American Eagle hiring
 

I am having lunch with the head of hiring for Eagle. Are there any questions anyone would like an answer to?

How do you light a fart on fire without torching your ass?

I think Tony has that answer

Oh yeah, wrong thread.....

Well, I'm sure you probably have the obvious covered about upgrading and pilot base issues. But just in case....any news about those would be great. Also, I guess I'm curious about how low they will go on time these days, (TT that is, I'm sure they won't budge on the 100ME)

Thanks for the heads up.

You might want to point this out. I would be inclined to work for Eagle. Time: 200/1350. If they could let you know the aircraft you are going to fly before ground school. Eagle is number 2 for me. SkyWest is number 1. The uncertainty of knowin were I am going is a turn off. With nearly every other company they give you an idea what you will be flying. Please point that out and let him know that is the reason that I am not putting my stuff in.
Also, for my lower time friends: ask him the mins. Thanks.

I x2 that...

Isn't base more important? Who cares what you fly as long is its got turbine engines? Its a bad idea to fall in love with an airplane...

Falling in love with an airplane is bad I agree, but base? Hello I don't want to commute to ORD or EWR if I can avoid it. Starting out times and adjustments are rough enough without worrying about commuting across the country. I live in the DFW area, I hope to go to AE and hope again for DFW as a base. If I get ORD that won't be horrible as there are a bunch of flights between the two and it's a short flight. Newark would be a killer. I spoke with an AE FO last week while waiting for a flight at DFW. He said he was happy overall, however he had been laid off by AE a few years ago. When I asked if he could do it all over again would he have gone to AE he said no.....upgrade time is too long. The QOL he said is great though. HE is a ERJ FO BTW.

Upgrades should be happening much quicker now because of the movement at mainline. But, as usual, you just never know.

I know that absolute lowest allowed is 500/100. That is insurance minimums.

Uhhhhh....that was my point... I think if people like you who live at a base and want to stay there could know they would get that base, more folks like you would be inclined to go to Eagle. As it is, if you got hired, you may end up flying out of SJU with a two leg commute. The problem I see is this: if they know what bases they are hiring into and they tell guys what they are getting at the interview/time of offer...how do you decide the order guys get to chose? Do you stick all the successful applicants in a room after the interview and do the bid based on age or SSN or whatever then? Isn't Eagle's offer conditional on you passing the captains board? If so, how would they divy up bases then? Get you guys all together on a conference call after the captain's board? Or should you put your base preference on your application and they will only call you for an interview when they are hiring for that base? There are any number of ways of doing, each having its own set of complications and uncertainties.

In my opinion, if you apply to an airline you should know their bases and be willing to accept any of them, at least initially. If where they are based is important to you and you don't like their bases, DON'T APPLY!!! The way things move around and change at most companies, you could be at the base of your choice within a year anyway.

is there any flexibility on the age limit of 21? I'm thinking thats why I can't get a call from them

I am at 1350/350 right now. I traveled to Air Inc. in ATL and met with Claudette from American Eagle 3 weeks ago. Gave her my resume and she seemed very positive about everything. I've got a college degree, no failed checkrides, no violations, current in everything. Yesterday got the "Thank for your interest" email from Eagle saying that I was not competitive. I'm not exactly sure what they are looking for... A bit disappointing to not even get a chance when they seem to be in such a huge hiring mode.

I'm guessing there was something in your background that flagged you...not sure though from what you posted. I'm sure they have good data on those that make it and those that don't and you must have hit one of those..

The drawback is that while "generally" accurate, it occasionally grabs the innocent.

You might try emailing someone there with a question along the lines of "what would I need to do to make myself competitive?"

Good Luck!
Spongebob

I sent my stuff through airlineapps.com and come and recieved an invitation to interview the next morning. I then got a call about a week later to see if I was interested. They told me they would keep me on file and call them when I was ready. My times are 1200/400. Try airlineapps.com. Your definatly qualified if I am.

