American Eagle ..HIRING....

[DGdaPilot]

Then ask your questions a little bit more clearly next time, because I also thought you meant all of ALPA...Not just your local.
When you guys signed that gem of a contract for 16yrs, you didn't make a lot of guys happy.

Last time I checked, we were in an Eagle thread.

And let's see........at least we've had pay and per diem raises every year since it was signed. Plus it stopped AMR's whipsaw of the 4 Eagles. One of the best 401ks in the regionals. ASAP. FOQA. FRB. Not too shabby. Sure some things in it could be better (reserve comes to mind). But I bet you'd bitch in heaven that you didn't have a slurpee machine and then try and blame it on ALPA.

 

[WayBack]

Last time I checked, we were in an Eagle thread.

And let's see........at least we've had pay and per diem raises every year since it was signed. Plus it stopped AMR's whipsaw of the 4 Eagles. One of the best 401ks in the regionals. ASAP. FOQA. FRB. Not too shabby. Sure some things in it could be better (reserve comes to mind).

But I bet you'd bitch in heaven that you didn't have a slurpee machine and then try and blame it on ALPA.

Do tell. What insulting TA's has ALPA signed recently? I'm curious.

Next time say "what insulting TA's has our ALPA signed.." because threads on around here never get off track and start complaining about other airlines.

Wow, a pay raise every year!? Amazing. Every airline offers a pay raise ever year.

But I bet you'd bitch in heaven that you didn't have a slurpee machine and then try and blame it on ALPA.

That's absolutely ridiculous, a slurpee machine has no place in a ALPA crew room. That's not very professional!
It belongs in the bathroom, where I can have one while working out my morning grump.

 

[rider850]

No, but as far as I know current flying in the last 12 months is.

I don't think the 12 month non-currency is correct.

 

[pipejockey]

That has nothing to do with Eagle. Stay focused pipey.

Lets see, post #140 states:

Do tell. What insulting TA's has ALPA signed recently? I'm curious.

I answer the question you posed (that means asked) of me in post 140, then you are ignorant enough to respond with this:

That has nothing to do with Eagle. Stay focused pipey.

You asked me what insulting TA's have been signed recently and I tell you, then you are dumb enough to tell me I'm off topic? As opposed to your question? You probably had no clue Mesa and ASA have new contracts. People like you come on this board with absolutely no knowledge of the airline industry, other than what a great job you think being a regional pilot is.
You're that moron that posted wildly inaccurate info on Eagle pilot numbers and the length of their 2001 through 2003 furlough aren't you? I guess the mistake I made was correcting you on it. Pilots that can't admit their mistakes are very dangerous people. With slow witted people like you flying RJ's around, I have to remember to keep my loved ones off of those death traps!

 

[pipejockey]

And let's see........at least we've had pay and per diem raises every year since it was signed. FOQA. FRB. Not too shabby.

You call that 1.5% extra you get every year a raise? Look kid, that doesn't even equal the rate of inflation, meaning your earning power is actually going down! And your 5 cent a year per-diem increase? PLEASE!!!
Oh and FOQA, how does that have any affect on your position as a pilot except now the CA's have to get a call from the FOQA monitor about every little BS thing, like back taxiing on a RUNWAY at 50 knots or so, in order to get the h*ll off the runway for the next guy coming in, just because there isn't some dam*ed procedure in some dam*ed book for back taxiing at high speed.

Yeah, those items make Eagle the greatest regional airline in world to work for. I expect to see everyone lined up down the street down there in Dallas to grab up those RJ FO jobs, all the while in the same building, AA is furloughing yet more of their pilots. What a source of pride!

 

[pipejockey]

Pipe, what one of the major problems is, a lot of these young pilots are first generation pilots who have not done any research on the airline industry and the union.

That would be me 10 years ago! Although at that time, I believe I did adequate research on the industry and lifestyle, plus UAL, and DAL, were getting great contracts, oil was reasonable, the RJ effect wasn't fully realized, and there appeared to be a decent future. Then 9-11, followed shortly thereafter by managements realization that they could actually use what happened that day to massacre the profession.

