stupidpilot

Actually Omni is one of the most profitable airlines in the world. They have been consistently profitable for many years now. The downside is the reason they are so profitable is they pay their pilots sh*t! And the schedule is horrible. The guys you would fly with for the most part are first rate and know their stuff! It was a great learning experience for me.

Fedora

Tumbleweed is doing the right thing by asking questions and doing a little research before making any decision. I would think that QOL would become an issue at least. The difference between flying for a scheduled airline and a non scheduled airline is huge. The other posters are right in their support of turbine PIC time, IMHO. If you think that being away for a 14 day trip is bad, keep in mind that junior guys can also be out back-to back and be gone 28 days or more. This is a volatile industry to say the least, especially right now. If you are flying left seat and making enough to salt a little away for the bad times and furloughs, I'd stay and keep doing it until the window opens to make the jump directly. Just my 2 cents.
Good luck in whatever you decide!

elhaynes

Tumbleweed,

I was a senior pilot at Omni who left for UPS. I would not recommend leaving a Captain job at at regional for Omni, unless you think you will be forced to leave. However, I would not have left Omni for anyone but UPS, Fedex, or Southwest.

The best thing you can do to get a job a Fedex is build PIC turbine time and make friends with as many Fedex pilots and/or military pilots as you can. I didn't know any, so I couldn't even get an interview there. It will be a while before they start hiring again.

For a short time, it was advantageous to have heavy, international experience to get a job at UPS (probably what got me hired.) I don't think that will be a major factor if they start hiring again.

Omni is one of the most profitable airlines out there now. Unfortunately for the employees, the profits mostly go to the private owners. Your paycheck may be small, but it won't bounce. They have never furloughed, (they have fired the senior 727 pilots and selectively recalled to the DC10, but it wasn't technically a furlough). If they think they need to furlough, they will in a heartbeat. The only really good thing about Omni is being home based. There is currently no contract, but the pilots voted in the teamsters last year and they are negotiating. They ought to have something in a couple of years. The guarantee is 60 hours / 18 days including travel to and from home. 95 percent of the lines are reserve, and if you get a line there is no guarantee you will actually fly it. There is no duty rig, no trip rig, nothing. You can expect to fly 58 hours in 11 days, and then spend the next 7 days sitting reserve in Atlanta for per diem. They can force you to work 4 extra overtime days anytime without regard to seniority. So as a junior pilot, you can expect to work the last 18 days of this month, the first 18 days of next month, and 4 extra days for a total of 40 days straight. Not good for a quality family life.

Omni is kind of like Uhaul - an adventure in flying for not a lot of money. However in the current airline environment, they don't look too bad.

Tumbleweed

ElHaynes... I really appreciate such an informative post. Without the aid of a crystal ball, it's nice to be able to get some insider information on companies one is unfamiliar with. I guess it makes a lot more sense right now to sit tight in the left seat here until a little more dust settles. Unfortunately, it looks like that will be a while. Thanks again!

seoceancrosser

Hey Tumbleweed,

Currently on the 75 here at OAI. Elhaynes hit the nail on the head as far as life style goes. If you have a wife and kids whose life you wish to be highly involved in and see more than 1 week a month then I suggest you stay put. It is a lot of fun here, but it will get frustrating quick if you are trying to spend a lot of time at home. The information that people have posted here is accurate, reliable and current. We are profitable, checks are clearing, and growth is happening. They own all the DC-10's which is a large part of the success around here. The 2 75's are leased by the hour. If you are an RJ captain, you might make captain quick around here. The learning curve will still be steep though. At the moment upgrade is based entirely on performance and merit. That will probably change once a contract is in place. Good luck on your decision. Feel free to ask about anything else.

SE

Blueridge877

How long have you been at Omni, seoceancrosser?

seoceancrosser

I have been at Omni for a year. Currently living the dream between Vegas and Hawaii.

Blueridge877

How many RJ captains have made the quick upgrade? Is it something they do a lot of?

seoceancrosser

Upgrade is based entirely on merit and performance, atleast until a contract is in place. So if a person shows up, learns what they need to know, doesn't make anyone of any importance mad, then that person shouldn't have a problem upgrading. Or you could have worked at ATA and go straight to the left seat, that's another option too. Usually being a good boy is most expeditious way to the left side of the cockpit.

dc10pilot

not many if any - unless they have some heavy jet time and international experience from the military or someplace else - have to put your time in the right seat if no international experience - also those of us who have been here at Omni for some time ( 10 years for myself ) do not consider this a stepping stone to somewhere else - we do not want those types
yes the pay could be better but hopefully it will improve but the company is making money - not alot of airlines can say that