Pilots interested in working at RAH
 

If you plan to work at a Republic Airways Holdings carrier, this will include Chautauqua, Republic, and Shuttle Airlines that all operate under the same (expired in 2007) contract and same payscale/work rules under one seniority list. To those interested in working here, the link below will give you another tool to use in making your decision to come here. Just trying to keep this topic visible to those who may be doing the job hunt. Doesn't help me to dissuade folks, but from one pilot to another, you should know what your getting yourself into if you decide to come here.

http://rahcontractnow.org/

Read and heed guys! There is a great wealth of factual information of life here at RAH. The only thing I would add is the fact that this company has furloughd pilots three out of the previous four consecutive years. The ONLY reason there were no 'imposed' furloughs in 2011 was due to the pilot group taking voluntary furloughs, if only to escape this place for a few months. Be prepared to be treated like seasonal migrant workers here as displacements are a frequent and regular occurance as well as sitting reserve away from your base/domicile. If you can afford to be furloughd in the fall and work in the spring and summer, then this place is for you! Please gather as much information as possible before quitting a paying job to come here.

Best of luck everybody!!!

Keep in mind that this thead is directed at very low time guys, flight instructors, check-runners, etc... these guys don't care about contracts, QOL, or pay... they see RAH as a stepping stone, nothing else. For them an ERJ170 is like a 777.

Believe me when I tell you that nothing you say will dissuade them, they'd take the first job that's tossed their way, specially if it involves jets. No way in hell a CFI or check-runner would even consider turning down RAH.

I agree with UCLAbruins, most any Flight Instructor who has been grinding out hours for a couple of years will still jump at the chance to get in an E 170, no matter how many warnings they get. However, if even one changes his mind and goes elsewhere, this new webpage was worth the author's effort. BTW - I hear the management at RAH has seen the site and is furious!

While I personally believe the Flying Circus Ringmasters will cave within the last minute before a strike, the website brings to light an incredible challenge all of the RAH new hires may face. I don't think they have Union Representation during their first year over there, during their probation period. If so, they will be threatened with termination or -- they can be a true "scab" if the strike happens. (However, I am not certain were they would get a Captain). Either way, their resume is darkened, perhaps for life. This would be the point that would send me in another direction or I would just sit it out until a new contract is achieved.

All things considered, I do believe the countdown to a strike or a new contract has begun. Good luck to all pilots involved. Our collective future will be influenced by your actions and they will be remembered for years to come.

I was hired by RAH in late 2007 after instructing for two years. I did a fair amount of research before applying to the regionals. I had three top choices. At the time, the growth level at RAH convinced me to accept their offer.

If this website existed in 2007, I wouldn't have considered RAH. Other good regionals are hiring. There's no need to come to RAH unless you are desperate.

It's a sad fact in this industry that the folks being hired where we're at.., came from a company whose pay and work rules (if any) were vastly worse than the sweatshop airlines we currently occupy. We all came from CFIing, Single Pilot IFR Freight, Furlough, you name it. I don't judge anyone who after learning all they can about the many (regional) choices available to them, and the working conditions here, still (for what ever reason) desire to work at RAH. But I do know that if I were looking at several regionals as a job seeker, I most certainly would appreciate any and all available information so I could make an informed decision. So it's in that light that I make a point to educate. Everybody has to do whats right for themselves and their families and no one here is going to judge them. Everyone I've flown with these past four years has been terrific!

This airline is most certainly not deserving of the professionals that tolerate it's many abuses and still manage to do a great job! We make the best of it and still manage to have a good time. To all who decide to join our disfunctional little circus please know you'll receive a warm welcome, not by company management, but by the folks you'll be working and flying with! Good Luck!

According to this website, the last time I logged in was over a year ago. That's because after 10 years in the aviation industry I gave up flying (and aviation) altogether after spending 4.5 years at RAH...

I feel bad for anyone stuck there who got hired after 2007. That place is god awful. The line pilots are great, but that's about it. Having done nothing but fly for so long, it was definitely a tough decision, especially considering the economy and how worthless an Aviation Management degree is. By the grace of god I got out into a job making more money where I'm home every night, off every weekend, and have the opportunity to make more than any Captain at any Legacy ever will. I no longer have to worry about whether my job will exist tomorrow, I don't have to worry about missing my ride home or getting stuck in some BS midwestern city. I miss the flying, for sure...but I can fly anytime I want to. Getting to go higher and faster than most people ain't worth the abuse.

Besides - it's not like there's any really good jobs at the Legacy's anymore anyways. The previous generation made sure to negotiate that away in the 1990's and early 2000's. Frankly...I'm thrilled to be done with the whole thing.

