Desperate is probably an appropriate word to define what I've been hearing......

AE interviews have practically been reduced to someone placing two fingers on your wrist and if they find a pulse....you're hired.

Everyone knows that they've eliminated the ATP questions and now I hear that they've eliminated the entire 2nd day where they would normally put you through the NASA-style medical.

 

Careerpilot, I attempt to find the PM feature but I have made less than 25 post. It looks like I'll have to divulge all my questions and info on these boards for now

I work at ERAU Prescott AZ as a flight instructor. I am originally from Florida and would love to move back there. Most of my family is there. AE is the only “regional” company I know of that has a Florida base. I also have dream of flying around the Caribbean. I just meet AE's minimums. 1000/100 (I believe those minimums were lowered recently to 850/100?).

The things keeping me here are:
1) I am married and my wife is just finishing up grad school. She has a very nice job that positions herself well for her chosen field. She'll be done in December.

2) Financial. Taking that big jump will require investment. Everything from a new suit (old one is a bit small now), new gear (headset and luggage are not professional looking and are very worn), to finding a crash pad or apartment and new transportation. I’d like to get my current credit card balance to zero before racking it up again.

In the mean time, I intend to sell all my stuff get those credit cards down to zero. I intend to take advantage of the company FTDs and shoot approaches at 150kts. I intend to study and take my ATP written.

My only concern is if the opportunities that are here today still going to be there at the end of this year.

 

To add: I was looking at AE's route map. It does not show what cities connect, only those that AE serves. Does Jacksonville and Orlando Connect? Or are all those cities connected to Miami? The reason I ask is I probably will not live in Miami due to the coast of living. I am trying to get an idea what the commute in florida is like.

 

I bet a $5/hour pay bump across the board would be a quicker way to deepen the applicant pool.

 

All I can tell you is seniority is everything. If you plan to apply later this year then you might as well do it now. If hired you will be class for 2 months, so need for a crashpad. It is paid training and paid lodging during training. You can start your career commuting and relocate later. Yes it will take a little bit of cash to get going but not a great deal. Get your 25 posts on this forum and PM and I will walk your resume in. For your question about JAX and MCO they only connect through MIA, but you can jumpseat on an off line carrier.

 

You really think an extra $400 dollars a month will compensate for an 8 year upgrade. I would much rather have the long term career with AA.

 

I'm not necessarily saying that, just that a quicker, easier desperate measure might be a pay bump if they are that desperate. For some people it doesnt matter which seniority list you're on if you cant feed the family. Poor is poor regardless.

I do think that more people would apply if they were on the bottom rung of mainline American's ladder, but there are still a lot who cant afford the first (second...third...) year Eagle pay.

 

I'm one....... I couldn't afford the 5th, 6th year pay. Nice to know that they realize there's only a shortage of people who will work for such low wages.

Interesting development. Careerpilot, whats you're connection with Eagle and how good is your intel?

 

AA WILL never mergege with AE pilot list. I would jump on AE regardless, especially if it was one airline

 

I think a better idea would be:

1. home basing so no commuting necessary

OR

2. a flow that works with longetivity earned while at AE (or at least start at year 2 pay at AA.