BKK4Life

How many upgrade spots where on the last vacancy?

BringDaFunk

ill take a stab and say...none????

EmbraerFlyer

There is a vacancy that is "suppose to" come out today at 5:00pm. Word on the street is that there are 6 captain slots on that one, however, i heard they reduced this to 3 because of the reduction in block hours for next month. We've been properly staffed for a while now so there might not be any. The current staffing model is based on junior assigning at will, people picking up critical trips, and reserve pilots working 8 days off because we are "Best in Class" They dont need to hire or upgrade, we are golden..

OlyRob

Block hours from Feb to March are only being reduced 24 hours total, from 11074 to 11050.

Excel

Out of curiosity, in the past, did compass ever hire street captains? What are the current upgrade times looking like? Are you guys still actively interviewing or just collecting resumes? Thanks

Schwartz

The first 74 pilots were street captains. We had no "FOs" so whenever you flew it was up to whoever was senior to decide what seat you flew in for the first few months.

Upgrade/downgrade times depend completely on DAL hiring/reductions. I have gone up less than ten numbers in seniority in more than 1.5 yr.

I think they are just collecting resumes but they will have to run a class here and there for attrition, mostly on the FO side.

EmbraerFlyer

The first 60 or so were street captains. Then after then it was about 4 to 6 months for guys to upgrade. Upgrade right now is over a year, guys that were hired Feb 08 are still FO's but some will be upgrading next month. When the merger went through everything pretty much stopped. The most junior captain is Feb 22, 08 class and there are about 8 guys in that class that are still FO's

Excel

Thanks guys. I know it must be a shot in the dark right now with the merger and such, but how long do you guys think the most junior FO will be waiting to upgrade?
Also, do you guys know (based on the last classes or round of interviews) what kind of guys are getting the calls? My times are 3500TT, 1400 Jet pic, all 91 and 135, 4-year degree...
Ive been thinking about going to 121 and since SWA, JBU and others are years away, this might be an attractive alternative IF the upgrade times are do-able.
Thanks for all the input!

Bill Lumberg

While pay, QOL and upgrade movement are the most critical considerations, I hear the E175 is a real nice ride as well. I suppose if you are intent on building time and waiting for the majors to hire, you could do worse than flying the E175 for Compass - especially if you already have competitive times (but just waiting for your opportunity)...

Excel

Interesting stuff. Compass posted a job opening for pilots 6 days ago on another site, but they have taken down the application on their website. I think I got my stuff in within hours of it being taken down (on the 10th)... Also, per the Compass website...

"Compass will be hiring 360 pilots between April 2007 and December 2008. The first 110 between April and December of 2007.

All 110 pilot hired this year should be a Captain in less than a year!"

I know all of this was posted before the merger talks, thats why I ask what the current new-hires are looking at as far as upgrading. For me, that is the most important factor when deciding to leave a 135 jet pic job. More important than the equipment, bases, and such. I eat a lot of food, I mean I REALLY enjoy food, and I dont think I can live the culinary life I have been accustomed to living off of food stamps for too long!
Anyways, all joking aside, I do appreciate any input on this, trying to make a decision, either staying in corporate for a few more years until the majors start hiring or jumping to a regional with a reasonable upgrade. Thanks again.