So after another week of working my third year as an American Eagle captain, 10 years total under the AMR umbrella. I have had to double commute to LGA/JFK, and on all four legs both to work and back...I have been in the jumpseat of mainline AA flights. Naturally the conversation of new hiring at American has come up. When mentioning the possibility of street hiring into AA I have repeatedly been told that because of American Eagle's current flow through agreement, Eagle pilots will be disqualified from the new hire process by all four of these AA captains. While somewhat disheartening, I can't possibly believe that this would be true. Nevertheless I can't help but wonder what their information or reasoning would be behind making these statements. I hope the intent is not pure malice, spite, or contempt for our pilot group. The precedent doesn't exist considering there were street hires in '99. I however will not be discouraged and continue to update my application.

 

You have to be realistic. Since Eagle pilots will comprise half of all classes for the foreseeable future, don't expect many to fill any additional street slots. Now, I haven't heard that Eagle pilots have been officially "disqualified" and I don't think you'll get that admission. I think a VERY few will get in through the outside, but it will be VERY few. With half the classes already Eagle, that leaves precious little room to diversify the pilot group from other sources besides Eagle.

From an odds standpoint, you're in the .02 percentile of street hire considerations being from Eagle. Your odds are higher getting a call from Southwest without a 737 type.

 

This is why flows are a horrible idea.

Gives the people who wouldn't have a shot the ability to leapfrog over all those really qualified good pilots that happen to be farther down the seniority list.

If you're anything but one of the most senior people at an airline, a flow is a bad thing for you. I'd rather have the chance to compete for plenty of positions today than wait it out for a sure-thing slot years from now.

 

American Eagle isn't even on the drop down list to select your previous/ current employer from.

Yeah, this isn't lookin' good.

 

It's not on SWA's drop down menu either.... I would not consider it nefarious.

 

I don't have answers for the OP, but I was wondering if the Eagle flow though guys are guaranteed a job, or if the flow though guarantees an interview only. Big difference. Also, how many of the current Eagle pilots are affected by flow through?

 

In the late 80's when I was hired it was believed that getting hired by the major airline your commuter fed was not as likely as having another major "steal" you away from the competition. Thus unless you were a legacy or well connected the chances of being hired at AA from your job at Eagle were less than if you were working for someone like ASA or Comair. My new hire class had two from other than Eagle regionals and I do not recall meeting any former Eagle pilots during new hire training. Just saying.

 

Did UAL or Delta subscribe to this idea ?

It appears once again AMR is the only legacy to saddle itself with this philosophy which indeed may be more burdensome than beneficial. In the past here, they pretty much had to offer Eagle pilots something to get the RJ's they wanted and as one who ultimately participated in this transfer mechanism well over a decade ago I can't complain, but all through the original "flowthru"'s existence AMR did everything in their power to minimize its benefit and despised its existence. They had the opportunity to let it die, yet inexplicably not only revitalized it, they doubled down on it.

They had to have something really, really shiny to snooker the kids at Eagle with to get them to relinquish their scope transfer rights to their airplanes and not one, but TWO new flowthru's were it. The first is the 824 which guarantees a job in seniority order and then when that's through, the "preferential pilot" flow which..............also guarantees a job at AA. Why they kept alive something they hated so much is beyond me. Eagle ALPA is so corrupt, they could have been bought off with far less. Don't really see how they can get out of it, at least the 824 flow. Based on likely AA hiring projections and rates, it looks like every new-hire class for the next decade will be 50% Eagle flows, so that's the way it is. Of course, considering they would be in their 3rd year to equal or beat Delta new-hire pay, it wouldn't surprise me to see new pilots leaving AA for Delta or United in their first and second years when they have little invested and can equal or better their pay on the first day on property at the other big 2.

To some degree in the future, AA may be running a partial Boeing or Airbus type-rating/experience school for regional and military pilots who will bail at the first better opportunity.

 

I have been told by the S.H. who is the manager of PT(lady in charge of hiring), that Eagle pilots regardless of flowthru agreements Eagle pilots will be looked at without prejudice.

 

Guaranteed 50% of new hire slots until 824 Captains at AE have been hired, no interview or medical just some paperwork. They can meter to a maximum of 20 slots.