I just got the Dec. 10 class date. Anyone going to be there?

Funny how I made a post a few weeks ago regarding how the right seat in the 200 is much better QOL wise with upgrade times and reserve times over the 700. A few day's ago ASA decided they needed 5 700 FO's so they took the 4 youngest from my class and another guy for the 700. I bid to keep the 200 (which my entire class had) then I was assigned the 700. I've done lot's of talking with some 700 pilots and the reserve time will be alot longer but they said at my age to enjoy the 700 and when 2 years or so comes around upgrade to the left seat on the 50. So here I am about to start sims next week and I have to finish all of the training through IOE then start 700 differances training at the end of January and switch over. Should be fun even though the reserve will be long. With the new contract in place hopefully we'll get some more 70's and maybe 900's. As mentioned before don't complain about your aircraft assignments because chances are it's alot better than where you are coming from. I hear we have more app's than they know what to do with so good luck to everyone that is applying.

So does anyone know what the average reserve time is on the 70 seater? Since that is really the only reason people prefer the 50 over the 70. I bid on the 70 during training and of course was awarded the 50 but now they are placing me on the 70. I live pretty close to the airport so reserve isn't an issue for me. Just wanted to know what to expect. Thx

Afterburn~

Yeah. You'd be too busy keeping a log of the tail numbers of all the jets taking off and landing.

My reserve was 8mos because of the SLC closure. I just flew with a Captain who upgraded after 6 years at ASA. Trust me, you all have it much better than we did when we were hired.

Reserve should not be over 6mo on the 700, but who knows. Its less predictable as people senior to you will always be coming over...

Afterburn, what was your hire date?

One of my roommates was in the Dec 27th/06 class before me. He is on the 700 and is on reserve this month and next month. He keeps getting closer to holding a relief line but people keep coming over above him, bumping him down.

They hired me on may 21st.

When did you/will you begin class?

Sorry, that was my class date.........May 21 07. I was given that date on my interview a couple of weeks earlier.

I know some people who were hired in June that were awarded the 70 in October effective in Nov. Though you can't get it first you can bid over soon. But remember reserve time is a lot longer and the schedules suck unless your really senior.

Why would any newbie WANT the 700???

You know the 700 rox ur sox E man.

I would neve bid for the 700 but they put me on it. I'm not going to pitch a fit and try and get the 200 back. When 2 years or so comes around I'll just upgrade to the left seat back to the 50. I've talked to alot of pilots there and they say the first year sucks anyways so just enjoy the 700.

Pilot Man..

Looks like I may be there with ya Dec. 10.

Cool I will see you there! Check your pm's.

Anyone know what the typical age is where you go ATR vs. CRJ?

I'm Starting at ASA on the 10th as well, their are four of us coming from Vero Beach,FL.

In my class it was about 22/23.

Yea <23 is the age for the ATR usually. My entire class got the 200.

I will see you there then. Im coming in from Tx.

Congrats to all you who got on with ASA. Its truely really up to the company what plane you get until you get senior enough (over time) to bid what you really want and can hold.
I think asa is turning into the regional to work for now.....you guys will like it. The new contract, the planes...the people...its all good. In the short time that ive been here, i have seen good improvements on the ramp in ATL and ops are getting overall better too.
The training department is great.....show them effort and they will do the same in return.
Good luck in the near future!

How long is ASA going to be hiring 40 pilots a month? I don’t go in for an interview until the spring and I’m worried that they won’t need pilots as bad. Another thing, I’m getting married next August. If I were to get hired and get a May training date will they allow me to take time off for my wedding and honeymoon. Or should I ask for a training date after I get married?

Heres what the interviewers told us at our interview. The training program in 2 mos long. For 3 mos we are theirs. No one can get sick, die, get married, have babies, nothing. This all being said with a chuckle of course but heres the thing, you dont want to have distractions while in training. A failed class looks mucho bad on your record. So my personal advice would get a class date after you get married or something. It seems like the trend will be that they are going to be hiring for awhile. That far into next year is really too hard to tell I think. Of course I dont know it all this is just my .02.

