When to take long term Mil leave - Page 7 - Airline Pilot Central Forums

#61

OVBIII , 10-30-2019 05:08 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Varsity

What does the training float at AA look like with 20% of the pilots coming and going out of currency? Returning to the school house when their seniority can hold another type only to bounce out again on leave so they don't have to sit reserve on it? How many more people does AA have to interview and employ as a result? Not just on the line, in the training center, HR, payroll, you name it.

The 'company' aka flight ops management doesn't have a problem with it because they come from the same background and view this as a flying club.

They never feel the heat of our shoddy financial performance until it comes time to hand out furlough notices, and even then the status quo is untouchable.

As a whole this is the systematic attitude problem that plagues this airline and sets it apart from companies like Southwest/Delta.

I’m going to bite, where did you get the 20% number? I’d like a reference please.

#62

Name User , 10-30-2019 06:00 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Varsity

I hear what you're saying but isn't HR in charge of pilot hiring now? Plus I really don't think our mil guys are what is keeping us from making money like Delta and United.

The mil guys I flew with were all done with that lifestyle. They wanted to fly at AA full time. But they were also older. So I don't really have a gauge on how many do this and if it's a normal practice and how much it impacts us.

#63

thrust , 10-30-2019 07:52 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Varsity

As a whole this is the systematic attitude problem that plagues this airline and sets it apart from companies like Southwest/Delta.

What does Southwest and Delta do differently than AA re: hiring and retaining military pilots? Please be specific. Thanks.

#64

PRS Guitars , 10-30-2019 08:00 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Name User

The mil guys I flew with were all done with that lifestyle. They wanted to fly at AA full time. But they were also older. So I don't really have a gauge on how many do this and if it's a normal practice and how much it impacts us.

Most guys would rather work at AA as much as possible. It is unit dependent though. Some guys don’t have much choice, and have to go on long term orders. Most guys that have a choice, will choose the airline because it pays a heck of lot more. But there are lots of factors at work. They are balancing a three legged stool (Family, AAL, Reserve/Guard). Should be in that order theoretically, but has to be switched occasionally.

Also new guys to the reserves (fresh off Active Duty) still have a lot of mission hacker left in them. Takes some time to sort it all out and get things balanced.

#65

RckyMtHigh , 10-30-2019 08:13 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Varsity

SWA also forcibly pairs military pilots with prior 121 hires because they don't know what they're doing in training.

Not true (the pairing part, not necessarily the we don’t know what we’re doing part).

#66

Diesel Hawg , 10-30-2019 10:18 PM

Line Holder

Quote:

Originally Posted by Varsity

Love the “I hate American” rhetoric and every problem here doesn’t exist and good ol’ Delta. You really think our number of military guys and gals who take long term leave is worse than Delta and SWA? Where do you get that data from? I can tell you from the 3 squadrons I have been a part of the exact numbers on long term mil leave.

AA - 5
Delta - 10 (granted one of those squadrons was near Atl)
United - 4
SWA - 5

Not saying we are the best or worst at it but don’t claim every other airline does it better without data. Definitely a few bad apples from the mil who take advantage of the legal loophole. The majority didn’t plan on taking long term when they left and did so because their unit needed them to and someone has to fill those full time spots. Since most guard and reserve pilots are airlines pilots, those full time slots will inevitably be filled by mostly airline guys.

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#67

GucciBoy , 11-02-2019 12:05 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Varsity

SWA also forcibly pairs military pilots with prior 121 hires because they know how to fly planes but aren’t familiar with 121 ops.

The vast majority of TWA's demise was Carl Icahn. AA isn't a government agency; it can run out of money, it can go bankrupt, everyone can lose their jobs, we must turn a profit to exist. A few of us have fairly vivid experiences of bankruptcies turning careers sour. If you want to flagrantly jeopardize that for your own selfish benefit then yes, you're putting everyone at risk.

You spelled “because they know how to fly planes but aren’t familiar with 121 ops“ and “Carl Icahn” wrong in the above paragraphs so I fixed it for you.

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#68

GucciBoy , 11-02-2019 12:09 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by cocktimusprime

They are "crapping" on everyone, regardless of background who actually intends to work for the job they applied for. Embedded military management has a soft spot for and preferential hiring for military pilots(50%!). Every other applicant, again, regardless of background, may be being overlooked to hire a pilot who has little to no intention of working for AA until they receive their military retirement. I get it, it's legal, you're my hero and "protected." Simply calling the practice OUT.

Were you too young to serve in the Armed Forces in the years after 9/11? Because, you know, you coulda had a win/win-type deal happening if you were a trained pilot anywhere in that timeframe. You could serve your country AND be able to “crap on” all kinds of “bros” going on long-term mil while at the same time doing absolutely nothing just “sitting at the squadron.” The world was your oyster and you blew it I suppose. I admit it’s hard to resist the glitz of the regionals, plus you would’ve had “no idea what you were doing” when you got to AA, so that would’ve been a bummer.

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#69

thrust , 11-02-2019 04:45 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by thrust

What does Southwest and Delta do differently than AA re: hiring and retaining military pilots? Please be specific. Thanks.

No response from Varsity.

Tap out noted. You’re a fraud.

#70

hindsight2020 , 11-02-2019 05:07 PM

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Southwest tends to be the most friendly of people exploring the MLOA envelope (if I may use a euphemism), based on my anecdotal experience in my last two squadrons. Other than that I would agree, I don't see AA differing too wildly from the mean across part 121 when it comes to junior folks exploiting the benefits of USERRA in airline employment.