DYS,

Understand...

Some returning, some looking else where. ALOT of people leaving in the last month or 2, locals and expats. Bad work environment and numerous issues with the operation. Prefer to pay out a bond than stay there, they said they just want out.

There’s plenty of not so great operators in the US, but a lot of great ones try at take E3’s. Just do a little research and choose wisely and they won’t look back.

E3s are leaving Omni ? I understand it's a pretty good place to work (don't know about Amerijet). The supplemental airline gig isn't to everyone's liking.

Never mind...I apparently misunderstood your comment. :ugh:

Mesa Pilots
 

PSA for anyone at or currently thinking of going to Mesa. They just announced American is pulling their flying over the next 3 months. Their ceo announced they'd move their flying to United, but United scope prevents that. Events are looking very similar to what happened in the lead up to Trans States, Compass and Expressjet collapsing.

For those that weren't around for the regional fun in 2020, generally once these things started to happen, the regional in question gives a nice long time frame for a controlled wind down with promises of a soft landing somehow. In reality, they were all gone in more or less 60 days.

Now Mesa may survive, but it looks an awful lot like 2020 for them. Just have a plan B if you're looking at Mesa.

don’t think mesa have hired Aussies since covid. Know a few Aussies there and they all joined before the pandemic.

They may be Frontier bait if Mesa tanks. Or maybe before that.

Air Whiskey
 

Looks like Air Wisconsin is back on the menu. Not 100% sure, but I think their pay is pretty trash. There crj 200s are definitely trash, but they did just sign a capacity agreement with American. They do have very good health insurance though, so there's that. Have at it.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5f64059cdb.png

DYS,

Air Wisconsin appears to be lagging their competition in the pay department. But do you feel AW would still serve the design purpose of a regional: a first airline gig that gets people in the arena so they can move on to bigger and better ?

I can see where they'd not be one's first choice but if better options don't work out, AW still OK ?

Yeah I'd imagine Whiskey would be no better or worse than any other regional to start building jet time, but if I had to do it now, I'd definitely be focusing on the carriers with 70 seat jets. The 50 seat jets are rapidly approaching their shelf date, so why have to look for another job in 2 years when you could have been at a 70 seat job already. The fact that pay is better at other regionals is just gravy.

AW is definitely lacking in the pay department, so much so that is a wonder how they even exist. Perhaps it's the bases.
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I have also heard that that the training is fairly difficult and I believe that there they don't have printers in their CRJs.

I dunno about you guys but no printer is a non starter in my books .

Kalitta or Atlas?
 

Hey,
I've read through the thread....but just wanted to ask - Kalitta or Atlas for E3s. I've heard the commute is better with Kalita (up to Singapore, as opposed to USA for Atlas, Kalitta pays for travel, rosters are a little more manageable etc).... would love to hear from pilots who are currently working at Kalitta and commuting from Australia. What are the rosters like? Anyone who has worked for both Atlas and Kalitta??? Thoughts?

Cheers!

Anyone wanting info on Atlas PM me, training is slow but wide body and international flying.

Frontier Pay
 

Frontier is raising their 1st year pay to $100/hr, and their signing bonus/loan to $50k. Spirit also just voted up new pay rates. I expect Frontier will have to raise their entire pay scale at some point soon to compete too.

Frontier is also opening a Dallas base sometime this year, and rumours of another midwest base too at some point.

Sure is tough being an Aussie pilot these days ;)

DYS,

Would you happen to know how many E3s Frontier and Spirit have taken ? And are they E3s who had previously been at a US regional or straight from Australia?

I can't tell you exactly how many Spirit have taken, but it's substantial to the point of 4 to 6 Ausmates on each of the last few courses. They're taking straight from Australia and have taken pilots with no previous jet experience. Although, they were disappointed with the no-shows to interviews on their roadshows in Aus and wouldn't be surprised if they didn't take any more Ausmates.

tossbag definitely has better Spirit intel than I do. I'm not sure of the amount of guys F9 has taken, but I know for a fact they're interviewing GA guys from home that meet the mins. I also heard through the grapevine that F9 is down to their last 2 classes worth of candidates. How true that is I don't know, but more money for first year guys seems to indicate it's probably likely.

Being able to skip the regionals entirely, start on $100k USD, with and extra $50k to help you settle in sure is a nicer way to start here than a lot of us did. I don't see this trend slowing anytime soon.


Also as a random thought, F9 do their signing bonus as a forgivable loan (obviously read the fine print before signing). Having said that, it may help Aussies generate a credit score rather quickly because of how it's set up.

Interesting.

DEC in the usa isn’t possible for Aussies on E3’s regardless of time in type or time in the space shuttle.

the FAA requires 1000 hours as SIC in a FAA part 121 certificate. There’s no way around that except for some other qualifying time which also requires to have been flown under FAA carrier certificate.

hope this helps.

If, as tossbag and DYS have reported, some US LCCs are taking E3s with no previous airline/jet experience, these folks might want to read the applicable reg on upgrades. As havick has said, there's no way around it:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/121.436