I interviewed Monday. In talking to their pilot recruiter folks, the company doesn't expect to stop growing in the foreseable future... Granted, it's a dynamic industry that is subject to change. But, short of something catastrophic happening, it sure sounds like they'll still be hiring strong in the spring. Hang in there, keep studying and building time.

Heres the scoop. All the airlines will be hiring for quite some time. Maybe not at 100 a month but they will be hiring. So if you already have an interview set up for the spring...then your set. As far as the marriage thing goes....i had a kid get married during the sim part of training. He had a couple days off over the weekend....went got married...came back as if nothing had changed. So no biggie. If you have a may class date...you should be done with training by august. Also, i have another friend here that is getting married in december. He is still on reserve for next month but they gave him the time off he needed.....pretty much his golden days.
I got the same speech during the interview about you cant get sick, die, or get married (all with a smile of courese). However, asa is very good about working with you aslong as you work with them and give them plenty of notice. Another example i just thought of is another kid in our class got really sick in the middle of training and had to take like 2 months off. They said fine and just made him start in the next class when he was better. No biggie.
So all in all i would highly recommend coming here to ASA. Just remember though that this is your future, and a screw up here could carry on with you for a long time. Be professional, have fun, and work hard.....youll be set.

Goodl Luck!

I started May 21st and was in IOE by the begging of Aug. My wedding was scheduled for the end of Sept but when I think about it they are pretty flexible with IOE if you need. Plus if you finish IOE in a reasonable amount of time you will have about a week off before you have to start reserve in which you usually get to pick your days off if you are ineligible for the bid in that month. Of course those days have to be mutually agreed upon. Guess it all depends on when your wedding is. during the month.

My wedding date is August 23rd and I graduate the first week of May. The gentleman I talked to at ASA told me they could get me in a class as soon as I get my diploma. So hopefully I can get a May class. This is if I get hired, I still have to call them back and schedule my exact interview day. The problem is I forget the name of the guy who I talked, I was so excited to here back from them when he told me his name I was still shocked. I think it was Richard.

As a new hire, bid anything but the -700. If you get the -700, you'll be on reserve longer, you'll fly with all of the nonstandard, crusty, crabby old bastards, and you won't be able to bid off (can't bid down in pay at ASA). Under the new contract, -700 pay is only a couple of bucks higher than the -200, and all new hire pay is the same anyhow. You'll also have a 1 year seat lock.

Regarding the ATR, don't believe the hype. Jet time is good, but its not everything. Once upon a time, all "commuters" flew turboprops, and got hired at "majors" just fine. Spending 2000 hours in a CRJ reading People while the computers fly won't teach you nearly as much as 500 hours in an ATR at low altitude in the weather. Airlines know this.

Besides, the ATR is more fun. We only fly to cities that touch Georgia (read: only pack for one climate on reserve) and all of our overnights are near a beach. Besides, we only do 1/4 of the work of a CRJ crew for the same money. And all of the partying you hear about is true. Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach overnights... hello?

If you get the ATR go in with a good attitude, though. A group now known as the "Fab 5" got it a few months ago and went and told the chief pilot they were too good to fly an ATR. Thy are now branded and life is difficult.

JP, proud ATR captain,
and lifetime member of the ASA Turboprop Mafia.

Sending my resume in Monday, which is a week earlier than expected. Was going to wait until I had about 100 hours ME (more so for applying to other airlines), but going to send in with 1400 TT, 80ME, and ATP written

It's my experience that multi time doesn't mean anything regarding to getting hired other than actually getting the interview. I got the job with 1200/50.

Does the "Fab 5" still work at ASA?

Yup... :D

One of them has a DC9 type too... Fabulous! :rolleyes:

Hey everyone. I just got my new hire packet in the mail a few days ago, and it said I might have a very good chance of getting the 200 in LAX. I know that ASA has already opened and closed that base and now XJT does that flying, but my buddy that just finished training said it wasnt on his new hire packet. So does this mean ASA is getting that flying back or is it an old template that all they did was change the name and date on?

Old temp, that rumor is not circulating at all.

Good I would rather stay where its semi cheaper to live LOL.

Just don't forget to bid the ATR ;)

What! I cant be seen in that thing. Im going to bid the 700! LOL:D MAJOR SARCASM!

700 schedules are no good.

Thank God.. My cover letter came off the same template.