XJT Hiring Pool
 

First off good morning to all.

I'm a new guy to the forum and an aspiring 121 rookie. I've lurked this site for a while mostly just trying to get a feel for the culture. I've been just your average CFI for the last 4 years and am looking to get moving with the next step.

I interviewed with XJT and have one at SkyWest in the near future. My question for those in the know,

XJT told me congratulations you're now in our pool. We will call you if we need you.

Does anyone have any experience with these circumstances? Do they typically call you in or can you expect to just stay a "pool pilot"

Thanks in advance!

If you got to that point, they want you and you'll eventually get the call. It took 3 weeks for me to get a call about this same time last year... actually I called them and was the first one to be put into my class. They hadn't called anyone yet but were going to get started for that class. It takes some patience, but there's nothing wrong with calling to check up on things, let them know you're interested, etc. Don't do that until a couple of weeks after the interview, I'd suggest.

Great thanks!

Yeah it was three weeks after my interview. I called them about every 8-10 days. Then I got the "pool" email. My recruiter said its a good thing.

It is a good thing, it means you have the job. Last I heard, the training center (ERJ side) is a little backed up right now with all the new hires and upgrades they've been doing to get our staffing right. If you are happy doing what you are now and XJT is where you want to be, your best bet is to just hang out and wait for the call.

If Skywest calls for an interview and you get the job, take it. I think we have a bumpy road ahead with our contract negotiations here at XJT. If no Skywest, then looks like you'll be stuck with us POed pilots at the "worlds largest regional."

Good Luck

Haha thanks for the insight guys. I definitely want to keep all options and not burn any bridges.

Just another plt can you elaborate? I'm somewhat lost on the lingo and my current line of work doesn't deal as heavily with unions and furloughs and never with contracts (firefighter)

Things are fine at xjet. There's a few that are ****ed off but most are really pleasant. I wouldn't rather be anywhere else, and am really happy with our contract. I don't expect any big increases and that's ok with me.

I talked to an MEC guy yesterday and he said the contract is actually coming along very quickly. He happened to work on the last two conracts in various rolls and he said this one is leap and bounds ahead of them. He said he wouldnt be suprised if there was something close to a TA or at least something the MEC can vote on this summer.

I agree with g-code as well. I'm a 2nd, almost 3rd year, FO on the CRJ and im very happy I came to ASA/Xjet. I'm on reserve, but I also live in base. I can also control my days off pretty well so my QOL isn't too shabby. With all the hiring on the ERJ side I would highly recommend that side for fast relative senority especially if you are planning on commuting.

Feel free to PM me about any other questions! I don't bite!

If xjt and Asa will ever agree to a contract we will be fine. Otherwise I'd go to Skywest. Xjt seems to want their cake and eat it too on this contract and is ****ing off a lot of people at Asa who realize what makes for a contract where the flying doesn't all just go to blow jets. We know, they already took a bunch of our 700's because they were cheaper. Now xjt wants us to become more expensive with a best of both worlds contract. Until they wake up, expressjet will see a lot of flying to go other regionals, and major stagnation (which Asa is already experiencing).

I agree. There is a "vocal minority" here who I think have lost/never had any perspective. Our contract has been one of THE best out there for almost a decade, even through several updates, extensions and even concessions. Hell, talk to some CAL and United guys, our contract is better than THEIRS in some areas! It's going to take some time to get the blinders off some of the ASA guys and to clean the company kool-aid out of the ATL water supply but it IS happening, slowly but surely. The former management at XJT has long understood that a good working relationship with the pilots and respect from both parties is the best way to run an airline. Yes, when Handley was here, those were dark days. I know many were wronged in many ways, and with pilots all slights and wounds carry with them long scars. But his stay was brief and he's gone now. Let it go guys. Compared to the former XJT management (pre-Handley of course), are our ASA handlers complete buffoons? More than I care to admit. But SkyWest has a history of cooperating with their work groups to keep everyone happy, so does the former XJT. We just need to start winning hearts and minds over at the former ASA.

