Very nice to offer termination as mentioned. Hopefully word gets out systemwide and nobody
applies to TSA ever again.

 

I have very serious doubts they offered termination. And it's that guys first post. It just does not make any sense.

 

Upside, you might get unemployment bennies?

Downside, you're blacklisted from 121 majors for getting fired.

 

Either way, its heart warming to see some of the regionals led by predatory managers start to implode. Especially after what happened to the major pilots after 9-11. Hopefully the pilot shortage continues to rapidly intensify.
Its time for the planes and pilots to be forced back in house.

 

Doesn't take much prognostication to read the retirement graphs, it's only getting better (for us, not management) over the next few years.

We've seen LCC's hire experienced regional FO's prior to upgrade (1000-2000 hours 121) for a few years now.

Now it looks like they're starting to use the regionals as 121 training filters... pass training, consolidate and you're eligible for consideration. Safer training bet than a CFI.

Next step will be LCC's hiring CFI's. That's going to create a a big dilemma for noobs... take an LCC job now, or go enjoy less pay and QOL at a regional in hopes of quick upgrade and a Legacy job?

Worth mentioning the military is tapped out as far as surging airline candidates... only output there will be the steady state of folks at the 10, 20, 24 and 30 year gates. Everybody mil and ex-mil who was waiting in the wings with the option to do airlines is already doing it, or just not interested.

 

I largely agree with you. Especially the canary in the mine. However strong regionals are miles ahead of TSA and holdings. Previous poor business dealings are catch-up with Hulas carriers. When you look at largely successful regionals (Skywest, envoy, and republic these days) and then you compare that to holdings, you see night and day differences. True that there is a difference between private and public companies, but the way that good companies manage and handle resources (and Human Resources) is where I see the trouble. Specifically TSA does not value its pilot group. That showed when I was there and it shows now. For example- look to the contract negotiations. In this market? It’s a joke. But I no longer have a dog in that fight. I wish every crew member under TSA leadership and holdings the best.

 

So again I say the original poster of this claim must be wrong. Why would anyone in the right mind accept being blacklisted from every 121 just to get a tiny check each month. It makes no sense. And it does not fit with what my 2 friends who were in the February class are telling me.

 

If you didnt sign a promissary note... you don't have to pay anything back.

 

Yep the contract situation demonstrates how much trouble we are in. The main reason why they are canceling classes is an inability to get people through training in a reasonable time. This is due to a lack of instructors and check airmen. The training department is a mess. They have a hard time getting instructors and are begging for them all the time. There is no language in the CBA that covers instructors so the company can run roughshod over them. When our negotiators tried to get language in the new contract to cover instructors it was denied because staffing is fine and we don't need it. Our instructors, LCAs, and APDs are the lowest paid in the industry by far. Several instructors have been so fed up they have gone back to flying the line. A lot of the helo guys they hired are getting close to 1000 hours 121 and are bouncing to better jobs rather than upgrade. All these new FOs talking about being "fat" on FOs don't realize we are in winter schedules now. There is plenty of open time right now for pickup. Just wait until April and May get here and bring the summer schedules and higher utilization on the aircraft. We'll be critically staffed on FOs and CAs by May. Just wait. We'll be back to Junior Manning FOs like crazy and 200% for FOs very soon.

Its deja vu all over again at TSA.

 

OP was accurate. Union just published the text of the letter that everyone in the January class received via email. Things are getting weird...