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Old 06-19-2013, 04:34 PM
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Default How many regional pilots are staying put?

As a follow up to my last thread: http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/re...rspective.html

I crunched the numbers on the percentage of the regional airline pilots that would be required to cover the mandatory retirements in the next 5 years. In case you missed it: 30% of the current regional airline pilots would be required to cover the next 5 years of retirements.

Now, I want to try and figure out how how many current regional airline captains plan on staying and how many plan on moving on? The term "regional lifers" seems to have a bit of a negative connotation, however, for a lot of guys, staying put will lead to a better quality of life.

I simply want to get an idea as to the percentage of guys who are trying to get out vs staying put?
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Old 06-19-2013, 04:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Aero1900 View Post
As a follow up to my last thread: http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/re...rspective.html

I crunched the numbers on the percentage of the regional airline pilots that would be required to cover the mandatory retirements in the next 5 years. In case you missed it: 30% of the current regional airline pilots would be required to cover the next 5 years of retirements.

Now, I want to try and figure out how how many current regional airline captains plan on staying and how many plan on moving on? The term "regional lifers" seems to have a bit of a negative connotation, however, for a lot of guys, staying put will lead to a better quality of life.

I simply want to get an idea as to the percentage of guys who are trying to get out vs staying put?
I'm going to guess around 15-20%. I've always said the number going to majors from regionals isn't as high as expected. The stagnation the past 15 years has lead to alot of guys with alot of longevity. They got kids in school or an exwife or two. They can't afford to give up that $100+ an hour. Or they don't want to give up weekends/holidays/4 weeks of vacation/furlough proof/etc. and lets be honest...there are some guys who couldn't take the hit to the ego of puttin on 3 stripes and swinging gear.
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Old 06-19-2013, 04:50 PM
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it will vary year by year/contract by contract. One year ago there were lots of pinnacolaba pilots, living in base, house paid off, etc perfectly happy where they were at. Now, not so many.....
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Old 06-19-2013, 05:09 PM
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No. Freakin'. Way.
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Old 06-19-2013, 05:10 PM
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staying put will lead to a better quality of life.
What QOL in staying put in the dying regional model?
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Old 06-19-2013, 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by DryMotorBoatin View Post
I'm going to guess around 15-20%. I've always said the number going to majors from regionals isn't as high as expected. The stagnation the past 15 years has lead to alot of guys with alot of longevity. They got kids in school or an exwife or two. They can't afford to give up that $100+ an hour. Or they don't want to give up weekends/holidays/4 weeks of vacation/furlough proof/etc. and lets be honest...there are some guys who couldn't take the hit to the ego of puttin on 3 stripes and swinging gear.
That's a big one. Makes for a long trip flying with one of these.
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Old 06-19-2013, 05:16 PM
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Originally Posted by DryMotorBoatin View Post
I'm going to guess around 15-20%. I've always said the number going to majors from regionals isn't as high as expected. The stagnation the past 15 years has lead to alot of guys with alot of longevity. They got kids in school or an exwife or two. They can't afford to give up that $100+ an hour. Or they don't want to give up weekends/holidays/4 weeks of vacation/furlough proof/etc. and lets be honest...there are some guys who couldn't take the hit to the ego of puttin on 3 stripes and swinging gear.
On that note, there are a bunch of guys I've flown with, even after being left seat for only a few years, who no way in HELL would be able to take direction from someone again. Their egos are simply too large and their bad habits too many. I listen to them talk about going to a major while I sit there thinking that there is no way their new employer/captains would tolerate the sh*t these guys get away with because they're currently setting the tone of the FD. Had one guy recently showing the jumpseater pics on his phone (he was PNF) on approach just after he got done talking about how he was applying at the JSer's company.
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Old 06-19-2013, 06:02 PM
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It depends on the regional. Some there are lots, others could be very little. It might be best to setup a thread to post their airline attrition data each month if they publish it.
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Old 06-19-2013, 06:25 PM
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At PSA, I'd venture to say that 60% or more of the current captains are lifers. Even guys that are around middle seniority are saying stuff like "Man, I just can't afford the first year pay cut." It would take getting hired at somewhere like FedEx to get any of those people to leave, and then, it's just maybe.
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Old 06-19-2013, 06:35 PM
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Originally Posted by texaspilot76 View Post
At PSA, I'd venture to say that 60% or more of the current captains are lifers. Even guys that are around middle seniority are saying stuff like "Man, I just can't afford the first year pay cut." It would take getting hired at somewhere like FedEx to get any of those people to leave, and then, it's just maybe.
And that boys and girls, is why you need to plan for that pay cut from the moment you slide over to the left seat. Otherwise you're throwing away a lot of income over the course of a career.

So, as soon as you get that regional Capt raise consider throwing all the additional scratch towards:

- paying down credit cards
- paying down school loans
- paying down car loans OR saving for a better vehicle and not putting zero down
- paying down your current mortgage, HELOC, etc, instead of getting a bigger one OR staying in your current digs and saving for a large down payment.
- etc, etc.

Or, stay where you're at so the majors just hires regional FOs. Won't bother me a bit.
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