I have no issue with bringing a newhire into the training dept if he/she is qualified and brings some great experience to the table. My issue is with limiting training dept positions to FLL FO's. This eliminates some people before they even apply. Also, while you are correct that this is a 121 airline, the fact is our operation is unique in some ways, and having an instructor that has flown in our operation for a number of years can be more beneficial to a pilot in training...at least that is my opinion, FWIW.

I will say though, I do think all of our current instructors do a fantastic job. Don't have a negative thing to say about any that I have come across.

 

Thank you for capturing what I intended my post to communicate, 'captscott26'.

Limiting the position to FLL FO is not done to ensure the best candidate is placed in the job, only the cheapest.

Our 'assistant chief pilot position' is the same way. You MUST be an FO - that's in the manuals.

None of this is a reflection on those who currently occupy the positions. It's not personal.

 

I gotta say, my experience with civilian training programs prior to coming to Spirit amounted to Higher Power and that's it.

However, I have extensive experience in Air Force training, both on the receiving and instructing side in multiple different types of airframes/missions. I gotta say, I was very impressed by Spirit's training program. I really thought it was efficient and effective, the instructors were all class.

As Spirit grows, one fear is that the quality of instructors and instructed may lessen, I really hope that doesn't happen.

 

Nedskids, I think you said what you meant and only made a small reference to FLL FOs. I don't agree with your statements at all. With that said I just get tired of anyone that sits online and attacks others that either have a position they do not have or even worse attacks our union guys that volunteer and do the best the can in a frivolous battle with management. I see both of those things happen on the other forum and I think it is insane. There are multiple threads attacking instructors that I know and I think those guys are great people just trying to do a good job and I don't think you or others that complain have ever seen any of their resumes... Along the same lines I have flown with many union guys that I see get attacked online and they are doing a great job and the best they can. Make sure you have ALL the facts before you ridicule people or make judgement who is the best candidate for leadership position both union and training! My posts are not just aimed at you but at anyone that fits that profile!

 

If you have issues with a particular member of this forum, feel free to use the PM feature. Lets keep this thread on track, ok?

Thanks.

 

Yes! Let's keep it on track. At the DFW job fair, Scott mentioned that he heard the interview in FLL has changed. Can anybody who interviewed very recently chime in to what's different and what to expect for other hopefuls?

 

Well Maam, i get tired of union guys who sit home drawing FPL while they scheme to limit my pay.

Is that you Bababouy?

 

Anyone here part of the group that interviewed on Wednesday? I'd love to get the updated gouge! Thanks!

 

Just to point out, this is almost a 7000 post thread that is NOT about getting hired at Spirit. So this thread is exactly on track and things like this should be discussed.

If you want a gouge or hiring info, go to the Spirit Job Fair thread. Thanks.

 

This should get us back on track, interesting article


High-Flying, High-Debt Airlines Will Be Forced Back Down to Earth, Again | Benzinga

Stock prices for United Continental (NYSE: UAL [FREE Stock Trend Analysis]), US Airways Group (NYSE: LCC), and Delta Airlines (NYSE: DAL) have soared for 2013.

Pretty remarkable, when you consider the level of debt each of these companies is carrying. When the market turns, as it always does, the heavy leverage will be a tremendous burden on the ability of all of these airlines to compete and survive.

Since the industry's deregulation in 1978 more than 200 air carriers have filed for bankruptcy. US Airways has done it twice. Delta Airlines did it in 2005 and, for United Airlines, it was in 2002. American Airlines was the last legacy airline to file for bankruptcy with its Chapter 11 petition in November 2011.

All borrowed way too much to be able to survive.

Related: Time to Chow Down on this High-Dividend, Low-Debt Takeover Candidate?

A useful way to determine how well a company is being managed for debt and other considerations is to compare it with the "best practices" in the industry. Spirit Airlines (NASDAQ: SAVE) and Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK) are, by far, the best run airlines-- with each having a profit margin of around 9.50 percent. The debt-to-equity ratio for Alaska Airlines is 0.50. Spirit Airlines has no debt.

By contrast, United Airlines has a negative profit margin of 0.50 percent and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.98. That means it required almost seven dollars in borrowing to produce each dollar of equity for those owning the stock.

US Airways Group has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.93 and a profit margin of 4.10 percent. The debt-to-equity ratio for Delta Airlines is 86.86 with a profit a profit margin of 5.10 percent.

The airlines industry is one that does not hold up well with too much debt.

Fuel makes up about 40 percent of fixed expenses, and it appears to be staying at a high level. Revenues are also unpredictable, as passenger traffic fluctuates with the economy. An unstable revenue stream with high fixed costs is a classic case of borrowing short-term and lending long-term, which should always be avoided.

Writing on this subject in The Wall Street Journal in 2009, Mike Milken warned that "even a dollar of debt may be too much for some companies. Over the past four decades, many companies have struggled with the wrong capital structures. During cycles of credit expansion, companies have often failed to build enough liquidity to survive the inevitable contractions."

"Especially vulnerable." he added, "are enterprises with unpredictable revenue streams that end up with too much debt during business slowdowns. It happened 40 years ago, it happened 20 years ago, and it's happening again. Over-leveraging in many industries -- especially airlines, aerospace and technology -- started in the late 1960s."

As detailed in a previous article on Benzinga, it is far better to invest in companies with clean or lean balance sheets. That is especially so for industries like the airlines, that have unpredictable income streams with high fixed costs.

Before taking off with US Airways Group, Delta Airlines and United Continental, investors should be very wary of the debt burdens that have a history of forcing air carriers into a crash landing.

Posted-In: airline bankruptcy Airline Industry airlines Mike MilkenLong Ideas News Wall Street Journal Small Cap Analysis Commodities Technicals Travel Economics Markets Media Trading Ideas General Interview



Read more: http://www.benzinga.com/trading-idea...#ixzz2miLRbi3O