I would love to get any intel anyone wants to share about Compass. I guess I'm looking for anything I should consider when interviewing there (i.e Upgrade time, what to prep for the interview, are those promises starting to come true now that the ball is rolling?)
Also, on the employment webpage, it says that candidates must be willing to relocate to domicle...is this true? is there no commuting?

 

Do a search of this forum... there's a lot of info that's previously been posted.

Compass does allow commuting, however everybody is considered "domiciled" when they are in training at MSP, and hotels are not provided. Neither is transportation to and from MSP for various activities during training (drug test/medical screening/etc).

 

Ok thanks...I can deal with that. I did search some other posts but I also ran into some failry negative comments (like promises not being made and getting FO pay when flying as CA). I am hoping that this is attributable to being a new operation, etc. Surely, there's some pros and cons....aren't there?

 

Yeah, we're all pros who got conned!

Damn I'm good :-)

 

Flyerjosh had a great post on the process back in May I think, it was a big help. Its a great place that is new and growning. At the interview they said it might be a couple of weeks to a month to the left seat depending on acircraft delivery. That has slipped a little the last few months because Embrearer. In class it looked like we would have an aircraft when finished with IOE but with the slips in delivery it will be a month maybe two to captain. 36 airctaft option for 18. That is 200 Captains with 36 b. Most captains will flow up in a year or two anyway. So if you are under 200 it will the end of 08. it might be two or three years. They want you to flow up. Then if they get 18 in 09... They have ALPA and a contract. Also the NWA pilots approved the small jet flying.

 

Bata, is the flow not in the alpa contract? From what I know about the contract the flow is locked at 30 months min. Also it only allows for 25% of the capt. list to flow each year or about 75 people each year. There are also huge FAA issue with loosing 50% of your captains each year at a 121 carrier. If history is any tell of the future, the flow may not work as advertised. Those that don't know the history of the airline industry are really sheep being led to the butcher.

5 crews per aircraft is normal so for 36 aircraft that would give you 180 captains.

For low time people this looks like it may turn out to be a decent place to be. For anyone with any decent flight time, it may not be a good idea. Each to their own as none of us know what will happen. I do know here at ASA we are loosing people to all of the majors at a very nice rate right now.

Good luck to all of your Compass guys and galls.

 

Eric3D,

Can you elaborate on the FAA issues with having Captains leave the property? I haven't heard this one before.

The way I see it (from a reg standpoint) is this: as long as the guy sitting in the left seat meets CA requirements via the OpSpecs, then it's fine.

What say you?

 

This is all good intel...I'm just nervous because I am looking at giving up a good paying corporate gig with nice airplanes to pursue the airline thing. Compass seems (on paper) to be a "decent" route short of a major picking me up...especially with the prospect of quick upgrades.

Did someone say that Compass does not pay hotel for training? Yikes!

 

This is true when your training is in domicile (MSP). Most of your new hire training is home study via distance learning. You'll need to spend a total of about 10 nights in MSP (your own dime) before you are sent to Montreal for sims.

You will have positive space travel from MSP to Montreal and the company will pay for hotel and pay per diem as well.

 

That whole paying for hotels in MSP during training sucks but it sounds like half the majors including NWA right now are doing the SAME thing...and for almost the same pay ($30 an hour). The good thing is that you receive 24 hour per diem for about 40 days in YUL. This helps those ludicrous paychecks they are sending out.

On the whole I am pleased with the company on most things....the one thing I am not though is a very BIG thing...or maybe I should say little...my paycheck.

This past month I had 20 days off but of the 10 days flying and 35 hours I put in from the left seat I received 0 hours of CA pay.
The explanation I received from the Chief pilot was that the hours flown from the left seat would be compensated as such...but the hours sitting at home were going to be comp'd at FO pay....another words he says I should have been paid 35 hours CA rate and 40 hours FO to finish the 75 hour guarentee. Although this is still BS!! I didn't even receive that.
All I can say is $500 - $600 checks every 2 weeks just doesn't pay the bills PERIOD.