Compass Updates - Saga Continues
09-01-2017, 03:51 AM
#7031
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2013
Position: On the right hand side
Posts: 665
Honestly if you're so worried about how this place is going, stop playing chicken little. The news lately has been more good than bad with the exception of the vacation thing which may or may not happen. If we hire, it won't be an issue. Yes it sucks but get over it and stop scaring new hires away from what is honestly a mostly good airline with some issues and a lack of planning. I'm still very happy here and it's an easy job.
I'm not playing chicken little. There are some very positive things about Compass, but I don't believe it is right to sell potential new pilots an image of unicorns, rainbows and fairy dust. That's a good way to create problems; if new hires feel they were not aware of the negatives, they'll become bitter much more easily with each piece of information they feel should have been addressed. Where if a pilot comes knowing the cons, it is no surprise and they will be happier.
Is a keyboard warrior scaring off potential pilots, or is it a disparity in compensation? I'll reiterate, when pilot recruitment gets told our pay sucks, what can they really sell to someone?
09-01-2017, 04:39 AM
#7032
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2015
Posts: 171
To change the subject again, PIREP on the Automatic Weight and Balance
We were an AUTO Weight and Balance Test flight today. Overall worked pretty well, we had an Assistant CP and someone else basically up there with us on the phone talking to DL SOC in Atlanta during the whole process. We sent off our RWY Request and TO-FOB as soon as we got our ATIS and knew what our planned Fuel was. About 10 mins later the bags were all loaded. Ramper came up with the CLR, and about 10 seconds later we go the Cargo Load MSG on ACARS and the Loadsheet populated with the correct bag count. When the flight was closed the total SOBs matched the FA count and it even autopopulated the Jumps-eater we had sitting up front with us. The one thing it did mess up was that even with the total number of PAX being correct, the sections were off by a few numbers due to upgrades that occurred during the boarding process. So that became a manual change we did and sent off. Other than that it worked pretty well, it was explained to me that the new software runs some crazy algorithm where it calculates the odds of a PAX moving seats/sections and takes that into consideration for WB/CG. Anyway it looks pretty slick but expect a lot of checklist changes down the pipe to accommodate all this.
We were an AUTO Weight and Balance Test flight today. Overall worked pretty well, we had an Assistant CP and someone else basically up there with us on the phone talking to DL SOC in Atlanta during the whole process. We sent off our RWY Request and TO-FOB as soon as we got our ATIS and knew what our planned Fuel was. About 10 mins later the bags were all loaded. Ramper came up with the CLR, and about 10 seconds later we go the Cargo Load MSG on ACARS and the Loadsheet populated with the correct bag count. When the flight was closed the total SOBs matched the FA count and it even autopopulated the Jumps-eater we had sitting up front with us. The one thing it did mess up was that even with the total number of PAX being correct, the sections were off by a few numbers due to upgrades that occurred during the boarding process. So that became a manual change we did and sent off. Other than that it worked pretty well, it was explained to me that the new software runs some crazy algorithm where it calculates the odds of a PAX moving seats/sections and takes that into consideration for WB/CG. Anyway it looks pretty slick but expect a lot of checklist changes down the pipe to accommodate all this.
09-01-2017, 07:14 AM
#7033
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2016
Posts: 283
Again, do you really think people are not coming completely based on this forum? Everyone here knows that the APC forums bring out the strongest opinions for and against any company. People write very negative posts about the legacies, yet that is not stopping pilots from going there. Even other regionals with incentives (bonuses, preferential interview or flow) have negative posts, but people still go.
I'm not playing chicken little. There are some very positive things about Compass, but I don't believe it is right to sell potential new pilots an image of unicorns, rainbows and fairy dust. That's a good way to create problems; if new hires feel they were not aware of the negatives, they'll become bitter much more easily with each piece of information they feel should have been addressed. Where if a pilot comes knowing the cons, it is no surprise and they will be happier.
Is a keyboard warrior scaring off potential pilots, or is it a disparity in compensation? I'll reiterate, when pilot recruitment gets told our pay sucks, what can they really sell to someone?
