your thoughts on ASA
 

Longevity,pay, Upgrade time... what do you Know?

ALL of the above will depend on the contract negotiation resolution that has been expected for the last 4 years...

Do you like LA?

LA has six lines, and about 10 people per position out there. It will be a good close knit base.
ASA is slowly starting to get its stuff together. One cold spell and the entire ramp may quit, but I have to say that it appears that they are trying.
There will be mergers of the majors and I think soon. The will leave this industry in a tail spin (Pilot wise) for a few years. The doors are just starting to open. That would stop the top from leaving. That and the contract have everything to do with your questions. Best guess 3-5 on upgrade.

Almost three years on the CR2 and still not even close. Hopefully '07 will be a very good year.

4-5 years to upgrade (at present)

Longevity? We are very senior in general (for a regional), many 10+ year pilots.

Pay? 4 years into negotiations, currently way below industry average on the -200, above average on the -700. QOL and benefits below average. Negotiations poised to bring everything to industry average or slightly above.

Upgrade? 5.5 years to upgrade on the ATR or -200. Six years to hold an ATR CA line and 7 years to hold a CA line on the -200. About 10 years to hold -700 captain.

All new hires will be sent to LAX for the forseeable future. They cam expect to spend 3-6 months out there. First year pay is $19.02 per hour with a 75 hour guarantee. Training is paid based on 75 hour guarantee, and if you get LAX you will get 24 hour perdiem while in training in ATL. This gives an extra $1200 per month, almost double what you'll make after training.

In general, our motto is "the beatings will continue until morale improves". Our ATL management is totally incompetent, and Skywest is running it with a hands off approach. Morale is extremely low, and we are losing 30 pilots a month. We're still not sure if Skywest will phase us out. They might. We are losing 1-2 year FOs to Skywest at about 10 a month. Upgrade at Skywest is 2 years on the jet.

Thank-You guys for the response. I am currently setting up my Interview. I appreciate the info...:)

I fly for SKW and I have several friends that work for ASA. I strongly back your efforts and regret not having the ability to stand beside you. SKW pilots, in general, believe that SAPA gives us a unified voice. BUT, with "Free Will Employment," standing together will only mean unemployment.

SKW's hands off approach are not working. It is becoming well known around SKW that Jerry, Brad, Dave, Ron, as well as all the other brass are fed up with ASA Mgmnt. I don't understand why they continue to deal with them but time will tell. I believe in SKW Inc. and I feel that the end result will be very positive for both groups.

Keep up the fight and remain positive, the majority of SKW is backing you. I understand that every group has rotten apples, so take the negatively from the FEW with a light heart. One negative comment travels much further and faster than 100 good ones.

Good Luck!

Aside from voting in ALPA, I don't see any tangible support SKW pilots can give you, but I'm sure most of us are hoping you get an acceptable contract and an improved ATL ops. Is any of that supposed money/equipment SKW sent to you guys helping?

Two things...

1. Supposedly a lot of ASA management holds contracts from Delta. I don't know when they expire.

2. Upgrade times can change overnight.