hiring bonuses
 

If places like Eagle are needing so many pilots, why are we not seeing these companies giving bonuses to guys with time in the aircraft like last hiring boom to get them to come on board?

my guess would be that they are coming. I still think there are applicants to be had but give it a few months and they will be back.

Some regional tried this back in the last hiring boom and the union threw a hissy fit.

PDT did it in '07. It was $5,000. I think only maybe a few classes actually got the money, then the union put a stop to it.

As the union should. If the companies want to attract more pilots, negoitiate a higher starting wage.

Fair enough, but of course the ones doing the negotiating could
care less about the first year / junior guys. This whole seniority system
is a case of the haves and have-nots.

Because sadly there will always be someone who has "always just want to fly since I was a kid" who will step up and fly for poverty wages. There are plenty of qualified pilots out there, they're just not willing to work for less than what it takes to live. I agree with other posters, raise the pay to a livable wage and you'll get some takers. Union shops can and should raise ALL the pay rates if the company wants to open section 3.

No kidding. Most contracts have a clause to prevent the company from selectively giving bonuses to certain demographics within the pilot group...if pilots are in demand then EVERYBODY should get a bonuses, whether it's for taking the job or staying on the job.

"Oh, don't worry, the new hires are sold down the river, but should they get anything extra, please allow us to dip our fingers into the pie."
Kind regards,
Your Negotiating Committee

Sigh :rolleyes: Haves and have-nots....

Please print your post and put it away. In five years or so, take it out and read it.

In the mean time, if you happen to be making more money than I, you should give some of to me. After all, you don't want to be one of the evil haves.

"But I want a $5000 bonus NOW. $2000 a year more for EVERYONE on EVERY YEAR of the contract is sooooo unfair," Short Sighted New Hire.

But I want $10,000.:)

Comair FO

Personally I don't think pilot groups should allow new-hires to get paid 20/hour either.

But if signing bonuses are getting handed out, then every pilot on the list should get one.

..........

First of all airlines should pay qualified pilots at least a starting salary of minimum 40k a year after said pilot spends all the time and money on pilot certs and school. Then like all good companies they could offer bonuses and relocation and perks to attract potential employees. But they bank on the fact that you would rather fly a jet for 20k then a cessna 172 for 40k a year.

40k for a fresh grad? No way. It doesn't take that much time to earn one's certificates, only requires average aptitude and just because one spends money on their training alone isn't reason to command a 40k starting salary. Besides, most fresh grads are worthless when anything out of the ordinary happens. They're worth 15k or less, if that.

Now, 40k as a starting salary for a new-hire that already has a enough experience to get their ATP? I can agree with that.

As long as people are lining up to work for $23,000/year, management has no need to increase the pay or give bonuses. They'd be insane to do so.