All I have to add to this thread as a former RAH FO that lived in base at a hub, RAH is long term pain without any real gain. Your goal should be short term pain for long term gain. Give up about 4-5 years commutting to a regional with a decent upgrade and contract (qol) for a quicker path to a real job (legacy).

You may get to live in base at RAH but after five years of making less than 40k, you are going to wish you had gone to TSA, PSA or anywhere better. The amount of income lost over your career from living in base at RAH vs a quick movement regional is astronomical.

It was, but rumor has it that RAH wanted to park the rest of the 145s according to an earlier schedule since they are so hard up for pilots, but Delta apparently refused to amend their agreement, so the company decided to let this problem get so bad that we're currently in a situation where the 145 schedules are being modified so late in the process that the pilots won't know their February schedules until a day or two before the month begins.

The above is typical of RAH's manner of doing business. They have absolutely no regard for crew members.

Republic has one of the worst contracts for a regional, and currently has a 7 plus year upgrade (Feb2008 on 145). I have several friends who are 2008 hires and they are thinking they may not upgrade this year. If BB parks the Qs or 145 early, I would expect an 8 year upgrade at RAH. Also they are losing about 20 FOs a month, including those hired in the last 24 months. Go to a smaller regional that you can upgrade faster at and have cancellation pay.

Maybe he can ask the pilot recruiter at RAH for a copy of the employee survey completed fall 2014. I'm sure that would help him to make a decision.

Out of curiosity, has the company been pursuing these individuals to repay the remainder of their training contract?

Yes.

Filler.

In 2011 they were not enforcing the training contracts, but I'm sure they are now. Although I have heard the training contract is going away.

No cancellation pay, its preposterous. Don't go to Republic. All regionals suck but Republic is a special kind of suck.

I know there insurance cost is crazy high. Anyone know what they pay there for insurance? I almost remember a FO telling me he couldn't afford the family plan. That's kinda sad in itself.

If you have no desire to go to an LCC/legacy, don't care about cancellation pay or insurance costs, and plan to live in Indy for the rest of your flying career, then mabye, it might be worth considering.

Keep in mind though that Indy is very senior (lots of lifers) so movement would be even slower than in other RAH bases.

Also, it's far from certain you will get IND initially. Most new hires have been going elsewhere at least in the past couple of months.

It's a nice shiny airport though! And you can walk from the parking lot to the terminal (in the freezing cold)

If you're going to interview, at least get someone to refer you, and split the referral fee or something.

Its tolerable if you already live in base...

but don't believe the recruiters when they say a new contract is just around the corner...the company and union couldn't even agree on whether the company should pay your family if you get taken hostage!

Oh, and we had a crew last month return to the field with an engine fire, then lost the rest of their day to cancellation. They performed admirably on the engine fire, and then lost a days worth of pay. This company refuses to do the right thing time and time again.

I think it's because they are just so cheap. I remember when they offered to make improvements, as long as they were "cost neutral". I wish RAH luck, but I don't see BB ever allowing an industry leading pilot contract. He will try to find a different way to attract pilots before he signs a leading CBA. Really a 100 hours for IOE?

Can anyone confirm this? Wouldn't surprise me delta doesn't want to loose feed so rah can staff American and united flying

All correct above

Sad to know when you are working the hardest you aren't getting paid. What worse is listening to a few friends that flew last winter during some of the storms. Out on a 4 day trip to come back and see you only got paid 7 hours to do a 4 day trip. In this day and age.....Unbelievable!!!

Well, I can't confirm my own rumor, but I can say that the rumor was that the company was trying to sell a 90-day pulldown for all of the 145 flying and Delta wasn't having it.

...and now Mesa people are being told that their company is bidding on "east coast" 145 flying.

Something is up.

***rumor warning***

A slight tangent, but as far as RAH parking 175s mentioned earlier due to lack of pilots; A little birdy tells me that the regionals are starting to gain leverage through their onslaught of lobbying the FAA. Sorta like Great Lakes did to get lower hour pilots. Now I'm not saying the regionals are all gonna pull out seats and go part 135, but it seems the FAA is softening to the idea of hour reductions in exchange for more sims, more IOE, more check rides and LOFTs...Basically a regional sets up its own low time pilot seasoning syllabus.

Again , I do NOT claim to have personally talked to Bedford or any CEO nor anyone important at the FAA. Just second hand from people a bit lower down the totem pole. I say all this because it wouldn't surprise me after the Lakes saga where the FAA held firm for several months, but eventually the FAA relented and lower time pilots were allowed.