I suppose in the end it's all relative. The guys that were here during the transition from a small regional with a hodgepodge turboprop fleet to major player with 274 jets will never be happy again because it won't be "what it was" when upgrades were less than 2 years, everyone was young and fun, pay basically tripled for most pilots here and we were growing like a weed. And they're right. I don't see us doubling in size again, sorry guys. Nor would I hold my breath for a massive pay increase. If that's what it will take to make you happy then prepare for a long career full of disappointment. And yes, Continental sort of pulled the "favored nation" rug out from under us, much to the collective dismay. Losing vacation passes, losing non-rev priority, etc., it sucked, don't get me wrong but Continental imposed THEIR terms, not our management.

I guess a word of caution to you noobs: If you're flying with a woe-is-me guy who can't shut his mouth about the "good 'ol days", ask him if he was here when we were still taking delivery of new jets. Ask him if he was here during the flow-through (flow-back and shut-off is more accurate, but that's a different story:rolleyes:). If he answers yes, then that should give you a clue on where he's coming from.

I an an ATL guy and I would agree with you that there are many guys, and the few gals, here that think 'you legacy Xjet folk' want $60/hr in the right seat. I believe, as it has been discussed before, that it's simply lack of communication. Hearing everything through the grape vine is a horrible way to learn what the other guy wants.

It's all about that 'vocal minority' that screws everything up for the more rational I suppose...

I simply want what's fair. Some kind of pay increase to cover AT LEAST inflation with both contracts taken into account. I guess we will see what the MEC agrees to soon or later and vote.

I may have read your post wrong, but are you saying you don't want a better contract?

We are all pleasant to each other at work since we are all in the same boat. As for big increases, it would be nice and you should always vote FOR it. Never shrug should and say my small paycheck is enough since I get to fly the shinny jet.

Almost 3 years hasn't seen the grunt of it. A TA means nothing when the pilot group votes it down. Don't understand? You'll see soon enough. We will not have new contract in 2012.

From the recall meeting, "Express side will not like it at first... but once explained they will." HA, that alone is a joke, just like they like PBS. Yea, we've explained that one many times.


I stand by my first statement, go to Skywest Airlines. The new XJT is the the red headed step child to them anyways.

Hi,

Would someone mind telling me what the Jr. base is? I'm hoping to get on soon at XJT and would take whatever is given but if I had a choice, I'd love DTW. Where is DTW on the list?

Thanks!

Thanks alot, i will pm you as soon as i get 10 posts.....per the forum rules lol

Well, I think DTW is only a base for the CRJ700. My understanding is that a majority of the most recent hiring is for the E145 operation with bases in EWR, CLE, ORD, and IAH. I don't think being hired on to the CRJ700 is an option right now. Hopefully a XE pilot can chime in.

I know that wherever it go (if i get to go) there will be plenty of folks who are unhappy with certain aspects (or most aspects) i dont typically fall victim to other peoples feelings (good or bad) I listen to what they have and dont presume to tell them theyre wrong for thinking that.

I am no stranger to SOME of these issues in my current line of work. However, i can tell you this, I believe i know for the most part what im getting in to right?

Low pay
Long nights
FATIGUE
Nights away from home
cranky customers

but at the end of the day its still a job where you get to operate large machinery!

this is my understanding as well....ERJ only and even that is getting full, thus the reason for my concern with the "pool" ive been placed in.

Most jr. FO in DTW is 5/31/2011 hire. Current CRJ new hire class will be IAD and ATL.

Same here. I could be happy with our pay returned to pre-concession levels plus an annual cost of living/inflation increase. Some minor adjustments to reserve rules and no PBS in phase 1 bidding

Yeah, I don't get that either. I hope I read it wrong but it's something I keep hearing from ASA guys. Their vocal minority maybe? I hope so. I just don't get it. If you are so worried about losing flying to GoJet, why don't you just fly the 700s for free? Then I bet you'll see all kinds of growth.:rolleyes:

The difference is that some of these issues that make folks unhappy are based in fact (ala Mesa and RAH) whereas some of these 'issues' are creations of egos and resentment at failed aspirations. I love the "I coulda gone to XYZ Airlines" guys. If you coulda and shoulda then you WOULDA!

