You are correct. Maybe nobody will call me. I should have made a blanket disclaimer noting that it all hinges on my optimistic outlook of getting an offer from GLA and/or SKW/CPZ (someday). I also know that you can't ever 'plan' a career in the airlines but it never helps to think things through - like playing chess. Come up with 6 different moves all based on what piece the other guy moves.

I am at 500TT/100ME/75 INST - which is awfully close to SKW mins if I get 500 more hours. I know I can get ExpressJet, GoJet, etc with lower mins but the bases are a hard commute. My focus on SKW is that they are financially stable, have never furloughed a pilot, and have an MSP base that is fairly junior (all good things taking into consideration that bases close and change all the time).

The wife is all for me making a move to either be a CFI/Aerial Photo Pilot or to a 121 carrier. I am trying to get in before the HR5900 rule in 07/13 so that I can be in a good spot when the majors start to hire over the next 7-8 years.

GLA is a good option to get the 121 experience, ME experience, and hopefully the TPIC hours I'd need to get into a major.

Basically, I see I have two options.

1. CFI/Photo for the next 6-8 months making $17/hour and hope and pray SKW calls when I am at the bare mins (although I've heard from their recruiters they like to see experience in 121 carriers or other T-Prop aircraft).

2. Work hard and shoot for GLA, grin and bear the $17/hour and crank out the hours from my 500 now to whatever I am at after 15 months then either upgrade at GLA or move to a CPZ/SKW airline and get some jet time.

I will start throwing apps when I finish up my master's in August and see what happens. Maybe if I have a good spring/summer flying between now and then I will be close to 1000TT and will qualify for a bunch of airlines and go to the best fit of whatever ones call....

 

Seems like you have a good head on your shoulders, but I grantee you the regional airline industry will look totally different in 6 months!

Eagle in Bankruptcy
Pinnacle is Bankrupt without filling
Republic is not doing so good and we have to see what happens with Frontier
Tran States is losing airplanes, GoJet is hiring and apparently can't staff the airline
MESA struggling and loosing airplanes as it emerges from Bankruptcy
SKW is the shining star but they are not doing as good as before the purchase of the other regionals (ASA/ExpressJet)
*The rest of the smaller regionals are not doing great either

Much change will happen as it always does, but SKW is a good company and they seem to treat their employees well.
All the regionals would love people with Turbine time and 121/135 experience, but as the supply decreases you will see less and less people who have the above experience. Currently there aren't many regional pilots on furlough so there aren't many candidates whoa re looking for a regional job with the above experience, now if Eagle drops a few hundred guys that could be a different story.

Keep your options open, maintain a clean record (mins could change any moment). Eagle went from 1000TT 200ME to just requiring a pulse in a matter of 8 months!!!

 

I have to totally agree with you on that. Yes some got hired with a pulse who think they know the regional industry on the back of their head

 

I was hired with over 1,000 TT so I am an expert... ha ha... J/K

 

Howdy Folks,

Quick inquiry about Lakes ... I've read the gouges and there's no mention of a sim eval during the interview. Is that indeed the case? Also, does GL provide any transportation to the interview? I wouldn't be shocked if they don't. Finally, what is it about their training that makes it so notoriously difficult?

Thanks for any information, I appreciate the help.

 

No sim eval when I interviewed a few months back nor did they provide a hotel or transportation to the interview. Fellow classmates of mine said the training was tough because there wasn't much of it.

 

FYI - the MSP to DEN commute is extremely competitive. I'd say a couple hundred Delta guys, numerous CPZ/9E/Mesaba guys, and an overwhelming number of SKW guys who are willing to commute to a line in MSP, rather than sit RSV in base.

Quite honestly, I find the last part about SKW guys puzzling.

 

This question is purely out of curiousity - not to say I would EVER consider it because I live by pretty high moral standards - but what if someone just walked away and said 'to hell with you, I'm not paying you $7,500'. Is GLA going to take you to small claims court? From what I've heard from some people is that unless a bank note is attached and it is amortized appropriately - there is no legal 'stick' that companies can use to get the employee to pay that back...

 

Respect! Takes balls to stand up for yourself. No one should be afraid to call out a crap company.

 

Case Against GLA

They will come after it... they might take their time and wait till your not expecting it and then mail it out to you. Here is a case of some guy who tried to fight it... he lost.




You’d probably be best not sharing your opinions and feelings since you’re an employee of GLA. I hope you do take some of it into your own hands and make improvements to the process and make it more positive. Although I’m sure you know the situations most of the new hires are in. They are barely able to eat and come with little money in their accounts to sacrifice themselves for a company that treats them like crap.


The Plains Hotel is more of a product of it’s own environment. It’s Cheyenne, WY… it doesn’t get much better. Not really complaining, just giving a description of the hotel. I think I left out the part that every thing you touch shocks you and the water scalds you or is freezing cold. Not that it matters. The hotel shuttle service is excellent. They pretty much have someone to drive all the new "intern pilots" around 24/7.

The white building? It has been getting cleaner? I can’t imagine it before.


I’ll take that part out about the management… you’re right that was a low blow. It wasn’t meant to you personally. Just to some of the people I came in contact with who weren’t very professional which frustrated me and caused me to go over the top. Aviation is a small world, and I think most people I talk to in the future I’ll make sure to tell them to turn the other way when thinking about going to GLA. Without people who stand up for themselves, the company will never turn into a desirable place to work.

Morale. Nothing to say to that… I saw what I saw. I actually texted someone who used to have my FOM in his possession. You should of seen the stuff he had to say about GLA, and he stayed with the company for 3 years. He basically told me to leave ASAP.

Why would you need to provide data on my night escapades? I don’t have a drinking problem. It’s just not a normal sight to see a higher up getting heavily intoxicated on a nightly basis.

The training department will provide a certain amount of training to get you back to proficiency, because if they didn’t the Union would come barking at the door to get another shot. The chief pilot is a class act and I really enjoyed listening to her speak. She deff wants what is best for her pilots so I do admire that about the company.


I’m sorry I had a bad experience and luckily I didn’t spend much money in the process. Can’t imagine what’s going to happen when a few people wash from systems, and a lot more wash from the sim. Show up and spend hundreds out of the companies pocket without it being approved? For what… what are you talking about? I’m sorry for some of the things I said Joe.