But your point is spot on! This is why I get so frustrated when I come on here and try to use this forum to help describe to youngsters considering this industry the horrible state of this profession, with nothing on the horizon to better it. I wish there were people like me back in 1999-2000 to steer me away from the direction I took, but who could have imagined the rapid deterioration of this career path after 9-11.

Well, now these guys are starting at the regional level and they see it for a great stepping stone for their career. You know how many times I have heard kids say "The regionals are a great place to gain experience and to build time." The regional pilot have had this mindset that they will only be at the regionals for 3-5 years and then move on.

Bingo! Bingo! And Bingo!!
Stepping stone?? Let me tell you something new guys, it is perhaps a stepping stone to the left seat at the regionals, in 10 years! But for 80% of you, it WILL NOT be a stepping stone to a major airline. That career path is gone. Don't let that hope that you will be one of the 20% that actually makes it to a major, keep you from pursuing a career that actually has a future, with far less heartbreak and pain, not to mention furlough.

So in summation, the regionals are NOT a stepping stone to anything. It is like saying to someone that just flunked 12th grade, that 12th grade was just a stepping stone to 12th grade! Almost graduated but not quite. That is how it will be like at the regionals. A lifetime of being just one step away from a major but never quite getting there.

I still don't get why contracts at the unions are modeled for 10-15yrs at a time

Exactly! Don't you just love all the RJ CA's who come on here and brag about their 80 to 100 grand salary, when they are on a 15+ year pay scale. I think most people, young or old, whether they admit to it or not, would tell you they would have NEVER expected to be at a regional for much over 5 years, 10 max....but 15? 20? 25? NO WAY IN HELL!! Yet I would say over half of Eagle CA's have been there over 20 years. And I would say about 80% of them are over 40 years old. Is that really the so called career path these new guys are looking for?

Are you kidding? These are the guys who update their facebook account with their schedules. Post their self portrait picture in the cockpit. They can't wait to go see old family and friends so they can brag that they're pilots. Hell, they love going to parties and find anyway that they can slip in that they're a pilot. So in the end, yes, they LOVE telling people they're pilots.

Thats just utterly and downright pathetic!! The first thing I do when I get to the employee parking lot is to take of the uniform jacket and uniform shirt before I hit the road!

 

[DGdaPilot]

Did you're uncle fondle you? I get that impression. Still waiting for my answer Sparky.

http://www.filmchair.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/internet-warrior.jpg

 

[WayBack]

Did you're uncle fondle you? I get that impression. Still waiting for my answer Sparky.

Actually yes, he did. He and my cousin held me down as they took turns.
My uncle is dead now, but I'm still hunting down my cousin. If you know who he is, you tell me. I heard he's a pilot as well. He's started at GIA and from there I heard he went to PCL and now he's at some LLC carrier on the east coast, acting as the Vice Chairman for their pilot union.
If you do know him. You tell him I'm looking for him, and I'm going to bring the same Barbie's and cattle prong he used on me when I was 5yrs old.

 

[TZtoSWA]

When I was an F/O at Eagle one of the things that made me realize I had to get out was flying with the company pay leader on a regular basis. He was literally killing himself to make what a normal major F/O makes. I mean he was always at work. A real tournament player O/T hound with crew scheduling and Sabre. He was in his late 50's but literally looked 75+. Hair was all ghost white, skin wrinkled, over weight, and bitter. I thought to myself this is as good as it gets here...

 

[WayBack]

You call that 1.5% extra you get every year a raise? Look kid, that doesn't even equal the rate of inflation, meaning your earning power is actually going down! And your 5 cent a year per-diem increase? PLEASE!!!

