Aviatress

AirWis is not my first airline experience, and so far, I am impressed on many fronts. They got us into classes super fast. We were paid in training and did not have to share hotel rooms. We did not need to learn unnecessary details. They have done a good job to ensure that you are learning what you will need to know. From what I hear, this was not the case until more recently.

Worth noting is that they seem to go out of their way to show interest in their new hires. We had company paid dinners on more than one occasion and several high-level managers showed up. The best way I can describe it is that it feels like an airline with a heart. No complaints here and I would make the same choice again. Benefits are TERRIFIC.

squib

Nice 2nd post. High level management also showed up to the basement in Appleton 15 years ago. You didn't need to learn unnecessary details? What about half the limitations that make no sense that I'm sure you were required to recite during your checkride. They are simply a limit on the the gauges that you have no control over. What about half the IAC that they continuously claim "comes from bombardier" while other regionals flying the same plane have half the IAC.

The only reason you didn't share a hotel is because of our contract. This company does no favors. Don't forget that. The same contract which is falling behind by the lack of our ALPA leadership on continuous flight pay loss doing nothing but sending out polls.

Paladin145

Which CPT instructor do you get? A great one, or a screamer?

Which sim instructor? Expert, or one that has trouble setting up the sim, and your 2 hours fly by, without enough being accomplished?

Which IOE Captain? A laid back guy, that lets you fly, and teaches you, or one that thinks you should fly at their level, and has you totally burned out? At least one recent student resigned right after he completed IOE.

I'm sure there are stories of people going through training without one single issue. But there are also many stories that show that there are manuevers being taught differently, different instruction on landings, and very subjective IOE standards. If you have previous 121 in a jet, ( not turboprop ) you should be ok. If you are coming from GA, this is not a good choice to start your career. Much better options.

stroopwaffle

Welcome to AirWis!
Don’t worry about the people on here that just ***** and moan, they are in the minority out on the line. No airline is perfect, and if people don’t like it here then they should quit and go somewhere “better”.

Study hard, and just look forward to getting off reserve where life gets much better.

stroopwaffle

The only folks who have an advantage going through IOE are those with previous CRJ200 time. This plane lands funky, and you only get a handful of landings during each trip to get used to it. An ex-fighter pilot and an ex-172 CFI both land the plane the same at first, and need the same help to get through IOE.

Don’t be afraid to talk to other instructors during training if you would like a different point of view when it comes to learning something.

RJ4LIFE

It's easy to arm chair QB negotiations but the reality is much different. I am no longer at air wis but I am still aware of the situation you are in and I can assure you that if ALPA had a move that they thought would improve their bargaining position, they would make it. The reality is that the company is getting adequate new hires with the sign-on bonuses and they see no incentive to put money into a new contract that will primarily benefit pilots already on property.

Without help from the NMB, ALPA is left with very few options, and they use polls to determine whether or not exercising those options would be beneficial or not. The most obvious of those options would be to conduct an informational picket, but before they commit to a picket they need to know that enough pilots would participate to make it effective. If only 20 or 30 pilots show up to ATW and half of them are ALPA reps then the whole thing backfires and shows a lack of unity and determination by the pilot group. A strike vote could be even more detrimental if there isn't a significant majority in favor. How many pilots, especially FOs and junior CAs who are looking to move on as fast as possible, do you think would support a picket or strike vote? Especially considering that for the amount of time they expect to be at Air Wisconsin there is probably not much to realistically be gained by these pilots, but potentially a lot to be lost if this labor dispute negatively impacts Air Wisconsin's future with UAL. You might believe anecdotally that most pilots support these measures but that's why the polls are so important - and I'm guessing based on the lack of informational pickets and strike votes at this point that the results of these polls have not been encouraging.

FODhopper

Squib you are bitter. Most of that "detail" you moan about was already changing three years ago. The information you need to know is much leaner now. I am not at the airline anymore but I will defend against your inaccuracies about the training department.

The OP you quoted is right. It's always been an airline with a heart. I felt that from day one until the last day almost five years later.

Don't stomp on new hires; instead why don't you mentor them about constructive ways to educate them about the importance of a strong union and encourage them to get involved.

Maybe say, "I remember they used to ask you too many detailed questions in training but I hope it's better now." I would also posit if the questions are still too detailed for you you may not have actually opened your FOM/FCM in quite some time.

Have some pride, AWA was/is a great place to work despite the staffing struggles.

pitchtrim

In regards to the company doing no favors. Also not accurate. They constantly work out deals to give hotels when you're helping by picking up open time, and they positive space to work all the time. I've worked out deals to get positive space home in the past to help out with an added turn at the end of a trip.

squib

That LOA should have never been signed. There was zero input from the pilot group. It gave the company a way out of actually showing up to the table to get things done.

This place is going on nearly a decade of negotiations in a time when pilots are in demand. Every one else is signing new deals and we keep getting told we still have an industry leading contract when the reality is we don't.

squib

Still and always has depends on who does your ride these days...

I'm quite familiar with the FOM/FCM but when you miss a word on the IAC, or say control wheel instead of hand wheel or yoke or flight controls or whatever word they choose to use on a certain checklist that has no continuity throughout checklists, then there's a bigger issue at hand.