So you are no longer a ERJ FO, you make well into 6 figures, and you're an undertaker?

I'm just reading your tagline in your user profile, the "make more than any Captain at any legacy ever will" is a pretty broad stroke, and in these days there are very few jobs that are so safe that you don't have to worry about the job existing tomorrow (remember that old saying about dying and paying taxes - and there has to be a country with a gov't to pay taxes! That leaves dying :()

It sounds like you like your job. Congrats!
What do you do now and is there room for others?
There are a lot of disgruntled people on this site that would like to follow you out of the industry.

USMCFLYR

Odds are any new pilots will be on the Chq certificate anyway. You don't get a choice they put you where they want. The point is, do yourself a favor and DON"T come here right now. It does suck as bad as they say. Wait for the new contract. Don't fall for the "so called" raise that may or may not be required to be returned if the union and pilots have their way. We don't want a sham raise without a real contract and a legal raise that includes many things including "soft money" and work rules! Help us as pilots help all pilots. Help by staying away for a while. After a contract you will be welcomed abaord with open arms!

With the twice exception of not capitalizing God, your post was spot on with regards to this industry and the delusion that newbies have of the "legacy" carriers. The glory is gone and ain't(yes it IS a word) coming back. eg, I make more at my longevity as an fo than a captain does at DL for similar equip. This is not a shot at anyone as I am just stating a fact. Take heed all those sjs folks who still think that there is a pot of gold waiting for you. Fwiw, I don't expect my current pay to last either.

$100,000 is nothing nowadays. My friend who drives the truck for the phone company makes over $100,000. With OT, he grossed $120,000 last year.

$120,000 isn't WELL INTO which is why I specifically stated the phrase in my post.
I agree - $100,000 today isn't the $100,000 of yesteryear.

At the same time - saying hat a $100,000 is "nothing" nowdays.....well I know plenty of people living good lives and making under $100,000. Maybe that depends on how many toys one thinks s/he ought to have in the garage.

Is it your contention, in regards to the post and my response, that the highest paid legacy Captain is only making $100,000-120,000/year?

USMCFLYR

About a year ago, I was in the CHQ new-hire class. Day 1 and there were 2 guys who were no-shows. One guy left near the end of indoc and I left at the end of indoc for a better opportunity. I later found out that 4 guys did not make it through the end of sim for whatever reasons. 8 out of a class of 18 gone...not good.

Hot mama, god is only capitalized if you are specifically speaking of a certain god, making it a proper noun. If you are using a generic , god awful, godd$&n, etc... No need to capitalize. As for Sharky, he's a great guy, went to college together, glad to see he is doing well and actually getting paid more a year than the tuition was...I on the other hand began my 6th year with RAH today. I'm still an FO, and make less than the tuition at college was.

Happy 6th!
I hope you make Captain soon, or get the job that you ultimately want.

Interesting link. You should post this over to the "Eagle Life" forum. Why ?

Because I believe this is EXACTLY what AMR wants to do on their property. They want an operation flying E-jets like this with the same compensation levels. The worst part is that the "mainline interview" will likely be few and far between because as this type of operation proliferates, mainline shrinks as more of that flying gets taken over by this flying.

Under a staggared contract whipsaw scenario, pilot compensation will always be ratched at or below where it is at any given time. This is bad for ALL pilots, both current legacy, present senior regional and current junior regional/hopeful legacy. In effect, a jail sentance with no parole date.

If this is the future for the UAL, DAL and AA networks, what's left ?

You are right about that..... It's going to continue to go UP!

You can probably leave the 135 crowd out of looking at most regionals. We aren't as desparate as you think. I make more than many senior FO's and have little desire to test the reginal waters for commuting and a 24K Job when I make nearly twice that. Hopefully there will be some real movement and you can fight for a better contract. At this point the corporate side looks a lot more appealing (to me anyway). Thankfully I'm comfortable where I'm at and like working for and with the people I do so I'm in no hurry to change unless a good opportunity presents itself.

No, I'm just saying that many many pilots are flying for **** wages and working conditions. $120,000 for a guy driving a phone truck should put things into perspective. As far as how many toys inconcerned, that's a matter of opinion. At the end of the day, why would you waste your time and money flying when the phone guy is making six figures?

LOTS of other jobs make way more money - no doubt.
A master plumber can make a KILLING for example!
Personally though I don't want to be a plumber. :)
Skilled trades and business ownership (should it work out) are hot items right now. Of course the business side can be as much of a crap shoot as any other profession (or gambling). A failed business can ruin you financially or at least put you back on your heels for a LONG time. I have family members going through that scenario right now and it is hard to watch. Great at the job, not so great at the business side of the house.
I certainly wouldn't argue with the fact that many pilots are working for crappy wages and poor working conditions, but my point was made to a poster pointing to the highest a legacy CA would EVER make; and I just don't think that amoount is peanuts.

