I totally agree. Hold off. They have a company to run. They'll change their ways. But why should they change if it turns out they can staff properly.

 

They have said they are not hiring street CA's but "upgrade will probably come quick"

 

Their operation is seeming more Shady! Why would you have Captain vacancies online? What's quick mean? A month? Some regionals call a year a quick upgrade.

 

Please remember they are a union shop with a seniority list of pilots there, and I have to believe many FO's are in line before you. That should help define what quick means. I personally would be asking this question if I interviewed there. Also, even if you get dumped into the left seat pretty quick, every time one of them upgrades, you get bumped down, and could be changing bases like crazy or even downgraded. Steet hire captain is a risk at ANY regional, it can work out, but it can blow up also.
All food for thought when making a decision.

 

I don't have any turbine time so maybe that's why I can't get right into the CA seat, I don't know. He did say that I would not have to pay for training, and there is no way in hell I'd pay to work anyways, which is essentially what the FO program is.

 

For those you of you guys out there like me, at a current regional thinking of going there to get a captain upgrade let me atleast tell you both sides of the story.

Back in late 2007 and early 2008 they were hiring street hire captains left and right, they got there type flew there butts off and left to a major fairly quickly seeing as they already had 3000 hours of turbo fan time. .

Some were lucky enough to go to CaL
Some went to spirt , northwest , Alligient , etc

It was an easy deal . Worked out well for some.

Now for some of the late gamers that showed up for street hire captains sure they got hired got thier ATP and type but never given the left seat, by then things slowed down. And they were made FO "s , they gave up their better paying jet regional jobs to fly a right seat 1 st year pay 1900, and getting squashed to the bottom of the list seeing as they are super junior .

So be very careful of those thinking this is the right move. I am not saying don't do it , I am just saying be careful.

I know some great guys that left pinnacle and eagle to get this and they ended up getting screwed.

My two cents

 

Has anyone gotten a call for the CA slot or do you guys think they will call when a CA spot opens up? I got the same message about not hiring street CA's at the moment. I was told that they were doing the legwork now for future planning to remain staffed. It was an overall positive experience and people were friendly and professional. I would compare the GIA interview to the one I had with my current employer, a larger regional. Supposedly alot of things have improved since the buyout. There is a $25k 24mo training contract which I believe to be non-prorated. I have not seen the contract yet.

 

Guys,
Training contracts are bad things, they can hold you hostage and fire you if you defer a bad airplane at will then charge interest on what you owe... They are BAD things.

 

This is the truth right here!

 

They keep telling people different things about the contract. What are we to believe?