I'm new to all "THIS"

[DavidR-CA-408]

Hey Dan!

Good to hear from ya!

I'm curious to know about your crew. You said the guys you fly with are great, but I assume that just like in any other biz, you would run into some people who some hard heads. What do you do then? Just request a different crew? Do you fly with the same people everyday? Or do they mix it up?

Also.... I hear that Express Jet, (the airline that looks best for my situation) is in a hiring freeze...is that true? Could you ask Bob for me if you don't know? I know Bob commented on another one of my posts and he worked for Express Jet.

Thanks Dan!

Good 2 hear from ya again.

David Runkel

[Comair Dan]

Of course you have some exceptions with some people, but most are doing this to have fun! So when you do get the ones who are hard headed, you have some options. If it were me I would just fly with the guy anyway, but you could call in sick if you so choose to. When you are on reserve you could fly with a guy for a 4 day trip or you could fly with 4 guys in one day..haha. Its all about where and when they need you. When you hold a line then you would fly with the same guys usally until the trip is over.

Im not to sure about the express jet thing Ill ask bob and get back to you...

Hope all is well

Dan

[DavidR-CA-408]

I have a question as to the drop out rate of your class. How many people were in your class and how many people ended up graduating? What were your sleeping arrangements. Were you in an apartment or were you renting a room out of someones home? Do you think it helps to live with people going through the same thing you are?

As far as you student loan...how much did you pay out of pocket and how much was loaned to you. Did you have good credit when applying for them and did you have a co-signer? I'm just trying to see how much I'll be looking to pay up front and how much I'll be paying once I'm out of school.

Let me know you thoughts.

David Runkel

[Comair Dan]

As for my class I was the only one that was in it...haha so mine had no drop outs. In the other classes that started around the sametime as mine I dont remember anyone droping out.

The apartments that atp puts you up in were very nice, at least in Daytona they were, and you share a room with another student. They try to pair you with someone in your class if it works out. So I would say they try to make sure you are living with others who are going through the same program so you can help each other out.

I applyed for the loan with a cosigner although I have, and had, great credit. It lowered my intrest rate. I got a loan to cover the whole program which at the time was 45000, but it did not include the jet course.

Hope that helps!

Dan

[DavidR-CA-408]

Hey Dan....

Just to let ya know I will be taking a tour of the Phoenix AZ ATP facility. I'm going over the extended 4th of July weekend with my girlfriend. We live in southern California and we will be staying with one of her childhood friends who lives in the area to keep expenses down.....gas is expensive enough just driving there! LOL 

Well. Here comes the question now. I’m wondering what the regulations are in taking a day off or two on the weekends. I’m in the Air Force Reserves currently and will be taking a hiatus of a few months to take the 90 day fast track course through ATP. But I’m still required to fulfill my duties cuz my contract says I’m theirs for 6 years….two of which I have completed. But I can only reschedule so many times per year until it becomes a discrepancy on my record……. So I guess the question is. Do the airline company’s except Reserve duty as a valid excuse to not show up for work?

I know everyone’s airline regulations are different but do you know anyone in the military reserves who has a similar situation in your career field? Any insight would alleviate some worry.

Thanks Dan!

Dave R

[Comair Dan]

Hey David!

Like you said every airline is going to be a little different. Most should be able to give you Gov Leave so you can go take care of what is needed to be taken care of. Hope that helps I'll see if I can find anything else out on that for you. Hope all is well.

Dan

[DavidR-CA-408]

Well....that seems to help me....Thanks for getting back to me. So you have a thing called GOV LEAVE? That's cool. How does that work? How many days per year are you given that, or is it unlimited?

It would be best though if you could find someone in my similar situation....I'll ask my Air Force Unit about it more as well.

I'll let you know what I think of the AZ ATP campus. I'm leaving tonight and will be taking a tour of their facility on SAT.

Talk to ya later then.

David R.

[Comair Dan]

Let me know how it goes and what you think!

Dan

[DavidR-CA-408]

Well Dan...I really enjoyed my trip to ATP in Phoenix. The heat was crazy.....120 degrees, but other than that the Air Conditioned school rooms were a "warm" welcomed relief from the flight line.

I got to hop in the Cessna's and the duel prop planes as well. We also took a look at the CRJ glass simulators which were a blast. I enjoyed the school and could totally see myself going there! But in January when the weather in AZ cools off a bit. The apartments that ATP puts ya up in were way nice too!

The Guy giving us the tour was rather serious and a little rough around the edges, but he said something that bothered me. He told me that the majors and legacy level airlines are looking for people that have their Bachelors degrees in order to be hired on as pilots. Care to comment on that?

Now I don't really want to go to a Cal State school and work in class for 2 years if i could get there with just an AA in liberal arts and science and make to same amount of $ with out the time and money spent at another school. So Mr. Man.....I don't mean to let you be the one to decide my future, but do you think it is necessary to get the 4 year degree, or can I do fine in the biz with just an AA?

Also.....I was watching TV while in AZ and saw that American Airlines just fired 4,000 people from their company and reports are that more are soon to follow.....any comment on that?

Dave R-

[DavidR-CA-408]

It's been 3 weeks and I think DAN is dead.....can anyone tell me whats going on with him? :-(

David R.