Alright, we all know published minimums are a far cry from realistic minimums What are the current realistic mins. that regionals are hiring at? Anybody know what the guys hours are that are coming out of training at your airline?

Published Hiring Mins.
Air Wisconsin - 800/100
American Eagle - 800/100
ASA/ExpressJet - 1000/200
Commutair - 900/100
Compass - 1500/500 w/ ATP
Great Lakes - 750/50
Mesaba/Colgan - 600/50
Piedmont - 1500/200
Pinnacle - 1000/200
PSA - 1500/500
Republic - 2000/500
Skywest - 1000/100
Trans States - 500/100?

Thanks for the info in advance.

 

Apply to all and find out!

 

At a recent Republic Holdings new hire class the range was 2200 to around 10000 total hours. The class average was 5100 hours. All but one new hire had an ATP. There was one guy who came fresh out of flight instructing (he had an ATP though), and everybody else also had previous airline and/or corporate experience. All but one or two guys had extensive twin turbine experience.

That said, it's definately debatable how long they can continue to find guys on the street with that sort of experience. I've heard the ATP requirement is, or is about, to be dropped.

Also, I think they're not getting nearly the number of guys through training that they need. Some don't show up the first day of class, some leave in the middle of training for other airlines or corporate jobs, a couple guys are let go during training for PRIA issues and a couple don't pass orals or other tests. About a third of what they want to start with end up on the line.

I give RAH credit for at least taking a chance on some of these older/experienced guys though. I think they got some very good pilots for the money. I know that other regionals avoid high time guys like the plague. AWAC, for example.

So, I think a lot depends on the culture of the company and what they are looking for. I'm sure there is a broad range and soon there will be a spot somewhere for just about any good pilot who is actively looking (and willing to wait a long time for financial rewards).

 

Im sitting with 750 and 40 think Ill keep plugging away at the instructor thing one more year.

 

"Other regionals, like AWAC, avoid high time guys like the plague". Interesting. Not surprising, but interesting. That says a lot about the regional gulag system. I've been on the street two years and am "high time" and haven't bothered to look into a regional because of, big surprise, pay - which is probably the reason they would avoid my plagued self. It would be difficult to prove, but it would also be a interesting lawsuit. High time correlates to older worker and discriminating for age is a very nasty pay-out upon on a judge's or jury ruling. The regionals need a lot of corrections. Welcome to the gulag.

 

I doubt that would hold up in court. Being overqualified is a perfectly legal excuse for not hiring someone. It is reasonable to expect that they will leave before providing a return on the training investment. Overqualified workers do tend to be older, but that's an obvious correlation which has nothing to do with discrimination.

I would guess that most regionals, when confronted with a pack of 1000 hour CFI's, probably tend to hire MORE of the older guys since they have life experience and judgement even though their flight experience is the same as the kids. Nobody has ever suggested that career-changers have trouble getting jobs at regionals (in recent memory).

 

What about in the court of common sense? Let's say, hypothetically, Mr/Ms. older & high time has a suitable trust fund and wants to fly for regional money, because the base is good for him/her. Passed over for a younger less qualified person. This is in effect saying when given the choice the regional prefers to hire less experienced pilots. Who knows? Maybe that would be part of their advertising (no, I know they don't advertise). "Fly us! We can hire experienced pilots but we hire the least experienced pilots and pay them dreadfully low wages. Book Now!"

The charade of regional flying should be well known, but it is always covered up. Virtually no regional advertises (again that was an example) because they don't have to, they are nestled with major contracts. They can also say a more experienced person will leave as soon as they can, to avoid the potential age discrimination lawsuit, but then so will anyone else.

 

Mesaba and Colgan aren't grouped together yet as far as mins go... mesaba is the 600/50 although there have been people who interviewed with just under 50 multi and told to get to 50 before class... colgan requires the 1000/100 and that's a hard deck for insurance purposes... the interview is combined for both companies... but anyone who wishes to choose Colgan as their start point needs the 1000/100 or else you're getting the LGA Saab for Mesaba...

I apologize in advance for getting the thread back on topic...

 

Yes, back on topic,not a bad idea. But If minimums are posted then why shouldn't maximums? It might save a few people, those who through no choice of their own, some bafflement/hassle/time.

 

Who's going to leave sooner...

- ex-121 w/ 5000TT 2500 TPIC

- CFI with 1000 TT/100 ME

At least with the CFI you can predict how long he's going to stay: Time to upgrade plus 2-3 years.

Sorry, it's well established that you can discriminate based on too much experience. I would also hazard a guess that if you could communicate your circumstances to the employer (ie very strong desire for a certain domicile or geographic region) that they might take you on the basis that you really want to work there long term.