I'd guess about 200 (mostly CRJ) CAs out of 1200 total pilots at Mesa

My guess for 9E is 200.

What makes you think with most lifers that it is their choice to not leave? Make no mistake, it is very hard going on to the next step, being obese, failed check rides, Asburgers, age discrimination, letters of investigation, etc. The mindset that getting on with a LCC or something like Allegiant is an easy thing to do is simply false, might as well try for the big three. You need to work your butt off, figuretively, and litterally for some. You need to record yourself talking to notice all the wierd things you do that you never realized, and learn to act like you actually enjoy other human beings. As much as you want to tell the Spirit chief pilot to Fu** off for not valuing your time, money and effort to go to the job fair just to interview for the chance to do an actual interview, you need to either be a really good actor, change as a human being, or stay where you are currently employed. The part you may not realize is that you may very well be a lifer yourself.

Who cares about lifers? Oh wait, they must be in your millennial privileged/deserved left seat.

If you are referring to me then know that I am just curious to see so I get an aspect on how big the recruitment and retention problem will be at the major/lcc's in the next years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not sure if the plan for many of those at XJT is to stay or go, but there are 885 that were hired before 2001. Before 1998, it goes down to around 315. Those guys are so senior, it'd be tough to lose the schedule.

What's so wrong with being a lifer? Compared to corporate life...a decent regional offers decent pay, benefits, time home, and more. Who cares what the equipment is. Life is about balance. I myself have a wife and two chillren at home and QOL is much more important than $$$. I got screwed time and time again doing corporate. Now I get a good salary, insurance, travel bennies, 401 and more. Why is that so crappy? I can see how guys going from flight instructing to 121 would think it's so bad. For those of us who had some corporate/135 in between, this is a pretty gosh darn good gig!

"Decent regional" is kind of an oxymoron. As RJ pilots, we're nothing but cheap contract labor. Completely expendable by the stroke of a pen once the lift contract is up or cancelled. It's a harsh reality that many of my fellow lifers don't seem to accept.

Yep, glad I was able to move on. There are a few exceptions of course and some have ridden the regional wave well and retired or will reasonably comfortable. Though they are certainly the exception I'd wager.

I don't begrudge those who want to stay it is their choice, but logically for the vast majority of us it is no-brainer to move on. As others mentioned, my old shop at OO has a fair amount of lifers who are mostly great folks. Some of the younger ones are gambling a bit sticking around but time will tell for them.

...isn't that what we're supposed to be doing anyways, don't expect it to be served to you on a silver platter.

read a comment on the FEDEX forum, this guy had his app in for 8 years, he finally got the call for an interview!!!