skillett

Look, that came across as an insult no matter how you look at it. "The only ones that can leave left". Nothing but newbies and lifers and then there is you. Come on man, Out of 800 pilots there is 100 newbies I guess and 699 lifers and then there is me. Who can't get a job. Sorry I thought it came across as un-thoughtful. Maybe 300 lifers and 100 newbies is more the truth. Of the other 400 some are probably a little lazy, some might be waiting longer like me but probably 300 have applications out and are trying to get out as fast as they can. Yes the theory was out there but I do have about 100 friends that are qualified applicants at Airways and are not getting the call. Anyway, why would Airways want to hire to many Mesa guys to where they would have to cancel flights do to the lack of flight crew. It's already happening now. That seams more crazy to me than anything.

SATCFI

Anywhere but a regional. Left eagle in Dec. miss the flying, but not the crap, which entails 90% of the job.

680crewchief

Absolutely. Nice work.

IFLYACRJ

With the industry stagnation, many have stayed where they are. I know several who got stuck at the regionals and became CAs and are making good money and have 3-4 weeks vacation and good seniority. It can be very difficult for some to go to a legacy or a major carrier to start all over again and lose that seniority, accrued vacation and take a huge payout and hit in the QOL.
Yeah, you'll say that you'd have to plan for it and save up. I agree. But realistically, the percentage of those pilots never have.
Also, I don't care what anyone says, age can be a huge factor. The legacies and majors would hire a 35 year old much quicker than a late 40s something in a minute. I've seen and experienced this. But, at this point, for me to move on and take a pay hit, would be very hard to recoup. If you're young or have a significant other with a good job, it won't be as painful.
Luckily, I have a 4 year degree in a field outside of aviation which I can fall back on if needed.

blakman7

You can buy type ratings, for a pretty penny, if you never got one with a regional carrier. You don't have to be a captain somewhere in order to get a type rating for that particular aircraft. You just have to meet ATP mins. I know plenty of guys/gals who have type ratings out of the wazoo but only fly A320, 737, 757 and etc. If you can get your hands on a type rating, then I'd take the international job.

gearcrankr

I have heard somewhere around 30 - 40 9E pilots at Sun Country in the last year.

Crj driver

I just left xjt in July for UA.. Apparently hiring is at a standstill until SLI then 60ish a month indefinitely sometime around Oct/4th quarter.. Is what's floating around at least..

FlyingKat

That's what I've heard. Regionals are hiring like mad because they know once the crap hits the fan and everyone is running classes in late fall/early winter attrition will go through the roof....heard the 20/month estimate when I interviewed at TSA last December.

JohnnyG

I still haven't heard or seen any actual facts related to shortages, I've only seen some movement in regional hiring where there was none for a while.

We are rampant with rumors about no one showing up to interviews and classes, and that's about it. There's no substance here, and there is nowhere for people to leave these jobs en masse to.

FlyingKat

Rumor about now shows is a fact. Its occuring everywhere. The Air Force announced last week it is anticipating a shortage of pilots and will be paying a $225,000 retention bonus for pilots. RP and AE are paying hiring bonuses and other regionals are looking at it. I've heard about the great pilot shortage long enough to make me a skeptic, but if there were ever a shortage, you would see companies paying incentives to hire and retain pilots. Companies don't pay more than they have to for anything. I haven't been sold on a shortage yet, but the empirical evidence (money) is pointing in that direction.