Alright, who's really short on pilots?
 

I hear about this pilot shortage (and I do believe it is kinda real and will work its way up the ladder) but I know at my own company it is not the case. We all hear about attrition at AWAC and lots of pilots leaving for better gigs and that they can't hire enough. But I don't see the evidence of that.

Which airlines really are short?

What's the scoop? Also for you AWACers out there, what's the real story? Is anyone actually leaving? Seems to be a trickle and not a torrent like I had originally thought a month or two ago.

In the words of AWAC scheduling via ACARS when asked about a drop request. "I have gotten so many CA resignations that I cannot cover the flying, so I have to deny you".

I hear about this, but I don't see evidence of it. Hmmm......

I saw the list of CA open flying yesterday and it was about a page long. I think they're leaving, but like you said, just as a trickle. I've heard several have been hired elsewhere, but they aren't getting class dates all at once.

piedmont is ridiculous short. i can't go a day off without them calling me for something to do..... it's almost like the price is right for me... i just name my amount of junior mans. i flew 99.4 hours last month and guys have 30/7 problems all over!

I also heard yesterday there will be about 10 guys leaving for Compass later this month too...

The evidence is lots of open-time available at x1.5, x2.0, etc.

The 1000/100 rule allows the airlines to load up the block hours early in the year, which many are doing. But if the shortage continues those over-blocked pilots won't be legally available for JRA/Open Time in late DEC...The xmas travel season will tell us if the pilot shortage is really serious.

Yes, folks at AWAC are leaving. Three or four junior AWAC CAs resigned to go in the early June class for Midwest. I've also heard plenty of Compass/Lynx rumors to go along with the JBLU poolies and SWA interviewees....of which there are many.

So far I think at least three of the CAs I was supposed to fly with in the last 6 weeks have resigned. One 3 day trip last month I had SIX different captains, one of which was JA'd and another which was extended.

I had a trip drop request denied for "lack of RSV coverage"...not the normal "maintain RSV coverage". I think there's more to that than just verbage!

Just wait until UAL starts hiring 40/mo indefinitely starting in September...:eek:

I've heard that Eagle has had to cancel something like 10% of flights/planned growth do to a lack of personell, namely pilots. I've also heard that a few other regionals have had to do this, Mesa was one of them, but I can't remember the others.

Edit: North American Airlines is really sore for pilots also. I know a captain who just left; he says that NA's pilot group is decreasing in population pretty much daily.

Why doesn't AA recall some mainline furloughs into eagle to solve their pilot crunch? With 2500+ out, I'm sure they could find a few volunteers...

Because if you were furloughed from AA would you want to go to the right seat of an Embraer? Probably not...

As far as I know, they wouldn't go to the right seat. They would go into the left. Then have to fly with someone who doesn't like you, 'cause you "took" THEIR seat! We have one guy that turned down the offer to go to the left seat in BOS. That's the reason he gave me.?:confused:

I know their flowbacks go straight to the left seat, maybe the furloughs can't do that? You're right I wouldn't do it, but they could probably find somebody. Maybe. They might be tempted by an opportunity to build longevity to boost their AA pay when they get recalled.

One of them was a PHL FO.

Well then add them to the list of CAs!

Agreed...there is a lot of talk about people leaving but yet the "proof is in the pudding" so to speak. Over the last 6 months or whatever 8 CA's and 6 FO's leave each month. Certainly not a "floodgate" as some people seem to think is happening. In fact, there have been ZERO upgrades hitting the line so far this year. The last class was in November I believe.

The majority of the CA pilot group at AWAC will sit and wait it out and either retire or go down with the ship IMO.

You must be flying with the a different majority then I fly with. Pretty much every CA I fly with is trying to move on. Even some of the older guys are talking about goin to the fractionals.

A lot are trying to move on. But few seem to be actually making the jump. And that's what I am talking about. We hear about all these guys and gals with interviews and class dates and everyone's leaving, but each month when the updated domicile list comes out where have I moved?

NOWHERE!!

Almost the same relative seniority for the past 10 months. Seriously, I have barely moved since last summer.

Not that it's all bad. I have good bidding power and that is a very nice thing. But I would like to see SOME movement, even if it is just one or two a month. And even that doesn't seem to be happening.

You (and me and everybody else) aren't moving because the beancounters are trying to keep the pilot group just as lean as they can possibly get away with without canceling due to lack of crews. Look no further than the recent JA's for captains...they need more captains, but right now its cheaper to screw someone out of their day off and pay them extra than to upgrade more folks. When that isn't feasible, there will be more vacancies. I'd actually expect one this week. Oh yeah, that and there are very senior FOs bypassing upgrade until they can hold a line...;)

I'm curious to see what the May resignations looked like, total and by seat...

Me too!! Haven't seen the list on our own forum yet. Hopefully today or tomorrow.

I will not be waiting for a line to upgrade. Taking the first one offered. After 6+ years of right seat duty I am ready for the view from the left seat! :D

BTW, I did see an F/O last week in ROC who was on his last trip as F/O before he starts upgrade training. I think the last two vacancy notices resulted in 14 upgrades total. And I think that all of those are still listed as F/Os on the monthly domicile change list that M.B. posts. When they are all upgraded we will all start to move a bit.

One company that will never ever be short is Horizon. Horizon has a trend of hiring 2 to 3 at a time and I know there are at least 1 or 2 people at every regional airline that think Horizon is heaven on earth.