I agree, I even busted my initial CFI... that's a hard one. But 4 busts in GA? Not likely.

Yeah you're right. Look we all need to be honest. The hot ticket now is not having a single bust. They are even asking about stage checks in flight schools! There's a ton of applicants, so they can and are being picky. It's an effective way to reduce applications and screen people.

We all know that having a bust or two doesn't mean you're the worst pilot in the world, in fact, you might be the best. But that's just the way the hiring process is working right now. I think it will most likely change though.

I think getting a bust is also a product of the time you took the ride. Like someone said here DE's make damn good money when they give checkrides.

I'm in the same boat with 3. 2 were on orals and for very stupid reasons. My perception is that right now with the media still hot on the regional's trail if anything did happen for any reason and they did hire somebody with 3 busts after the Colgan deal, then it would look really bad. Plus they can afford to be picky. Who knows 1 year from now though when the demand is higher and the applicant pool dries up. I think it will blow over. They had no problem hiring me back before everybody furloughed but this time around it's not so easy. I'll just have to hang out in the 135 world for a little.

i haven't busted a single thing... all ratings and 135 rides. Exceed the mins for most regionals hiring now and I havent heard a peep from anyone. Maybe they just dont believe me.:D

Just tell them you're Chuck Yeager's grandson......that'll get their attention! :D
Thanks for all the great feedback by the way.

So those in ASA recruiting/HR told my buddy this past week he'd hear one way or another(good or bad) about if he got the job or not by Thursday afternoon at the latest. Well, he never heard a peep and class starts in 2 days.

Good luck to those who DID get a call and made it.

So does anyone know first had if ASA or any of the regionals are taking anyone right now with any busts, even if just 1?

Anyone have any idea how much reserves are crediting on the 200 right now? Trying to figure out what an FNG can expect to make, and how often one could expect to be a home with a 1 leg commute to ATL with plenty of flights home, or IAD with 2 a day.

Thanks!

Yes.

and...

Yes.

Just checked the reserve list for ATL and IAD. ATL reserves were all over guarantee and were crediting between 80 and 97 hours with most over 90. IAD reserves were all under guarantee.

Thank you for checking.

Anyone have any idea how much time a commuter would have at home with around 10 flights a day between home and ATL? I'm also wondering how those 11 days off are spread out, whether there are very many non-commutable single days off in between six day block type things.

I know that the company is working hard to get properly staffed. Hiring, training, and becoming more efficient with PBS. Once everyone is trained and PBS is up and going I highly doubt anyone on reserve will credit more than guarantee which is 75 hours. I'm not really sure where the Atlantic Southeast reserve rules and such compare in the regional world but they are far from mainline and other quality airlines.

Hopefully the union gets smart on the next contract and bargains to increase the QOL for reserves. No one has seen what a super regional is like yet and with 3500 pilots strong and the way things are going, I can only imagine one would be on reserve for quite some time. Although not on reserve, I myself will be working to improve what reserve guys have to go through when the next contract is being worked on.

As far as commuting and such, you might as well just live in Atlanta. I really feel that reserves will have no say in their schedule for at least two years after this merger goes into effect. You get 11 days off and will be on short call. Long call is actually becoming short call from what I understand. It was a great concept but scheduling has figured out the loopholes and how to get around the contract. From what I hear, no one is ever at home sitting there and gets a call to be at the airport in 12 hours. They usually have your next assignment at the end of your last assignment. But that will probably all change when they get properly staffed.

Most likely for the first year or so you will get a reserve period starting between 4AM and 9AM. They last about 15 hours. Commuting isn't impossible but I wouldn't want to do it. I guess it's all about how much of your life you are willing to trade for a flying job. But hey, most guys are willing to just "work to live" now instead of "living to work".

Thanks afterburn. That's about what I figured. Trying to make an informed choice under a fair amount of pressure coupled with a little disappointment;) 10 years ago it would have been a no brainer, but I didn't have a family and house payment back then. Moving anywhere isn't an option now.

Might be time to hang it up and let someone younger have the spot.:rolleyes:

If ATL reserves are flying so much, is it possible to get away without a crashpad and just do the hotel? How much are reserves overnighting or is it just a lot of ATL out and backs and back in base the same night?

Sure, but I wouldn't bank on it. PBS should be online Jan-Feb 2011 and combined with the hiring efforts that should help out with the staffing issues thus giving the reserves a break. It's one of the top priorities for the company per J. Atkin.

At 24K-30K per year, hotels can be pretty pricey. Please don't end up being those guys that lives in the crew lounge. That reeeeaaaallly lowers the bar if you know what I mean.

If you try to commute to short-call without a crashpad, you'll end up living in the crew lounge. I tried commuting to long-call for a month when I was based in IAD and the money I spent on hotel rooms would have more than paid for a month at a crashpad. Short-call will be much less commuter friendly, with a lot of ready-reserve, day lines, and late duty-outs followed by early duty-ins. Commuting to reserve isn't fun, and without a crashpad, it would be miserable.

I just got my schedule for Nov (CR7 FO).

