Spirit of NKS
01-03-2015 | 09:55 PM
#9322
Line Holder
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,499
Likes: 0
I hear that they'll hire 30 with 4-5 showing up for class. It's simple, they go to the better paying regional. I think the same can/will happen here if people know what other properties are offering
01-04-2015 | 10:06 AM
#9324
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: 320 Left soon middle
I am glad most of you guys are happy here. Most FOs I have been flying with told me they were going to stay. But recently I started to fly with many junior guys again, guys in the 1000 range. Almost all who were less than 40 years old had applications at AA, UAL, DAL, and some at UPS and FEDEX. They are not unhappy here, but they would rather be at a legacy. I can totally understand them.
When I came over from a regional I was very happy. Compared to that this was awesome. But the novelty does wear off rather fast and after you upgrade things start to become really annoying on certain days.
Like my last trip. I walk into an absolutely filthy cockpit at midnight for my red eye transcon flight. Every cockpit is filthy at Spirit unless it is a brand new plane. When I say filthy, I mean it.
The crew is gone, but the plane has several MX items that were not reported. Never mind they came from an MX base.
On a side note: I see this all the time. Some CAs even brief me: "Hey this is this but it is not in the book". These are guys I have never met before. Well I am glad people out there still have faith in humanity because for all they know I could be the largest a hole and call the CP. Some CAs do that here. Good old S.A. the local FLL favorite just to mention one.
... But this night my FO is sharp and he catches everything. It all goes into the book and we take an 1h+ delay. One hour delay for two minor items. Tops 10 min fix in DTW. Not so in LAX. Thanks guys!
This is all not a big deal because at Spirit you learn how to manage your sleep cycle so an extra hour for this red eye is nothing. My new (and happy to be here) FO is already yawning and we have not even pushed. He said he had a great layover, he saw the Queen Marry and the Russian sub in the afternoon. Ouch... that will hurt. I am glad I gave him the LAX leg
I go back to my duties. Now I have time to do everything properly. This delay is really a win win situation I just don't have a good attitude anymore. At Spirit we got some additional preflight items to take care of. For example you get to do some origami with the paperwork because due to a software error some printers still don't recognize page brakes. Once I am done tearing all the paperwork into peaces I have to reference some existing DMIs in our brand new MEL! It is about 10-15 lbs now. It is in a gigantic binder. Spirit has miniaturization backwards. It is THE largest MEL I have ever seen in my career. If the Space Shuttle has an MEL, I bet it is smaller than ours. Meanwhile I can't download the PDF version (not that it is approved for use) because our IT department does not support my apple devices. They are hardcore droid guys over there. But that is OK because iPads are coming! They have been coming for 4-5 years now. Next, my 55+ very friendly senior FLL lead wants ice and catering but we don't cater this flight. Why would we? It is only 5h block and we are loosing money on catering. The MX items get addressed fast but we end up waiting 30 min for an amendment. That is because MX, Dispatch, and Crew Scheduling do not communicate with each other even though they are all sitting in the same room. It is either that or the roach coach must have pulled into the parking lot at Miramar.
May be 5-6 years ago I would have written an e-mail to the CP about the dirty cockpit, about the 30 min wait for an amendment, and about all the other things that I did not care to mention in my rant. But our CP does not return phone calls or e-mails. Some assistant CPs do, but it is not 5-6 years ago so I do not care to write anything except this rant on this forum.
So back to the topic... working here is fun for a while. The place is getting better. It is much better than 7-8 years ago. But it will never be a legacy. It has no culture and it will never have one except perhaps the culture of Walmart. I am too old and have too much seniority that I just can't throw away. I wish I would be 30-35. I would be gone so fast if AA or UAL would call. Not that I am their top candidate but assuming they would want me over there I would leave. Just before posting this I just looked at AA's job page... MIA is junior. But I just can't do it. Too expensive. I will not see the return.
