All routes in the US.

 

Show up 20 mins early and you will be fine. I was there for like 3 hours waiting and waiting and waiting. I couldn't do any of the paperwork before hand so there is no sense in wasting your time. I've been getting a lot of calls/emails/messages from people asking about training. I'm not there yet, but most of the folks have low time like sub 350 hours. I'm by no means some pro aviator with my whopping 500 hours, but I'm nervous about training. I know it's not going to be a cake walk at all. I just want people to really think about coming to an airline that is going to drown you with a fire hose of information; then after that put you on the line in an airplane with no autopilot and a very basic 6 pack in the middle of winter. It is going to be some of the hardest flying you will ever do and the chance of failure is possibly high. I don't think I would take this job had I not already been doing some King Air flying. In the current world we live in failures are not taken lightly anymore and I speak from experience on this one.

 

Is GIA giving a positive space or pass for the interview? Thanks. Got an email for an interview next week, but haven't confirm it yet. Would appreciate info about the interview Thanks.

 

Trip is fly on your own dime. Im non-reving down to FLL. Least FLL is an easy place to get to as long as cruise folks arent stuck, otherwise its a nonrev nightmare. Pick middle of the week interviews, less chances of stuff to happen.

 

I intereviewed recently, sat down for the face to face meet, told to wait out side afterwards, then they called me back in, told me to go take the written exam and sim evaluation, aced the written, did really well in the sim eval. Filled out the paperwork, got the phone call for the offer, went and took the drug test, then came back for the rest of the PRIA paperwork and was told Im in the December 7th class. Seems like its going to be a great place to work, and am excited to start. The interview when like how I always thought an airline interview should go. They take the time to get to know you as a person to see if they like you, but not based off your thought process or "what would you do in this situation" like other regional interviews ive been on. Get to know you, test your knowledge, and then to see if you're trainable. Thats how an airline interview should be in my opinion. The people there are friendly, get some great experience, especially dealing with flying in icing and deicing ops and other valuable experience, so seems like it will be an awesome place to fly for.

 

Just wondering if anyone that interviewed recently could tell me if GIA's training contract still stands as two year emplyoment and a training cost of $24,000 repayable if you leave the company early, I know that they have changed their stipulations since they had first started interviewing. Thanks

 

THIS!

For you guys at the dawn of your career, and looking for a major job, I will give you the same sage advice ERDude has given. If you ignore everything else he's said, burn these words into your brains: PILOT IN COMMAND, TURBINE, wherever, however. Never pass up a NH class date OR upgrade.

Time is ticking, and months/years wasted now can mean the difference between a great career, and a not so great career (or none at all). A lot of luck is also needed, BUT, you aren't gonna get lucky if you aren't qualified for the job.

I am in my 26th year as a pilot. I came up through the civilian ranks, beginning as an airplane washer at 16, and worked my way up. I've worked at 6 regionals, 1 corporate job, 1 night freight outfit and one major that I've been at for 16 years. I have been very fortunate so far.

The commuter level of this business sucks. Always has, always will. It's a means to an end and nothing more. Embrace it for what it is, a stepping stone. Never lose sight of the big picture. Busting your butt 20 days a month for <$2k per is NOT a career. It's easy/natural to adapt to your world, but the bad conditions there should be motivating factors to do what it takes to get OUT of it. I'm lucky that I got out before the RJ boom, because I might've been just satisfied enough to stay there.

As I was working my way up, I always ran into the guys who were living in the now, choosing QOL over advancement.

A good friend of mine is but one example. He always passed on upgrading at the regional we worked for because he didn't want to go from the ATR right seat to the J-31 left seat (bad contract language would've put him on 1st year Capt pay in the J31, which was slightly less than ATR FO pay for his longevity in it, but we're talking a very small difference). He ended up at a (now acquired) major, and was subsequently furloughed. He called me about getting on at my airline, as well as a bunch of others where we had mutual friends, but even though he had over 10K hours, he didn't even qualify for an interview. He's painting houses now.

Another guy quit when we got bought by another carrier, and we were facing pay/qol cuts. He was a Check Airman and had tons of PIC time, yet, even though he didn't need the cash, he went back to the family business. He called me about 5 years later asking for a rec, which I was happy to give, but his lack of recency was a problem. He refused to do the "street captain deal at another crummy commuter to get some recency, and to this day regrets it.

The PFT nonsense sucks (it was not even a factor when I started, thank God), and IMHO, the only way it's gonna go away is if people stop doing it.

FWIW, I've been perusing this thread because an acquaintance has been bitten by the aviation bug, and has asked me my advice. Even after talking to me, he still wants to do it, so I'm doing a little research.

 

I'm quite confused by your post. In the beginning, it almost sounds as if your saying we should jump on this opportunity because of the quick upgrade to log Turbine PIC (get in n' get out sort of thing). But at the end, it's as if your telling us to stay away... Please clarify?

 

Since my post about the $25,000, I understand it's been changed to a "training bond" reduced by $1000/mo for every month you stay. Now, it's REALLY a no brainer decision. By the time you upgrade and get the TPIC time to move on the 24 months will have come and gone, you'll owe nothing and you'll be at a Major. Your peers that pass up this chance will be stuck at xyz regional and will have just upgraded and begin to build thier TPIC. This will make the difference in QOL for the rest of your career. GIA will NOT be fun, you'll work your a$$ off. You'll also work with great guys/gals and be gone before you know it.

Some advice: Don't Commute, it's not realistic with your schedule. Live in base and answer the phone every single solitary time scheds calls you, even on your days off.

Budget for reserve guarantee. Anything beyond that is extra, save 1/2 of it...but don't count on it. The time I was there I flew 115hrs/mo average and credited 140-150. You will NOT make this is you're an a$$, don't answer the phone or commute.

GIA has pretty good work rules, some better than my major I'm at now. The contract makes it tolerable. Island hopping is fun. When I was there a friend at NWA told me to enjoy the time there, once I get to a major the flying will never be as fun. It isn't and hasn't been. There's nothing as fun as a visual to 25 in Key West, cranking over the Boca Chica channel at 400' and rolling out on final....or being 9000' abeam the numbers in the downwind at MIA and being cleared for the visual..."can you keep it short"...fun stuff and you'll never see it again once you leave.

Enjoy and good luck.

 

I'm telling anyone what to do. I'm telling you what you need to move up and trying to give some perspective. The landscape has changed since I came up.

IMHO, the PFT deal is complete BS, and I am glad I didn't have to make that decision. Nowadays, unfortunately, it might be the best way to fatten up the logbook, but I am not sure, which is what brought me to this thread in the first place. I am trying to help out a friend of a friend, and want some current perspective. For the OP, who apparently already has a bunch of SIC time at AE, going over to a place like GIA might be the right thing to do.

The bottom line is that in order to advance in this business, you need PIC turbine.


Oh, and another little nugget of wisdom. Never forget the golden rule, regardless of where you are! Besides being the right thing to do in any circumstance, there is a chance that they will be, or at least in a position to help you get the next job. Take care of your co workers, and they will take care of you.

Good luck guys...... Back to lurking......