FlyingSkip
Generalissimo
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2002
- Posts
- 167
A few people have written asking about what the deal is with SATSAir and whether there might be jobs involved. Thought I'd just answer a few FAQs and let some people know what's going on...
First, if you want a quick "client" overview of the company go to www.SATSAir.com... it's not very informative from an employment point of view, but it'll give you an idea of where we're flying currently (although the service area and bases are growing fast!) and what it translates into for our client base.
Next, we ARE growing rapidly and are actively hiring. Most of us hired early on were higher time than a lot of 135 operations typically look for, but there is a real commitment by management to make the company a place people come, work and stay. This is NOT one of the "feeder" ops that just use pilots as cheap labor while the pilots are building time to move on to something better---if that's your plan PLEASE don't come and work beside me on the line! I've been there, done that on the freight side and that's not the type of attitude or work ethic that I want our customers seeing---when they're done flying with you it's only going to make my job harder on the next flight repairing the damage that you might have done. I want people working beside me who are looking for a decent operation with a good QOL, a steady paycheck and the idea of growing with a growing company.
OK, I'll get off the soapbox already, sheesh!:0
The job is a salary position, with starting pay at $31,500 plus per diem. Since I've been here, I've averaged about 4 days flying per week, sometimes more and sometimes less, with about 40-50% overnights. I've flown as many as 7 days straight, and gone 5-6 days at a time without a flight---it all depends on client demand, although I can say that we've been ramping up lately and steadying up at the 4 flight day per week average. There IS a training contract for new hires, so know that up front---it's no secret and is talked about during the interview process, so don't act like it's a big secret or something dropped on you at the last minute---the company line is that they don't want people taking the training and then going away to train Cirrus pilots elsewhere just because the airframe is so hot right now. I won't comment on whether I think there is merit to that argument or not, but it's the way it is, so deal with it or move on...
The company is based in Greenville SC (GMU) but has planes outbased in Charleston SC (JZI), Myrtle Beach SC (MYR), Burlington NC (BUY), Knoxville TN (TYS), and we're in the process of basing planes in Gulf Shores AL (JKA), the Atlanta area (probably PDK but still in the works!) and the DC area (probably HEF). From there, who knows?! Probably down the Florida peninsula and down the Gulf Coast toward Texas...
This is a good place to reiterate something I brought up in a previous thread---I am a line pilot for SATSAir, not a member of management and not privy to a lot of the decisions that are made on a daily basis and which I hear about as faits accompli. I think the company is doing something new in aviation that has a tremendous future, and I'm glad I'm in on the ground floor to grow as the company grows. The company is not perfect by any means, and with the rapid growth comes a lot of changes and the demand that personnel have to remain flexible if they don't want to become very irritated at times! I've watched the company grow from 3 planes to 16 in eight months, and supposedly we'll be adding 10 a month every month of 2006, with 12-14 pilots each month coming on line as well. Who knows where we'll be a month from now, let alone in a year or two!
To be competitive for a job at SATSAir, management is looking for an ATP or ATP mins, ie 1500 hours or more. Out of the first ten pilots onboard, only one had less than 3000 hours---lately, I believe they've started interviewing people with lower times realizing they need to "load the tubes" for the amount of guys/gals they want to hire---I saw a guy today interviewing with 1700 hours, although some of that was already Cirrus time. If you're close, or not even but are interested---don't be discouraged, make the call! Personality and desire to do well in this position are much more important than time in a log book.
I am not involved in the actual hiring process, but I know that I wouldn't be where I'm at in life in people hadn't been willing to lend me a helping hand, so I'm always ready to help anyone who's seriously interested and who I'd like working beside me on the line. I'm happy to answer questions, talk about what I like/dislike about the job and help someone make a decision.
My final thought is simple and purely my personal opinion. We're going to grow, we'll end up in jets and all that hot-sh*t stuff eventually as the Air Taxi concept grows nationally and manufacturers provide aircraft optimized for that type of trade, and a lot of people will enjoy the ride. BUT...if you're one of those people who equate the size of your p***s with the size of your aircraft don't waste your time! This is ultimately a job flying single-engine piston aircraft, albeit the most advanced ones available today, so if you want to be able to brag about your (fill in the blank---max alt, max airspeed, # of pax, range etc) then you should look elsewhere. It's a 4 seat airplane doing 185-190 True and you fly regularly and make $30K+ to start....if you like that idea, come on down! If not, best wishes in whatever you do.