Even two years ago I was arguing that Spirit will not have an exodus of pilots. But now that we are in the 1000 range, I think this will change. With the raises all the legacies are getting even a 3rd 4th year CA will make the switch as long he or she is relatively young. Yes we do have QOL and yes pay will get better but who knows what QOL and pay will be exactly in the next contract? I don't. It is one in the hand or two in the bush. If you get the call that is. The biggest draw back IMHO is that one who leaves now for a legacy will be sitting on the furlough range for some time. That would be my biggest fear.
When I came over from a regional I was very happy. Compared to that this was awesome. But the novelty does wear off rather fast and after you upgrade things start to become really annoying on certain days.
Like my last trip. I walk into an absolutely filthy cockpit at midnight for my red eye transcon flight. Every cockpit is filthy at Spirit unless it is a brand new plane. When I say filthy, I mean it.
The crew is gone, but the plane has several MX items that were not reported. Never mind they came from an MX base.
On a side note: I see this all the time. Some CAs even brief me: "Hey this is this but it is not in the book". These are guys I have never met before. Well I am glad people out there still have faith in humanity because for all they know I could be the largest a hole and call the CP. Some CAs do that here. Good old S.A. the local FLL favorite just to mention one.
... But this night my FO is sharp and he catches everything. It all goes into the book and we take an 1h+ delay. One hour delay for two minor items. Tops 10 min fix in DTW. Not so in LAX. Thanks guys!
This is all not a big deal because at Spirit you learn how to manage your sleep cycle so an extra hour for this red eye is nothing. My new (and happy to be here) FO is already yawning and we have not even pushed. He said he had a great layover, he saw the Queen Marry and the Russian sub in the afternoon. Ouch... that will hurt. I am glad I gave him the LAX leg
I go back to my duties. Now I have time to do everything properly. This delay is really a win win situation I just don't have a good attitude anymore. At Spirit we got some additional preflight items to take care of. For example you get to do some origami with the paperwork because due to a software error some printers still don't recognize page brakes. Once I am done tearing all the paperwork into peaces I have to reference some existing DMIs in our brand new MEL! It is about 10-15 lbs now. It is in a gigantic binder. Spirit has miniaturization backwards. It is THE largest MEL I have ever seen in my career. If the Space Shuttle has an MEL, I bet it is smaller than ours. Meanwhile I can't download the PDF version (not that it is approved for use) because our IT department does not support my apple devices. They are hardcore droid guys over there. But that is OK because iPads are coming! They have been coming for 4-5 years now. Next, my 55+ very friendly senior FLL lead wants ice and catering but we don't cater this flight. Why would we? It is only 5h block and we are loosing money on catering. The MX items get addressed fast but we end up waiting 30 min for an amendment. That is because MX, Dispatch, and Crew Scheduling do not communicate with each other even though they are all sitting in the same room. It is either that or the roach coach must have pulled into the parking lot at Miramar.
May be 5-6 years ago I would have written an e-mail to the CP about the dirty cockpit, about the 30 min wait for an amendment, and about all the other things that I did not care to mention in my rant. But our CP does not return phone calls or e-mails. Some assistant CPs do, but it is not 5-6 years ago so I do not care to write anything except this rant on this forum.
So back to the topic... working here is fun for a while. The place is getting better. It is much better than 7-8 years ago. But it will never be a legacy. It has no culture and it will never have one except perhaps the culture of Walmart. I am too old and have too much seniority that I just can't throw away. I wish I would be 30-35. I would be gone so fast if AA or UAL would call. Not that I am their top candidate but assuming they would want me over there I would leave. Just before posting this I just looked at AA's job page... MIA is junior. But I just can't do it. Too expensive. I will not see the return.
Even two years ago I was arguing that Spirit will not have an exodus of pilots. But now that we are in the 1000 range, I think this will change. With the raises all the legacies are getting even a 3rd 4th year CA will make the switch as long he or she is relatively young. Yes we do have QOL and yes pay will get better but who knows what QOL and pay will be exactly in the next contract? I don't. It is one in the hand or two in the bush. If you get the call that is. The biggest draw back IMHO is that one who leaves now for a legacy will be sitting on the furlough range for some time. That would be my biggest fear.