The problem many have with Eagle is the one year seat lock, geographicly dispersed fleet types, and far-flung domiciles. Since the ATR is only based in SJU and MIA, the Saab only based in LAX and DFW, and the CRJ only in ORD and DFW, being committed to one of those fleets and thus regions is scary. XJT in comparison has only one fleet type, so if you get IAH or EWR and want the other, you can reasonably expect to get there in short order. Likewise, if you apply to Air Whisky you know you will be based in the Northeast; Comair you go to CVG, ASA to ATL, PSA to CLT. If you can't live in, or commute to one of those cities you just don;t apply to those carriers.
While Mesa and Skywest approach Eagles' geographic dispersal, the ability to change domiciles is much easier.
And SJU is a deal breaker for so many pilots.

I'm now on day three of Basic Indoc. 16 in my class, 8 ERJs(4 LGA, 4 ORD) 3 SF3s(LAX) 5 ATRs (2 MIA, 3 SJU). Had I not been able to hold the ERJ I would have quit on the spot. Not everyone is in a position to take that chance.

Too good to fly a prop? What was your previous background if you dont mind asking?

PS>Reserve is shorter on props than on jets.....(few months vs years).......

I have a feeling that AE already knows what they need to do, it's already been stated on this thread and many others (bases and equipment primarily, though better starting pay would be great as well). The only question is are they prepared to do it. Surely, management must've realized that the time of pilots jumping at absolutely anything has recently passed. Guys/gals seeking regional jobs now have choices that haven't been available for years before. Therefore, if Eagle wants to attract the best available (or just enough bodies) they must change the package that they are offering.

How did lunch go? Did you have that Hamburger with Cool Aid to wash it down with?

Haha...I haven't sat down with her yet. I'll fill everyone in on Monday regardless if I get anything good or bad from her

Sweet!!!!!!!!!

Too good for props? Not at all... my fallback position was at Cape Air on the 402. The pay is much better at Cape too.

My son is 11 months old, commuting to CLT I only got to see him on weekends.

He deserves more than a part time father.
My wife deserves more than a part time husband.

I'll happily sit reserve for years in BOS, so long as I can be with my family.


As for my background, I don't mind at all. This is my 13th year in the airline biz. Res, ramp, ops, pilot. Spent a year and a half at PSA. Before that at CAL. Before that I was an 11B, 2/124th INF.


The COO gave us his 'happy chat' Monday. He said AE needs at least 700 new pilots this year. Possibly 1000. Given those numbers, and lack of growth due to AA's scope, there is a fair possibility of not sitting reserve in any status for too long. Looking at hire dates on the Seniority list.... if AA calls back 200 this year, and 350 AE pilots are upgraded, the junior Captain would have a seniority date of about mid '04. A three and a half year upgrade time sounds absurd based on how long it has taken everyone here up to this point. But thats my quick and dirty take on it. Dependant of course on those hire and recall numbers being close to right.

Out of interest - how many AA pilots do you have? I assume all of them will be recalled sooner or later.

450...If they stay at thier announced 10 per month recalls it will take a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG time for the flowbacks to flow away.

The official word now is that there are 346 flowbacks still on the Eagle seniority list.

350 upgrades would not get to 2004 hire dates. And given that there was virtually no hiring from 9/11 to 2004 you're still looking at 6+ years to upgrade throughout 2007.

You were hired in 2004 and 2006 hasn't even ended yet. be patient pay your dues and your number will come soon enough.

Gosh thanks Wally. I'll try to pay my dues. Can I please do some of your flying 'cause I really need the turbine time?

I'm sorry for the flippant response, I just don't want people to be under the false impression that they can expect to come to Eagle and upgrade in 2 or 3 years just because the flowbacks will all be leaving "soon". Eagle is a good job and I hope people choose to come and stay, but only if they're armed with balanced, accurate info and opinions and still want to be here.

FWIW this ain't my first rodeo.

I think Eagle is now requiring a Type Rating in the Shuttle.... :D

Atleast that's the impression we got in DFW after having to share sims with those guys. Training did not look fun on their side.

Any update on how the lunch went? Or is that next Monday? Just curious

Yeah, how was lunch? Is it still coming up or did you go?

just curious. is your medical 6 months from issue? i think airlineapps was rejecting people based on this (it was wanting 1st class privileges from a 1st class medical rather than simply a 1st class medical).