I agree with the lack of CA comments. It also points to lack of check airmen. Look how long new FOs are sitting waiting on OE. Some regionals are in the 5-8 week wait time. So it's not necessarily a hiring problem, it's a CA/CKA issue.

These are just my thoughts and I have 0 knowledge of the backdoor deals mainline carriers have with their respective regional carriers: Regionals can only pay so much before they get too expensive for their codeshare partners. Start throwing in company contributed 401k and some other benefits like soft pay items or higher credit trips for a better QOL and you might, might, see some retention. This may not even be possible since it's still a cost to the company, but just something rolling around in my head. But I truly believe bonuses are not where it's at.

 

Bonuses are a strategic method used by Airlines to bend their pilots over so they don’t actually have to pay them what they deserve as a GROUP (increased pay rates).

First, they can pull the plug on any bonus payout the second we have a Recession that creates a short term pilot surplus as we saw with Covid.

Second, they can target their specific needs without having to compensate the entire pilot group. Example: 40k bonus for New hires (dumpster fire regionals who can’t convince CFI’s to join their crappy airline), or 40k+ bonus to upgrade (SkyWest, Endeavor, Envoy, PSA, etc) so they can attempt to keep left seat retention at ease without actually having to increase wages for Captains.

We don’t have a “pilot shortage” we have a “profit shortage” specifically at the regionals in the left seat. A regional 15 year Captain makes less than a second year FO at most ULCC’s.

I cannot stand John Oliver, but this segment on “Trucker shortage” felt awfully familiar. I highly recommend you take the time to watch this. You’ll notice a lot similarities….

https://youtu.be/phieTCxQRLA

 

I think envoy has them beat by about what 8 years?

 

I don’t think raising rates will solve the issue in this current hiring market. Even if a first year captain was making $130/hour many would still leave for a major. The stability and longevity of the majors isn’t something a regional airline can compete with. There would be an increase in retention as people would be less likely to go to an LCC but I don’t think it would be enough to solve the issue.

Honestly, I’m not sure how a regional airline could keep their captains when the majors are willing to take them with only 100 TPIC.

 

You don't need TPIC to get a job at a major right now.

 

That depends on how many boxes you can check.

 

A friend of mine just interviewed at United. Mid 30s, white male, wife, kids, SIC time at a regional and nothing else. No training department experience, no masters degree, no volunteer work, no job fairs, no other extra curricular activities.

 

stop it. That goes against the narrative.

 

For all of those that said that JetBlue wasn't a ULCC, you do realize now that I was foreshadowing JetBlue buying Spirit, right? I was tipping the cards a little to let you know that this was coming.

JetBlue could have been a real contender in the industry, but sank to the bottom with this Spirit purchase offer.

 

I think you will find this is only the case for very few. Despite all the hype on forums that UA/DL/AA is just calling every FO who applies it is incredibly far from the truth. TPIC (even only having 100-200 hours) is still the key to the majors and probably will be for 99% of us for awhile yet.

If you can get a call with just SIC time, no degree, no recs, no flow and nothing else to stand you out then more power to you. Just saying it's incredibly unlikely still when they have plenty of other applicants in the system who hold all plenty of qualifications to interview first.