Regional Attrition
 

I hear about all this attrition at the regional level but where are people going exactly. It is my understanding that hiring is still fairly limited at majors. Therefore I hear that Eagle and other place are losing something like 20 or so a month, where is everyone going? I can't believe that many are going to majors when USAir and the like are only taking 10 or so a month. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Spirit, Jetblue, United, Atlas, Emirates, Virgin America, BAA Asia and FlyDubai.

These are the first ones that come to mind...

I do understand that the one's mentioned excluding Atlas are hiring but my point is that the hiring is very limited at the said carriers and to figure attrition of approximately 20 a month spread across at least 6 regional's seems like a lot.

In addition, many foreign carriers require type experience in the aircraft flown, and if you're coming from a regional, clearly you don't have that requirement.

I left 9e after two years of commuting to reserve for a 135 job where I live. I am sure there are a few others like me.

Actually you do. Emirates was taking time on the CRJ-900 since it met their min weight requirement. If you had the right mix of total time and some CRJ900 you could apply. Early in the game it didnt take much, nowadays it seems Boeing experience does give you the upper hand.

BAA Asia will take type rated pilots on the Challenger 850. Thats your almighty CRJ-200 type rating.

FlyDubai has been notorious for hiring only B737 type rated pilots. They opened up that requirement a few months back and are currently accepting applicants without it.

I know two that started at USAir, one at United, one corporate, several at JetBlue, one at Spirit, and two at a 121 nonsched operator. I have also talked to several regional FOs who have made lateral moves to other regionals for various reasons. This shuffling near the bottom of the list might account for as much or more attrition than hiring for the majors does at this point.

Just my observations from the cheap seats.

I think quite a few are going 135 in addition to the junior regional shuffle.

In the past month, about 30 have left ExpressJet, with roughly half going to majors and the other half going corporate, changing careers, or retiring.

Well, here is the distribution for 2013 from XJT as of July 2.

Major: 92
Other unknown: 61
Career change: 13
Retirement: 11
Corporate/ Charter: 8
Cargo: 3
Regional: 1

We are not losing anybody at Mesa. I don't know what is going on. I know we are short with the new 900 flying with Airways. There have been a few crew cancellations especially this last 2 months. Does JO have that much pull to ask Airways and possibly United to leave there regional feed pilots alone? I know it sounds crazy but we lost quite a few to Airways in Feb/March, but none have been hired since.

Wow folks leaving while they are trying to open up several new bases.... how is that gonna work?

Anyone that could leave already left? Leaving you with a mix of lifers and newbies? I really don't know the situation there but those are theories that make sense to me.

I think there are quite a few like you. They get tired of the regional game, commuting, low pay, etc.

Charter isn't great, but it's an ok place to hang out waiting for a career gig.

Yeah you don't know the situation at all, best to keep your groundbreaking theory to yourself. I have not tried to leave yet, personal situation with my family. As for all my friends, which are many 121 PIC qualified good people, they are just not getting the calls for interviews. Mainly at Airways and United, were just not seeing as much interviews/hiring at those two carriers as we did earlier in the year. It was just a theory that has been floating around the company.

you mad, bro?

I'm not mad. I just thought that comment was just spewed out for no particular reason. JO went to JetBlue back in 2007 when they were picking up our guys and gals like crazy, I'm sure they just laughed. I just have a theory that he went to the heads at Airways and said we can't give optimum regional feed for these new 900's until we get some more new hires on board. We got them but there having a tough time in training and a ton of IOE. Just a theory, anyway I'm not mad. Two hotties just headed out to the pool, I'll be fine.

Very good, just seemed like ya jumped all over the dude for his opinion. I don't think there was anything vile or troll-y about it, just an opinion. Anyways, grab a beer head out to the pool, make it happen :-)

I know several fliers who've gotten out for the likes of Flight Safety recently, and then the normal JetBlue, Virgin, Spirit crowd...Have a couple in my non-flying company who are recent new hires from the likes of TSA and GoJet...but our hiring was much higher a few years back, especially compared to today's "low" numbers.

You're right. Your opinion is way less crazy than the guy you called out.

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.

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

Absolutely. Nice work.

Regional Attrition
 

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.

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.

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

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..

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.

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.

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.