Probably, why would a company shell out money for an CTP course if they don’t have to?

 

The FO job listed on the Mesa website states that you must meet requirements for an ATP or RATP, so no they're not requiring an ATP. If they pick anyone that isn't an ATP already is a different story. It also says they will cover the CTP course.

Requirements / Desired Skills and Experience

ATP 1500 Hours Total Time Requirements

• 1500 hours Total Flight Time
• 500 hours Cross Country Time
• 100 hours Total Night Time
• 50 hours Multi Engine Time, Fixed Wing
• 250 hours of Pilot in Command Time, Fixed wing
• 100 hours of Instrument Time
• Commercial Pilot Certificate with Multi Engine and Instrument ratings
• Current FAA First Class Medical Certificate
• Ability to demonstrate instrument proficiency
• ATP Written (CTP training can be provided to qualified applicants)

 

I’m pretty sure that block of text was on their website before Covid.

That doesn’t mean they can’t change it to be a requirement once they hire.


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In all honesty I believe the days of 1,500hr CFIs are gone for a few years. ATPs and type ratings will be the new norm for a new hire going through Indoc.

 

Defiantly they will hire those with ATP’s before they start the ATP/CTP program back up. Think about it OO is cash negative right now. A class of 30 CTP/ATP costs 450k. Doubt the bean counter will allow that to happen..

 

The cost really lies in the CTP course. Between sim time and hotels, it is real money. But, requiring the ATP written vs full ATP doesn’t seem like much, if any difference in cost to any airline. Getting the full ATP in a light twin will check one more box though. But, I don’t know it that box would make a 1500hr CFI much more competitive, in the short term. I’m sure many people wish they knew the answer.

 

I think they are going to have to look at it a little deeper. Let me explain.

The furloughed guys or other guys on the street that have ATPs probably have 121 time or turbine time already. While skywest knows they will probably have a better passing percentage in training these guys will be leaving at their first chance for LCC or Majors. Say they go to training just to leave skywest 6 months or a year after date of hire as soon as the jobs they are qualified for open up.

The 1500 hour (or 1000 hour in my case) cadets and other candidates without an ATP will have a much longer useful life at skywest where they can pay regional wages and these people will be happy to stay for several years as their qualifications increase and they will move on to the next job after at least 3-5 years if not longer depending on a multitude of factors

I guess it comes down to about 5-8k per person for the CTP and hotel plus the dollar amount they value to higher probability of passing training. How much is the training valued at? maybe 20-40k investment per person? Skywest thinks long term with investments and I would think that includes pilots.

When I worked for private ambulance the company had very high turnover because they burn out and treat their employees horribly. They mitigated this with spending as little time and money as possible in training so when employees leave after 3 months the company is not out any money.

There is a minimum cost to train an employee (especially a pilot) and if they think they can keep a pilot that has his ATP to stay for the amount of time where he provides more income to skywest than skywest spent on his training that's the one they will hire in my opinion. But if they can get more longevity and therefore longer value from the CFI with nothing more- it would make more sense to hire the less qualified and know they will have to stay at skywest for a longer period of time and therefore providing a better value to the company.

Of course this leaves the CFIs that spent their own money for the ATP certificate being the best value of all. But how many CFIs are going to do that? Most I know are just struggling to get by on their next to nothing income and don't want more debt to do something with no guarantees of getting hired.

 

At least in the past, OO has typically hired the most qualified people knowing some will leave but some will stick around. Same reason they love the military guys, typically no issues in training and no extra sims.

 

Yes.

But part of "most qualified" is having the right attitude.

CFI's are excited to get a turbine/airline job.

Mil are typically excited to punch the 121 ticket and are looking forward to some good major airline opportunities in a year or three.

But that (permanently) furloughed 20-year XJT CA on the other hand is going to have to put on a real tap-dance production to convince anyone he has a good attitude and is excited about his future swinging gear for a 25 y/o non-union OO CA...

 

Skywest probably has their training costs very low just due to volume. So if that works for them then we know who is getting hired first. I am not in too much of a rush because of how my current career's pension works.

It's really a "win win" situation for me. Either they hire CFIs first and I get a job really fast. Or they hire the more qualified guys first and after a year they leave for bigger equipment/paychecks and skywest then hires CFIs like me then to replace the guys that just left.