Great Lakes: Upgrade Time?
 

Title says it, just curious what upgrade time is at Great Lakes

I just looked at the great lakes pay, $15 an hour starting FO, after 5 years your still only getting $20 an hour, a 5 year captain makes what a 3rd or 4th year FO makes at other regionals. I don't think i'd want to work there. Isn't much to upgrade to, Beech 1900 or EMB 120.

Kind of depends on your goals. 6-12 month upgrade(has been in the past), less than 2 years and have 1000 Turbine PIC might be worth the low pay. If you plan on staying at a regional, it does not make much sense to head to Lakes.

Lakes is pretty much is poor pay/work rules but has Excellent people and experience if you can handle it. No RJ's or FMS, but I guarantee you will have above average flying skills when you leave for greener pastures.

Just my 2 cents.

Both are fine airplanes; don't have so much jet envy.

Exactly. Get the PIC and get out!

Above poster hits the nail on the head. The Lakes upgrade has averaged a year for about as long as I've been following it. That said, those that have gotten hired with ATP minimums or nearly so indeed have upgraded at around 6 months. For me, since I was hired with lower total time, it will be 13-14 months, provided they're having upgrade classes when that time comes. While it usually does happen quickly here, there is no sure thing...there was a period of about 6 months shortly after I got hired that there were no upgrades, which is quite a long time at Lakes.

This place isn't for everybody. But you will gain some incredible experience, fly with some great people, and will probably have crazier stories than those that get to walk down jetways to their aircraft...my captain narrowly dodged getting bit by a prairie rattlesnake last week in GCK. :D

Sounds like fun...sign me up....:D

But if you got bit you wouldn't have some hot flight attendant to suck the poison out:p

Where are Lakes CA's going? Hopefully not to jet regionals?

We have a few Lakes guys here at Alaska. Both of whom I am good friends with and have recommended Lakes if your looking for fun in an underpaid,non-jet airline.

Lakers normally move on to the majors. SWA has hired a bunch of them in the past.

It took me 16 months to upgrade at Lakes due to furloughs and that was a looooooong time in comparison. If you're considering it then make sure your skills are sharp, guys bust out every class and the first time pass rate for upgrade was always below 50% when I was there. If a quick grand PIC is what you want then I would do it. Trust me, you will never do anything the rest of your career that is that much fun. Think Bob Hoover in a 1900 instead of a Commander. :D

And if you think having flight attendants is an advantage then you've obviously not been in airplanes with FAs for very long.;)

Oh, there's certainly been a few bail to jet regionals such as SkyWest, Horizon, and AWAC. However, those that stick it out lately have been going to SWA, AirTran, and Alaska, off the top of my head, with a smattering of FedEx hires that happened before I got here. There's also a few at Kalitta, I know.

Why not?
 

Some do. In many cases they get 1000 TPIC at Lakes. They then move to a jet regional for better pay and QOL, and to wait out the major gig while gaining what they don't have, jet and/or glass. It's actually been proven a very succesful strategy for most guys.

Great picture on your screen name ! Is that a mighty Twin C doing cloud base hail suppression ? I have a few hours doing that stuff, fun at the time.

J/C What does the upgrade consist of? As in Rechecking, ADM, Systems, Etc?

Pretty much standard 121 upgrade. Few days of systems, written test, few sims, oral, few flights in the airplane (maybe), then check ride. Much like initial training yet shorter duration, higher standards and more required information.

Actually it's a picture taken from a Comanche 250 single...one of my buddies took it. I was working on the same storm, but was in a Baron 55, and I don't have a digital camera (someday...). It was a pretty impressive "mini supercell" that was a good example of how my summer went.:D

I also forgot some obvious places that GLA guys are going in my above post...a great deal of our guys have been going to Frontier of late, and several have had offers at CitationShares, as well as various corporate gigs.

Rode SWA today with fmr lakes captain who has been around only a couple of months.

Seemed like a great guy, and flew a great airplane.

Pretty sure I know who you're talking about. He will represent us well, I am sure.

In my experience, there are a lot of Lakes Guys here at Frontier...

I've known him for quite some time. Great guy. Our Dads are big buds.