Gotcha.....totally understandable. The only thing I worry about since I just got on reserve is the 100hrs in 120 days. Since my IOE was only a little over 30 hours I still got some time to work up here. Does anyone know when that 120 days actually starts? I suppose that would clarify it.

 

Mregan, what is the first year pay again?

 

You have been in negotiations for 5 years. Unfortunately, management has indefinate patience with these matters since you have to just keep working.

I don't know the details of the current ASA contract with respect to work rules(which we all know make a huge difference in total compentation). Based on their pay scale alone, it appears that ASA is one of the better paid regionals after the first year. What concerns me more is the inability of airlines to recruit quality new hires due to the brutal cost of entry into this career. I have the same concern at my company. We really are scrapping the bottom of the barrel. The question is at which point will we start to lose contracts because of our inability to properly staff?

Its all a big shell game in the end, but the "pay raise for us all" mentality really worries me when it comes to negotiation. Again, there is a big difference between making under $20k a year and those making $60k and up. The difference being that you can support a family and adequately protect yourself financially on the latter.

I firmly believe that by recruiting higher quality pilots who may be more inclined to see their regional as slightly more than a stepping stone (you never know when you will get stuck), the entire pilot group will benefit from more active involvement and a sense of ownership in their airline. The standard SJS sufferer just wants to fly the shiny jet and will do anything for it. Those types do nothing to help with contract negotiations.

Maybe I'm wrong and that's not the best approach, but I'm willing to debate it civilly with anyone who's interested.

Edit: Wow that was a long one!

 

If /when I make the jump, that is TOTALLY my evil plan. Time out for the holidays when I hold a line. The wife would love that. Then again, I would be forced to (gulp) go shopping and decorate. Decisions, decisions....

 

you state that Asa is one of the best paid regional: where do you get your facts? It is actually one of the lowest. Now look at duty rigs and average flown hours at regionals before you answer my question.
So you think that by raising only first year rates by a few dollars, will attract quality people. What happens to the quality people when their first year is over?
You think we will loose contract because airline cannot staff. You are wrong again, because pilot shortage = pay raise and better bargaining power.
I would rather have you making 60K in your first year if it was possible.
But airlines have to raise the bar at all levels if you want to have a future in this industry.
You will get your raise in your first year and they will discard you after a few years. We are UNION and we fight for all.
I totally agree that we should attract the best pilots. But this is going to happen with a consistent well thought contract that benefits all pilots across the board, not with only a little raise for new hires.
I know where you come from and I understand your frustration. I was there myself. You have got the choice, If ASA first year pay doesn't satisfy you, then go elsewhere.
Propjet.

 

You guys at ASA going to get a retro check after this contract is finalized?

 

This has always been one of the big problems at ASA. There is no transparency in scheduling, especially with those on reserve. Because of this, the situation is ripe for bribery and kick backs. When I was there I would go over a month without being called. No kidding. I finished IOE on the ATR in October 2000. My first flight as a PIC was in December- over a month. I almost did not meet my 120 day minimums. Meanwhile, pilots junior to me would max out each month. I overheard one of these pilots talking in the crew lounge about the different things that schedulers liked in exchange for flying; she would buy this one pizza, that one candy, another one actually liked a little cash. I wanted to grab her and beat the **** out of her.
Another time I was awarded a relief line with... 0 hours of flying. The entire month on reserve, "working" T-Day. A pilot junior to me got a relief line with 80 hours, T-Day off. When I called to complain, good old Willy told me he met the letter of the contract- we were both awarded relief lines. Nothing said my relief line had to have more flying.
This MUST be fixed in the contract.

 

Every September it slows down at ASA; so enjoy sitting around in the crashpad because things ramp up in the fall. You will get busy.

 

ThreeGreens is correct and scheduling does respond well to pizza, just use some tact. Since you have so much time on your hands walk into scheduling and deliver food yourself. They're going to give the flying to someone, you just gotta convince them that it might as well be you.

Besides, you'll be off reserve a lot sooner than my class was. You're much more golden than you think buddy.

 

First year pay is currently $19.02/hr, going up to $34/hr the second year. They tell us, if the contract is ever finished, first year pay may go up to $23/hr. I'm not holding my breath over that though...