ASA interview leads to big questions.
 

Intriguing title isn't it?

Hello all,
I am a fairly fresh college grad with a full time flying position, in production test and company transportation, with a major airplane manufacturer where I get turboprop, jet, and piston time, type ratings, and PIC time. This is much needed as I am sitting with 900TT/250ME. Ok, there is my background.

Anyhoo I got called today by ASA. The gentleman provided me with the opportunity to travel to ATL for an interview this next week. (oh and for those wondering about flight times, the latest resume ASA had showed me with around 800tt, 200ME, and 30Turbine.) Obviously I could show up and botch the interview, I realize that. BUT this brought a few questions to mind.

ASA was my number one choice regional airline back when no one was hiring. Since then I became VERY lucky to receive my current position. This is a position that will give me lots of experience, and after many years, a GREAT base for corporate flying. On the other hand I have always wanted to try airline flying, because if I didn't try it, I wouldn't know if I might have really liked it. But with my low time, I don't dare give up a good job, for a MAYBE good job with half the pay do I?

My next thought is this, If I were to continue in my current position and later in life wanted to fly for an airline, are the days of going straight to the majors gone? Or would that still be a feasible path?

Either way I will be interviewing with ASA, and will make my decision should that become necessary, I just wanted to hear the comments that you all could come up with.

By the way, my resume was delivered via Airlineapps.com and No I had no internal recommendation.

You got an interview at ASA with 800 hours? That's God's way of saying go to ASA.

I must disagree. The airline game is a crapshoot even in the best of times, and today is not the best of times. The US and world economies are a mess, airline consolidations are occuring as we speak and will continue to occur, in my opinion. There is no telling what the landscape will look like in ten years and who will still be around.

You sound like you are in a great position to keep flying and build the experience the airlines want. I personally don't think 121 time is a pre-requisite for a major if you have a varied, extensive background. You will probably outclass most regional applicants from this point forward, so getting hired there is not an issue.

I would sit tight and let the dust settle a bit. Even 10 years from now you could still have a 30 year airline career if you go that route.

I'll second what JobHopper said. Ten or fifteen years ago I might have advocated for getting to a position where you're building time more rapidly to move on (says the ex-corporate pilot who did the opposite). Now, not so much. Who knows what direction things will head with all of the consolidation going on right now - maybe regional feed will be reduced, maybe it won't. I just don't see any big motivating factor to hurry up and get somewhere at the moment, particularly given your current situation. If anything, your current experience might be a feather in your cap later when interview time comes around: Everyone and their brother now has experience flying an RJ - those with flight test experience are much less common. Ultimately, you're in this game to produce income for yourself - I wouldn't cut my pay by half now for an uncertain return a few years down the road. If anything, with the new regs requiring 1500TT, you might be more in demand in a couple of years.

Your mileage may vary, taxes, title, and dealer prep not included. Offer void where taxed or otherwise prohibited by law...

How many hours are you flying a month? do you live or want to live in one of ASA's bases? commuting sucks.

The airlines will be around to hire you in the next couple of years. If your current position allows you to fly 60-80 hrs a month then you will still be building time at the same pace as a regional. If you could rack up around 4000TT with some pic turbine mixed in there... you might be able to go straight to a major without the regional. If you are only flying 20-40 hours a month and the pic time is limited then you wont be competitive when things hopefully start to move.

If they treat you right and are still building decent time i would stay put. If you arent building time then i would jump ship. You are lucky to have been offered an interview with such low times and you should take advantage of it.

What do you want to do in your career? fly the hawker and sit in an fbo all day or fly the 737 and put up with some backwards management bs? both pay the bills but neither is very glamorous anymore.

Don't do it. Stay where you are.

I flew corporate in a previous life. Boss got a second airplane and I was going to Captain that one with a nice pay raise. The other Captain was a product of two flight department down-sizings. First was with a large phone company that disbanded the flight department. The second was years ago when Nordstrom downsized. He came out of retirement to fly for a rich At&t wireless guy. He offered me the job to fly the other a/c but encouraged me to try the airlines. I went to the airlines and dropped down to $17000 that year....ouch! Your young so you have lots of time to live your dream and your heart can still take $1.00 cheeseburgers and top ramen. Hard decision for you but good luck.

Based on the information you have provided I would recommend passing on ASA. I have flown 91, 135, 121 pax and 121 freight. In my experience the 121 passenger was the worst of them all. It was ,however, working for a regional having to commute to work. It was also working at what I considered to be a bottom feeder commuter (RAH). I'm pretty sure the work environment at ASA would be measurably better than repubic but do not have personal experience with ASA.

I will say that if you decide to goto ASA living in base would be a really good idea. Commuting is a special kind of hell. Even the "easy" commutes are a real pain in the rear. If you live in base you will never have to worry about loads, weather or flight availability because you can just drive to work. The QOL living in base is much better that having to commute. I would say this is especially true if you are based at an outstation.

Just my experience. Not presented as fact. Good luck.

I was in your exact shoes a couple years ago (minus the sweet current employment).

