Chautauqua definately isn't all staffed up. They call everybody I know (MKE based) on their days off trying to get pilots to work over-time. Reassignments happen a lot to try to cover flights. I think they are short 10-15 first officers in Milwaukee right now. Reserves are shipped in from around the system to try to cover. I'm not sure why they haven't run more classes? I've heard they might be trying to limp through to a draw down in the Fall, or perhaps they can't get the training up and running at a steady pace. I think they may be in for real problems.

I also heard that the new hire minimums changed a lot in just a couple classes this Spring and Summer. From almost all former part-121 guys to all lower time flight instructors. So either they've changed who they have been targeting to work there, or they've quickly run through ATPs on the street willing to work at RAH. Point being that I guess the ATP requirement, etc. has been dropped, so I wouldn't let the advertised minimums detour anyone from applying. They are going to need a lot of pilots.

Junior base for Chautauqua is MKE, but it varies month to month and most everybody seems to get where they want (except IND maybe) within a couple months. They just cover stuff by dead-heading guys out of their base.

 

Hey Aztec1.
How was the interview process? Is it still as the gouge predicts? I have an interview this week. In regards to studying for their ATP test, are the majority of the questions on the gouges or should I be studying out of the ATP test prep book as well?
Thanks for any advice.

 

Hello,

Yes the gouge is very accurate. We had 20 questions only and it was really straight forward! Have a read through a prep book is also good.

During my interview, I was the only one with Part 121 and jet experience.

Some of the people hadn't flown in 15 years. No kidding. Are they that desperate?

I dont know

 

Yes..they are...and it is wonderful. Don't come here...stay away! It used to be a great place to work...now it it one of the worst, the culture has changed and everyone is grouchy and ****ed off at work.

The best thing that can happen for us is for the company to not be able to fill classes...force them to actually negotiate a new contract with us that is worth a damn to attract new candidates. In the short term it means more understaffing and more being ****ed off, but in the end, the less people that come here....the better!

 

Qualified middle and upper management are leaving at a higher rate than pilots I think. I have no doubt remaining that most of our management lacks anything resembling integrity.

As far as bases go: We have 22 bases, since I've been here they've opened/closed/displaced/displacement vacancy out of 10+.

So from my perspective, qol, integrity, pay, teamwork, mutual respect, and business stability are all lacking here. Don't come, even if you live in IND and think you'll drive to work, because YOU WILL NOT and you'll hate out of base reserve for 6 days at a time. You'll almost always sit out of base reserve because they get extra time out of you by deadheading you back to base after you sit a full day of reserve, so 13:50 days paying 4hrs.

Many FOs have second jobs so count on that, and don't count on a CBA. That was one of my mistakes back in 06. Still no TA and we're only talking about 5 of the articles...

 

CHQ is no where nearly properly staffed. Only 3 Reserves in MKE for august. CHQ is also the hardest hit for upgrades too, as there should be another round after the IMSL is in place. CHQ will pretty much be hiring for a while as well purely as replacement for movement. Good if you want off reserve. MKE right now is the junior base. Pretty much count on going there to start.