mcartier713

Does anyone know how senior STL is? and just any info at all regarding the pilot count/DOH/stuff between DEN and STL?

1900luxuryliner

2 middle seniority FOs, and 2 junior FOs on St. Louis. 4 crews total. The problem is, the "so-called" St. Louis lines are all MKE TDY, and all start and end in MKE. Those lines don't even go anywhere near St. Louis. And, all our St. Louis flying is being run out of Denver on multi-day trips. So, you start out in DEN and hop around a bunch to eventually end up in STL. Then, the next few days you operate all the STL flying, before you hop around all day to get back to DEN. At this point, an STL base wouldn't be advantageous, unless you actually wanted to live in MKE. Makes perfect sense...

Luv2Rotate

Hey MKE isnt that bad. Friday night Fish Fry and cheap beer! If any of you guy's need someone to live in MKE I'm your guy!

cruiseclimb

I know guys are just trying to get jobs.. but if you have another option... I would take it over Great Lakes.

Copperhed51

Have you worked there? As long as people know what they're getting into and are ok with it, I don't see why it's so bad. Nobody at Lakes is under the impression that they are working at some amazing airline. People know what's up and treat it as such. Like the saying goes, "don't knock it til you try it."

Excel

I actually dont think he is saying anything that bad. It is what it is, he is not telling you to go flip burgers or pump gas before going there, but instead is just pointing out the obvious. Of course if you have another viable option you wouldnt go to Lakes, but is sure beats being out on the streets, and like you said, if you know what it is when you get into it, you could probably have a lot of fun there as long as you apply for food stamps.

My problem is with those select few on these boards that tell you to get out of aviation completely before going to a certain company.

evilboy

I got the interview call last week. The only reason I considered GL was because the quick upgrade. However, from reading this thread I have noticed a lot of other "qualified" pilots that can upgrade soon. By the time I get in, finish training, then get the 300 hours in the a/c, looks like the quick upgrade option will be gone. I have serious hesitance about signing my life away for the next 15 months at 17dls/hr. And the training contract is NOT prorated. You have to give them the full amount if you live early, regardless of time. My decision right now is to stay bartending and hope I made the right decision. I do believe some movement will be happening before end of year.
Btw, if a GL person finds some misstatement above, please correct me.

1900luxuryliner

I don't see any misstatements. Maybe looking at it with the glass half empty, but no misstatements. It sounds like you already turned the interview down. If not, I would go to the interview, and specifically ask how many captain upgrades they are forecasting. Interview experience is never a bad thing, either. No one comes to Lakes to sit around in the right seat, and I don't blame anyone for not wanting to. 15 months does go by quick, though, believe it or not. I heard upgrades will continue indefinitely, and at least throughout the summer. But, what I hear and what reality is may be two different things. They normally run 6 people through upgrade per month. One or two normally don't make it all the way through the process. If they tell you they are looking at getting another 30 captains on the line, then that would mean at least another 5 months of upgrades. This is if attrition on the captain side is zero, the upgrade classes are full, and everyone makes it through upgrade. I really don't know how many captains are needed, though.

evilboy

I appreciate it the info and agree with you, interview experience is good. I have sat in interview panels doing the HR part at previous airlines I used to work for. So from that side I feel ok. As far as turning them down, haven't done so officially. My big indecision comes from the money side, even if I upgrade in 6 months, I'll be almost 8 dls an hr lower than I was before getting furlough as an FO. Yes, it is 121 PIC, but money does play a part also. Figured I have the rest of this week to decide what to do about going to the interview for experience/practice purposes. Hopefully someone will give me a compeling reason for me to pursue it.

Trogdor

Not only is the contract not prorated, they also charge you interest on the total sum. So if you end up leaving around the year mark for example, you would end up owing something north of $9000.

As far as upgrades are going, there are many furloughed 121 RJ guys waiting for their chance to upgrade, but it is taking them over 9 months to get just 300 in type.

Unless we get more airplanes, and soon, upgrades are going to grind to a hault without warning just like it did back in 2006.

Save your sanity and continue serving drinks. By the way, is your company hiring?