Went to ASA to "see if I liked airline flying." Aside from the multi and jet time, I was not a fan. Pay sucked, schedule REALLY sucked and there were plenty of employees telling me how much they thought it would suck for the next ___ years. I'd say skip the song and dance of getting bounced around the regional system, go for QOL and stay where you are.

Also, the whole ASA/Skywest/Expressjet thing will make things interesting at ASA. Got a friend there right now who says the feeling around ASA isn't too good. I don't really know anything about it, so I'm not going insert an opinion, but I'd say look into how that whole 3some is going to influence your potential time at ASA.

Good luck! As JobHopper said, it's a crapshoot!

I'm surprised no one has offered this idea of going to the interview to see what its all about. If they do offer you a position weigh the pros and cons at that time and decide accordingly. If they don't offer you a spot at least you can say you went and get rid of that "what if" monkey.

Personally, I'd probably stay put at what seems to be a relatively unique position especially with relatively low time. This will open up avenues to all different types of flying in the 91, 135, and 121 worlds.

stay put, get as much Turbine PIC time as humanly possible.... then go to med school.

That's funny!

Yeah, this post is not BASED on the idea of my actually getting an offer, not just an interview, but more just the after thought of, if I actually DID get an offer. I am no means saying that I am God's gift to ASA. HA. I will absolutely go to the interview for the experience either way.

There are some really good comments on here, so thanks for that.

Leave, then recommend me for your old job lol

Now that is funny!!!

Stay where you are. It is never, or I should say, it is seldom greener on the other side. You have a good gig. Stay there.

800TT and a shot? Sounds like it might have been meant to be....I know a few guys with a lot more(and internal recs, etc) and have got no calls whatsoever. Funny how the system works sometimes.

Good luck

Another option. Go to the interview and get the interview experience. Let them offer you the job and then make the decision. Don't make any decisions before you have to. Leave your options open for as long as you can. If they offer you the job and you say no you have probably burned that bridge so keep that in mind. You might also talk to your current employer and see what they say about a leave of absence for a year or so. Go fly for ASA then if you don't like it go back to where you are working now.

Let me say as someone who is getting laid off from a Fortune 500 company because the executives think the airplanes cost too much, don't just assume corporate flying is a done deal. The first several years at a regional may suck but you get a seniority number and recall rights from a furlough. Also if the major airlines are your goal, part 91 pic turbine time is second rate to part 121 pic time. Face to face with Delta recruiters at a job fair, I was told that my 2500 hours PIC turbine was nice but not the same as part 121 pic time. Never turn down an interview and think long and hard about any job offer.

Take the ASA job 100%... actually 200%.. I love flying in the regionals. TAKE IT!

What did you say the name of the company you are flying for now is?

If they called you for an interview, they want to hire you. The job is yours to lose, so unless you totally blow it, you WILL get an offer.

Personally, I think that from everything you've said, you'll be sorely disappointed. You will be taking a huge pay cut and a huge cut in QOL. I agree with all the others that I'd stay put and get 1000 turbin PIC. The airlines will be hiring for the next 15 years just to cover retirements. You will always get another chance... don't reel in the first fish that bites!

But by all means, go to the interview, just for the experience.

ASA has already hit the bottom of the barrel. Most of the ExpressJet furloughees passed, and now, even many of the OTS interviewees are turning THEM down! They are having a hard time filling classes! This is why they've already come down off their published minimums.

..Always best to get the job actually offered to you and allow your mind to make that final decision there IMHO

Think about what people are saying here. A majority of people are telling you not to go to ASA. How many people said not to go to Air Tran? The airline that nobody wants to go to is probably your best bet right now, as we are in bad times. The truth is, go where you want, nobody knows. If you want to fly passengers around then go to ASA, the travel benefits are a plus too, no matter how bad people tell you they are.

Are they really having people turn them down?

Yup!

To the OP, I think a few really important questions are:

1. How long do you see yourself staying at your current gig if you turn down ASA? By that I mean do you have good potential to increase your earnings down the road? Annual pay increases? Time off, vacation etc? Or is this only a stepping stone that you want to get out of ASAP?

2. How many hours are you building a year? If you are low time (like you are) and only building 250 hours a year... that is a big deal. In 4 years you will now be at 1900 hours, where if you go to ASA, in 4 years you could potentially be somewhere near and below 4900 hours (a more realistic number would be around 4200 hours). I understand the difference in you logging PIC time vs SIC, but the total time is still important I think.

I would also add that if you're getting a fair amount of time at your current gig, stay with it. PIC time, jet time, multiple types, all these things make you very marketable. Upgrades at the regionals could potentially be fairly long up to 2014ish (if you went to ASA today, the combined list will put almost 2100 pilots ahead of you for upgrade, with no huge movement likely til the end of 2012) and by 2016 or so the majors will likely be hiring regional guys and gals out of the right seat (reference 99/00). Point being that 4 more years with your company will give you much more valuable time than 3000 SIC in a CRJ, all my subjective opinion though.

I agree. I am really curious how much time the OP is getting at his current gig. The multiple type ratings would look great on a resume too.

So ASA is getting turned because it sounds like pilots are finally saying enough is enough.