Pipe, not sure if you've seen the other threads where Rez has pointed out my flaws, and he has now guided me to the light. I answered his call and now I am doing my best to turn a new leaf and help others, because that is my role as a Semi Professional pilot.
I hear what you're saying. I see your frustrations, even the Wayback who hated himself, would have agreed with you. He would have said "If you're giving management multi million dollar bonuses, and taking pay from you're employees, it's time to shut doors."
But you have to understand. In these trying times, companies are struggling to turn a profit, even though their pilots swear they're just altering their numbers to reflect a loss of millions of dollars.
We have to work with the company and do what's right for the Big Picture. If we're good to each other, our short comings will be forgotten while we're having fun flying the jet.
Don't think of it as Jackson Mississippi. No, think of it as Jackson Hole Wyoming. While you're there, take pictures of you and your crew doing wild and crazy things. Update your status message saying "In Jackson being all buck wild, this is what I have to do to unwind from a long hard day in the office...41,000ft about the earth, listening to my iPod...Jefferson Airplane of course. Oh well, I need to stop drinking. 13 hours and 5 seconds till show time tomorrow, I'm CRAZY! Just Livin the Dream!". Your friends will see how much fun you are having, but yet how positive you are, and the pictures show them how healthy you are...since you're so happy now.
Oh, one more Facebook tip before I leave you to reflect on this, then enjoy your afternoon watching the Super Bowl. Next time on Facebook, add ALPA as your friend, get that neat little ALPA icon added in your "pages" section. It will show your unity and brotherhood to your ALPA brothers who have your back....I mean you back area above your belt line, not your buttocks silly!

I leave you with this. Make the best of everything you have. Even if money is tight, and your struggling to pay your mortgage, bills and food for yourself and your family. Just think how good it is going to feel when times get better, and as a Union Brotherhood, we will rise above and get those wages we deserve. But for now, understand that no one is making a profit, everyone is struggling to survive. You're not alone. Godspeed.


PS
Did you see that color of blue Prater got on his new Rolls Royce? Wow, that is really a sharp color! I think they call it "Azure".

 

[pipejockey]

Pipe, not sure if you've seen the other threads where Rez has pointed out my flaws, and he has now guided me to the light. I answered his call and now I am doing my best to turn a new leaf and help others, because that is my role as a Semi Professional pilot.
I hear what you're saying. I see your frustrations, even the Wayback who hated himself, would have agreed with you. He would have said "If you're giving management multi million dollar bonuses, and taking pay from you're employees, it's time to shut doors."
But you have to understand. In these trying times, companies are struggling to turn a profit, even though their pilots swear they're just altering their numbers to reflect a loss of millions of dollars.
We have to work with the company and do what's right for the Big Picture. If we're good to each other, our short comings will be forgotten while we're having fun flying the jet.
Don't think of it as Jackson Mississippi. No, think of it as Jackson Hole Wyoming. While you're there, take pictures of you and your crew doing wild and crazy things. Update your status message saying "In Jackson being all buck wild, this is what I have to do to unwind from a long hard day in the office...41,000ft about the earth, listening to my iPod...Jefferson Airplane of course. Oh well, I need to stop drinking. 13 hours and 5 seconds till show time tomorrow, I'm CRAZY! Just Livin the Dream!". Your friends will see how much fun you are having, but yet how positive you are, and the pictures show them how healthy you are...since you're so happy now.
Oh, one more Facebook tip before I leave you to reflect on this, then enjoy your afternoon watching the Super Bowl. Next time on Facebook, add ALPA as your friend, get that neat little ALPA icon added in your "pages" section. It will show your unity and brotherhood to your ALPA brothers who have your back....I mean you back area above your belt line, not your buttocks silly!

I leave you with this. Make the best of everything you have. Even if money is tight, and your struggling to pay your mortgage, bills and food for yourself and your family. Just think how good it is going to feel when times get better, and as a Union Brotherhood, we will rise above and get those wages we deserve. But for now, understand that no one is making a profit, everyone is struggling to survive. You're not alone. Godspeed.


PS
Did you see that color of blue Prater got on his new Rolls Royce? Wow, that is really a sharp color! I think they call it "Azure".

