AA Pilots,

I’ll try to keep this short and to the point. I’m 42, have been flying Part 121 for nearly 20 years, and am trying to figure out what my final move should be.

My background: XJT → Kalitta (747/767) → some corporate → and for the past 3 years I’ve been at PSA as a Direct Entry Captain.

My ultimate goal is to retire with American. If the flow stays on pace, I’m hopeful for ~18 months. (I have not applied outside of flow.) Whatever I do next needs to be the right move — hopefully the last one, Lord willing.

I’d really appreciate input from AA pilots on a few things:

1. Is it true AA has a significant wave of retirements coming over the next 10 years?


2. If commuting isn’t an issue, how quickly could a new hire potentially hold the most junior Captain slot?


3. With AA’s 787 orders, will this eventually free up more narrow-body slots for quicker upgrades?



I’ll admit I feel a little behind some of my peers, but I’m grateful for the opportunity PSA/American gave me after COVID, and I’d love to make AA my final home.

Thanks in advance,
Dave

 

1. Yes, it does taper off, but 800 next year, then ~700 per year for a few, 6400 total in the next 10 years.
2. It’s been around 2.5 years I believe. Typically LGA 737 is the most jr category we have.
3. Perhaps, wide body flying here is seen as significantly higher quality of life than narrow body. However, our total number of them in relation to our seniority list size probably won’t appreciably move the needle.

Why haven’t you applied outside the flow? It doesn’t cost you anything and you may get pulled if your resume is strong.

 

Thanks for the quick response!

Honestly looking back i wish I had attempted American before PSA but I got alittle greedy and took the bonus and longevity pay; I know that was a mistake now. As of April I am no longer attached to that bonus so its just a matter of doing the application and seeing what happens.

Ive only had the pleasure of riding jumpseat a few times on mainline and my experience has been pretty amazing.

Im trying to change even our regional culture one flight at a time in DFW. This summer has been especially challenging at PSA and I know passengers have a good memory 😊.

Thanks Again!
Dave

 

If you want to live near AAL only hubs - apply and/or wait for the flow. Otherwise - why not apply to other legacies at the same time? Assuming you like some of their domicile locations of course. Either way, apply because seniority is everything and might as well start earlier than 18 months from now.

 

I think upgrade times in LGA will stay around the 3 year mark for a few more years but towards the end of the decade it will start to increase rapidly. If you are hired in the late 20s you will probably be waiting closer to a decade to upgrade based on retirement numbers which is still historically pretty good.

 

Someone may have better info but we have around 1000 CAs on the widebody and 134 wb jets. We have orders for 11 more 787s thru 2027. That yields a whopping ~80 additional wb CA jobs thru 2027.

We also have 76 more nb jets coming through 2027. At 865 nb jets and 5700 nb CAs planned staffing, that yields an additional ~500 new nb CAs thru 2027.


The big retirement wave is on the cusp of ending here, it was accelerated due to Covid retirements and will trend down starting in 2028 IIRC.

 

One thing to think about it the large amount of XLR flying coming your way. International routes on that will bring in some more of that lifestyle. 1 leg, 1 leg to Europe for 15 plus hours in 2 1/2 days in an 321 isn’t any different when we were doing JFK to EDI and CDG in the 757. I flew a lot of those.

 

remember, every WB FO can hold NB CA in their base, so that helps upgrade times too

 

Good point, so with those 787 deliveries another 175 wb FO positions open up as well, which may directly translate into more nb CAs.

So, all told for all deliveries thru 2027, we're looking at

- 80 wb CAs
- 175 wb FOs
- 500 nb CAs

That's a pretty decent increase from where we are now.

 

With roughly 1800 retirements in that same timeframe.