! The only corrections I would make are; we get paid 5% more to fly CR7/9 with 1% increases every year through 2010 (not that that’s enough, I voted NO for this pay proposal) and I sent my card in, we need representation. Other than that I feel you opinions aren't that far off base.

BTW, it's not us bringing down the industry. Our pay package and QOL policies would be an increase in both pay and QOL for you and over 95% of the regional industry. It's people like JO and even though you think different, JA isn't a JO or Lorenzo.

Good luck in your new seat and take care. I’m glad you thought of me (although it was in a negative manner) but please understand that I have friends at ASA and I sympathize with their struggles.

Other than one or two IP's, ASA training is the fantastic. I'm a 10 year guy there and former military pilot. The training is top notch. As for the pay? yes it will go up on our new contract but not a lot. The experience level of the F.O.s we are getting just doesn't warrant the higher pay the way it did 5 or 10 years ago.

Stick

Deez340, thanks, and jetjock thanks. Jetjock, you have come a long way, and I envy your support for your company, but at some point there must be a line drawn in the sand. I know you guys know that flying that 900 for $80 per hour is not good. Anyway,I had enough, and I'm giving up a bunch of seniority to fly MD-11's around the world. Deez, I'm going to WORLD...

Jetjock,

Thanks for being nice, seriously, I have enjoyed the debates over the last few years, and I wish you too , all the best!! Get a hold of those people and get em' organized already.

All the best!!

What makes you think that the pilot group at ASA has a bad reputation? Do you even work here?

If people say that ASA may not even exist in the near future...is it even worth interviewing and possibly going to ? I mean i know 2nd year pay is competitive with the rest of the industry, but all I seem to hear is how much trouble ASA is in.

I cant see them dissapearing right away....they are actively hiring 40 pilots per month and according to one of the chief pilots...they plan on hiring like that well into 2008. So even if they eventually go down the tubes...its still a place to start getting experience. Better to be at ASA making dog crap then to be working at Mesa or "Goat" Jets and being hated be everyone

I never said anything about the pilot group. I was referring to the company itself, its a managerial mess.


I did however enjoy the new add SH sent to us regarding pilot recruitment. 3 years and dropping...HA!

Sweet! Good luck!