I have not heard anything about Mesa bidding on 145 flying out east...but it wouldn't surprise me. We seem to be willing to pick up anyone's scraps that we can.

I've hear that Republic did cancel the last 145 bid. Sounds like they may be getting ready for a drawdown of the 145s, but who knows. I'm sure BB wants all Ejets, plus he can used the 145 pilots to staff the Ejets. If he does park the 145s this summer, upgrades will easily reach eight years from the displacements. Not sure who would pick up the 145 flying though.

I'd seriously be surprised if Mesa wasn't bidding for that. I just hope any new flying we get, comes in small chunks, 7 airplanes here, 6 there, and so on... Don't want 60 new airplanes over 2 years! no no no no no no no no no

Hilarious. This place is so freakin unbelievable. Im embarrassed to say I work here. Crew not only has an engine failure after takeoff but a fire on top of it and retuns to the field safely and this miserable company rewards them by slicing their pay and hides behind the cba which they themselves routinely violate(see recent 145 bidding). Simply stunning. Look elsewhere...I certainly am.

So what's the deal with the 145 bids?

Are you a Captain? If not why do you still work there? I really don't understand how they keep their FOs.

Per the interview I had with RAH last week, they are offering a 10k sign on bonus for 145 training with the understanding that you will probably only be flying the 145 until next summer and then move you to the Ejet.

How do they get new hires is a better question.

Usually half plus one or two of the monthly attrition are FOs.

Management learned that the recruiting advantage of the E-Jet allowed them to get away with anything.

I don't fret when I learn of other airlines getting E-Jets...it is bringing RJET's recruiting advantage to an end and now they have to start moving the other direction with their employee relations.

Unfortunately, they have proven that they have absolutely no idea how to improve working conditions and quality of life for it's crew members, but that is not only another post, but another thread.

^^^^THIS^^^^.

Aren't there several regionals now hiring, who have about a 12 month upgrade? Why do you stay miserable at RAH when you could take a short-term (12 month) pay cut in order to realize longer-term gains in pay, quality of life and marketability? Compass, TSA, and PSA come to mind. I'm sure there are others.

YES
 

I had to wait until my account was activated before I could post or I would have been the first reply. I have been reading these boards for years without participating, but I can certainly weigh in on this. This company does not care about safety. Forget about basing and quality of life and cancellation pay etc. If you refuse to do something you consider unsafe, you will be disciplined and they will ruin your career. Many captains have rocked the boat and then mysteriously failed their next sim event or have been suspended for insubordination.
Bottom line is if you refuse to do something you consider unsafe, they will ruin your career. If you do something you know you shouldn't do and have an incident or accident, the company will throw you under the bus and they will ruin your career. This is fair warning from a person who knows, stay away from RAH if you want any chance of being a professional pilot for a reputable major.

It still is a risky move. We have many guys here that got burned big time chasing the elusive quick upgrade. By the time word gets out about about the next big deal happening, you've already got several thousand guys ahead of you chasing the same deal. Luck and timing play a huge part of this industry. I'd say it's definately worth the risk if you're young, single and don't have too many years wasted at RAH. Three years or less here and it's almost a no brainer to jump ship for greener pastures.

TSA is basically hiring Captains and upgrade us like 9 months maybe. Plus, better pay better contract

What does an average 4-day credit/block for the usairways flying?

This doesn't surprise me at all. Probably just a matter of time before there is a compromise reached on the 1500/1250/1000/750 rule, especially if the hiring pinch the regionals are feeling now becomes more acute as time goes on.

The FAA cannot change the minimums as it isn't a regulation it is a law. Its called the Aviation Saftey Enhancement Act. FAA cannot change a law. Congress must vote to repeal the law to change the rules.

The minimums are not stated in the law, only the requirement for poth pilots to hold an ATP. I still don't think the mins are going to change anytime soon. Nor should they.

Good point. I guess you are right and the FAA could completely remove flight requirements for restricted ATP or something but like you said, not likely nor should it be done.

Depends on seniority etc but typically 18 - 22 hrs. I average 5.5 hrs per day in FEB.


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Yep, that the FAA determines what is required for an ATP is the crux of the matter. Keep an ear to the ground my friends.

Per the interview I had with RAH last week, they are offering a 10k sign on bonus for 145 training with the understanding that you will probably only be flying the 145 until next summer and then move you to the Ejet.[/QUOTE]

I have no doubt they would like to staff the 145s, but they can't apparently. I know they have 160 ish pilots less then last year at this time, and more planes.

This is what happens when you set the bar so low you eventually see you can't even crawl underneath it. Bottom feeders...