100% agree....

well I certainly know that i will start as a no-name bottom feeder and keep my desires about the future within due bounds. No entitlement needed. If i get there one day...AWESOME....if not...oh well.

We need some flight case stickers -- "Concede to succeed!"

Haha!

Unfortunately I fly with quite a few lifers that share none of my enthusiasm for bettering our contract. When I talk gains they reference CT or BH preaching how competitive the industry is and how we need to get our costs in line. I have no idea how common this mentality is, just my experience the last year or so.

That's because they've forgotten how much it sucks to be on the bottom. They sit pretty with their amazing 401K matching, 100/hr, 18 day off lines. They are afraid of losing that. Why would they risk their career to help those below them?

He's alive! I hope our favorite captain in DTW is keeping you in check. ;)

I would love a great contract, but I also realize that the industry leading wages usually don't last long, or you get to see your flying go to other places. Let's be realistic and get something better, perhaps not what I hear all these xjet guys want though. I'm not a lifer, but 6 years is enough as an FO I don't care what regional your at. We are all basically contract workers, when u get to be the most expensive contractor, guess what..your customer goes elsewhere.

Best quote yet. Hand them out to freezingflykid and all the other "almost 3 year FO"s. Seems to be a common trend among them.

I think our management has them right where they want them, drinking the Kol-aid.

I want a SureJet sticker damnit.

http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbn...e%2fch-mad.gif

Go to sticker junkie.

Since when has the MEC been flying the line? :p

Do you expect the ERJ side to agree to anything that isn't at least as good as they have now? If getting something better means flying going somewhere else, so be it. I personably don't want to sell myself out.

Amazing 401k? It's not amazing by any stretch of the imagination!

The ERJ side has had industry leading wages and it's actually growing in number of aircraft.

XJT Base
 

Thanks for the info.

Had the same exact thought as I typed that, but I figured anyone that has any contact with Union folk know how much they've been trying to manage expectations since...well since just after Contract 2007.

Expressjet was headed for bankruptcy, you were expensive and continental pulled a lot of flying, gee I wonder...your industry leading contract must have had nothing what so ever to do with that.
Expressjet got bought, yet they still have the desire to want to sink the company that bailed them out of having to take concessions. No one gets a better contract in BK and now y'all are not headed for it, that is unless you want to sink ASA too. And for what? A few years of another "industry leading" contract only to be praying you dont go BK when mainline drops you years down the road?
Your a contractor, in fact a sub contractor, and yet you demand to be paid as if there is no one else that mainline can turn to for a regional feed. GoJets is the classic example, or mesa, or whoever.
Growth = movement and better schedules, and thats exactly what will not happen when you get to be the most expensive. Im not saying we go the route of being broke and flying like GoJets, but we are far from that...lets get a better contract, but not one that blows everything everyone else has away. In a perfect world we would be getting paid the same as mainline and have 100% job security, blah blah blah. Get over it, your at a regional, if your a lifer...sorry, but most of us want to move on and not sit as FOs for a decade either. Getting paid over 100k a year (left seat)...and thats only after 10 years isn't bad. But its never enough...

Jr bases as of the last bid are EWR and CLE, the last 2 classes here in the school house both got split between the 2. For FO's ORD appears to be the most senior since only 2 people in the last 4 classes got awarded it.

Of course with only 4 bases things could change quickly, just my take on things

You are wrong. I agree with many of your points but you are wrong. The majority of the guys on the ERJ side bust ass every day, and want to see the company succeed. Most are happy with management as well. Yes, perhaps our on-time is consistantly 10% lower than the CRJ side, but we fly out of Newark as well.

We are all in this together, and listening to rumors from either side doesn't help. All of us want the company to succeed and a fair contract isn't a bad thing. I don't expect the moon and I think most of the ERJ guys realize the whole subcontractor thing and would agree with you.

Industry leading wages? I hate to break it to you, but 9L, XJ, end 9E payrates actually surpass yours at maturity. Where does that get us, CH11. If you want a ticket to the dance, by all means join us.

Man what u said is so wrong. Please don't blame the pilots wages on our bankruptcy. It was inept management, NOT the pilots contract.