Originally Posted by
CJflyer74
I've been in the corporate side of the industry for the last five years, and I really enjoy it. However, I'm thinking about pursuing a viable path to the majors, and given the fact that I don't have enough TPIC time to go directly to the majors, I'm considering the regional airline route. I'm 42 years old though.
1) Am I getting a little too old to be starting this regional to majors track?
2) Is the "flow through" to American something that you can count on, and is roughly five or six years an accurate estimate for going from new hire Piedmont FO to Piedmont CA to new hire American FO?
3) Would I have an equally good shot at being hired by a major airline if I just continued to fly corporate over the next five years? (I'm assuming that by then I would meet their TPIC time minimums.)
Thanks a lot for any helpful replies. Much appreciated.
A little insight from my perspective a fairly senior United 757/767 captain who pays pretty close attention to our hiring and industry hiring since I mentor a number or pilots.
One of the FO's I flew with recently attended new Captain Indoc at our company headquarters in Chicago. They get briefings from our senior management team including our new CEO Oscar Munoz. Below is some selected quotes from his email to me.
"Howard (VP of Flight Ops) spoke later and echoed much of what you have said. 40% of our pilot group in the next 5 years will be new hires. We are currently at just over 12,000 pilots and will be close to 18,000 in 5 years. I’m not sure how the math works since we are hiring 800-1000 this year and retiring around 400.
Fleet wise we are currently at 723 jets and will be at 816 by next year and close to 1000 in 5 years. They have abandoned a small narrow body for now (cs300) in favor of an “amazing” deal for 65 new 737-700s that will be coming next year. These will be used to replace the drawn down in 50 seat RJs throughout the system. Airbus fleet will remain largely the same with even distribution of the China Air additions. They do have an eye on Virgin Atlantic’s 52 320s after Alaska’s comments about being happy with their “fleet commonality”.
He also said we would be taking delivery all 35 A350s and definitely exercising the options for 15 more."
I can tell you we have hired just as many pilots over 40 then under. I flew with a 59 year old new hire and I know of one 61 year old new hire.
We have over 12,000 active apps on file but those are the same 12,000 on file at every other airline. I've talked to our recruiters and they are very concerned they will not be able to hire qualified pilots in five years when the pilot market really dries up.
FYI new hire pay now is around 80K first year well over 125K year two. Most five year FO's will be around 200K in a few years. I fly with some senior FO's who play the system and make more then me. Last years profit sharing was about 13 percent of our regular earnings this year should hopefully be the same. Also we have a 16 percent B plan. So whatever you earn the company gives us an extra 16 percent in our 401K.
My two cents - I'd leave your corporate job ASAP and get quality 121 time apply to the legacies as soon as you can, it will be worth it.