I'm thinking you might be a WayBack from an alternate universe, ala the TV show Fringe. A universe where pilots are able to enjoy their jobs and have a wonderful QOL, pay and benefits, and are actually treated better than the dog sh*t that management sometimes have to scrape off their shoes from time to time.

And please tell me the Prater Rolls Royce thing is a joke. It would be an insult to every pilot that has to put up with the horrid TA's that ALPO seems to enjoy shoving down our throats.

 

[rider850]

Maybe,we can try to get this thread on track. How is the insurance at AE? Is it the same as mainline? What carrier? Does it have a dental plan? What are the 401K options?

Thanks

 

[WayBack]

And please tell me the Prater Rolls Royce thing is a joke. It would be an insult to every pilot that has to put up with the horrid TA's that ALPO seems to enjoy shoving down our throats.

I'm sorry, I was just misinformed, it is actually a Bugatti Veyron.
Many don't know about it, because he's not able to squeeze his big boned body into it, but he's on a serious work out regiment and one day he will drive it......to McDonalds.

 

[DGdaPilot]

Maybe,we can try to get this thread on track. How is the insurance at AE? Is it the same as mainline? What carrier? Does it have a dental plan? What are the 401K options?

Thanks

I pay $200/month for my family. I am on the CoPay plan which is $20 regular copay, $35 for a specialist or ugent care, $125 for emergency room. Aetna/Blue Cross Blue Shield depending on where you live. 401k is:


Years of Service Company Match of Pilot Eligible Earnings
1-4 50% of up to 7% eligible earning for a maximum of 3.5%
5-9 75% of up to 7% of eligible earnings for a maximum of 5.25%
10-14 80% of up to 8% of eligible earnings for a maximum of 6.4%
15-19 87.5% of up to 8% of eligible earnings for a maximum of 7%
20+ 100% of up to 8% of eligible earnings for a maximum of 8

 

[rider850]

Ae

Thanks.

How about Dental and eyecare?

 

[minarcia]

When I was an F/O at Eagle one of the things that made me realize I had to get out was flying with the company pay leader on a regular basis. He was literally killing himself to make what a normal major F/O makes. I mean he was always at work. A real tournament player O/T hound with crew scheduling and Sabre. He was in his late 50's but literally looked 75+. Hair was all ghost white, skin wrinkled, over weight, and bitter. I thought to myself this is as good as it gets here...

From my time at Eagle, and now looking from the outside in, I couldn't agree more.

 

[no1pilot2000]

How would you rate the following regional airlines OVERALL? Meaning, starting pay and pay progression over time, career progression, management, aircraft you fly, quality of life, fellow crew members and aother employess you have dealt with, and anything else you care to add. Please check your sarcasm at the door please. **PLEASE be honest in your comments (and I know that won't be easy for some of you).

1 being the worse score and 10 being the best score.

 

[CX880]

How would you rate the following regional airlines OVERALL? Meaning, starting pay and pay progression over time, career progression, management, aircraft you fly, quality of life, fellow crew members and aother employess you have dealt with, and anything else you care to add. Please check your sarcasm at the door please. **PLEASE be honest in your comments (and I know that won't be easy for some of you).

1 being the worse score and 10 being the best score.

I'll give it a 6. But it doesn't matter, though. all regionals are the same the only difference between them is the airplane you fly and the schedules associated with that airplane. that's about it. same misery but the koolaid tastes better at some other companies.

 

[no1pilot2000]

When I meant regional airlines, here's the list:

Air Wisconsin
Republic/Chatauqua/Shuttle America
Piedmont
Colgan
Comair
American Eagle
PSA
ASA
Skywest
Commutair
Mesa
Mesaba
Compass

 

[WayBack]

When I meant regional airlines, here's the list:

Air Wisconsin
Republic/Chatauqua/Shuttle America
Piedmont
Colgan
Comair
American Eagle
PSA
ASA
Skywest
Commutair
Mesa
Mesaba
Compass

Stay away from all of them, except SkyWest. They're the only ones with a good QOL and pay.