01-04-2015 | 10:27 AM
#9325
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,929
Likes: 0
From: A-320
I don't know. I'm 34, #72x and every now and again "think" about applying elsewhere. Not because I want too necessarily,but because a lot of people seem to believe the legacies are like winning the lottery now a days. It very well may be true, I dunno. Sometimes I ask myself why I wanna stay here and for a split second I think maybe I'm settling but then I think about how much im home with my daughter, the time off and schedule flexibility in the summer and the guys I work with and I really don't want to go elsewhere. I want this place to get better and I want more money but I'm not sure leaving here for more money is the right decision. The pay rates are fantastic on the 75/6 over at the legacies but the thought of doing the Atlantic stuff (talk about red eyes) makes me ill, lol.
Anyway, if the next contract is a big disappoint I'll still have 30 years left to go chase that legacy job.......
Of course the time off, schedule flexibility and crews at the legacies are great as well and will probably get better but if I'm going there to chase the money I'd probably always chase the bigger airplane and not be home as much, unfortunately there really isn't an easy answer.
Anyway, if the next contract is a big disappoint I'll still have 30 years left to go chase that legacy job.......
Of course the time off, schedule flexibility and crews at the legacies are great as well and will probably get better but if I'm going there to chase the money I'd probably always chase the bigger airplane and not be home as much, unfortunately there really isn't an easy answer.
01-04-2015 | 11:12 AM
#9326
Line Holder
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,499
Likes: 0
Spirit of NKS
I am glad most of you guys are happy here. Most FOs I have been flying with told me they were going to stay. But recently I started to fly with many junior guys again, guys in the 1000 range. Almost all who were less than 40 years old had applications at AA, UAL, DAL, and some at UPS and FEDEX. They are not unhappy here, but they would rather be at a legacy. I can totally understand them.
When I came over from a regional I was very happy. Compared to that this was awesome. But the novelty does wear off rather fast and after you upgrade things start to become really annoying on certain days.
Like my last trip. I walk into an absolutely filthy cockpit at midnight for my red eye transcon flight. Every cockpit is filthy at Spirit unless it is a brand new plane. When I say filthy, I mean it.
The crew is gone, but the plane has several MX items that were not reported. Never mind they came from an MX base.
On a side note: I see this all the time. Some CAs even brief me: "Hey this is this but it is not in the book". These are guys I have never met before. Well I am glad people out there still have faith in humanity because for all they know I could be the largest a hole and call the CP. Some CAs do that here. Good old S.A. the local FLL favorite just to mention one.
... But this night my FO is sharp and he catches everything. It all goes into the book and we take an 1h+ delay. One hour delay for two minor items. Tops 10 min fix in DTW. Not so in LAX. Thanks guys!
This is all not a big deal because at Spirit you learn how to manage your sleep cycle so an extra hour for this red eye is nothing. My new (and happy to be here) FO is already yawning and we have not even pushed. He said he had a great layover, he saw the Queen Marry and the Russian sub in the afternoon. Ouch... that will hurt. I am glad I gave him the LAX leg
I go back to my duties. Now I have time to do everything properly. This delay is really a win win situation I just don't have a good attitude anymore. At Spirit we got some additional preflight items to take care of. For example you get to do some origami with the paperwork because due to a software error some printers still don't recognize page brakes. Once I am done tearing all the paperwork into peaces I have to reference some existing DMIs in our brand new MEL! It is about 10-15 lbs now. It is in a gigantic binder. Spirit has miniaturization backwards. It is THE largest MEL I have ever seen in my career. If the Space Shuttle has an MEL, I bet it is smaller than ours. Meanwhile I can't download the PDF version (not that it is approved for use) because our IT department does not support my apple devices. They are hardcore droid guys over there. But that is OK because iPads are coming! They have been coming for 4-5 years now. Next, my 55+ very friendly senior FLL lead wants ice and catering but we don't cater this flight. Why would we? It is only 5h block and we are loosing money on catering. The MX items get addressed fast but we end up waiting 30 min for an amendment. That is because MX, Dispatch, and Crew Scheduling do not communicate with each other even though they are all sitting in the same room. It is either that or the roach coach must have pulled into the parking lot at Miramar.
