American Eagle Bridge program
#11
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Joined APC: Jan 2006
Posts: 345
Originally Posted by rickair7777
Better upgrade than EAGLE??? Lots. Unless something has changed since I last talked to my eagle friend the eight year ERJ FO. Please correct with me recent numbers if I'm wrong.
Skywest: Guys have upgraded to 50 seat jet CA in 18 (or less) months last year.
Mesa: 18-24 months.
These upgrades times obviously depend on being willing to go WHEREVER, be on reserve, and on having ATP mins. Everybody from my eagle interview group that I kept in touch with quit after 6-8 months to go somewhere else. I had two job offers, and took the other one. Now if you already have a lot of years at eagle the benefits are certainly good, and it is remotely possible that you might flow up to AA mainline in 70-80 years. Do they still even do that?
I also heard that AA mainline was negotiating to move all RJs > 50 seats to mainline...that would REALLY enhance eagle upgrade times.
Skywest: Guys have upgraded to 50 seat jet CA in 18 (or less) months last year.
Mesa: 18-24 months.
These upgrades times obviously depend on being willing to go WHEREVER, be on reserve, and on having ATP mins. Everybody from my eagle interview group that I kept in touch with quit after 6-8 months to go somewhere else. I had two job offers, and took the other one. Now if you already have a lot of years at eagle the benefits are certainly good, and it is remotely possible that you might flow up to AA mainline in 70-80 years. Do they still even do that?
I also heard that AA mainline was negotiating to move all RJs > 50 seats to mainline...that would REALLY enhance eagle upgrade times.
Thats what Air Canada did back in 95. Facing layoffs while their regionals were hiring lots of pilots. So Air Canada decided to take the RJ's so they could start hiring again instead of their regionals hiring. They ended up hiring almost half their regional pilots in the process. Those pilots were extreamly lucky.
If AA does it, there will be a bunch of happy senior eagle pilots that will get on with AA
#12
Originally Posted by Linebacker35
Thats what Air Canada did back in 95. Facing layoffs while their regionals were hiring lots of pilots. So Air Canada decided to take the RJ's so they could start hiring again instead of their regionals hiring. They ended up hiring almost half their regional pilots in the process. Those pilots were extreamly lucky.
If AA does it, there will be a bunch of happy senior eagle pilots that will get on with AA
If AA does it, there will be a bunch of happy senior eagle pilots that will get on with AA
Weeell...there's some question as to whether the eagle flow-through program is still even in effect, or if it is guaranteed in the long run. Does anybody know for sure?
#13
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Bridge Program at LaTech
Guys, If I heard correctly, Louisiana Tech University (part 141) has a bridge program with CoEx (or at least is nearing one). Of course I could be wrong, I'm an alum from there working with Pinnacle.
If anyone would like some info about LaTech let me know. Its a really good education, small campus, Top 10 aviation school.
If anyone would like some info about LaTech let me know. Its a really good education, small campus, Top 10 aviation school.
#14
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Joined APC: Nov 2005
Posts: 135
Originally Posted by Linebacker35
Thats what Air Canada did back in 95. Facing layoffs while their regionals were hiring lots of pilots. So Air Canada decided to take the RJ's so they could start hiring again instead of their regionals hiring. They ended up hiring almost half their regional pilots in the process. Those pilots were extreamly lucky.
If AA does it, there will be a bunch of happy senior eagle pilots that will get on with AA
If AA does it, there will be a bunch of happy senior eagle pilots that will get on with AA
Also, even if AA stuck to the flow agreement that has already been in place and is due to expire (I believe next year) most of the senior guys wouldn't go. They are either making more money than they would when they flow up and are only 10 to 15 years of retirment, or their ego just would not allow them to sit the dummy seat for an AA captain. Trust me, there is A LOT of bad blood between AA and Eagle pilots (just the way AMR likes it).
#15
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Joined APC: Nov 2005
Posts: 135
Originally Posted by rickair7777
BS ALERT!
I don't know if you're bitter or something, but I'm here spending my time to try to help inform people who are trying to make decisions. You (and I) are stuck with the decisions we made, but posting lies and BS won't really justify your situation or help anyone else. Are you trying to fool yourself into thinking that as a 6 year eagle FO you make more than a 2 year mesa captain? I am certainly NOT a big Mesa advocate (read my other posts), but it is far better than some other options. For me, the eagle interview was a fallback position only, actually taking the job would have been an act of desperation.
I don't know if you're bitter or something, but I'm here spending my time to try to help inform people who are trying to make decisions. You (and I) are stuck with the decisions we made, but posting lies and BS won't really justify your situation or help anyone else. Are you trying to fool yourself into thinking that as a 6 year eagle FO you make more than a 2 year mesa captain? I am certainly NOT a big Mesa advocate (read my other posts), but it is far better than some other options. For me, the eagle interview was a fallback position only, actually taking the job would have been an act of desperation.
In my opinion Eagle's only redeeming quality is that it could be useful for someone who needs some more multi or turbine time to get the job they really want. This is not an indictment of eagle pilots in any way, just the situation facing a new hire today. Many long-time eagle FO's got hired pre-9/11 and obviously had different expectations compared with today...
Bottom line, the place sucks, will always suck, and is only good (like rickaire said) if you want to add on to your SIC, ME, turbine time. Don't look to Eagle for a chance at gaining PIC time, and DON'T listen to Eagle guys that say it’s “a stable place”, “the grass isn't always greener”, etc... They are just trying to justify to themselves and others why they are still stuck there. I was always embarrassed to tell people that I worked at Eagle because I knew we were the laughing stalk of the industry (especially with the ridiculous contract that was signed) So to anyone considering Eagle, think long and hard before you take that leap.
Last edited by directbears; 02-06-2006 at 05:43 AM.
#16
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Joined APC: Nov 2005
Posts: 135
Originally Posted by RJ Pilot
So it only took you 6yrs+ to realize that?
Trust me, I feel like a fool now that I realize that I wasted a little over 6 years of my life at that place. The catch to Eagle, as it applies to FOs, is that you get stuck in a rut. You don't want to go laterally to another regional and start all over probably with a cut in pay (going from crappy to crappier), but staying at Eagle will ensure that you don't see PIC time that is needed to get on with a "real" airline. This is why I like to call Eagle an FO purgatory.
Yeah, you'll eventually upgrade in 10 years maybe (from new hire to upgrade), but that's a long time of OTHER people qualifying and grabbing those much coveted "real" airline jobs and a LONG time of getting substandard pay for hauling folks around. Not to mention having to baby sit AA blowbacks that are less qualified while they make Captain pay based on their DOH (which is contrary to how the contract is written, by the way) and an FO makes well below that.
Do yourself a favor by, at the very least, making sure not to drink from the kool-aid well over there and don't EVER think that the senior pilots of the group won't screw over everyone below them for just a little more of something. APA is bad about "eating their young", but the senior Eagle pilot group runs a close second. You also have to consider the possibilities of the "flushbacks" staying there for A LONG time, IMHO. That evaluates into a VERY LONG time to upgrade regardless what spews from the company kool-aid pump.
May I ask where are you working now?
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