Froggy

Hello,

I've been reading the Spirit forums and it seems they mostly deal with hiring. That being said I have a couple of general questions:

What base would a new hire be likely get? KIDDING!!

Seriously,

I understand by your contract that there is a min 4 days off between trips, is it possible to get chucks of days off or is 4 the most one is likely to get in a row?

On the Central and South American routes are those special qualification or can anyone from any base fly them?

In terms of trip pairings, is it mostly turns from a "hub" , stay more or less within a region close to your base, or fly all over?

Lastly....I'm trying to think of a generic QOL question but I'm drawing a blank...anyway thanks in advance!

Jett i son

Might be better to post this in the NKS thread.

Most regular lines: blocks of 4-5 days off, rarely 6-7.
Relief lines may have more, but you have little control over it.

Anyone can fly international, after qualification flight, last day of OE.

Turns, and a wide variety of trips anywhere, depending on base.

Et tu Bluto

In my base there are often lines with as many as eight days off in a row. Many use the transition conflict provisions of the contract to either put together good strings of time off or pad their credit hours.

Everyone comes out of OE as "qualified" for Central/South America because they will send you to Bogota or Guatemala City or some such place with a LCA as part of the drill. Also, the PC warmups of late consist of Bogota scenarios to maintain your quals. Most of that flying is scheduled out of FLL but you can pick up out of base open time or end up going to those places as result of a reserve assignment.

Some bases have turn lines (LAS in April has a bunch) but there are many 3 and 4 day trips that often take you coat to coast and pretty much bounce you around the system.

Hope this helps....

Froggy

It does, thank you, I appreciate it!

Any talk of IAH? Seems to be a big uptick in flying there.

Judge Smails

Our COO said pretty recently that there are no plans to open any new bases in 2015, but next year they will take a look at the base situation.

Personally, I'd be surprised if they don't open IAH in the future. We're going to be doing a lot of international stuff out of there, and anybody who's spent a lot of time flying into IAH knows how screwed up it can get in the summer with the T-storms. We're gonna be screwed if we don't have spare crews around.

Kapitanleutnant

Out of curiosity... Are the trips to South and Central America from FLL mostly turns or are there a few layovers in there?

Kap

Gunga Galunga

Everything in that direction are day or red-eye turns out of FLL, with the exception of Lima, which is an overnight due to the flight time.

CFI2766

How is the training for new hires? Is is a standard PC or AQP program that some other airlines use? Is it a good ground school program overall, or a lot of computer based training for self study before class? Lastly how are the sim instructors and type rides? Common for failures for guys coming from the CRJ, or generally easy to get through if you show up prepared?
Thanks!

Et tu Bluto

Spirit uses traditional PC/PT training, I hear AQP is in our future though. Ground school is good, usually taught by ERAU interns who, despite their relative lack of experience, are pretty good instructors. When I came aboard I was given a CBT disc for aircraft systems which I watched twice before I showed up for ground school. There are resources for self study like FMGS trainers that you can use on your days off. (I definitely got the impression that you were expected to do extra study on your off days, but it was never explicitly mentioned). Study groups were very helpful in preparing for the oral.

The sim instructors are top notch: line pilots who get pulled in to do training. Failures happen but I wouldn't call them common. The instructors and examiners want you to get through; I have heard that those who failed to qualify were their own worst enemies (unprepared, bad attitude, etc.). CRJ guys, as far as I know, fare no better or no worse than any other demographic.

CFI2766

Thanks for the good info. Sounds like training is done right there in FLL, guessing 2 months to get through ground and sim?
Does anyone know how long until spouse/children can use travel benefits after training starts? Just trying to figure if they would be able to visit at all. Thanks