Hey all,

I was just curious on a little info about AWAC I always get conflicting stories from the instructors I work with and was wondering if any AWAC pilots could answer some questions for me.

1. Are they hiring? (I hear yes and I hear no beause to backed up with US airways change over)

2. what is upgrade time (I hear anywhere from 2 to 6 years)

3. Is pay staying where it is? ( I think I read somewhere on here that it is going down but one guy who just interviewed said that it will be going up in a year)

By all means please dont think of me as a money hungry upgrade monger. But im putting my resumes in everywhere and would like to get an idea about where i could be working. It always seems like if you dont like what you hear from one guy the next will come and tell you that you something else. thanks

-punkpilot48

 

Yes, 300 or so for 2006, which is about 40% of our current pilot group.

Doesn't matter, it won't be the same when you go for upgrade. Currently it's around 3 years, but dropping due to attrition. However, it will go back up again and become stagnent (IMO) because all the people that are unhappy will have left, replaced by people that know what they are getting into.


Pay won't decrease, they took concessions in '03 and then management bent over the pilot group (long story). The pay MAY get a slight bump after Feb. when the grievence is heard. Plan on it staying the same. It's not bad, when combined with our work rules.

If you plan on coming here, DO NOT COMMUTE. You will hate your life VERY VERY much. Plan on living in base, either PHL, DCA, or ORF. If you plan on commuting I suggest you go elseware. The schedules just won't allow for it.

Another forum, www.flightinfo.com, is a much better place for info IMO. Once you register, click on the "search" menu and search for what you are looking for. Chances are someone asked it and it's already sitting there.

fosters

 

cool thanks for the help. Just sent my resume off before i went to dinner.

Yeah I deffintly dont plan on commuting. Ill have to check out that other forum.

 

Have you heard anything about hiring session workshops/info sessions? I talked to one guy who said he applied online and got no response, then had a friend walk in his resume and got no response, and then finally went to this hiring workshop and was offered an interview. Now he is in class for CRJ.

 

The pay will go up every year regardless of the outcome of the arbitration...every 10/01 the rates are increased 1.5% and every time you pass your DOH you get a 3% raise. Along with that there is an adjusted increase every 2 and 1/2 years. The next one is 03/06 and the rates will go up (very different industry increase than Eagle's, AE's is based on pay raises over the year, AWACs is based on actual hourly wages). The only company right now that meets the criteria for the adjustment that makes less on a per hour basis is Mesa, everybody else makes more per hour, including TSA (50 seat non-wholly owned 50 seat operators). Some others that qualify are Skywest, Expressjet (CAL sold their majority stake), Chautauqua, etc.

Upgrade times are less than 3 years, last award had pilots hired 08/03 and 09/03. But the previous poster is correct that will probably stagnate towards the middle to end of next year.

The 300 number of new hires next year is a budgeted number for the flight department. The actual number could be north or south of there (I am betting North). They seem to asses there needs every month when the final resignation list is available. There will be a lull in the hiring in the spring due to the transition of all of the current 146 pilots...April - May I believe.

FO

 

Can you elaborate as to what you said here? Thank you.

 

The trips typically start early in the day (especially for ORF) where commuting in that day is impossible, so you've got to come in the day before. Also, the trips typically end late where you most likely will have to stay the night, normally in the crewroom. There are sleeping bags, air mattresses, etc. all over our crew rooms.

With a 4 on 3 off schedule, you're looking at 1 full day at home a week. Not very condusive to family life.

I've heard the schedules are getting a bit better. March bidding opens on the 10th and I'll get to see what the March schedules look like for F/O's.

Regardless, living in base is really the only way to go. I purposely bid RSV now because I am at home on reserve and only get called 1/3 to 1/2 of my days on.

 

Fosters:

Thanks for all of the info. I am interviewing with Air Whiskey this month, and I have a question for you, or anyone who can help. Is it usually pretty easy to find a crash pad or something similar? I am hoping to commute, but i'm well aware that I probably will stay at my base far more than I will come "home", so I am curious how pilots for AWAC take care of this essential item.

CJ

 

Crashpads are a dime a dozen in PHL and DCA, in ORF if you have a car you can get set up pretty nicely (no mass transit there). CA's usually buy hotels, FO's generally sleep in the crew rooms, unless they have a crashpad, which most of us can't afford.

If you're on reserve, a crashpad is a must have - you can't shower/shave/etc. in the crew rooms. Once a lineholder, depending on the line, you can probably get away without it.

 

Thanks again fosters. Which base are most of the new FO's getting. Also, what is the average time being spent on reserve at each base. Thanks again for putting up with all my nagging questions. I am planning on the interview going well, so needless to say, I have many newtimer questions. Thanks for your patience.

CJ