May be 5-6 years ago I would have written an e-mail to the CP about the dirty cockpit, about the 30 min wait for an amendment, and about all the other things that I did not care to mention in my rant. But our CP does not return phone calls or e-mails. Some assistant CPs do, but it is not 5-6 years ago so I do not care to write anything except this rant on this forum.
So back to the topic... working here is fun for a while. The place is getting better. It is much better than 7-8 years ago. But it will never be a legacy. It has no culture and it will never have one except perhaps the culture of Walmart. I am too old and have too much seniority that I just can't throw away. I wish I would be 30-35. I would be gone so fast if AA or UAL would call. Not that I am their top candidate but assuming they would want me over there I would leave. Just before posting this I just looked at AA's job page... MIA is junior. But I just can't do it. Too expensive. I will not see the return.
Even two years ago I was arguing that Spirit will not have an exodus of pilots. But now that we are in the 1000 range, I think this will change. With the raises all the legacies are getting even a 3rd 4th year CA will make the switch as long he or she is relatively young. Yes we do have QOL and yes pay will get better but who knows what QOL and pay will be exactly in the next contract? I don't. It is one in the hand or two in the bush. If you get the call that is. The biggest draw back IMHO is that one who leaves now for a legacy will be sitting on the furlough range for some time. That would be my biggest fear.
When I came over from a regional I was very happy. Compared to that this was awesome. But the novelty does wear off rather fast and after you upgrade things start to become really annoying on certain days.
Like my last trip. I walk into an absolutely filthy cockpit at midnight for my red eye transcon flight. Every cockpit is filthy at Spirit unless it is a brand new plane. When I say filthy, I mean it.
The crew is gone, but the plane has several MX items that were not reported. Never mind they came from an MX base.
On a side note: I see this all the time. Some CAs even brief me: "Hey this is this but it is not in the book". These are guys I have never met before. Well I am glad people out there still have faith in humanity because for all they know I could be the largest a hole and call the CP. Some CAs do that here. Good old S.A. the local FLL favorite just to mention one.
... But this night my FO is sharp and he catches everything. It all goes into the book and we take an 1h+ delay. One hour delay for two minor items. Tops 10 min fix in DTW. Not so in LAX. Thanks guys!
This is all not a big deal because at Spirit you learn how to manage your sleep cycle so an extra hour for this red eye is nothing. My new (and happy to be here) FO is already yawning and we have not even pushed. He said he had a great layover, he saw the Queen Marry and the Russian sub in the afternoon. Ouch... that will hurt. I am glad I gave him the LAX leg
I go back to my duties. Now I have time to do everything properly. This delay is really a win win situation I just don't have a good attitude anymore. At Spirit we got some additional preflight items to take care of. For example you get to do some origami with the paperwork because due to a software error some printers still don't recognize page brakes. Once I am done tearing all the paperwork into peaces I have to reference some existing DMIs in our brand new MEL! It is about 10-15 lbs now. It is in a gigantic binder. Spirit has miniaturization backwards. It is THE largest MEL I have ever seen in my career. If the Space Shuttle has an MEL, I bet it is smaller than ours. Meanwhile I can't download the PDF version (not that it is approved for use) because our IT department does not support my apple devices. They are hardcore droid guys over there. But that is OK because iPads are coming! They have been coming for 4-5 years now. Next, my 55+ very friendly senior FLL lead wants ice and catering but we don't cater this flight. Why would we? It is only 5h block and we are loosing money on catering. The MX items get addressed fast but we end up waiting 30 min for an amendment. That is because MX, Dispatch, and Crew Scheduling do not communicate with each other even though they are all sitting in the same room. It is either that or the roach coach must have pulled into the parking lot at Miramar.