 

[CX880]

When I meant regional airlines, here's the list:

Air Wisconsin
Republic/Chatauqua/Shuttle America
Piedmont
Colgan
Comair
American Eagle
PSA
ASA
Skywest
Commutair
Mesa
Mesaba
Compass

You can't rate them because it varies for individuals. Some people want closest base, some people want the one that gets them PIC fastest, some people are fixed on only one like Skywest. Generally the idea is if you don't want to spend too much time at a regional you go with the bottom feeders or prop operators like Colgan because they have the fastest movement different bases. If you want a stable place where you can build a career you go to AE or Skywest etc.

 

[no1pilot2000]

Has anyone considered military flying? If your not the full time military type, perhaps fly for the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve? I used to be in the National Guard and spoke to pilots from the Air Guard and they enjoyed their flying. Pilots in the Air Guard and A.F. Reserve don't fly just one weekend a month or two weeks during the summer either. It's something to consider.

 

[WayBack]

Has anyone considered military flying? If your not the full time military type, perhaps fly for the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve? I used to be in the National Guard and spoke to pilots from the Air Guard and they enjoyed their flying. Pilots in the Air Guard and A.F. Reserve don't fly just one weekend a month or two weeks during the summer either. It's something to consider.

That does fit most peoples "Fast-Track" to the airlines. If PFT128 could pay to fly in the Military, he would do it in a ...........wait, you're not allowed to eat french fries in the cockpit of a military aircraft, disregard.

 

[pipejockey]

You can't rate them because it varies for individuals. Some people want closest base, some people want the one that gets them PIC fastest, some people are fixed on only one like Skywest. Generally the idea is if you don't want to spend too much time at a regional you go with the bottom feeders or prop operators like Colgan because they have the fastest movement different bases. If you want a stable place where you can build a career you go to AE or Skywest etc.

Well we have to better define the terms "stable place" and "build a career".
If one were to consider having to rot in the left seat of an RJ for 10 years, than yes, Eagle is as stable as they come. Expect to take home $500 a week for 10 long years. Are ya'll ready for that? As far as building a career, well knowing it will be 10 years before you get into the left seat, and about 13 years before you have the PIC time required to POSSIBLY get one of the few major airline jobs that may or may not become available, then yes, you'll be building a career at Eagle because you won't be moving on anywhere else. Unless you want to go to another regional.

And a new hire needs to consider how old they are when they get hired. If you are under 25, you may have a 50/50 chance of making it to a major airline. If you are older, your chances of merely paying your dues at a regional in preparation for a job at a major go down with each year older than 25 you may be. After all, if you are hired at 27 you'll be 40 years old before even having an outside shot at a major. Do people really want to become a new hire again at 40+, knowing no major airline will likely have upgrade times less than 10 years anymore? Even SWA has nearly a 10 year upgrade. And spare me all the talk about how things are going to miraculously change when mandatory retirements start again. Check and see what percentage of pilots actually make it to 65. Most are already gone by then. Mandatory retirement is not going to be this professions xanadu like many believe.

And with management clamoring ever more vigorously to place yet more and more, and larger and larger aircraft on regional property, you see your chances of making it to a major airline even more remote. What is mind boggling to me is to hear these regional guys wanting their regional airline to grow so they can see some movement, but while they may see movement at their regional, it is at the expense of movement at the place where everyone dreamed of going when starting this career...a MAJOR airline!! And it also doesn't help that current mainline pilots still refuse to do whats necessary to get these large RJ's on mainline property. They continue to give up scope, they continue to turn their nose up at any flying that is done in anything other than a Boeing or Airbus. What do you expect from them really, they have theirs, to hell with everybody else. Then they have the audacity to complain that all of their flying is going away.

