US Regional Headhunting

[pilotchute]

Originally Posted by zondaracer

Interesting, but I’m not surprised. With the new pay rates at SkyWest, they hired 122 pilots in October.

Problem is they aren't pilots who are getting back into aviation. They are just jumping from other regionals.

Even with the new pay rates you need to fly max hours to gross 45k a year.

[zondaracer]

Originally Posted by pilotchute

Problem is they aren't pilots who are getting back into aviation. They are just jumping from other regionals.

Even with the new pay rates you need to fly max hours to gross 45k a year.

I grossed that my first year when pay was $30 an hour.

Regardless of where the pilots are coming from, my point was that with the new pay scales, it makes sense that SkyWest now has plenty of candidates and does not need to necessarily pull from the E3 visa pool.

[bafanguy]

Originally Posted by pilotchute

Problem is they aren't pilots who are getting back into aviation. They are just jumping from other regionals.

Interesting. I knew pilots were doing some of that, e.g., ASA to EDV, but I have no way to quantify it.

Then at some point, some regional will end up short ? What will they do then ? Will the E3 pool still look like a solution ?

[pilotchute]

At one regional I know of 80% of classes are made up of people who already have 121 time.

Just chasing the bonus.

[bafanguy]

Another "pathway" to a regional is formalized between Pan Am Academy and Express jet. Licenses-CFI-regional format:

Pan Am International Flight Academy and ExpressJet Sign Pilot Pathway Agreement

I would expect XJT is having a tough time recruiting since their upgrade time is so long compared to other regionals but I don't have access to inside info anymore.

Well, I see this is old info that I posted previously(senior moment) but I'd still like to know how XJT is doing with recruitment and if this pathway is having any effect.

[bafanguy]

Here's a 9 minute podcast where the head of pilot development at American Airlines talks about their Cadet Academy. Early on he used the term "restricted ATP" but went on to mention having 1500 hours so perhaps he misspoke. However, Spartan is on the FAA list of colleges authorized for the R-ATP (didn't know that):

https://www.faa.gov/pilots/training/...ority_List.pdf

It's the now typical tickets-to-CFI-to-regional format. But you get a "guaranteed interview" at an AA wholly-owned regional. He says they have 6000+ apps to the program:

https://cdn.avweb.com/media/podcast/...cast_Final.mp3

[zondaracer]

You can still get a restricted ATP at 1500 hours without attending a university program. Your ATP will be restricted if you are under 23 years old or if you have more than 200 hours cross country but less than 500 hours cross country.

[bafanguy]

Originally Posted by zondaracer

You can still get a restricted ATP at 1500 hours without attending a university program. Your ATP will be restricted if you are under 23 years old or if you have more than 200 hours cross country but less than 500 hours cross country.

Z,

Thanks. I was aware of the age thing but not the XC requirement. I guess I made the unconscious assumption that people aiming for this program would be older. Probably not a valid assumption.

So much to know...so little time.

[wilsha]

If anyone is interested in coming to COMMUTAIR in the US, PM me. It's a good time to be coming in, we are hiring 300 pilots. A new contract will be in place at the end of next year and you'll be upgrading at 950 hrs on type ( 12-16 months). The Training is good, they put the time and effort into getting you through if you are learning the US system.

[zondaracer]

LOL someone is trying to get a referral bonus.

[zondaracer]

SkyWest sells Expressjet. Expressjet gets E175s

https://markets.businessinsider.com/...cts-1027817528

[bafanguy]

What is ManaAir, LLC ? A holding company ? Google didn't really answer the question.

[zondaracer]

Originally Posted by bafanguy

What is ManaAir, LLC ? A holding company ? Google didn't really answer the question.

yup, pretty much. This way, United can own a minority share of Expressjet. The FA contract at United says that if United is a majority share of a regional airline, then the FAs at said airline will be under the mainline FA contract. This would make a majority owned regional expensive.

[bafanguy]

Originally Posted by zondaracer

yup, pretty much. This way, United can own a minority share of Expressjet. The FA contract at United says that if United is a majority share of a regional airline, then the FAs at said airline will be under the mainline FA contract. This would make a majority owned regional expensive.

Z,

Sounds like it. Here's an article explaining the shell game. Too early to know what it means for the relationship between UAL and XJT pilots:

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...enture-454518/

[atpcliff]

Yesterday, the CEO of Commutair resigned. They are partially owned (like ExpressJet) by UAL. One rumour is that Commutair and XPJet will be merged. Another rumour is flow through from XJ and/or CA/XJ to UAL... Currently, XJ is having a net loss of about 50 pilots/month. I think UAL was counting on those pilots almost all going to UAL, and, with the current situation, UAL realized that they needed to own a regional and have flow through so as not to suffer greatly from a pilot shortage.

My airline is in contract talks, and this will help us a LOT, as XJ was our #1 source of pilots the last 2-3 years. With UAL buying them, and probably giving them a flow through, a lot less of them will leave for airlines like mine.

[bafanguy]

Not sure how long PSA has had a cadet program but this below appeared on jsfirm.com today. Follows the formulaic path of tickets, CFI, regional with a reference to flow to AA someday.

The wording difference between the jsfirm posting and PSA's own careers website is interesting.

jsfirm post says:

“ New hires at PSA are projected to flow to American Airlines after only 6 years.”


https://www.jsfirm.com/job/Pilot-Fix...o/jobID_490780

And the PSA careers site says:

“Guaranteed flow through to American Airlines in 6-7 years”

https://psaairlines.com/cadets

[bafanguy]

I don't hear much about them but ViaAir is hiring:

https://jobs.flyviaair.com/pilots/

[bafanguy]

ExpressJet ups the ante:

New-Hire Bonus Now $22,000!
+$5k with eligible type rating


EARN $66,100 IN YOUR FIRST YEAR!
$71,100 with an eligible type rating

https://www.expressjet.com/careers/pilots/

[Wizofoz]

Originally Posted by bafanguy

ExpressJet ups the ante:

New-Hire Bonus Now $22,000!
+$5k with eligible type rating


EARN $66,100 IN YOUR FIRST YEAR!
$71,100 with an eligible type rating

https://www.expressjet.com/careers/pilots/

We're seeing a lot of these ads in Australia- but, correct me if I'm wrong, the "66,100 in your first year" is inclusive of a sign-on bonus of 22k- so your SECOND year earnings are more like 44k?

Still not great money!!

[bafanguy]

Originally Posted by Wizofoz

...the "66,100 in your first year" is inclusive of a sign-on bonus of 22k- so your SECOND year earnings are more like 44k?

Still not great money!!

That's my understanding. And yes, it's still not ideal money.