The reason Eagle is going to need to hire is for multiple issues. First, FTDT is going to increase the demand of the number of pilots needed to staff the current fleet plan. The future fleet plan requires fewer pilots. The union reps have been given permission to discuss how to calculate the fleet plan for Eagle without divulging it outright. Regardless of what you calculated (should be roughly 230 aircraft), the reason the announcement to hire came at the same time that the announcement of base closures etc. is due to the fact that the EMB140's that we have on property were NOT part of the original fleet plan calculation. AMR however has told Eagle mgt that we would be keeping the 140's and flying them out of MIA and DFW which will require additional staffing. It likely caught EGL mgt off guard as it was not anticipated that the 140's were going to stick around. Why are they sticking around? No clue other than that the 135's have value with Embrear as they can be retro fitted to become a corporate Legacy whereas the 140 was designed specifically for Eagle and apparently does not hold the same value with Embrear (ie they don't want them back) so AMR decided to continue to fly them.

 

Go in with your eyes open. There's going to be a lot of stagnation from the senior pilots who won't flow to AA because of economics. A hundred pilots with current numbers may flow to AA at some point in the future, but the rest are too old to go to a major if they start hiring. This will put a lot of pressure on this carrier to be competitive in the future as they'll still have a longevity problem like what's happening at Pinnacle. Their management may be fooling themselves if they think they'll trim a steady number of pilots from the top, when in reality if the "824" provision survives, it would be junior captains and F/O's. Since this carrier is highly likely to shrink because of the above described financial pressure and the independent desire for whipsawing, one should be extremely cautious about developing any dependency on long-term rewarding employment.

Many who go here may not realize that until they are there and things begin shaking out, so this carrier will have an additional stress of high attrition from the bottom resulting in further uncompetitive cost disadvantages. I think even with the TA provisions, this carrier will have a serious time competing with "younger" carriers and could become a Comair or Pinnacle. If you need 121 time though and you get an offer, it may be as good a place as any to get 500-1000 hours of jet time and as long as you don't risk too long of a commitment and pass up a better gig, so that may work out for you.

My advice is to keep your expectations low and your eye to your next move before you make too much of a commitment. You don't want to be stuck in a dead end rut still and F/O at a dying regional 5 or 7 years from now. Learn from those who've made that mistake.

 

PBS will cancel out much of the FTDT regs as Eagle was in compliance with most anyway already. A 2 for 1 swap for larger EMB's very well may go to another carrier (at least some). Once AMR divests, any favoritism for what will soon be a renamed carrier is likely to wane quickly. Whipsaw and bottom line costs will rule and current senior Eagle pilots won't be running for the AA turn style, thus expect little relief for the future owners in competitive labor cost structure.The E-135's are dog tired high cycle birds that aren't that likely to be fetching to corporate operators regardless of the quality of lipstick. Look for a fairly short tenure in third world service to finish out their limited lifespans.

Oh......and try not to guzzle the Kool-Aid you're being constantly plied with too ravenously. That's a recipe for subsequent gas, bloating, projectile vomiting and explosive diarrhea.

 

what is the upgrade time at Eagle nowadays

 

The numbers are scary high and increasing, but they get to fly airplanes!

 

Just a guess but I would say 10ish years. Depending on what AA does.

 

I think YOUR out of touch. We'll have 797s by the time AA takes flow throughs.

 

Grammar Nazi in 3.2.1....

 

You must of stayed at a Holiday Inn Express to come up with all that **** ****.

Is your name Tim Martins by any wild chance?

 

Want to make a bet on that?