FlyerJosh

Let's see...

Rejection Letter? Check (Check, Check, Check)
More than 1 airline uniform? Check
Merger? How about an attempted and failed one? Semi-check
Bankruptcy? Check
Furlough? Check
Liquidation? Check

Guess that all I'm missing is a strike and a divorce!

coldpilot

Don't forget the losing half of your stuff and child support payments that go with it!

mregan

I still sitting by my phone waiting for it to ring....and I had someone walk mine in.

cbire880

Yeah, its a tough career. I'm just glad I have to opportunity to get back into it after my 2 year bankruptcy induced vacation from professional aviation.

I was turned down by AWAC and hired by RAH in the same day. How's that for a polar day! At least they took the time to send a letter, there are some regionals that I haven't heard anything from (XJT for example).

I'm very excited to go fly for a living again and even more excited that I probably won't have to commute far if at all.

My sole point is to temper the initial post in this thread with some reality. Depsite needing pilots, they are still chosing to be picky. I commend them for that in this market. Good luck to everyone on the search!

captchris

Not so sure about that one... the entire class behind me is gone (4 people). Two were low-time and took the bonus at CHQ. Other two went to Eagle. At $14,000 a person to train (supposedly) thats a big hit...those guys didn't even make it 9 months before they took off. All of them had less than 1,000tt when they were in training.

cbire880

That's an interesting point. I would think the assumption would be that low time pilots would stick around longer b/c they are less experienced and therefore less valuable to other companies.

It seems the trend is opposite though. The higher time pilots want a place to stay put for several years and the low timers just want the jet time and then move on if they don't get the instant gratification. I know when I started this job search, my primary concerns were domicile location and long term pay growth. Anybody with crappy second year pay got knocked out as well as airlines who didn't have bases in the eastern half of the country.

I would suggest that low time pilots will become a growing expense for regionals as they experience more predatory hiring practices (like the RAH bonus) to attract qualified pilots. You don't need the time anymore, its the 121 jet training that they want. Pilots fresh out of school with little to no personal commitments will have no problem jumping ship at the first sign of a better deal until they get more than 18-24 months seniority.

I predict two outcomes. One, higher first year pay or signing bonus(gets around union issues). Two, more training contracts and enforcement of training contracts. I'm guessing the latter is more likely.

Flyboy8784

Im not saying that AWAC is just letting anybody in the door. And believe me....they are no slouches when it comes to training. Its very very challenging even with having jet experience. I just think alot of people are not giving AWAC a chance becuase they either dont know about the company....or they cant justify spending the money on the Interview. I believe the positives definately out weigh the negatives here.

bizzum

Not in ORF, or bidding RSV on purpose, but I am not an official line holder until August, which is 1 year 6 months with the company. I do gotta say, I am a little jealous of you guys that have lines right out of training. Now is NOT a good time to be on RSV.

flyerfly

Hey bizzum do they DH you ORF guys a lot?

groovinaviator

Most of my trips this month and several next month have at least one DH. The reason for this is that our flying has decreased in and out of ORF because larger airplanes (737's & E170's) are doing more of the flying. My guess is that once the travel season is over AWAC will be given back most of the flights in and out of ORF.