Interested in ASA
 

I aminterested in working for ASA. I am from Atlanta and used to be a Ramp Agent there 10 years ago. I am a military officer (non aviation) and former police officer. I just recently became a CFI and have about 600 hours of flight time.

I like ASA. It is a good airline with a hometown feeling. What do you guys think of ASA? WHat is the training like? Thanks

I have an interview with them on the 30th and 31st, I will let you know how it goes.

If you have the ME time, I'd apply pronto.

I have 58 hours of multi time.

But although I meet the mins, I have never worked in a flying job before,. I am one to believe that justbecause youmet the minimum requirements dosnt mean you'll get the job. I mean all these people are getting interviews, but how many are actually passing training? I dont think I would pass training since I have no experience with jets, a glass cockpit or 121 regs. I am a general aviation pilot. I fly maybe 4 or 5 times a month. I need toinstruct to build my knowledgebase.

Ill be applying when my time gets there. Getting ready to take the pay cut.:( Its a sad day when pilots qualify for welfare.

Well then. . .do what you want, but why would you NOT apply if you met the minimums? Just passing up a seniority number, that you could potentially have.

Of course, you could go out and pay for a CRJ transition course somewhere, of which is not greatly looked upon favorably.

Or - yes - go and instruct somewhere. But do it quick.

I do want to instruct, but I dont think thats going to help me to be a First Officer. I think a good CRJ course would be beneficial.
PFT courses are not loked well upon, I dont think a CRJ transition course is bad. In fact, it was suggested to me by a hiring official at a regional that if I dont have any glass experience that I should do a CRJ course. I think its a good idea

The least of your worries will be the fact that it's a glass cockpit. If you have anything of a half-way decent scan on the 6-pack, glass will be a step down for you.

Flying the ERJ, I no longer have a scan; I have a stare.

You and me both. It takes years of practice and aviation prowess to learn the two required steps of flying a glass cockpit:

1. Stare straight ahead.

2. Adjust accordingly.

Because you want to make sure that you can pass training and not everyone is ready for that with 400 or 500 hours. You are only hurting yourself if you go in just because you have the mins and then can't get through.

From everything I have read, no matter how much (or little) TT or ME time you have, if you cant fly instruments in a SIM you wont make it.

But then again, I am still trying to figure out how to make my resume and flying skills shine for the interviews :confused:

Don't worry, you have the right attitude, you'll be just fine. Once you're in training, ask lots of questions and make study partners. Study long, hard and remember it's just a stick and rubber with an abundant amount of automation to help you not "F" up.

"stick and rubber" huh.... i like that. the above is good advice but good instrument skills are a prerequisite. you won't have time to hone them during training and they won't waste their time and money on you to learn BAI. Make sure your scan and IFR knowledge/skill set is sharp so you can concentrate on learning their aircraft and procedures. Long ago when i was at Eagle we had a girl in my class fail out of sims. She protested and cried but the training manager said i only have time to teach you to fly a SAAB for AE. I don't have time to teach you to fly.

I've been to a couple of hiring seminars about what the regionals are looking for and for people who don't have the ME time and meet the TT mins but have the RJ Standards course taken, it makes them much more competitive due to the fact that those courses are geared towards initial OE training course work. I'd get the ME time and actually instruct to really get a solid knowledge base. I like ASA as well, but if you read on here many people don't.

Thanks for all the advice

Asa
 

Back on the subject:
I have been at ASA now for almost 5 months. This is my first 121 job. I like it so far. Training was great, instructors were amazing. The first year pay sucks, second year it almost doubles, and will be even better as soon as we get a new contract. My biggest complaint is ATL. You will NEVER have an on time flight out of Atlanta, people just don't do their job on the ramp. You will become quite skilled at making apologies to pax. If you can deal with the typical bs that goes on at any regional, asa is no worse. I would recommend it, especially if it is an opportunity to fly in your hometown. Hope this helps!
Good luck and blue skies!

Thanks ehaeckercfi,

I actually used to be one of those ramp Agents in ATL back in 1995 and again in 1999.

How long was your training? What was your favorite part? What was your least favorite part? What did you find the most challenging?

Training was about 2 months. I got assigned the ATR, so it might be a good bit different from what the jet guys went through. The ATR training department is amazing. Probably the best training department of any regional airline. my favorite part is that everybody is incredibly laid back. If you don't have a sense of humor, or if you get easily offended, you wont make it through training. I had 2 weeks of indoc. which was really easy. After than, we had 2 weeks of systems ground school, 3 days of general ops, which is mainly company procedures, CAT 2 stuff, etc... After that it was 2 days of CPT (cockpit procedure training) which was done in the sim itself. After that it was another 2 weeks of sims. I had every weekend off during training, and no odd hours.
The hardest part for me was adapting to the 121 environment. Flying the plane, and all the instrument stuff was no problem. I have never worked in a 2 pilot environment, so all that CRM B.S. took some getting used to. Hope this helps you out, and again, good luck!

Thanks,
That was was some good information. When do you get your asigned aircraft and how do you get it? I mean do you request it or do hey give you what they want you to have?
And what is indoc? (remember I know nothing about airline flying)

They assign the aircraft within the first week of indoc (basic indoctrination) by seniority. Obviously, a class of 20 will have the same hire date, so seniority is assigned by age. I was the youngest in the class, so I got the ATR instead of the jet. I think they are sending 2 new hires out of each class to the ATR, and the rest to the 200 or 700.

How was the interview????? I have mine on Monday and Tuesday...any reccomendations?

SO, what...the older you are, the better?

no, but in general, most people would rather fly a jet than a turboprop, so the senior people get first choice. I don't agree with that, I think seniority should be assigned by flight time.

The interview was very easy I thought. Make sure you know your jepps inside and out. The written was fairly basic stuff, covering instrument stuff, and some ATP stuff. The sim evaluation was strait forward, hand flown, raw data (no flight director). Just remember to slow to 200 for the hold. Good luck!

So, seniority is based on age. So, I am 38 years old so that shoyuld help me out a little bit then.

ok great thank you very much@@@ are you in training now ???

Hey everyone, this is my first time posting and Ive got a real quick question about not only ASA but other some of the other regionals. For number or them they talk about conducting a phone interview before they give you an interview date. I am just wondering what all is covered in that pre-interview interview. Sorry if this has already been talked about in another thread. Thanks for the help.

As far as ASA goes the call is not so much a pre-interview as much as a screening to determin wether to send you an app.

good idea!