I have been considering applying to PSA and had a question about the AA flow. If I were to join PSA and let’s assume would flow in 8 years. If the flow contract is up for renewal in 5 years and isn’t renewed am I correct that I wouldn’t flow, or would I be grandfathered in and still flow?

I think my biggest fear is not canceling the flow but changing it so you need a degree to flow to AA.

 

First of all a new hire is looking at at least 10 years to flow.

That being said American Airlines can suspend or cancel the flow whenever they want, but that would dramatically hurt recruiting and attrition.

 

Ok, thanks for the response. I was just pulling numbers out of my butt as the example. I know the flow is a moving target I just wasn’t sure how “locked in” you were once hired. I’m planning to move to Richmond VA and am weighing my options between PSA and Republic.

 

Flow is great career insurance but the best insurance is the policy you don’t use.

If the hiring environment remains good for the next 10 years, everything will be OK.

If isis detonates a nuke in london or airbus gets an e-FO certified or we hit the Great Recession here soon or domestic cabotage takes hold, details of the flow won’t matter.

 

This industry is historically boom and bust. An event like 9/11 can happen again and may or may not have an adverse affect on travel etc. But even if we hit another long recession the number of retirements at mainline AA are simply staggering. Things may slow a bit but they aren’t likely stop hiring altogether.

 

A lot of what people are saying is what I’m weighing. If I get stuck I would rather be stuck at Republic. I like the single aircraft fleet, and good pilot contract when it comes to QOL. But PSA has two domiciles drivable from Richmond VA and that could make commuting really nice in the early days, and the flow.

 

I guess what I’m saying is that if we experience a downturn, I’d wager that there will be more movement at an AA WO than at a contract regional. There already is more movement at the AA WO’s to a legacy carrier (American) than there is at Republic on any given month. If AA has a class, pilots from PSA PDT and EVY will be in it.

 

The things that are really going to impact your life five or 10 years from now are unknowable and uncontrollable.

Living close to base is always better. More seniority is always better. Take the job that will get you in class soonest.

 

Personally I've heard very little complaints from Republic crews. They seem to be paid and treated pretty well, plus the 175 is way nicer than a lot of our 700's, and puts the 200's to shame.

Plus my friends at republic say a 22 hour four day is pretty standard with 25 and 26 hour four days fairly common.

Meanwhile we get four day trips averaging around 12-15 hours with only a few crediting in the 20's that everyone fights for.

If you're new to the airlines higher credit trips mean you spend less time away from home and make the same money. PSA will build you a 75 credit hour line with 11 days off, and republic could easily do the same credit with 15-17 days off.

As for flow, I would bet (hope) that the regional system as we know it won't exist in 10 years, which is about how long a new hire will have to wait.

 

I’ve actually had comparable trips to my friends at Republic this summer. In July I credited 115 hours of pay with 13 days off and in August I’m at 107 credit with 15 days off.