If a new hire into this profession is counting on expansion, forget it! Our current ATC system is an embarrassment that flat out can't move current traffic on time. As the economy improves, we will once again have the oil price volatility again. It was 2 years ago, and oil was over 100 a barrel prompting the industry to cut capacity stating that the current capacity couldn't be sustained at oil over 100 a barrel. And it was that dumb luck, not managements mental acumen that has helped the industry limp by since 2008. Oil already is nearly 80 a barrel. It will be well over 100 during summer and sometime next year we will see 150 a barrel again. Management claims that fares need to be at their current dirt cheap levels just to fill up our current reduced capacity which is about 15% less than early 2008. What's going to happen when oil is 150 again. Are you new guys going to be willing to accept even lower wages than are currently paid?

BTW, not being sarcastic, just laying it on the line as bluntly as possible. I wish I had this kind of info when I got into this free-fall of a profession, although when I got into this in the 90's, the environment was much rosier, or at the very least, not as dark. These new guys today have no excuse not to know what they are jumping into these days. I don't feel a bit sorry for anyone getting into this profession after 2004 or so, when we all knew things would never be allowed to get back to even what we had in the late 90's.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Horizon is the best. It used to be Horizon and AWAC were neck and neck, but AWAC has drastically changed. Horizon has changed, but not like AWAC.

It may be irrelevant, as Horizon guys may end up at DAL anyway.

cliff
NBO

 

[DGdaPilot]

Eagel will soon have a provision giving preferential interviews to any ALPA pilot.

 

[hou757]

Eagel will soon have a provision giving preferential interviews to any ALPA pilot.

When does this happen. Got a few friends this might help..

 

[DGdaPilot]

I think the LOA will be voted on by the Eagle ALPA MEC within a week.

 

[DGdaPilot]

Just got this in my email:

Recently the MEC reached a tentative agreement with management that will obligate Eagle management to grant preferential interviews to ALPA pilots. The MEC will be voting on this draft letter of agreement on Thursday, May 13th. The draft letter of agreement is posted under the draft letters of agreement tab in the contracts section of the ALPA-Eagle website. Please provide your local representatives with any input you have.

 

[pipejockey]

I don't understand how this is news. First of all, the vast majority of regional new-hires have never worked for an airline of any sort, let alone an ALPA carrier. Secondly, the company will ultimately hire anybody they want regardless of union affiliation. Thirdly, the extreme few of those who are furloughed, or who have seen their airline mismanaged into oblivion and who are now out of work, are not going to start at THE most senior regional airline in the world with 10 year upgrades that will continue for as long as that airline exists.

Eagle is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma! The problem with that company is that it takes so long to upgrade and to get the PIC time needed to move on to a major, that by the time many of those guys get their 2000 PIC which will be the bare minimum to get the few major positions that occasionally present themselves, many will be in their 40's and much less likely to start over on the bottom of another seniority list. Where they will be FO's once again, back on reserve, working weekends, holidays, and contractual min. days off! Then after about 10 years if you are lucky, you can upgrade at about 50+ years old and be back on reserve, working weekends and holidays all over again with min days off on the smallest equipment on property. Does anyone really want to be doing that again in their old age? It is this reason, that the perpetual 10 year upgrade will exist at Eagle for the rest of time. It is a black hole of airline pilots....once you're sucked in, you can't escape.

Consider that they have over 500 guys with AA seniority numbers, who sooner or later will be handed a job at AA on a silver platter, and I have heard that most of them are all balking at the thought of going to AA. Most are staying at Eagle. And for those few furloughed regional guys who may be thinking that they will just use eagle to start building flight time again, do you really think that they won't require you to resign your seniority where you are furloughed from?

I'm just trying to give the newbies today the straight facts that were not anywhere to be found pre 9-11 when I got involved in this career that is devoid from any reasonable future. Obviously, my first recommendation for anyone getting involved in this industry is to run....run far away from it! But if you feel you just have to limit your future success by way of getting involved in this horribly mismanaged industry, then certainly do not even consider going to Eagle. Anyone 30 or older will be closing the door on any chance to progress to a major airline if they go to Eagle.