Anyone know what they pay?

 

I called one of the recruiters when I first heard about their plans about 8 months ago. They only hire people with Boeing type ratings (maybe Airbus as well, but i remeber hearing Boeing only).

That lends itself to European MPL graduates more so than experienced regional pilots.

 

How would it lend itself to MPL grads? MPL is specific to company, so unless an MPL Grad trained specifically to NAI's operating procedures, they wouldn't have a chance at getting hired. It is actually very typical of European carriers to ask for guys to be already type rated.

 

I suppose I misunderstood the MPL, then. The only experience I have with it is meeting some trainees at CTC in South Hampton. They didn't mention a specific carrier, although the programs were set up for specific carriers. One if the interviewees I was with went directly into a 737 as his first job, logged a couple thousand hours, no college degree, and is already on path to having a significantly more lucrative career than any regional airline pilot. I guess that's my overall point. Secondary point being that pilots from other countries may have some advantages to US applicants in these types of contracts, simply due to the type ratings.

 

I say let them come in. They will actually pay us what we deserve.

 

A few words about this recently from our ALPA reps. Do regional pilots actually care about this issue or is the MEC just playing 'me too' with their major airline counterparts?

 

Ah ok I see. I can tell you that there is very little GA in Europe. There are also few regional airlines. Most of friends in Europe who found airline jobs went straight into the Airbus or Boeing straight out of flight school with less than 300 hours. No college required. Most were not MPL graduates. The MPL graduates are tagged by an airline before they even start training. Some CPL graduates are tagged before starting training but most are not.

One of the disadvantages of the MPL is that it is company and type specific. Lufthansa was putting cadets through their own MPL program, but they reverted back to CPLs because Lufthansa operates multiple certificates and they couldn't put an MPL cadet into different certificates.

Another disadvantage is that the MPL is only good for type and company. Without further training, an MPL holder can't even fly a single engine piston or multi engine plane.

 

All you folks touting their arrival might want to do a little homework. Most guys I know that are flying for foreign carriers are dying to get back to the states. These carriers have few if any work rules, often don't honor seniority, and pay much less than their US counterparts. I worked for a regional and understand the angst with the downward spiral going on, but allowing foreign carriers to operate domestically will be a disaster for the US airline industry, and the overall pay and quality of life for pilots based here.

 

Even with poor work rules and lack of concrete seniority they're all better than U.S. Regional jobs. It would be a boon for those of us wasting our lives for minimal pay and benefits with a long shot chance at some U.S. Mainline carrier. I honestly couldn't care less about ALPA's goal to keep foreign carriers out, they should have fought years ago to keep regional carriers out.

 

Look at this from the the perspective of the long run, and not here and now. That's how we got into this regional mess to begin with.

As a fellow regional pilot, I agree with you. Our current situation sucks. However, allowing these companies to come in and unfairly compete will only erode mainline opportunities in the future. They may offer something better than what we have NOW, but think about when you do make it to that major carrier. If these guys are allowed to come in and compete unfairly, then your chances will likely be much slimmer of getting that shot at a mainline job. If ever.

If this thing passes, the ramifications could be far worse than allowing large RJ's at the regionals. Think smart, think long term.