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Attrition to Majors/Mainline

Old 02-11-2020, 10:58 AM
  #1  
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Hi Everybody,
I am a current CFI about a year away from going to class, and should be picking my class date towards the end of this year. Currently, I have job offers at Republic and PSA (both of which are through the cadet programs). I am also considering interviewing at Endeavor potentially when the time gets closer.

I live in North Carolina, so living in base is only an option at PSA way down the road since CLT is super senior. I do not mind commuting within reason, as I would like to stay/live in the NC area. Up until this point, my end goal has been American (for various reasons) and my heart has been set on PSA mostly, however, I have been hearing some things and reading up on some things at mainline AA that are making me more open to other opportunities- I would still like to end up at either AA, DAL, UAL, or SWA.
Everything else in terms of QOL, culture, a/c, etc. screams Republic except one thing... Career progression and attrition. This is one area I don't know much about and have not seen stats on where RJET pilots move on to. I have heard rumor (mainly from my WO friends) not to go to Republic as it is "easy to get stuck" since there is no flow, interview program, or any type of advancement "pipeline"... I personally can't check any minority boxes, but will have a 4-year degree and very clean background- No FAA or other violations. From the way it looks now, Republic also seems to be the better place to be should the economy turn down sometime in the near future as well... .
What is the general consensus about coming to Republic in terms of advancement/attrition?

I know that most of AA new hires come from Wholly Owns, but anymore, I am not sure if I am set in stone on going to AA.
I have a little time to decide, and really riding out the rest of this year depending on what happens at the said airlines will also help me make a better decision.

Thanks in advance for the help.
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Old 02-11-2020, 11:22 AM
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Originally Posted by flyingm2 View Post
Hi Everybody,
I am a current CFI about a year away from going to class, and should be picking my class date towards the end of this year. Currently, I have job offers at Republic and PSA (both of which are through the cadet programs). I am also considering interviewing at Endeavor potentially when the time gets closer.

I live in North Carolina, so living in base is only an option at PSA way down the road since CLT is super senior. I do not mind commuting within reason, as I would like to stay/live in the NC area. Up until this point, my end goal has been American (for various reasons) and my heart has been set on PSA mostly, however, I have been hearing some things and reading up on some things at mainline AA that are making me more open to other opportunities- I would still like to end up at either AA, DAL, UAL, or SWA.
Everything else in terms of QOL, culture, a/c, etc. screams Republic except one thing... Career progression and attrition. This is one area I don't know much about and have not seen stats on where RJET pilots move on to. I have heard rumor (mainly from my WO friends) not to go to Republic as it is "easy to get stuck" since there is no flow, interview program, or any type of advancement "pipeline"... I personally can't check any minority boxes, but will have a 4-year degree and very clean background- No FAA or other violations. From the way it looks now, Republic also seems to be the better place to be should the economy turn down sometime in the near future as well... .
What is the general consensus about coming to Republic in terms of advancement/attrition?

I know that most of AA new hires come from Wholly Owns, but anymore, I am not sure if I am set in stone on going to AA.
I have a little time to decide, and really riding out the rest of this year depending on what happens at the said airlines will also help me make a better decision.

Thanks in advance for the help.
If you wan't to get out, and work for it, you will. No one is getting stuck anywhere anymore. Go where it makes more sense for you right now.
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Old 02-11-2020, 11:37 AM
  #3  
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Originally Posted by flyingm2 View Post
Hi Everybody,
I am a current CFI about a year away from going to class, and should be picking my class date towards the end of this year. Currently, I have job offers at Republic and PSA (both of which are through the cadet programs). I am also considering interviewing at Endeavor potentially when the time gets closer.

I live in North Carolina, so living in base is only an option at PSA way down the road since CLT is super senior. I do not mind commuting within reason, as I would like to stay/live in the NC area. Up until this point, my end goal has been American (for various reasons) and my heart has been set on PSA mostly, however, I have been hearing some things and reading up on some things at mainline AA that are making me more open to other opportunities- I would still like to end up at either AA, DAL, UAL, or SWA.
Everything else in terms of QOL, culture, a/c, etc. screams Republic except one thing... Career progression and attrition. This is one area I don't know much about and have not seen stats on where RJET pilots move on to. I have heard rumor (mainly from my WO friends) not to go to Republic as it is "easy to get stuck" since there is no flow, interview program, or any type of advancement "pipeline"... I personally can't check any minority boxes, but will have a 4-year degree and very clean background- No FAA or other violations. From the way it looks now, Republic also seems to be the better place to be should the economy turn down sometime in the near future as well... .
What is the general consensus about coming to Republic in terms of advancement/attrition?

I know that most of AA new hires come from Wholly Owns, but anymore, I am not sure if I am set in stone on going to AA.
I have a little time to decide, and really riding out the rest of this year depending on what happens at the said airlines will also help me make a better decision.

