So you hate new pilots?
No. Just the type of training some receive for their initial ratings. "Aviating" no longer is a term, and the only way they can fly is if there is a profile for it.


Are you saying that the lowest common denominator and least qualified (in all measurable ways) of the pilot pool are the ones that apply to GLA for pilot jobs?[/QUOTE]
I'm quite impressed with a lot of the applicants we get. I wouldn't knock our pilot pools. The ones who fail our training end up flying jets for other regionals. Our training is not geared toward the lowest common denominator (the "Cousin Eddie's" if you will), and a large portion of newhires learn quickly that they have to step up to the plate and swing hard. Some don't make it, but those that don't make it either have such poor scans when they show up that it's beyond help, or just fall behind and can't catch up.

 

Why did it have to be? Fine, then pilots like you are lowering the bar for the Internet.

Hasn't there already been plenty of opinion on why one wouldn't go to Great Lakes? Do you feel like an applicant doesn't know what they're getting themselves into? The recruiters at Lakes do a far better job spreading caution about taking a job with GLA. Pilots should have more information, not misinformation about job-choices if they are trying to use these forums to make a career decision. This doesn't need to become a political issue every time a CFI posts an interest in passing up the highest-paid, largest-jet, strongest-union job on planet earth for some different method of career-satisfaction.

Great Lakes is a very different breed of regional airline, if anyone needs questions answered before they make a decision, PM me.

 

I've been at 3 airlines so far in my career. At UAL/CAL now. Lakes was absolutely, by far, without a doubt, the most demanding training of my life. If you do go there, be very prepared. I wasn't. It showed. They had to drag me across the finish line. Must have been because I was such a fun guy to be around.

 

Partly, yes. I heard their spiel back in the day, they said something along the lines of "you won't be making bank", but they seem to dance around the fact that it's well below the poverty line, the $13,000/yr part, and so on. They like to use vague ways to describe what you are talking about, like the hard work, the training, the pay, without being very specific. I'd say most people applying to regional airlines do not know what they are getting themselves into, Lakes is no different, and yes the recruiters do say a few things about "it's not great pay, but experience, blah blah blah", and that might be excusable if we were taking 40K/yr, but we aren't, we're talking less than McDonalds.

I don't think every pilot is looking for a CRJ or 777 job, I think they are looking for fair compensation. It's not SJS when they pass up Lakes for something with a livable wage, that's just survival.

 

Why is this the airlines responsibility to make sure YOU know what you're getting yourself into? And why is it the airlines responsibility to make sure you know how hard you're going to work and how hard training is? Every airline out there is going to sugar coat things and tell you what you want to hear. How about YOU, as a potential applicant, (and be clear I do not specifically mean you - I know you're content on your RJ - just speaking in generalities) act like an adult/professional and do your own homework and not rely on others to do your research for you? Nor should you be disappointed/angry with an airline when you couldn't cut it - how is that anyone's fault but your own? I dunno, maybe I'm crazy, but both airlines I've been to I have done my homework before applying = very few surprises (Lakes included).

Hey, just my .02..

 

2nd that with a disclaimer:

Lakes was naturally the first job I got out of CFI-ing (Lakes, SKYW, ATA, CAL, FedEX)

And yeah, it was by FAR, the toughest training I'd ever had in my career but....

was it because I was C152 pilot flying day VFR when I took the job? I sometimes wonder if the order were reversed: FDX, CAL, ATA, SKYW, GLA if I were to think it was actually as bad as it was.

But I'll agree, if you're a CFI coming from sitting in the right seat doing touch and goes all day long (as most new Lakers were/are) expect a serious challenge (but most of us got through)

 

I went through the interview process recently. Met with the recruiter at a job fair before that. In the email they send you prior to scheduling an interview they outline that there is no pay during training and mention which domciles you are likely to be placed in to start. When I spoke with the recruiter he was very direct at how the conditions at Great Lakes are. During the interview both pilots interviewing me also were upfront about training and the work conditions. They let you review the training contract at the interview as well.

Thanks to all the Lakes pilots on here (past and present) for sharing your experiences.

 

Yeah, you're right. But it still would be pretty hard for me now, as I am now fat and quite lazy. You have to be young and eager to put up with the crap there. Would I go there again?..... well.....yes, I would. I wouldn't want to go somewhere where you could be perceived as flying routes that the majors used to be flying. Call me overly cautious.

 

Anyone else interviewing next week?

 

Got an email today but I can't make the interview not when I've got to pay for the trip out there from PHL. WTH they can't spring for the flight there? It's like $400 for a round trip ticket.