Southern Air Interview
04-30-2015, 12:46 PM
#291
2 days off
Joined APC: Jun 2009
Position: Embraer Systems Analyst
Posts: 1,853
Unless you're trying to go someplace specific, in a year or two all that will matter is having turbine time, not even PIC on a 747, CRJ, or a citation. I mean Southern is already calling you with only 3000 and relatively not a whole lot experience. Next it will be the higher tier airlines calling you because they'll get short too.
Don't think it would be worth it for regional FOs. Not to mention if you're a 20 something year old RJ FO now that can take on the brutal Southern schedules you're probably about to upgrade anyways, most are down to a year or two. Good luck to you though, I wish I was that young and sigle and able to fly around on a 777 but my better half would probably leave me with 20 days on and 10 off.
Don't think it would be worth it for regional FOs. Not to mention if you're a 20 something year old RJ FO now that can take on the brutal Southern schedules you're probably about to upgrade anyways, most are down to a year or two. Good luck to you though, I wish I was that young and sigle and able to fly around on a 777 but my better half would probably leave me with 20 days on and 10 off.
Last edited by minimwage4; 04-30-2015 at 01:05 PM.
04-30-2015, 01:03 PM
#292
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2014
Posts: 264
Never upgrade? ...it's running less than a year right now on the 737. Seat lock only applied to same-seat. I only wanted to start on the 777 because I live in NY and would have no way to get to CVG with no DL jumpseat. Not to mention if/when I upgrade, I'll then have a 777 and 737 type to put on the resume, and the obviously better money. Some people say the long haul flying sucks and wears you down, but I'd rather find out that the flying isn't for me while I'm still young and have time to make these mistakes than when I'm 45 at a major and bid over to it and wind up hating it. If 1000 hours in the Triple helps me get to mainline even 1 year faster, that 1 year could be the difference between at 5 year upgrade or a 10 year upgrade at mainline. I'm barely a line holder at my current regional, and every person I asked about it said Id be stupid if I passed it up. YMMV.
You have been warned! Don't want to hear your whining or sniveling out on the line!
04-30-2015, 05:38 PM
#294
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Position: L188
Posts: 982
Stay right where you are! Once you get on that supplemental band wagon its hard to get off trust me! Its killed people close to me. There are 1000's of guys flying 777 and 747's around the world, not getting the call from any major!!! You should head the word about Southern. I had a buddy there and me and his wife begged him to get out. I knew another guy who was a 777 Capt and finally left just to go fly for a small charter op in Citations. He did wind up back on his feet at a major after. Southern will treat you horribly and if you don't get fired you'll get violated. Kiss any benefits goodbye including pass travel. I am going to be the one guy begging you not to do it! Don't ruin your career.
04-30-2015, 05:51 PM
#295
Line Holder
Joined APC: Nov 2012
Position: 777 Right Seat/Back Seat-works nights, weekends and holidays!
Posts: 32
What if your tired of flying turbo props and want to fly the 73 or 777? Fly there for a year then bounce? Its still time and experience in the machine and better than a regional isn't it?
04-30-2015, 06:28 PM
#297
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 314
Southern Air Interview
There is an argument to be made that the 777 st Southern is a worse choice for a young new hire than the 737. You will never upgrade, so always lack PIC time to move on to a better job. But you will also make much more money than you would starting over at a regional, leaving you trapped in your position. Unable to upgrade, unable to move on. You'll make enough to get by, but if you should ever meet someone and get married, which frankly is going to be damn near impossible being gone so much, you won't be making enough to fully support a family. Your spouse will be a de facto single parent most of the time, and that will always be a source of friction in your life.
So, in addition to accelerated aging due to the inhuman schedule, dying of cancer early due to increased radiation exposure from spending 1000+ hours a year in the upper atmosphere, you can also suffer alone due to lack any lasting human relationships beyond what you can rent in Wan Chai.
Hindsight being 20/20, I would never have left my first regional.
If you're at any Regional, don't come to Southern. Three years to upgrade is better than twenty. Your crappy regional contract is 1000% better than our crappy supplemental contract. Your managerial leaches are more competent than our managerial leaches.
So, in addition to accelerated aging due to the inhuman schedule, dying of cancer early due to increased radiation exposure from spending 1000+ hours a year in the upper atmosphere, you can also suffer alone due to lack any lasting human relationships beyond what you can rent in Wan Chai.
Hindsight being 20/20, I would never have left my first regional.
If you're at any Regional, don't come to Southern. Three years to upgrade is better than twenty. Your crappy regional contract is 1000% better than our crappy supplemental contract. Your managerial leaches are more competent than our managerial leaches.
04-30-2015, 06:33 PM
#298
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2012
Posts: 106
If you are contemplating accepting a position at SAI simply read through all of the posts from people who have actually worked at SAI on the B777 or B737. Ignore all of the posts from those who never worked here or who only slaved away on either B747 airframe. The current flying is different then that and the entire operation runs much smoother.
The pay and work rules could be much better. We are stuck with a CBA that was written 8+ years ago. SAI as a company and the flying were much different then. However, after protracted contract negotiations and then being strong armed during bankruptcy into accepting an extension of the contract we are stuck with what we have.