I'm not playing chicken little. There are some very positive things about Compass, but I don't believe it is right to sell potential new pilots an image of unicorns, rainbows and fairy dust. That's a good way to create problems; if new hires feel they were not aware of the negatives, they'll become bitter much more easily with each piece of information they feel should have been addressed. Where if a pilot comes knowing the cons, it is no surprise and they will be happier.
Is a keyboard warrior scaring off potential pilots, or is it a disparity in compensation? I'll reiterate, when pilot recruitment gets told our pay sucks, what can they really sell to someone?
Yeah, the compensation needs fixing but pilots choose where to go based on a lot of other issues. When I came to Compass Fo's made $24/hr and I didn't care because there was a quick upgrade, base was what I wanted, and the 175 offered a better schedule than OO or QX. It didn't hurt that most of my friends were at Compass and telling me to come here, tho.
Any new hire with SA is reading the forums about their chosen regional, I know I did...
Why did you come? Is that reason still true today?
09-01-2017, 08:33 AM
#7034
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2015
Posts: 443
Take a good hard look in the mirror and decide if you like what see. Seems like most of your posts here are very negative and you are unhappy at Compass.
Yeah, the compensation needs fixing but pilots choose where to go based on a lot of other issues. When I came to Compass Fo's made $24/hr and I didn't care because there was a quick upgrade, base was what I wanted, and the 175 offered a better schedule than OO or QX. It didn't hurt that most of my friends were at Compass and telling me to come here, tho.
Any new hire with SA is reading the forums about their chosen regional, I know I did...
Why did you come? Is that reason still true today?
Yeah, the compensation needs fixing but pilots choose where to go based on a lot of other issues. When I came to Compass Fo's made $24/hr and I didn't care because there was a quick upgrade, base was what I wanted, and the 175 offered a better schedule than OO or QX. It didn't hurt that most of my friends were at Compass and telling me to come here, tho.
Any new hire with SA is reading the forums about their chosen regional, I know I did...
Why did you come? Is that reason still true today?
Don't forget paying for hotels during new hire training, too! In my experience, Compass has done a good job at "sweetening the pot" when needed. Paying for hotels in training, the signing bonus/raising first year pay to $35, now $41/hour, commuter hotels. All things in the right direction. We can debate if these changes were too little or too late, but Compass has been willing to dig into the pocketbook when their back is up against the wall.
Using past performance to predict future results, I fully expect that Compass will make sure to sweeten the pot if it needs it further. The only question is will the timing of said sweetening line up with when the pilot group thinks it is needed (doubtful), and is it needed? However, I'm not that worried until we start canceling flights due to lack of pilots on a consistent basis. Has crew planning messed up in the past? Absolutely! They didn't anticipate so many people leaving MSP when they announced the closure and they didn't (and still don't IMHO) upgrade enough FOs to CA to make the staffing issues even for both seats. But that's not a reason to make people not want to come to Compass. We still have junior west coast bases, and you'll upgrade to captain on the west coast before you would at any other regional if commuting or moving is not an option.
I have enjoyed my time here. Flying with great people in great airplanes (granted sometimes stuff is deferred, but 90% of it is the same stuff after a couple months) and being based on the west coast from day 1. Sure, we've had some difficult times in the last 9 months with losing the 170s, IOCC, and MSP closing, but none of that stops me from having a good time once the flight deck door closes. We can't always choose what happens to us, but we can choose our response to it. When the flight deck door closes, all of the negativity goes away because the airplane still flies the same, and I make sure to have a good time with my crew. This job is 100% what you make of it.
09-01-2017, 08:41 AM
#7035
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2017
Posts: 857
I think we can all agree we like working here, but, the problem is managements lack of future-proofing the airline. It doesn't leave much hope when the contracts start to reach their end, when even now the clear and present threat of not being able to staff after a hiring freeze seemed to be mishandled. I personally would like to see the company try and sweeten the pot before it effects us, but then again I also believe in unicorns that poop skittles.
09-01-2017, 08:59 AM
#7036
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2016
Posts: 283
Yep, they screwed up. They're trying to fix it, and we're getting permanent pay rates baked into the contract, not some bonus that can be changed at any time. And I'm
sure they will do more. Will it be enough? I don't know. Will it be late? Knowing this company probably. Just, you know, simmer down a little.
sure they will do more. Will it be enough? I don't know. Will it be late? Knowing this company probably. Just, you know, simmer down a little.