May be 5-6 years ago I would have written an e-mail to the CP about the dirty cockpit, about the 30 min wait for an amendment, and about all the other things that I did not care to mention in my rant. But our CP does not return phone calls or e-mails. Some assistant CPs do, but it is not 5-6 years ago so I do not care to write anything except this rant on this forum.
So back to the topic... working here is fun for a while. The place is getting better. It is much better than 7-8 years ago. But it will never be a legacy. It has no culture and it will never have one except perhaps the culture of Walmart. I am too old and have too much seniority that I just can't throw away. I wish I would be 30-35. I would be gone so fast if AA or UAL would call. Not that I am their top candidate but assuming they would want me over there I would leave. Just before posting this I just looked at AA's job page... MIA is junior. But I just can't do it. Too expensive. I will not see the return.
Even two years ago I was arguing that Spirit will not have an exodus of pilots. But now that we are in the 1000 range, I think this will change. With the raises all the legacies are getting even a 3rd 4th year CA will make the switch as long he or she is relatively young. Yes we do have QOL and yes pay will get better but who knows what QOL and pay will be exactly in the next contract? I don't. It is one in the hand or two in the bush. If you get the call that is. The biggest draw back IMHO is that one who leaves now for a legacy will be sitting on the furlough range for some time. That would be my biggest fear.
This is an excellent analysis of the current situation. It might get a lot better here, it might not. What you have at the legacies is s known Whatever might have here is a giant "?" For now I'm going to take the risk and see what happens because I am at an age where upgrading at a legacy may not be a good choice. Who wants to sit reserve in Ewr/lga/jfk in your fifties? So I'm in no big hurry
01-04-2015 | 11:27 AM
#9327
Line Holder
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,499
Likes: 0
*off topic*
Anyone know if you can check ski's on a spirit plane when jumpseating?
Thanks
Anyone know if you can check ski's on a spirit plane when jumpseating?
Thanks
01-04-2015 | 11:45 AM
#9328
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,385
Likes: 0
From: Airplane
I don't know. I'm 34, #72x and every now and again "think" about applying elsewhere. Not because I want too necessarily,but because a lot of people seem to believe the legacies are like winning the lottery now a days. It very well may be true, I dunno. Sometimes I ask myself why I wanna stay here and for a split second I think maybe I'm settling but then I think about how much im home with my daughter, the time off and schedule flexibility in the summer and the guys I work with and I really don't want to go elsewhere. I want this place to get better and I want more money but I'm not sure leaving here for more money is the right decision. The pay rates are fantastic on the 75/6 over at the legacies but the thought of doing the Atlantic stuff (talk about red eyes) makes me ill, lol.
Anyway, if the next contract is a big disappoint I'll still have 30 years left to go chase that legacy job.......
Of course the time off, schedule flexibility and crews at the legacies are great as well and will probably get better but if I'm going there to chase the money I'd probably always chase the bigger airplane and not be home as much, unfortunately there really isn't an easy answer.
Anyway, if the next contract is a big disappoint I'll still have 30 years left to go chase that legacy job.......
Of course the time off, schedule flexibility and crews at the legacies are great as well and will probably get better but if I'm going there to chase the money I'd probably always chase the bigger airplane and not be home as much, unfortunately there really isn't an easy answer.
I've got a really good gig going here, a little more than 20+ years left in this biz, so the question is there.
I'm really thinking it's going to take a good contract to keep a lot of guys here.
01-04-2015 | 12:00 PM
#9329
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,125
Likes: 0
From: Under the Frog
I'm optimistic we'll get improvements all across the board. I hope so. I really like it here. Best job I've ever had, by far.
I checked a firearm while non-revving, so I don't see why skis would pose any issues. Just take them to the counter.
