Astar announces new hire class in Oct.

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FWIW, our management has announced interviews and a class date in Oct. for B727 SO's. At least one more class after that. Here's the info, if anyone is interested:


We have begun the hiring process to fill Boeing 727 Second Officer positions with new hire pilots and the first class is scheduled for October 2007. The interview process will begin this month. Contact info is: email:
[email protected] or mail to 3336 SR 73, Bldg 11, MS 230, Wilmington, Ohio 45177.

Pilot minimum qualification standards are:


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1500 hours total time (Fixed Wing)


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250 hours AMEL-PIC. Preferably with a certified carrier


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ATP certificate, AMEL, type rating preferred


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Current 1st Class Medical


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FEX written, passed within the past 24 months


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Minimum 2 years college, preferred


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Restricted Radiotelephone operators permit

�� Current Passport

__________________
“Send lawyers, guns, and money.”-Zevon
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Is this just for attrition? Any new rumors floating around?

Thanks
Bat
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Quote: Is this just for attrition? Any new rumors floating around?

Thanks
Bat
Mainly for attrition. Rumors?? Sure, rumors galore. But as I like to say, "I ain't believe'n it till the guy in the seat next to me is call'n "V1-rotate" "
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It certainly will be interesting to see if people actually show up for class... this happened the last time Astar hired. Many people from the last class have left already...

Astar doesnt hire "PFE's", but they might as well... it will take 10 years to get to the right seat.

It used to be that hiring was done primarily by internal recommendation... I dont think any of us would do this to a friend.
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Quote: It certainly will be interesting to see if people actually show up for class... this happened the last time Astar hired. Many people from the last class have left already...

Astar doesnt hire "PFE's", but they might as well... it will take 10 years to get to the right seat.

It used to be that hiring was done primarily by internal recommendation... I dont think any of us would do this to a friend.
YIKES! A friend just recommended me. Hmmm---and he's a 6yr SO. Actually, he DID give the requisite disclaimer: "see what happens with...contract...DHL plans...ABX...expansion...etc...while the rez works through the system." There seems to be a sense of pending answers to these many questions---is the mood even remotely optimistic?

Of course, mood doesn't bear on reality... so any cautiously optimistic hopes dashed by bad news on these fronts would definitely impact any decision to show up for training. Is that wrong?
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Checknin...

The mood has actually been optimistic. With DHL getting a 49% stake and extending the ACMI agreement along with some large financing recently lined up it all seems pretty positive. The pay is good... The people you will work with are good... The schedules are good.

Good luck... Hope you get on.
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Quote: Checknin...

The mood has actually been optimistic. With DHL getting a 49% stake and extending the ACMI agreement along with some large financing recently lined up it all seems pretty positive. The pay is good... The people you will work with are good... The schedules are good.

Good luck... Hope you get on.
WOW--did I misread your last post or has there been some big Astar news in the last, oh, 28 hours or-so that has you more upbeat (...or did you save a bunch of money by switching to GEICO)?

Kidding aside, you seem decidedly (almost strangely) more chipper. Any elaboration on best-case (yet feasible) expectations and current positives (i.e., what's your schedule like) would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
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A little Astar lowdown
Hey checknin,
I'll take a shot and elaborate on what Dust-Bin-Driver was talking about.
In the last 2.5 months, DHL has bought back the 49% stake of our airline they originally held and added Hans Hickler (sp?) as a fourth member to our BOD. Hickler was appointed in '04 or '05 to oversee DHL's development and implementation of U.S. business strategy, in addition to overseeing the company's real estate, procurement, and internal consulting functions. In Sept '06, Hickler succeeded John Mullen as Chief Executive Officer for DHL Express in the United States. Mullen now sits over DHL globally and Hans reports to him.
As for the financing, Astar extended and revised it's credit arrangement with HSH Nordbank AG, New York Branch. The revised credit agreement extends the term to 2019, subject to certain conditions. The scope of the revolving credit facility will now be expanded to permit ASTAR to finance capital expenditures including the acquisition of aircraft, cargo conversions, designated real property, and ground equipment. We also have a history with Boeing Capital through which the financing was provided to purchase and put Astar together. It is our belief that debt had been totally paid off, and up until last year or so Astar had been operating totally in the black with zero debt. At this point, Astar began purchasing aircraft that it had been operating in the service of DHL from their respective leasing companies. To date the number is 20 B727-200's and 2 DC-8-73's. As for the DC-8's, I believe we already own 801-805 and maybe two others, but I'm not completely certain.
As for growth, Daz & Co. tried the quick and dirty method with a very sudden and very public offering for ABXA which was turned down by ABXA BOD. There is much debate as to why it happened that way. So much that it deserves it's own thread My personal opinion with regards to growth is that we will either make another play for ABXA after the XMAS push, (which will prove to be as fruitless as the last try) or KittyHawk. Not so much for their B727, but for the B737 type on their certificate which I see as the logical replacement for the DC-9's.
As for our Schedules, our bid periods are 28 days, 13 bid periods in a year. We fly a typical 7 on 7 off, with our reserve lines being 8 on 6 off. If you're gonna fly the back side of the clock, these are the schedule matrix's you want. The added bennie of the 7&7 line allows you to maximize your vacation blocks so as to have 4 week off stretches with no trouble at all three times a year until your 10'th year, then you can do it 4 times a year.

Hope this helps, FAJ
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Quote: ...In the last 2.5 months, DHL has bought back the 49% stake of our airline...
Thanks FAJ. Great synopsis.

I see that, as of the end of June, DHL has inked a similar arrangement with Polar (49 percent equity interest, including a 25 percent voting stake) and will commence a blocked space agreement by Nov 2007. (Press release link dated June 28 found here: http://www.polaraircargo.com/news/pr...ases/index.asp)

Question: Is this any cause for concern for the Astar pilot force or is DHL simply servicing two different markets using two different carriers?

cheers
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Quote: Thanks FAJ. Great synopsis.

Question: Is this any cause for concern for the Astar pilot force or is DHL simply servicing two different markets using two different carriers?

cheers
Check,

Sure we're concerned. In this industry and with DHL in particular the outcome is never certain.

However as FAJ said, with the purchase of the stock, the credit line, the contract with DHL extended to 2019, and the seat on the board, it's difficult to see a scenario where Astar would go away. DHL has used multiple carriers in the European market for years and, although it sucks as far as pilot career advancement is concerned, it's good for the company.

Right now, DHL has three carriers in the US: Astar, ABX and soon, Polar. Already we have seen ABX reject Astar's offer for a buyout. What's next? Who knows. But it is clear that Astar has DHL's blessing for growth.

There's room for optomism, but Astar is in difficult and protracted contract negotiations which will likely wind up in a strike. We still share the court with ABX who could end up with all the apples in their cart. And DHL has made some really stupid decisions in the past several years. Nothing is simple in this industry and we all should be concerned.

Driver
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