Lets see, GLA's pay as a Captain 27/hr. The regional I got hired on is about 31 hr...as a FO. I could go work for GLA but im not. Not going to lower the bar for the next generation but my friend you go ahead and keep lowering it. Yea I may not know it all but from what it sounds like I just may know a little more than you do.

 

I completely agree with your other points, but I just wanted to address this one. I was a CFI before I went into the airlines, and while I learned a ton teaching, I also matured immensely as a pilot "flying around on autopilot." Not picking on you specifically, but I've heard that same argument from many CFIs, and I probably made the same arguments myself before I made the move.

Trust me, you'll learn just as much, if not more about flying by flying turbine equipment in line operations than you did teaching. Me personally, I learned how to think ahead and plan, what really matters flying IFR (I used to teach a lot of trivia I came to found), and I became a much stronger and smoother instrument pilot as a result. I'm flying six-pack equipped props again and having flown a more automated jet has still made me a better pilot by far.

 

Damn. You Lakes guys really have hardons for RJs, don't you. The only people in this thread that have talked about the type of aircraft flown are the Lakers.

The other people have talked about the pay (or lack of), QOL and contract. The 1900 is a good plane (and has no autopilot for the poster that talked about flying around on a autopilot all day. Yes the Bro does.) If you're a good pilot going to Lakes, you'll be a great one when you leave, but that's where it ends.

How about Lakes' involuntary Jr. manning, no cancelation pay, schedule changes like having you 5 day DEN trip changed to a 5 day STL trip with no pay protection if the STL trip is worth less. Trips that are block to 8 hrs a day.

Yes as a second year at a company that operates EMB120 and CRJ, I as an FO i make $35 an hour, but I get 100% deadhead pay, cancelation pay and a voluntary Jr man policy with 150% pay. And Block or better.

I have a few friends at Lakes all of them Captains and I make more, have a better quality of life and I don't sit a the pub complaining about how much I hate my company.

Lakes is awesome for the quick upgrade, in fact your initial new-hire class is also your upgrade class (so pay attention!) You're going to have thousands of PIC turbine hours by the time anyone starts hiring again.

I'd personally rather sit right seat (in a 1900, Bro or RJ) with a good QOL making a small amount more than being treated like s#it building PIC time at Lakes, but that's just me.

Once again for anyone that has question about Lakes and would like to ask real Lakers this is the Unofficial Great Lakes Pilot Forum:

Great Lakes Aviation - Airline Forum - Readytocopy.com





OO.

 

Good Reply its nice to see someone relpy without an insult to stir up everyone

 

sherwood80

Where are doing aerial survey at? That sounds pretty cool. Who did you get hired by in the regionals?


I would like to point out that I have been instructing for 2 years. 900 dual given. Frankly I'm getting bored of it. I would like to challenge myself with something different and would like start building multi time for the majors.

Even if I was to get hired by great lakes I wouldn't be able to upgrade to captain for two years since I'm 21. So I would say that I am looking to get pic as soon as possible but I would like to have a change of pace.

I also meet 135 mins but don't know who is hiring for that now.

 

One little known secret about lakes and the whole not getting paid during training thing....It is possible to be paid during training....but there is a catch. You must be hired on to a pilot position from within the company.

i.e. ramper --> pilot, etc. And if I remember correctly, you'll be paid 40hrs/week at whatever your wage was from your non-flying job during training.

There have actually been several guys to go this way, though I can't say whether or not they had that intention from the get-go.

 

Umm...if your working for a regional, you ARE lowering the bar. (Again, refer to dollar per seat) All Im saying is that myself and many others have gone to Great Lakes and 4 years later ended up at a major airline, Fractional or Corporate flight department making great money and a great QOL. 4 years at most regionals equals 4th year FO pay(usually) To each there own I guess. I DO know that had I gone to most other regionals I wouldnt have even met my current departments insurance mins for flight time, so it worked for me. Like I said if you like the 30-40 dollars per hour pay and can swing that for 5-7 years then dont listen to me, you would be wise to go fly an RJ. The guys I know that went to Southwest and FedEx from GLA might laugh at that pay though. The ONLY ONLY reason to go to lakes is to get in and get out. GLA does suck to work for and Im not defending that, but It works for some. I also have several good friends who love their jobs at Skywest and wouldnt trade it for anything. I've just been around a little longer and take offense to a CFI trying to run interference on those researching career info. By the way which regionals are even hiring right now besides GLA?

 

If I was to look into GLA, how long would someone with my time (4800tt, 1800pic turbine) be looking at sitting the right seat? Sounds like you have to sit right seat 2-3 months min. Do you get paid CA or FO during this? I'm asking because I know they used to hire captains and am wondering if they still do. Just trying to explore all my options at this time. Thanks

 

This might be the most entertaining post in this whole thread. I like how it's nearly impossible to distinguish if the post is serious or sarcastic! Very nicely played!

 

Now that is cool!