I would be surprised to see Comair offer anything more than 3 months salary.

It would be interesting to see what their formula is in determining what your price would be. I guess everyone has their own motivations so each persons price is different.

I decided to resurrect this dead thread because i need some help. I was supposed to have a july 7th training date so i'm fairly close to the top of the comair pool, not that it means much. since i got the call that i'd be waiting for a while i've been looking at other job options. any opinions and advice from my fellow poolies or other aviators is welcome.

Turns out i might have a source that can help me get an airnet interview. they are a pretty solid company but i'd have to sign a one year contract so if comair ever did call me back i might have to say no. i'd still like to fly for em but dont know if i can wait or risk waiting for something that might not ever happen.

Also, what is everyone else in the pool doing in the meantime? Instructing... other regional... law school... etc. I don't have my CFI, dumb not to get it i know, so I dont have that to fall back on. And i've applied everywhere else without much luck.

Thanks again to anyone who answers I really don't know what to do.

Truthfully, I would just advise you to go to Airnet. Even if you got called from the pool for a class date now, you would most likely be still betting on a 5-6 year upgrade*. At Airnet, you would be getting paid a whole lot better then first year FO pay, you would be logging PIC time and have excellent IFR skills. You would also probably also get left seat in the lear within 2 years*, which would allow you to move on to bigger and better places. Besides, the cargo industry is handling this fuel mess a whole lot better then the airlines.

Airnet - Better pay, PIC single-pilot time, quicker upgrade to left seat of a jet.

Comair - Living off food stamps first year, SIC time in a jet, looooonnngggg upgrade.

*subject to change at any minute.

Have you ever flown night freight? There's a reason most of them jumped at the chance to go to a regional.

Airnet is a great company and a great fit for many people, but let's not say that it would be better for the average pilot. Flying all night by yourself regardless of the radar or icing is paying dues. It's not the same as Comair by any stretch of the imagination.

With all that said, the current industry dictates that your choices are narrowed for probably the next year or so. If I were in your shoes I would go to Airnet, but I would prefer Comair.

Best of luck to you regardless.

What he said. /\


Pipe line patrol is coming up too. Not many options open for pilots right now. If you have something, go for it.

Yeah....currently flight instructing...not making much money but at least feels good to have a relatively secure job at the university.

I'm not betting on Comair as the place to be, but if they call us back, I'd definitely go in a heartbeat. I'm sick of North Dakota. More importantly, I'm sick of teaching contract students.

Ive been instructing as well, I had the early July class as well....I mean I couldnt agree with the comment above, its nice to have a steady job, my pay is the same as in regional airline, if not more, but training contract students does suck....but better than not having an aviation job....hopefully Comair calls soon (and i mean early 2009) cuz I cant see myself instructing for another year, maybe 1.5 yrs....after that Ill have to work construction to pay off bills...

hey guys thanks for the input. very much appreciated. actually had a phone interview this afternoon for a company in ATL that flies beech jets. that would be sweet and hopefully no commitment if comair calls back. hope they call back!

Hang tough in the pool
 

I'm in the 23 June (read last) class brought in at Comair before classes were cancelled. I'm older, much older, than the average hire and have a ton of corporate experience as a senior executive. Flying is a short second career for me.

Comair is a quality organization and well worth the wait if you can afford it. While anything could happen, I don't see any indication that Comair believes anything other than they need to ramp up hiring, but have to wait awhile to do so. How long? I don't know. The latest announcements have delayed projected furloughs to October with recalls projected to start in November.

I'd recommend waiting at least 6 months to get hired by Comair. This period of time will get the Delta/Northwest merger closed, and the economy, oil prices and capital markets through the presidential election into the new President's honeymoon when everyone is happy.

Things will be much clearer econonically then. Moreover, the Delta strategy vis-a-vis regionals will be clearer and if you have waited you will be a good place to make a better informed decision about what to do. There's going to be a shake-out in the regionals. Delta/Northwest's regionals will be good places to be and worth a small wait.

From the perspective of a 30-40 year career, a few months
here and there to get the right positions is not delay, but just good career planning and management. Good luck to everyone.