Executive Airlines and American Eagle
 

Hi everyone! I'm reading a lot about American Eagle as I have an*interview*with them on November 14th. I keep on reading that their ATR are operated by Executive Arilines but also that new hires can get assigned the ATR. So are ATR pilots American Eagle employees or Executive Airlines employees? I know they are both part of AMR Corporation, but I'm not at all clear on the details. If anyone can shed light on this, I'd really appreciate it!
Thanks!

Separate Company, you would work for executive. Only difference is Turbo-prop vs Jet an somewhat less pay. You can transfer over to the Eagle side after a 1 year equipment lock is up. Base choices are DFW, SJU and MIA. Lot's of fun. . .

I would take the ATR in a hear-beat if I had to do it all over again.

Transfering after a year... Does that really happen? Or is it something that is only on paper? Flying the ATR for a time would be nice, but flying jets is ultimately the final objective.

Why do you say that? What would be the advantages and disadvantages?

Why? I've flown props and jets and props are far more fun than jets.

Well, I guess we all tend to want to fly planes that go faster and higher. Then again, I have never flow a turboprop, so you might as well be completely right! :D

To answer the original question, American Eagle today is a conglomeration of several smaller regional airlines which were combined into one large company over a period of time roughly 15-20 years ago. The only exception was Executive Airlines, which is based in San Juan, supposedly because of proprietary landing rights agreements with many of the island nations of the caribbean which were not transferrable onto the American Eagle certificate. So "American Eagle" operates as American Eagle Airlines and Executive Airlines.

Executive Airlines has all the ATRs on that certificate, so if you are awarded that airplane you will technically work for Executive. The first time you attend training for either side you will have a week of indoc, and then again if you end up transfering to the other certificate (ATR to jet, or jet FO to ATR captain).

A master seniority list is maintained for both companies, as well as separate lists within each company. You are free to go between companies as long as it is in accordance with the contract- you have to go up in pay each time you change status, and are subject to equipment and/or seat locks after training.

Thanks for the answer mrmak2. That is pretty much what I wanted to know.
So (assuming I get hired first, of course) if I am assigned the ATR, is it easy and common to move to a jet after a year or so? What is the procedure for doing that? And how long is this equipment/seat lock?
Thanks!

one year, unless you are 21/22 years old, it is extremely unlikely you will get the ATR. They are being parked, and very few are in each class if any lately. The downside is if you get it and we start shrinking, it could be hard to get off it. Pay is the same on all planes first year, however 2nd year the ATR is like $27/hr and the jets pay the same for FOs and pay about $34, so last thing you want is to get stuck if we go into a furlough situation.

If we furlough it won't matter he will be displaced into the most junior equipment or sent to collect Obama pay checks. If he is ERJ Dallas and we shirnk, furlough and take ATRs out of Dallas, Me being senior to him would be displaced into Dallas ERJ (if I could hold it after displacement) and he would be sent to SJU ATR or CRJ New York (you get the idea). He would be displaced into what he could hold, but take a guess what equipment that would be.

So basically in case of furlough, it only depends on seniority and not on the equipment? An ERJ FO would be furloughed before a more senior ATR FO?

Yes Sir, Like someone posted earlier. You are applying for a job at American Eagle Holdings, Own by AMR corporation, who also owns American Airlines. Under American Eagle Holdings we have 2 separate companies (and operation certificates) American Eagle & Executive Airlines. On paper these are two separate companies. Each company has its own seniority but there is also a master Seniority list. When its time for upgrades, furloughs or such things it will be based on your master seniority number. Your Uniforms will be the same, the call sign will still be Eagle Flight, you will operate under the same contract and work rules, first year pay is the same but the next to the main passenger door the ATR reads operated by executive airlines (ohh and your check will either say Eagle or Executive. As a pilot there is really no difference exempt the Eagle FO usually bump their swollen heads on the Cockpit door when they are stepping into their JETS. The ATR is worth flying for a year, specially if you take advantage of it and fly out of MIA and SJU. You can always pick up OT there and most of the destinations are a blast. You will get your chance to program an FMS, fly 15 mile finals and cruise at FL370. Or you can fly the ATR and land on runways that are less then 5,000 with water on both ends. Fly a downwind at 8,000 ft 250kts and asked to do a short approach. Fly the last 30 miles to the airport at 1,500 down the Florida Keys. Decent into rising terrain just to name a few!

What you are describing is exactly what I would like to experience. That type of flight and that type of operation. I have previous experience flying Boeing 737 in Europe, and I have people around me saying that I would be insane if I chose the ATR over a jet at Eagle. But as you say, I will get my chance in time to fly jets again, and I think it would be a great life experience to fly an ATR in the Caribbean.
On the other hand, I am a bit afraid of being "stuck" on the ATR, because I don't know how upgrades and transfers are handled at Eagle. How easy is it to transfer to a jet after flying the ATR for a year?
I take it you are or have been a ATR pilot with Eagle? Any recommendations or thoughts are greatly appreciated!

Yeah, those damn JET pilots with their swollen heads.
Hurp.

A year after you are hired, you bid the jet on the next vacancy bid you get it. The inly way that you wouldn't be able to get out of the ATR after the first year is if we have stagnation, and if this is the case you will find your self out of a job, at the button of the RSV list on the ERJ, or stuck on the ATR. In reality there is now way you would just get stuck because you can't transfer. It would have to be a drastic change for you not to be able to transfer. Airline shrinking and keeping the ATR, another 9/11 or 2008 stock market crash (you get the idea, something that will suck for everyone) People who get the ATR in the next few classes will see a better QOL than on the ERJ, something happened last year when guys came of their seat locks. Right now over half of the ATR FO have completed, by February over 75% of the current FO will be able to transfer and most will. Choice is yours, but being stuck is highly unlikely.

How often do these vacancy bids come out? I'm guessing it's not a known calendar, but approximately what would it be? Once every five years, one a year, once a month?

Remember, you get paid by the hour. I flew 727s prior to Eagle and got the Saab as a new hire (12 years ago) and by choice, never left it. I enjoyed the flying and the schedules (at the time). You may get the ATR and like the destinations or just flying the airplane. The jet will always be there so there is no need to rush to it.

Since then, I have flown 757,767, A300 and currently the MD11. I can't say that I enjoy them any more than I did my time in the SF340.

It's about the journey.

Well, pay at Eagle is higher on the jets than it is on the ATR, so it's something to consider.

That is exactly how I feel at this point. I think I would really enjoy flying the turboprop now, and the jet will just come somewhere along the line.

Yes.

In reality it changes. For a while I heard they were every month, then we didn't see one for a few months. Generally I've heard several a year.

There's a vacancy bid rolling now. Didn't you get the HI6?

......................

It's the same pay the first year, and like mentioned you can move to the jet the second year. As far as vacancy bid it all depends of movement, if movement stops or the training center is swamped you will not see a vacancy bid or they will not have many positions. If there is movement then the vacancy bids will be large due to all the people moving around on upgrades and aircraft transitions.

How hard would it be to commute to SJU from say PIT?

It is really scary when a part 121 jet powered airline pilot can say this:

I have nearly 1000 hours in the ATR-42 flying for Flagship/Nashville Eagle in the early 90's....... REALLY enjoyed the plane and the flying......

So for an Eagle new hire, would you recommend starting with the ATR and leaving the jet for later?

Just pick the one that shines better!

It's probably true the prop will be "more fun" to fly, but I'd go with whatever gives you the best quality of life.

Do you live in PIT?