Thanks in advance for the help.
Firstly, please don't commit to anything this far out. You'd be doing yourself a huge disservice. Understand that the PSA cadet program requires you to sign a contract. If you decide PSA is good for you, by all means, go there, but don't commit now. Things are changing so quickly right now; it would be foolish to lock yourself into something.

Secondly, it's true that Republic doesn't have any sort of program that makes getting hired by a major easier. How important that is largely remains a matter of opinion. I'm of the opinion that 2020 will be the year that functionally shuts up the (many) whiners in this industry with respect to mainline hiring everywhere (not just YX). Retirements are just moving into a roughly 5-year peak, where 4-5K pilots will be retiring from the majors every year. How far/fast Coronavirus spreads is really the only thing that could put a damper on that this year.

Look around at what's happening for clues to where things are at in the industry. United just bought a flight school. Do you think they'd invest time and money in that if they were confident in their ability to staff their airline with the looming retirements? Do you think they'd develop the Aviate program as a recruiting tool in order to try to staff their below-average regionals?

People all around this industry have justified PTSD from a lost decade where nothing moved, and a long history of furloughs and mergers over the preceding decades. But past performance doesn't indicate future results. Anyone telling you that's likely to happen in the foreseeable future is speaking from a place of emotion and not one of facts.

Again, how important a flow program or something of the like is continues to be a function of two major things: 1) how you see the next few years playing out, and 2) your resume, including any blemishes, networking ability, and willingness to do the legwork to make yourself broadly marketable for the positions you're looking for.

If you have a four year degree, a clean aviation history, etc, I truly don't believe that someone who will work to put themselves out there will struggle to find a job at the majors (or wherever they'd like to wind up). The numbers simply don't lie. With, say, 4000 pilots needed just to keep pace with retirements (that is, a net no growth scenario, which also isn't likely even factoring in a looming recession), that means the majors will require at least 2,500 civilian pilots per year for the next 5 years or so. The vast majority of those will come from the regionals.

Many of the pilots at Republic stay because they got stuck, and now would have to sacrifice too much in terms of short-term pay and long-term QOL to move on. We had 50 pilots leave in January, including a decent chunk of captains to the majors. And that's in a month where neither FX or WN are hiring. The pace is certainly picking up everywhere. Those that want to move on will be able to. And I'd be willing to bet the majority who want will get out of YX to a desirable place before someone at a WO flows.

Anyone telling you that you're likely to get stuck at YX is wrong. Period.
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Old 02-11-2020, 01:56 PM
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YOU are what decides whether you’re hired at mainline, NOT the current company you’re employed with to build experience. Don’t listen to the negativity of others that are not successful in moving on because pilots in general are known excuse makers and rarely admit their own faults/failures when it’s easier to blame something else out of their control.

DO NOT choose a regional airline based on “career progression.” Nothing good ever comes easy and no one is entitled to be hired at mainline, despite the attitudes of many millennials we have at YX. The effort to move on needs to come from you, not from your employer.
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Old 02-12-2020, 11:56 AM
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I concur with the previous replies. A bit early to be stressing over a decision yet. Keep in the loop and reevaluate in 6+months.
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Old 02-12-2020, 12:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Burt123 View Post
YOU are what decides whether you’re hired at mainline, NOT the current company you’re employed with to build experience. Don’t listen to the negativity of others that are not successful in moving on because pilots in general are known excuse makers and rarely admit their own faults/failures when it’s easier to blame something else out of their control.



DO NOT choose a regional airline based on “career progression.” Nothing good ever comes easy and no one is entitled to be hired at mainline, despite the attitudes of many millennials we have at YX. The effort to move on needs to come from you, not from your employer.


This is a great reply. Keep improving yourself and you’ll have no problem getting out of Republic. There are a ton of opportunities to get involved with the company/union.


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Old 02-15-2020, 03:14 PM
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Go to Envoy or PSA if you want to go to a major. Republic has no flow
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Old 02-15-2020, 03:36 PM
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Originally Posted by JetPilot7 View Post
Go to Envoy or PSA if you want to go to a major. Republic has no flow
I can name about 45 people who left for greener pastures in January alone that would disagree with your assessment.
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Old 02-15-2020, 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by JetPilot7 View Post
Go to Envoy or PSA if you want to go to a major. Republic has no flow
sadly you are wrong, the flow should only be used as a backup plan to get to American if that’s your end goal. If you are just trying to get to a major republic will work as long as you fly upgrade, fly some more and build your resume.
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Old 02-16-2020, 05:20 AM
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Originally Posted by tonsterboy5 View Post
sadly you are wrong, the flow should only be used as a backup plan to get to American if that’s your end goal. If you are just trying to get to a major republic will work as long as you fly upgrade, fly some more and build your resume.
There are several that went to majors before upgrading, I'm guessing they had jet PIC from another employer. One of my classmates left for United in 6 mos (prior mil)....

Last month about 45 left RAH for greener pastures, 9 total pilots that we know of went to the "Big 3", 3 of those were FO's.

The rest went all over including: Jet Blue, Allegiant, Atlas, UPS, Spirit, Frontier..
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