First, if you want a quick "client" overview of the company go to www.SATSAir.com... it's not very informative from an employment point of view, but it'll give you an idea of where we're flying currently (although the service area and bases are growing fast!) and what it translates into for our client base.
Next, we ARE growing rapidly and are actively hiring. Most of us hired early on were higher time than a lot of 135 operations typically look for, but there is a real commitment by management to make the company a place people come, work and stay. This is NOT one of the "feeder" ops that just use pilots as cheap labor while the pilots are building time to move on to something better---if that's your plan PLEASE don't come and work beside me on the line! I've been there, done that on the freight side and that's not the type of attitude or work ethic that I want our customers seeing---when they're done flying with you it's only going to make my job harder on the next flight repairing the damage that you might have done. I want people working beside me who are looking for a decent operation with a good QOL, a steady paycheck and the idea of growing with a growing company.
OK, I'll get off the soapbox already, sheesh!:0
The job is a salary position, with starting pay at $31,500 plus per diem. Since I've been here, I've averaged about 4 days flying per week, sometimes more and sometimes less, with about 40-50% overnights. I've flown as many as 7 days straight, and gone 5-6 days at a time without a flight---it all depends on client demand, although I can say that we've been ramping up lately and steadying up at the 4 flight day per week average. There IS a training contract for new hires, so know that up front---it's no secret and is talked about during the interview process, so don't act like it's a big secret or something dropped on you at the last minute---the company line is that they don't want people taking the training and then going away to train Cirrus pilots elsewhere just because the airframe is so hot right now. I won't comment on whether I think there is merit to that argument or not, but it's the way it is, so deal with it or move on...
The company is based in Greenville SC (GMU) but has planes outbased in Charleston SC (JZI), Myrtle Beach SC (MYR), Burlington NC (BUY), Knoxville TN (TYS), and we're in the process of basing planes in Gulf Shores AL (JKA), the Atlanta area (probably PDK but still in the works!) and the DC area (probably HEF). From there, who knows?! Probably down the Florida peninsula and down the Gulf Coast toward Texas...
This is a good place to reiterate something I brought up in a previous thread---I am a line pilot for SATSAir, not a member of management and not privy to a lot of the decisions that are made on a daily basis and which I hear about as faits accompli. I think the company is doing something new in aviation that has a tremendous future, and I'm glad I'm in on the ground floor to grow as the company grows. The company is not perfect by any means, and with the rapid growth comes a lot of changes and the demand that personnel have to remain flexible if they don't want to become very irritated at times! I've watched the company grow from 3 planes to 16 in eight months, and supposedly we'll be adding 10 a month every month of 2006, with 12-14 pilots each month coming on line as well. Who knows where we'll be a month from now, let alone in a year or two!
To be competitive for a job at SATSAir, management is looking for an ATP or ATP mins, ie 1500 hours or more. Out of the first ten pilots onboard, only one had less than 3000 hours---lately, I believe they've started interviewing people with lower times realizing they need to "load the tubes" for the amount of guys/gals they want to hire---I saw a guy today interviewing with 1700 hours, although some of that was already Cirrus time. If you're close, or not even but are interested---don't be discouraged, make the call! Personality and desire to do well in this position are much more important than time in a log book.
I am not involved in the actual hiring process, but I know that I wouldn't be where I'm at in life in people hadn't been willing to lend me a helping hand, so I'm always ready to help anyone who's seriously interested and who I'd like working beside me on the line. I'm happy to answer questions, talk about what I like/dislike about the job and help someone make a decision.
My final thought is simple and purely my personal opinion. We're going to grow, we'll end up in jets and all that hot-sh*t stuff eventually as the Air Taxi concept grows nationally and manufacturers provide aircraft optimized for that type of trade, and a lot of people will enjoy the ride. BUT...if you're one of those people who equate the size of your p***s with the size of your aircraft don't waste your time! This is ultimately a job flying single-engine piston aircraft, albeit the most advanced ones available today, so if you want to be able to brag about your (fill in the blank---max alt, max airspeed, # of pax, range etc) then you should look elsewhere. It's a 4 seat airplane doing 185-190 True and you fly regularly and make $30K+ to start....if you like that idea, come on down! If not, best wishes in whatever you do.
