Great Lakes Info

[Pilot84]

Anyone have any info on Great Lakes? Are they still hiring Multi comm. and what are the chances of getting the STL base? Did they pick up the additional flying already? Any additional info would be great.

Thanks

[fosters]

Try checking out:
www.readytocopy.com

That is the Great Lakes message board. It's free, and it usually has pretty up to date info on it.

[Milesar]

Originally Posted by fosters

Try checking out:
www.readytocopy.com

New hires are coming in 400-800hrs average, Lakes would like to see a bit more than a wet Multi Comm ticket, but beggars cant be choosers. Currently there is no STL base, thats all being covered by lines out of DEN, however there have been plans on the board for a small domicile there.

An issue GLA has at the moment is a lack of aircraft and pilots, they are slowly trying to pick up the new routes but currently do not have the resources, about 10 aircraft short.

[wrxpilot]

No questions these guys and girls become great pilots. Flying around Colorado and Wyoming with no autopilot really must be some great experience. But why in the heck does anybody work for such crappy pay? I don't even see how it's possible (or desirable)!

[coa787]

Originally Posted by wrxpilot

No questions these guys and girls become great pilots. Flying around Colorado and Wyoming with no autopilot really must be some great experience. But why in the heck does anybody work for such crappy pay? I don't even see how it's possible (or desirable)!

It's the dream that someday, one will move up from the crappy pay and schedules of the regionals to the better pay and schedules of the legacies.

If you just want to get into the airlines as soon as possible, then of course you will start at a crappy regional and your salary will reflect that.

If one is only concerned about the salary for the job, then, by all means, find another job.

But, I agree with you. Flying in mountainous terrain is great for building experience. Just make sure that you follow correct procedures and maintain constant situational awareness so you don't end up on the ten 'o clock news.

[wrxpilot]

Originally Posted by coa787

It's the dream that someday, one will move up from the crappy pay and schedules of the regionals to the better pay and schedules of the legacies.

If you just want to get into the airlines as soon as possible, then of course you will start at a crappy regional and your salary will reflect that.

If one is only concerned about the salary for the job, then, by all means, find another job.

But, I agree with you. Flying in mountainous terrain is great for building experience. Just make sure that you follow correct procedures and maintain constant situational awareness so you don't end up on the ten 'o clock news.

Well, having grown up in Colorado and spent about 25 years of my 30 year lifetime there I can understand the appeal. I've experienced some incredible things there as a pilot that will forever reward me (extreme mtn wave turbulence between CYS and BJC in just but one memory!). But it is just too damn hard to make a living there as an entry level pilot. I guess I am somewhat attached to making $$, but I never could understand those folks sticking around to scratch it out over there. I really miss snowboarding and mountain biking, but the money and opportunities in South Florida are so much better. Maybe I'm just a sellout !

[madmax]

It sounds like upgrade is pretty quick (people are saying as soon as you meet atp min's). At which point you are making $5-7/hr more than if you were a 2nd year FO at another regional. Just my take though.

[coa787]

Man, I don't know. I would only stick around long enough to build up my hours and then, perhaps, move up to a better regional.

I mean, would you rather, if you had no other choice, build up your hours working at a crappy regional and making barely enough to scrape by, or would you rather pay to build up your hours while renting out aircraft if you don't want to CFI?

Now, I know that there are people out there that make more money while CFI'ing than what they would make while flying at some of these regionals, but it all goes back to what I said earlier about wanting to get into the airlines faster.

Maybe some people here on the boards that fly for Great Lakes could answer your questions?

[ElyJs]

Hah everybody would jump ship after their 100hrs multi if it weren't for the 15 month training contract. From what I hear they have successfully won the $7500 from people that left. I have an interview coming up with them.

-Jason

[ElyJs]

Also, the training is difficult. Rumor has they washed out the son of the CP of Fedex a few months ago. Talk about a career killer! (Not for the son!)

-Jason

[av8sean]

I heard GL is one of those "know how to build the airplane" kind of training programs..

[Milesar]

Training varies from class to class. Systems usually finishes in a week, not much time to cram limitaitions, emergency procedures, diagrams (you have to be able to draw these) as well as getting ready for the sim right after. The average wash is about 30%, mostly coming from the sim.

However, like any training program, there has to be a strong will to succeed and take that little extra time to study just a little bit more.

The first day of training at Lakes we were told to forget our girlfriends name, family birthdays, and any other information we could toss out to make room upstairs.

[DenverPilot8]

I know a guy there that was at 13k for his first year W2. He did upgrade within a year and now is a Capt making around 38k a year. But it you get on with them with low time you will be an FO a while until you can reach the mins to even upgrade to a Capt. This means $16 first year and $18 2nd year. If you are paying rent, car, flight school loan ect. I don't see how it is possible to live without taking a 2nd job.

[Number1atNumber2]

Originally Posted by ElyJs

Also, the training is difficult. Rumor has they washed out the son of the CP of Fedex a few months ago. Talk about a career killer! (Not for the son!)

-Jason

I have not worked for them, but I have met a few of the captains that have worked there, and one is a very close friend of mine. He told me that with Lakes you aren't offically 'hired' until you pass your checkride. And you aren't paid during training either. The up side is, if you do wash from training it isn't on your pilot record (unless you choke on the checkride itself of course, and then it will show on your PRIA record).

Lakes pilots definatly get to move up to better companies after they put up their times, but you'll have to endure horrible pay and poor quality of life.

This is second hand info mind you, any Lakers out there feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

[WalterSobchak]

Originally Posted by madmax

It sounds like upgrade is pretty quick (people are saying as soon as you meet atp min's). At which point you are making $5-7/hr more than if you were a 2nd year FO at another regional. Just my take though.

GLA 1st year CA pay $27
Mesaba 2nd FO pay(in concessions) $28
On the Saab I make what a whole crew on the 1900 thats been there for 2 years makes.

Sad. But you are getting PIC at Lakes if thats what you want and can afford it can be worth it.

[High_Alpha]

The flying is awesome, the pilot group is great, the pay stinks. Schedule isn't that great, either.

The main reason to come to Lakes is the upgrade time. Whether or not it's worth it is something you have to decide.