I have lots of early duty ins in ATL (0700ish), lots of release between 1700-1900 and 2 - 2 1/2 days from release to duty in.

I'm glad I don't have to commute with this schedule...

Echoing what the others said, ASA has become a very commuter unfriendly airline, so if you get hired, plan on moving to the base you are assigned or getting a crashpad.

Thanks for the info! I just got picked up by ASA and comig from another airline I just wanted to get some general info. I've done reserve for several years, commuting and living in base, so I know what I'm getting into and how it works. And don't worry, I ain't gonna be a crew room camper;)

New class did start today. Don't know exactly how many, but the classroom was full, so I am guessing it was probably 24. Still rumors of a first week in December class, but nothing official.

CSIP, did you hear any rumors regarding how many they want out of the new class in IAD?

zero......

That is correct. 24 Total. Good mix of people with various backgrounds. Ex-airline guys from PSA, Comair, Colgan, Mesa and Skybus. Several CFIs and a few 135 freight/Corp. guys. Flight times range from 700 TT - 10,000 TT. Almost everyone was hired due to internal recommendation.

Still interviewing for a pool, but no more new-hire classes schduled for the remainder of the year. Subject to change of course.

Sweet. Thanks.

It appears that ASA knocked their filter down to 500/50.

It's nice to know they can actually look at my application now! haha

When is the next class rumored to be?

Also, after the merger with Express Jet is complete, are upgrade times going to be longer than at smaller regionals?

As of today, the next class is rumored to be the first week of January. Apparently the simulators and instructors are going to be too busy during December to start another new hire class. From what I have heard, there are 2 upgrade classes of 10 each right now, but that is unconfirmed.

As for future upgrades, nobody really has any idea what will occur once the merger is complete. There was supposedly a group meeting in Atlanta today to talk about how the integration will occur, but again, just a rumor. All I saw was guys in jackets and ties, and heard second hand info from somebody else saying that it was a group discussing the integration in anticipation of the ExpressJet Board of Directors vote today. Once the merger occurs, it has been speculated that it could take up to 4 years before all the integration stuff is completed and all the aircraft freezes expire resulting in a homogeneous company. Then, it's anybody's guess as to where we will be and what we will look like.

If you aren't buckled in tightly, I would go ahead and do that, because I think we are in for a ride over the next couple of years!

I'm an XJT guy with a friend who is really trying to get on at ASA. Is there anywhere i can send his resume as an internal rec? Thanks!

I think by day after tomorrow you'll be an internal rec!:D

I appreciate all thats being posted I am also happy so many here have internal recs but where do those of us without a hook stand in the pursuit of a job at ASA ?? At this point this thread is becoming useless . I feel like I am wiindow shopping without a penny to my name .

here here... im with ya buddy.. All the people I know are at regionals that AREN'T hiring. Go figure.

I highly doubt every single new hire had a letter of rec. I'm sure they start with people that meet the requirements and then sort from there. Don't get me wrong, having a rec. helps but it's not required. Keep updating your Airline App., things don't happen over night, especially in the airline industry.

As for future classes, I'm guessing they will continue but not until after December as posted previously by someone else. The merger is official today, which may change the situation a little. Hiring will be for both former XJT and Atlantic Southeast so I'm not sure if you'll be based in ATL or IAD on the CRJ, you could end up on the XJT side of things. Whatever the case, good luck and don't give up.

Welcome to the airline industry. it's not what you know it's who you know.

But take heart, we are just now at the very tip of the coming hiring boom. With the retirements alone, every current RJ captain who wants to leave will be able to. Regionals will be hiring like mad to replace them. If you want to fly for an airline, you will get your chance soon enough.

Finally! Nice to see some positive people out there.

Appreciate the positive feedback !

Now that's what i call "a breath of fresh air!!!"

Capt Tony is correct. 3 major issues within the industry will drive a demand for pilots that the industry hasn't yet experienced. 1. Age 65 rule 2. New (hopefully proactive) rest requirements and 3. New (hopefully proactive) hiring requirements. Coupled with a possible economy recovery and we will have the 'perfect storm' for pilot hiring in the next 3 - 5 years.

Well said......until then we just grab on to whatever "life rope" we can find and try to keep our nose above water.....damn that's going to be a very long 3-5yrs. i think another one of my hairs just turned grey.:(

I don't think it's going to be 3 to 5 years. As long as the economy continues to improve, I think everyone will be hiring by the end of 2011. I just saw an ad for Horizon this week. Pinnacle is hiring, Colgan is hiring, Lakes is hiring, Eagle is hiring, and ASA is hiring at the regional level. At the major/LCC level, US Air, Continental, American, Delta, AirTran, JetBlue, Spirit, Allegient, Virgin America, Hawaiian, and Alaska are hiring (either actively or people in class now) or recalling. Omni, Evergreen, World, Northern and other large aircraft operators have advertized that they are hiring. It's here, folks. The snowball is just small and at the top of the hill! Let it roll down the hill for a little while and qualified pilots will be able to get a job if they want one.

Also,you don't need an internal rec for ASA, it just gets your app to the front of the line for review faster!