As you can tell by the amount of times I’ve posted, I stay quiet and troll the shadows but I couldn’t resist jumping into this hijacked topic.

Jetblast77, you’re spot on. I’m there with you. I’m eight years deep, weathered one furlough, on my second regional, haven’t broken the six fig mark but am not far away either.

To point out the obvious, we work in a seniority based system. My generation that came through is either pretty senior regional captains or junior mainline FO’s. Those of us still on the farm team, like me, are just packing away the PIC time (almost 3,000 hours in my case) and waiting for 2012 and the retirements to begin again coupled hopefully with some measurable growth. And then we’re in the cat-bird seat for the hiring. It’s not a merit system here, good or bad. So unfortunately those who are of another hiring wave are yup, still throwing gear or even worse, furloughed. Is it fair? Nope. But it’s life.

Wading into this forum can be a dicey proposition with the vitriol and cynicism, especially on this regional side. If you say you’re delighted with your spot, then you must be oblivious, and if you slash and burn, then you must get it and you’re in. But my clique that I run with, all with seats representing a variety of regional and main-line carriers are happy. I’m happy. Love my job, get paid more than most of my neighbors and know that in a few years it’s going to get even better. A close friend who’s a pharmacist came right out of school and made $90,000 his first year. He has massive student loans too and works long hours every day, picking up shifts at other pharmacies on his weekends. I make a little less than that, but ironically, and contrary to what’s been written here, I’m more present with my family than he is with his “nine to five” job. I have a great family life, wife, two kids and have found my balance. Am I the exception? Not among my friends. I’m stock average among them. I’ll say I’m the exception of those willing to speak up on this forum and say I’m happy. There’s always room for improvement but am quite pleased with my career trend line taking into account all that’s happened in the last decade.

And before I hang it up, let me clear up so many misconceptions of other careers. Unless you have a specialized education or skill, there is a lifestyle / ceiling everywhere you go. In most of the coastal cities, Chicago and maybe Denver, you may come out of college and roll into that 80 to 100 thousand a year job, but that’s the minimum you must earn to live a middle class, (a subjective term), lifestyle similar to what 40 to 60 thousand gets you in many of the other land-locked cities. To make above that level, you’re going to have to work long hours and more than likely travel quite often. To make the amount of money I make with 14 to 16 days off consistently is something I’d never trade for some consulting, computer, IT, mid-level managerial position. Ever.

If you’re timing was bad and you’ve had a bad run missing the upgrade slot or getting displaced or furloughed, I truly am sorry. I was there and know of the aimless days fading into a beer soaked evening followed by sleepless nights observed by a very patient wife. There’s nothing I can say other than it’s not fair, it’s just timing, as sick as you are to hear that and I am to say it again.

 

Hi!

Recall rates are traditionally about 50%. That is one of the reasons, that when recalls happen across the industry, as is happening now, hiring is soon to follow. The carrier recalls less than they plan, which accelerates the calls and they run through their the list relatively quicklly.

Many recalled guys that return are in flying jobs, and accepting a recall opens a spot somewhere else. They may also have applied at other jobs, and the other airlines think they have "x" applicants on file, and when they go to call that recalled guy, they find he is not available.

I have applied at a number of places, so if I am hired, all those places will lose one potential interviewee. You heard about "thousands" of resumes at all differnt airlines, but many guys have applied at all of them, so for example, one hire sucks up 10 of the resumes at 10 carriers.

So, the first hiring wave since 2008 is here, and it will develop into a big one, barring some major change, like 9/11, or the global economic meltdown!

cliff
LFW

 

Cliff,

You seem to have a grasp on hiring/recalls in the industry. Do you have a list of those airlines hiring/recalling etc...? It seems like at Delta we are only hearing rumors without too much to back them up of needing more guys (beyond being a little short for the summer).

 

off the top of my head.....

Allegiant -- Hiring
Air Tran -- recalled and hiring
Atlas -- recalled
American Eagle -- recalled and hiring
Kalitta Air ( rumor only ... may have happened just in the past day or so..)
USA Jet -- recalled and maybe hiring
Express Jet -- recalled some
AWAC -- recalled
Horizon -- recalled some

probably others as well....
Colgan
RAH

 

Very good point about many ppl applying at all.

 

I would have to say I am very satisfied too. I am 30 and have only been with the airlines since 2006 as I waited it out in the instructing / corporate a lil longer than Most. I too am on my second regional however have had the very unique postion of never having worked as an FO. I was very lucky to have been hired 2x as a CA but I too chose the road less traveled and waited till I had about 3000 PIC and about 1600 multi to put in an application. I was then offered multiple companies and positions and I again chose the road less traveled. The 1900 because it was offered as a CA and not the regional jet FO.
That first year didn't break the bank. If i remember right it was just a little over 30K (not much for a RSV CA but remember it was a 19 seater) but I have made jumps in pay every year since. With a little more than 4.5 years in I made in the 80's last year.
While you might say too that i am the exception , that might be true but many with the horror stories are also the exception. Don't get me wrong I want to push this career back up as much as any one else but I think when at home and with family and friends you have to be happy about whatever life has given you too. There are some of my friends that have landed some pretty sweet gigs that I think would be awesome but I try to look at the good things I have....like the 19 off/ 91 credit I have this month. How many pharmacists have 19 days off this month...show of hands...I didn't think so.

This career has good spots and bad spots. I think the fact that I have been living in Domicile has made my life EXTREMELY better the last few years. But for those that are having a bad run things will get better.
Sorry to cast all that sunshine on you guys.

 

Ain't that the truth!!!! I'll drink to that!

 

Hi!

Southern-hiring
Atlas - recalled and hiring a good number
Kalitta Air - buying 747-400s. I think they will hire this year.
USA Jet -- recalled (not everyone) and hiring
Express Jet -- recalled some. I think they will hire this year.
AWAC -- recalled. They already announced hiring this year.
Horizon -- recalled some (not very many)
Pinnacle - I think they will hire this year.
USAir - Rumours are hiring this year.
JetBlue - Hiring, probably at the end of the year.
Great Lakes - Hiring
Obviously, if DAL hires, Compass will have to hire a lot, and maybe Mesaba.
I think SkyWest will hire this year.
Eagle is hiring a lot.
Cherry Air - hiring.
Another DA-20 operator in TX just advertised for Falcon 20 FOs.
Airnet - Hiring
Mountain Air Cargo-Hiring
Emirates - hiring...getting more and more desperate each day
Qatar - hiring, even DECs (Direct Entry Captains)
Even Mesa is rumoured to maybe hiring later this year as attrition is very high, according to Mesa pilots.

cliff
LFW

 

I just got recalled at RAH after 18n months. They are now all the way through the list and working backwards. I know one of the involuntary furloughs got his letter to except or resign. We were told in training at the beginning of last month to expect some hiring here soon. I am not sure how integration will play a part in this as it is delayed to finish up the hearings next month.

 

I think it should be by years of service to the respective carrier, ie the 1975 hire and Midwest is senior to the 2007 wonder...... Did somebody hear a stapler?