01-04-2015 | 01:11 PM
#9330
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: A320 Capt
I am glad most of you guys are happy here. Most FOs I have been flying with told me they were going to stay. But recently I started to fly with many junior guys again, guys in the 1000 range. Almost all who were less than 40 years old had applications at AA, UAL, DAL, and some at UPS and FEDEX. They are not unhappy here, but they would rather be at a legacy. I can totally understand them.
When I came over from a regional I was very happy. Compared to that this was awesome. But the novelty does wear off rather fast and after you upgrade things start to become really annoying on certain days.
Like my last trip. I walk into an absolutely filthy cockpit at midnight for my red eye transcon flight. Every cockpit is filthy at Spirit unless it is a brand new plane. When I say filthy, I mean it.
The crew is gone, but the plane has several MX items that were not reported. Never mind they came from an MX base.
On a side note: I see this all the time. Some CAs even brief me: "Hey this is this but it is not in the book". These are guys I have never met before. Well I am glad people out there still have faith in humanity because for all they know I could be the largest a hole and call the CP. Some CAs do that here. Good old S.A. the local FLL favorite just to mention one.
... But this night my FO is sharp and he catches everything. It all goes into the book and we take an 1h+ delay. One hour delay for two minor items. Tops 10 min fix in DTW. Not so in LAX. Thanks guys!
This is all not a big deal because at Spirit you learn how to manage your sleep cycle so an extra hour for this red eye is nothing. My new (and happy to be here) FO is already yawning and we have not even pushed. He said he had a great layover, he saw the Queen Marry and the Russian sub in the afternoon. Ouch... that will hurt. I am glad I gave him the LAX leg
I go back to my duties. Now I have time to do everything properly. This delay is really a win win situation I just don't have a good attitude anymore. At Spirit we got some additional preflight items to take care of. For example you get to do some origami with the paperwork because due to a software error some printers still don't recognize page brakes. Once I am done tearing all the paperwork into peaces I have to reference some existing DMIs in our brand new MEL! It is about 10-15 lbs now. It is in a gigantic binder. Spirit has miniaturization backwards. It is THE largest MEL I have ever seen in my career. If the Space Shuttle has an MEL, I bet it is smaller than ours. Meanwhile I can't download the PDF version (not that it is approved for use) because our IT department does not support my apple devices. They are hardcore droid guys over there. But that is OK because iPads are coming! They have been coming for 4-5 years now. Next, my 55+ very friendly senior FLL lead wants ice and catering but we don't cater this flight. Why would we? It is only 5h block and we are loosing money on catering. The MX items get addressed fast but we end up waiting 30 min for an amendment. That is because MX, Dispatch, and Crew Scheduling do not communicate with each other even though they are all sitting in the same room. It is either that or the roach coach must have pulled into the parking lot at Miramar.
May be 5-6 years ago I would have written an e-mail to the CP about the dirty cockpit, about the 30 min wait for an amendment, and about all the other things that I did not care to mention in my rant. But our CP does not return phone calls or e-mails. Some assistant CPs do, but it is not 5-6 years ago so I do not care to write anything except this rant on this forum.
So back to the topic... working here is fun for a while. The place is getting better. It is much better than 7-8 years ago. But it will never be a legacy. It has no culture and it will never have one except perhaps the culture of Walmart. I am too old and have too much seniority that I just can't throw away. I wish I would be 30-35. I would be gone so fast if AA or UAL would call. Not that I am their top candidate but assuming they would want me over there I would leave. Just before posting this I just looked at AA's job page... MIA is junior. But I just can't do it. Too expensive. I will not see the return.
Even two years ago I was arguing that Spirit will not have an exodus of pilots. But now that we are in the 1000 range, I think this will change. With the raises all the legacies are getting even a 3rd 4th year CA will make the switch as long he or she is relatively young. Yes we do have QOL and yes pay will get better but who knows what QOL and pay will be exactly in the next contract? I don't. It is one in the hand or two in the bush. If you get the call that is. The biggest draw back IMHO is that one who leaves now for a legacy will be sitting on the furlough range for some time. That would be my biggest fear.