There are many here working on a daily basis to improve our current conditions and working towards the next contract or whatever we can negotiate in the meantime. Then there are those that hide behind their keyboard, *****, complain, and contribute nothing...as has probably been the case for the rest of their life. If they accepted a job here and did not research the position, or listen to the CP during the interview who goes out of his way to try and give you a clear picture of what the job entails....well then shame on them. If you are one of those.....please, please just $TFU or quit.
Many captains on the B777 make well north of $200k a year and work far less than the obligated 20 days a month. Many do 2 laps around the planet and go home in under 16 days. That is not an easy gig to give up. Some choose to fly more and make more. Unfortunately upgrade on the B777 is a long, long way off for most.
Many FO's make north of $100k a year with the same schedule as above. Almost all of the flights are conducted using 1 CA and 3 FO's. Obviously the operation needs a lot of FO/IRO's. Due to B777 FO's upgrading on the B737 and others leaving for legacy carriers, or other jobs that are a better fit for them or their families, we are currently short FO's. There is currently a lot of open time. If you are single and want to make money there are opportunities to make 200+ credit hours in a month. You will beat yourself up doing it though and it is not sustainable due to flight time limits.....thankfully!
Some FO's are volunteering for open time, some junior FO's are assigned. There is no "true" reserve here. If you have R days on your schedule you need to assume you will fly on them. Many times Scheduling does not use all or any of those days outside of your awarded flying. I worked 179 days last year (including travel). That is 186 days at home and I did not need to beg for, or worry about a jumpseat. Obviously, I do not fly the B737. That is a different animal and has been thoroughly discussed on here.
A typical B777 trip will entail you submitting an email after the bids are awarded requesting your preferred travel to/from CVG or LAX. 9 out of 10 times my travel is what I requested. Show up for your commercial, perdiem starts at the scheduled departure time and arrive at CVG/LAX 12-24 hours in advance. There are very few hotel reservation problems. The B777 runs about 98% on time so you will have few schedule disruptions. Show up for your flight in the early am, takeoff, spend 4-5 hours in the bunk (some flights less/more) get back in the seat and land. Ground transportation is prearranged and suffers few problems. Go to the hotel for a day (sometimes 2) then repeat. After two laps around the planet go home or make a third lap for over 100+ hours of pay credit. It is really that simple most months for many of us. For others, they get shuffled around trying to plug the holes as is true with any airline.
The pay and work rules could be much better. We are stuck with a CBA that was written 8+ years ago. SAI as a company and the flying were much different then. However, after protracted contract negotiations and then being strong armed during bankruptcy into accepting an extension of the contract we are stuck with what we have.
There are many here working on a daily basis to improve our current conditions and working towards the next contract or whatever we can negotiate in the meantime. Then there are those that hide behind their keyboard, *****, complain, and contribute nothing...as has probably been the case for the rest of their life. If they accepted a job here and did not research the position, or listen to the CP during the interview who goes out of his way to try and give you a clear picture of what the job entails....well then shame on them. If you are one of those.....please, please just $TFU or quit.
Many captains on the B777 make well north of $200k a year and work far less than the obligated 20 days a month. Many do 2 laps around the planet and go home in under 16 days. That is not an easy gig to give up. Some choose to fly more and make more. Unfortunately upgrade on the B777 is a long, long way off for most.
Many FO's make north of $100k a year with the same schedule as above. Almost all of the flights are conducted using 1 CA and 3 FO's. Obviously the operation needs a lot of FO/IRO's. Due to B777 FO's upgrading on the B737 and others leaving for legacy carriers, or other jobs that are a better fit for them or their families, we are currently short FO's. There is currently a lot of open time. If you are single and want to make money there are opportunities to make 200+ credit hours in a month. You will beat yourself up doing it though and it is not sustainable due to flight time limits.....thankfully!
Some FO's are volunteering for open time, some junior FO's are assigned. There is no "true" reserve here. If you have R days on your schedule you need to assume you will fly on them. Many times Scheduling does not use all or any of those days outside of your awarded flying. I worked 179 days last year (including travel). That is 186 days at home and I did not need to beg for, or worry about a jumpseat. Obviously, I do not fly the B737. That is a different animal and has been thoroughly discussed on here.
A typical B777 trip will entail you submitting an email after the bids are awarded requesting your preferred travel to/from CVG or LAX. 9 out of 10 times my travel is what I requested. Show up for your commercial, perdiem starts at the scheduled departure time and arrive at CVG/LAX 12-24 hours in advance. There are very few hotel reservation problems. The B777 runs about 98% on time so you will have few schedule disruptions. Show up for your flight in the early am, takeoff, spend 4-5 hours in the bunk (some flights less/more) get back in the seat and land. Ground transportation is prearranged and suffers few problems. Go to the hotel for a day (sometimes 2) then repeat. After two laps around the planet go home or make a third lap for over 100+ hours of pay credit. It is really that simple most months for many of us. For others, they get shuffled around trying to plug the holes as is true with any airline.
Last edited by Birdstrikes; 04-30-2015 at 06:50 PM.
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