As far as toys being concerned, that is a matter of opinion absolutely - just as much as saying that $100,000 is nothing is certainly a matter of opinion.

USMCFLYR

Because I don't want to be the phone guy.

My point of contention is, why did the IBT union sign off on such a pos contract.

MistyFAC

Assuming you weren't a Misty, why the handle?

GF

At the time it wasn't a pos contract. But yes, the flat of pay scale up to 99 seats was a mistake.

l

The sad reality is that very few pilots will ever see the big money that the 1% of legacy pilots earned. Heck, most of the legacy guys will never see the money they once earned.

And this is precisely the attitude that scumbag regional airlines are counting on. "Hey come fly this shiny new jet for $21,000/year, because it's better that driving a service truck for the phone company!"

P.S. My buddy at the phone company also has rock solid job security. Until people stop using phones, internet and satelite TV, he's legally protected by a bulletproof contract.

Does not pass sniff test.
 

I find it rather implausible the guy driving the phone truck makes 120K/year.

Explanations????

Not US Dollars
Manages the other guys driving the phone trucks
Owns the company and <see above>
Lives in a city where 6 figures don't pay the rent
Finds one job a year to rewire an entire 6 floor building for 120K
etc, etc, ad nauseum, que es do ne um <thunk>
There's no such thing as a bulletproof contract

This coming from a guy with 20 years service in a highly desirable field (you're using one of the devices now).

Hey - I could be wrong but here's google's results:

Salary

An estimated 156,350 telecommunications line technicians worked in the U.S. in May 2010. The average salary was $50,080 per year. Salaries ranged from $26,910 to $73,320 per year, which includes the 10th through 90th percentiles. The 25th percentile earned $35,180 per year and the 75th percentile earned $64,890 per year.

You must be a management troll, no way a "real" airline pilot comes in here with box plot numbers, to fancy. You ban counter, but all kidding aside, I wish the general public would see this type of breakdown for Domestic departures!

If this were to deter people, there would have been no strikes, demonstrations, but rather no pilots to hire for such companies. But, again, there are pilots out there who rather be treated like C$ap and fly airplanes with engines underneath the wing and then cry over their contract once the honeymoon period is over. Why else would companies like Transtates, and Republic exists otherwise? :rolleyes:

The never ending conflict of facts vs some anonymous guy you know.

Every job has it's problems and cycles.

My dad use to work for Southern Bell and he thought the same thing until the usual mergers and such came along. I will say that he ended up better than some I've known in the airline industries though.

I don't want to drive the service truck for the phone company (first of all I'm probably not technical enough for the repair job), secondly, times have certainly changed but as I mentioned above, it sounds like my dad was doing the same job as your friend and I know that he didn't make that kind of money. If what you say is true though, sounds like it is a more lucrative job than in the past.

Btw - me not wanting to drive a service truck doesn't make me have SJS. It means that I am a happier person when I am doing a job that I truly enjoy rather than driving a truck and installing telephones. You want NAVAIDs that work - I am there for you. You want a phone line in your house - your friend is there for you. We probably need (and want) both.

As far as the 1% of big money making legacy pilots....well that is why I'm not the one making statements like the one I pointed out. Those ALL and NEVER/EVER statements just usually don't work out very accurately. :)

USMCFLYR

Edit: I just saw the numbers 73M put up. Yep - that sounds more like my dad
:D

Don't forget your RSV period doesn't mean squat when you get a call at 0401hrs putting you back on rest for 10 hrs (including your drive/commute to the airport) so you can be available for another 16 hours.

So, you wake up at 0401, get called, try to go back to sleep or commute/then you are available until 0601 the next morning! Hope you can get back to sleep!

Management here is completely incompetent and has absolutely no integrity. Your pay is frequently incorrect. You'll suddenly lose vesting in your 401K, twice. They "forget" to add you to the benefits they're charging you for. And the flight operations side is unimaginably bad. We are a sinking ship.

If you come here you'll constantly worry about: your base (displacements, "displacement vacancies"), furlough out of seniority, or going out of business because your management is inept.

If you want to worry about these things even after 5-6 years at a company, then come on over. We'll welcome you. AND you can have my seat (right seat) when one of my job applications for another industry or company bears fruit again. I can honestly say coming to this place is the biggest mistake of my life. Hopefully it turns out better for you but I doubt it will.


This place IS the bottom feeder...

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

Vietnam Buff, Flight Augmentation Computer

I wonder if the phone guy is related to the guy who puts the Twinkies on supermarket endcaps for > 100K/year? :)