When I came over from a regional I was very happy. Compared to that this was awesome. But the novelty does wear off rather fast and after you upgrade things start to become really annoying on certain days.
Like my last trip. I walk into an absolutely filthy cockpit at midnight for my red eye transcon flight. Every cockpit is filthy at Spirit unless it is a brand new plane. When I say filthy, I mean it.
The crew is gone, but the plane has several MX items that were not reported. Never mind they came from an MX base.
On a side note: I see this all the time. Some CAs even brief me: "Hey this is this but it is not in the book". These are guys I have never met before. Well I am glad people out there still have faith in humanity because for all they know I could be the largest a hole and call the CP. Some CAs do that here. Good old S.A. the local FLL favorite just to mention one.
... But this night my FO is sharp and he catches everything. It all goes into the book and we take an 1h+ delay. One hour delay for two minor items. Tops 10 min fix in DTW. Not so in LAX. Thanks guys!
This is all not a big deal because at Spirit you learn how to manage your sleep cycle so an extra hour for this red eye is nothing. My new (and happy to be here) FO is already yawning and we have not even pushed. He said he had a great layover, he saw the Queen Marry and the Russian sub in the afternoon. Ouch... that will hurt. I am glad I gave him the LAX leg
I go back to my duties. Now I have time to do everything properly. This delay is really a win win situation I just don't have a good attitude anymore. At Spirit we got some additional preflight items to take care of. For example you get to do some origami with the paperwork because due to a software error some printers still don't recognize page brakes. Once I am done tearing all the paperwork into peaces I have to reference some existing DMIs in our brand new MEL! It is about 10-15 lbs now. It is in a gigantic binder. Spirit has miniaturization backwards. It is THE largest MEL I have ever seen in my career. If the Space Shuttle has an MEL, I bet it is smaller than ours. Meanwhile I can't download the PDF version (not that it is approved for use) because our IT department does not support my apple devices. They are hardcore droid guys over there. But that is OK because iPads are coming! They have been coming for 4-5 years now. Next, my 55+ very friendly senior FLL lead wants ice and catering but we don't cater this flight. Why would we? It is only 5h block and we are loosing money on catering. The MX items get addressed fast but we end up waiting 30 min for an amendment. That is because MX, Dispatch, and Crew Scheduling do not communicate with each other even though they are all sitting in the same room. It is either that or the roach coach must have pulled into the parking lot at Miramar.
May be 5-6 years ago I would have written an e-mail to the CP about the dirty cockpit, about the 30 min wait for an amendment, and about all the other things that I did not care to mention in my rant. But our CP does not return phone calls or e-mails. Some assistant CPs do, but it is not 5-6 years ago so I do not care to write anything except this rant on this forum.
So back to the topic... working here is fun for a while. The place is getting better. It is much better than 7-8 years ago. But it will never be a legacy. It has no culture and it will never have one except perhaps the culture of Walmart. I am too old and have too much seniority that I just can't throw away. I wish I would be 30-35. I would be gone so fast if AA or UAL would call. Not that I am their top candidate but assuming they would want me over there I would leave. Just before posting this I just looked at AA's job page... MIA is junior. But I just can't do it. Too expensive. I will not see the return.
Even two years ago I was arguing that Spirit will not have an exodus of pilots. But now that we are in the 1000 range, I think this will change. With the raises all the legacies are getting even a 3rd 4th year CA will make the switch as long he or she is relatively young. Yes we do have QOL and yes pay will get better but who knows what QOL and pay will be exactly in the next contract? I don't. It is one in the hand or two in the bush. If you get the call that is. The biggest draw back IMHO is that one who leaves now for a legacy will be sitting on the furlough range for some time. That would be my biggest fear.
I feel your pain- a little.... But I think a public forum might not be the place for some of this...
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