New Hires: Work rules and "Quick Upgrades"
 

Howdy all,

There are some regionals that have started hiring. So how does one choose where to go?

Eagle has decent work rules and pay, but historically the upgrade time was forever. (only used as an example, no editorial on the company)

A couple years ago, a new hire to a place like Colgan could expect "industry average" pay (meaning close to average hourly rate, but poor pay rules). Some folks bit the bullet and took the pay hit in hopes of getting a quick upgrade and moving on. Some of them did well, and some moved on only to get furloughed at their new company. And others of us were stuck languishing in a less than perfect company.

Now, with a zilllion folks on furlough and a sluggish economy, upgrades, even at the historically quick places, are few and far between.

So what is the "high time" instructor or 135 guy to do?

Consider the next job a marriage. If things change, maybe you will only be with a new company 5-10 years, or maybe you will be there the rest of your working days. Either way, you should expect to be there a LOOONG time. So choose your next employer based on how well the company fits your life.

Eagle, Express Jet, Colgan, or Cape Air all have pluses and minuses. Weigh each one, just like a prospective mate, and make your decision. But don't let equipment or "fast upgrade" carry too much weight. Nor should you put much stock in the promises made during an interview (just ask military folks about recruiter promises). This is a JOB. One that you may be stuck with for a long time.

Good luck.
J

Disclaimer: I work for Colgan, live in base, don't need total flight time, and have found a niche (schedule and base that work for me). Your millage WILL vary!

Good Post JSH. I'm with you 100%. I don't need the hours or PIC, just a good company to hang my hat. One thing the youngins' and new hires must be willing to do: "put up with a great amount of BS". The regionals get it from both ends. Management wants the lowest wages possible and our mainline customers want to keep us unstable enough where we don't venture out on our own to become another competitor or take money from their profits.

Also, you and your coworkers have got to keep a positive attitude. Negativeness is contagious and when people start *****ing, it tends to spread. You've got to make the best of a less then perfect industry.

Being home based is definitely the way to go if you can do it. The high cost of living cities is where it's hard for new hires unless you have family to crash with. Like JSH said, don't plan on leaving for quite a while.

That's somewhat of misinformation put out by the great management team over at Pinnacle/Colgan.

They have never even been close to industry average pay. They have always been industry low pay.

For those folks that thought they would get a quick upgrade. They are now stuck somewhere with terrible work rules and pay or their company is in bankruptcy.

Wait for a place that you can at least bare if you were to get stuck there.

anyone who goes to any so-called lower tier/shady regional for the sole purpose of chasing quick upgrade at all costs has ZERO right to complain when the stuff hits the fan when the industry stagnates.

Amen Brother. Mooney is spot on. You are using them for a quick time builder and upgrade to get your hours and PIC, and they are using you at low wages to fill a seat that a 1000 other newbies would love to fill. How about you forgo flying for the commuters, go pay for all the experience you need for the majors, and then put in your apps with them. Sorry my friend, this is reality. It stinks.:(

The trick to a pyramid scheme is to get in early and get out before it collapses.

Get in too late and you're stuck. Sucks to be you.

Get out too late and you're in the unemployment line. Sucks to be you.

I guess the other trick is to figure out which airlines are a Pyramid scheme?

Not just using the company, they are using the other pilots in the industry that have held out for higher wages and choose to work for better companies that attempt to raise the bar just so they could chase the fabled dream of working for a major. My advice... look at where the industry has grown over the last 10 years, we will all be at regionals longer than we think.

If someone is hiring = plenty of applicants will show up.

Doesn't matter what the conditions are. Don't forget the rat race that this profession is.

Aren't they all? They lock you in with a seniority list, and you have almost no way of really knowing whether the company will expand or contract or any knowledge of a time frame in which that will happen. The only difference between them is whether or not you get burned.

I agree, do not go somewhere with poor wages/work rules just for the hope of a quick upgrade. That quick upgrade will most likely not materialize, and you'll be stuck working for a stagnant (or bankrupt) employer with awful QOL. As it turns out, it really is worth it to wait for someplace that will treat you with at least some respect.

As the poster above me said, that is why you go to a regional that you could live with for a long time if things slow down to a crawl. I would really hate being at a place with terrible work rules for 1+ years, but that is where a lot of those pilots find themselves right now when the industry slowed down. No sympathy from us.