And the uncertainty mentioned above with the merger can't be helping.

I wonder if Eagle has the same problem.

I don't know who is in charge of hiring at ASA, but I had my stuff walked in by two different people and have several recommendations on AirlineApps from people at ASA. I have more than the min. requirements and current, but yet they call an hire guys that a) either live in ATL or b) haven't touched a plane in months or years and don't even meet the requirements.

I'm confused and don't understand airline hiring practices, and I never will.

Join the group. I think it's a lottery.

I will be getting several hundred hours per year at my current gig. I have already received one type, and I have one more scheduled already. Yes there is a good ability to progress here, and raises will come with time.

I would stay right where you are. You're getting a second type and flying a couple hundred hours a year that's perfect. Best way to hate flying is doing it 24/7 200 hours a year is a good medium.

Unless you absolutely want to be an airline pilot right now, at any cost, I'd recommend staying put. The regionals will be hurting for qualified pilots very soon and you should be able to snag a job at a regional, if not a LCC, fairly easily. Can you get to a major from your current position? Sure, network and build that turbine PIC.

The good side of regional airlines: with some seniority you can get a good schedule with lots (relatively speaking) of planned days off. The bad: pay.

I'm going to, without reading what others have posted, give my opinion. FWIW...

My belief is that, if you like the job you have, the people you work with, and the pay/benefits, then you should stay there. In aviation, it is hard to find a job that meets all of your desires/needs (Some jobs have good pay, but poor quality of life...some jobs have a great schedule, but low pay...and some jobs are great, except you can't stand the people you work with.) Evaluate your current situation. If it meets most of what you want in a flying job, then I suggest staying. If you are not happy there, then you may want to try something new.

As a pilot for a regional that flies for Delta, I can tell you that...flying for Delta sucks. Although ASA is not owned by Delta (like Comair is), Delta is like a fickle woman who constantly changes her mind. What happens when ASA's contract is up is unknown, and they could lose the Delta flying, be cutback, or they could get a bunch more flying. With Delta, it's anyone's guess.

If you would like to try the regional airline life, consider that you will most likely have only 11 days off (or less? Not sure of ASA's contract), you will work 13-15 hour days and only get paid minimum guarantee while on reserve. If you don't live in ATL, you will have to commute, thus wasting a lot of your time off trying to get on DAL flights to get to work, while being just above Buddy Passes in seniority for travel benefits (and watching as many planes leave full, without you).

Just my thoughts, like I said, make an informed decision and do what is best for you and your family. I fly for Comair, and I have always loved flying with everyone here. Delta moves Comair around at will, closing bases, moving bases, and displacing crews. I was furloughed for a year and a half, came back in May, my base closed August 31 and we were put at a new base on September 1, the same day they said we'll be cutting back and I'll probably be furloughed again in early 2011 (because Delta wants what Delta wants). So, you can guess, I am not a huge fan of being a part of Delta Connection.

I am an A&P mechanic for a 121 carrier. My recommandation is that you stay put. Get more Total Time and then apply for a Major carrier.
All regionals tend to treat their pilots poorly. Plus ASA has a huge surplus of CRJ-200s. and those planes are not popular for major carriers.

run, do not walk away from the trash can where you file the ASA letter.

My newhire class at Delta had only one Part 135 pilot. The rest were an even split between Regional and Military pilots. It is possible to skip the regionals BUT you have to really stand out. Your in a good spot, you have a good job. Your also getting PIC time with massive retirements coming up. You WILL be competing with RJ pilots with LOTS of 121 PIC time. These guys/gals have been stuck with no place to go since 9-11. The scariest thing I've done in my career was to leave my super seniority at a strong regional carrier and get a job with a company fresh out of bankruptcy. My ultimate goal was to be a MAJOR airline pilot, not a regional pilot. So far my choice has worked out well.

FWI I had 9000 hours and 7000 PIC, (6000 turbine PIC) when I got the job at a Major. With these numbers it was 5 weeks from when I posted my application to my interview and another 6 weeks later I was in class. Your life can change rather quickly when you've got some experience. I think I racked up 5000 of those jet PIC hours after 9-11....see what I mean about your competition????


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OR.. it could be that there weren't many pt135 guys that wanted to fly for Delta.

It's all about who you know, especially during these times. Sounds like this guy has a good thing going with the present employer. If he goes to ASA he will be at the bottom of a long long long long long regional airline pilot list. That's like entering the gates of hell. But hey! He might some day be able to bid on the CRJ-900! Seriously stay put and get some experience to be able to apply to the majors.

stay put, grab as many types as they want to give you, get time in type and you will have more possibilities then you think. I think it is funny that 121 recruiters think that 135/91 PIC time is sub par to 121 time. We fly to unknown airports at the drop of a dime. We scramble to file flight plans (ourselves), calculate everything and deal with the one guy who NEEDS to get to XYZ (otherwise he is in our face...no ticket agent to take care of him). Don't mean to downgrade any 121ers but the recruiters of these airlines don't see the value in our experience. I guess that's why my department won't even consider 121 guys.:rolleyes: