phrogfella

Anyone getting the feeling that when AAL told the WOs that it would fund a CA Retention Bonus that they also agreed to slow OTS hiring of WO pilots to a trickle? OTS AAL hiring seems to be far slower at WOs than it is at non-WO regionals.

Has getting hired at a WO become the slowest way to get to AAL in this hiring market? As far as I can tell, the fastest flow at Piedmont is to United!

The AAL hiring team claims to still be hiring WOs off of the street but ALPA’s attrition slides and flight deck conversations seem to be pointing in the opposite direction.

CADR

I’m not sure that was the exact agreement but you’re also not wrong. AA is not hiring outside the flow very much or nearly at all and that’s clearly intentional. The select few that are getting hired outside the flow meet very specific requirements diversity wise by checking certain boxes and/or they are well connected.

I think AA’s logic was the bonuses would keep people at the WOs till flow, but that’s clearly not working. Yeah most PDT pilots wanted to go to AA but they also are not going to sit around and wait years and years for the flow when they can go somewhere else now and get a better quality of life, higher pay check, more days off, and seniority at a legacy.

So yes, both Delta, and especially United, are happily hiring Piedmont pilots, which will be AA’s loss down the road when some bean counter looks back.

airlinenewhire

They're losing they're own pilots. If AA dosnt call and United/ups/fedex/whatever calls then it's thier loss

TransWorld

I predict over the next year, AA will have seen the light. Things will change. Yes, that could include Piedmont having to close up shop due to a lack of CA.

Freighthotdog

They wouldn’t close up shop, most likely a merger of anything

TransWorld

Likely with Envoy. They both have 145 certificates.

povertyeagle

If AA has seen the light, it's too late.

TransWorld

As they say about seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, it turns out to be the headlight of an oncoming train.

Not an exact analogy, but you can follow the thought process.

Throwitaway

I've been saying it since the inception. It's a retention bonus for the WO. It's to retain you there. The cost is at minimum 100k for AA to pull you from the WO which desperately needs you to stay. Whether it was an expressly stated agreement or not, AA hiring from the WOs is not in AAGs best financial/staffing interest when they can hire from anywhere else (part 91 included, aren't you glad you work at the WO regional?).

PSA had over 50 pilots leave, zero went to AA outside the flow. I'm assuming it's the same at the other sister WOs. PSA has the best flow to United, Delta and FedEx. AA, not so much.

JC145

If you want to work for AA go somewhere else. If you want to fly for anyone else go to a WO. AA is hiring Republic FOs with ZERO turbine PIC.