Regional Hiring... Whats happening?
 

After speaking with numerous friends at regionals, they say its taking a step down, new hires getting pooled and some starting to close the doors. Don't get me wrong, some of these regionals still have a wide open door, but its slowly stopping.... With fuel prices and the economy - looks like a CFI job is looking like the only way until we get our time in.... I don't have much time and even if the regionals take me with a pulse, I think I'd still CFI because of the great experience you gain doing it.

So I guess my question is, is it completely unpredictable about the future of hiring? Will it pick up? or continue slowing down? Will Jets stop and props take over because of efficiency? if you could paint a simple picture of this, how would it look?

Thanks

The only thing I see happening is fewer and fewer American students populating my local flight schools. I would probably say that about 80% of most students in my general location alone are foreign. True, if you can CFI at one of these schools, you will have a full load.

What this means for the future, I don't know. The regionals went on a hiring spree last year and many are backed up with training and upgrades. Even if things do slow down, I expect it to pick back up at some point.

I am 50/50 on the hiring spree due to pilot quality but then airlines tend to have somewhat of a good training curriculum that weeds the weak. nevertheless, there are so many opportunities out there - if you get a gig as a CFI at a school that happens to manage some corporate aircraft you can always reap the stability of the company and get hired on for them - or you can go airlines, from networking you gain as a student/cfi and so fourth. Now is a great time in aviation, lets see where it goes.

I agree.....just wait until you hit Part 135 mins....lots of jobs out there.

I'm almost to part 135 mins and am seriously considering it over going to a regional. Before I started instructing, it seemed like 1200 hours was soo far away. Then I finished my first month as a CFI and realized this is the fastest way to build time. I get 100+ a month, gain instrument experience and make decent money for a CFI. I think it looks like job security increases on the 135 side, so that's where I'm leaning.

It couldn't hurt to get your mins with what they're paying instructors now, so take the safer route and look to the regionals once things settle down.

I agree. Part 135 operators cannot attract applicants by lowering the mins, since they are governed by the FAR's. So.....they have to raise starting pay.

AMF starts at $2300/month, with a 10% (?) retention bonus after 12 months.

Ram Air $100 per day, $1000 after initial indoc, another $1000 after multi upgrade, then $2000 (I think) if you stay 12 months.

Air Net, $2300 a month, plus they give you $3000 if you sign on for 12 months.

So basically your saying that its smart to build some time, hit up one of the 135 carriers and go to town? It seems like the stability and pay are wonderful compared to the airlines... why wouldn't you go this direction one might ask? plus alot of those guys go corporate because of the SWEET networking flying 135 am I right or wrong?

If you are young enough and don't mind hauling boxes, its definately a good path. At AMF you can upgrade to the turbine and possibly move on to a nice corporate gig.

That's not true, yes the have to have 1,200hrs for PIC, but SIC only requires a comercial cert. There are more 135 operators that run 2 crew than single pilot.

ahh, you right about that - but alot of 135 ops that I've come by won't let a sic with less than 1200 hrs due to insurance - and I can see how that would be when you running Lears, Challengers and so fourth..... getting down to Aztecs and Barrons, most of those companies don't mind.... but some still do. I look at the Ashley Furniture SIC reqs Vs. the Kenmore Air Req's for SIC....
so you have a point RedGuy but I'd rather get on with someone like Ashley Furniture Fleet or one of those bigger guys than some piston pounders personally