09-01-2017, 09:00 AM
#7037
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,267
I think we can all agree we like working here, but, the problem is managements lack of future-proofing the airline. It doesn't leave much hope when the contracts start to reach their end, when even now the clear and present threat of not being able to staff after a hiring freeze seemed to be mishandled. I personally would like to see the company try and sweeten the pot before it effects us, but then again I also believe in unicorns that poop skittles.
There are other airlines that desperately want our flying. They are circling like vultures. I am somewhat optimistic, however, that our mainline partners like the product we provide and I hope that's enough to get our contracts renewed. Hopefully the people at the helm are working day and night to make sure those agreements ARE extended.
09-01-2017, 11:51 AM
#7038
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Position: 737 FO
Posts: 2,614
^^This^^
Don't forget paying for hotels during new hire training, too! In my experience, Compass has done a good job at "sweetening the pot" when needed. Paying for hotels in training, the signing bonus/raising first year pay to $35, now $41/hour, commuter hotels. All things in the right direction. We can debate if these changes were too little or too late, but Compass has been willing to dig into the pocketbook when their back is up against the wall.
Using past performance to predict future results, I fully expect that Compass will make sure to sweeten the pot if it needs it further. The only question is will the timing of said sweetening line up with when the pilot group thinks it is needed (doubtful), and is it needed? However, I'm not that worried until we start canceling flights due to lack of pilots on a consistent basis. Has crew planning messed up in the past? Absolutely! They didn't anticipate so many people leaving MSP when they announced the closure and they didn't (and still don't IMHO) upgrade enough FOs to CA to make the staffing issues even for both seats. But that's not a reason to make people not want to come to Compass. We still have junior west coast bases, and you'll upgrade to captain on the west coast before you would at any other regional if commuting or moving is not an option.
I have enjoyed my time here. Flying with great people in great airplanes (granted sometimes stuff is deferred, but 90% of it is the same stuff after a couple months) and being based on the west coast from day 1. Sure, we've had some difficult times in the last 9 months with losing the 170s, IOCC, and MSP closing, but none of that stops me from having a good time once the flight deck door closes. We can't always choose what happens to us, but we can choose our response to it. When the flight deck door closes, all of the negativity goes away because the airplane still flies the same, and I make sure to have a good time with my crew. This job is 100% what you make of it.
Don't forget paying for hotels during new hire training, too! In my experience, Compass has done a good job at "sweetening the pot" when needed. Paying for hotels in training, the signing bonus/raising first year pay to $35, now $41/hour, commuter hotels. All things in the right direction. We can debate if these changes were too little or too late, but Compass has been willing to dig into the pocketbook when their back is up against the wall.
Using past performance to predict future results, I fully expect that Compass will make sure to sweeten the pot if it needs it further. The only question is will the timing of said sweetening line up with when the pilot group thinks it is needed (doubtful), and is it needed? However, I'm not that worried until we start canceling flights due to lack of pilots on a consistent basis. Has crew planning messed up in the past? Absolutely! They didn't anticipate so many people leaving MSP when they announced the closure and they didn't (and still don't IMHO) upgrade enough FOs to CA to make the staffing issues even for both seats. But that's not a reason to make people not want to come to Compass. We still have junior west coast bases, and you'll upgrade to captain on the west coast before you would at any other regional if commuting or moving is not an option.
I have enjoyed my time here. Flying with great people in great airplanes (granted sometimes stuff is deferred, but 90% of it is the same stuff after a couple months) and being based on the west coast from day 1. Sure, we've had some difficult times in the last 9 months with losing the 170s, IOCC, and MSP closing, but none of that stops me from having a good time once the flight deck door closes. We can't always choose what happens to us, but we can choose our response to it. When the flight deck door closes, all of the negativity goes away because the airplane still flies the same, and I make sure to have a good time with my crew. This job is 100% what you make of it.
09-01-2017, 11:59 AM
#7039
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2015
Posts: 102
$17,500 new hire bonus announced on Comply. Didn't we go through this already and it got shot down in arbitration? What changed?
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