Make the AA hop next year?

[CorpCaptain]

AA73's thread got me thinking about next year. When AA and others begin to ramp up their hiring practices next year at what point would it be lateral to make the jump? As a mid cabin class captain in corporate for the last 12yrs and looking to move back to Ft. Worth i'm certainly pondering the thought. I know there are several people who have made the jump in 121 after getting accustomed to the 135/91 world and would like to hear their opinions. Thanks in advance for the input-

Corp

 

[stupidpilot]

If you like being furloughed umpteen times in the next twenty years then I say go for it. There is now way I would consider flying for any mainline pax outfit than SWA. If being furloughed doesn't bother you then AA might be up your alley.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

AA73's thread got me thinking about next year. When AA and others begin to ramp up their hiring practices next year at what point would it be lateral to make the jump? As a mid cabin class captain in corporate for the last 12yrs and looking to move back to Ft. Worth i'm certainly pondering the thought. I know there are several people who have made the jump in 121 after getting accustomed to the 135/91 world and would like to hear their opinions. Thanks in advance for the input-

Corp

Of course only you can answer this...but I'd say go for it if its where you really want to be.

I suppose much depends on how good your job is now. I wouldn't leave a 150k+ corp job to go to American Airlines and never recover...especially if your current quality of life if good....but otherwise? why not?

Life is way too short to worry about the next furlough, layoff, etc. Its very much out of our control anyhow.

Good luck!

 

[CorpCaptain]

I suppose much depends on how good your job is now. I wouldn't leave a 150k+ corp job to go to American Airlines and never recover...especially if your current quality of life if good....but otherwise? why not?

Life is way too short to worry about the next furlough, layoff, etc. Its very much out of our control anyhow.

Good luck!

Thats kind of how I feel about it. I currently work for a 135 outfit that is pretty good to me. I've almost spent my career entirely here. It's brand new equipment, that being said I will never make over 85K here and hard time off is a lost art. I recently turned in my players card so the wife is looking for some stability. Just not sure that sitting reserve in NY for 6 years is going to tickle her the right way either

 

[BoilerUP]

AA has a fairly old pilot group, so whenever hiring does start off the street again the first wave should enjoy pretty quick seniority advancement due to attrition.

 

[JJthejetplane]

I started off at a regional, did several corporate gigs, and am now at a major. I, without a doubt, prefer the 121 world to corporate. There are pros and cons to both, however. As for American, the labor-management relationship isn't all that good, but long-term you have good career potential. Furloughs . . . it could happen, but it seems that things are going to turn around and we can look at this last decade as just a bad nightmare. As things stand now, you will gain seniority fairly quickly. Only you know what is best for you, so carefully weigh the pros and cons of both your current job and a job with American. I will tell you this, flying 121 is a heck of a lot easier than corporate. You show up to work for a few days, then go home for a few days. I do recommend living in base as commuting will take a good job and make it less desirable.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Thats kind of how I feel about it. I currently work for a 135 outfit that is pretty good to me. I've almost spent my career entirely here. It's brand new equipment, that being said I will never make over 85K here and hard time off is a lost art. I recently turned in my players card so the wife is looking for some stability. Just not sure that sitting reserve in NY for 6 years is going to tickle her the right way either

At 85K I wouldn't hesitate to walk from a job if you want a change for personal reasons....with a decent reputation and network you can always go back and find that kind of money pretty easily depending on where you live.

And reality is....after a certain age, no hard time off isn't worth 185K, nevermind 85K...

As far as the above poster, IMO 121 certainly isn't easier flying than corporate all around, it just depends on the gig. Every airline friend I have works far harder than me. There's no "norm" out there.

All this aside, there seems to be quite a bit of movement in corporate hiring also?...maybe you can upgrade your corp job to one that provides better pay and time off....However, I admit I know nothing about the DFW market.

Either way, cant hurt to give it a look..

 

[miles otoole]

AA73's thread got me thinking about next year. When AA and others begin to ramp up their hiring practices next year at what point would it be lateral to make the jump? As a mid cabin class captain in corporate for the last 12yrs and looking to move back to Ft. Worth i'm certainly pondering the thought. I know there are several people who have made the jump in 121 after getting accustomed to the 135/91 world and would like to hear their opinions. Thanks in advance for the input-

Corp

I've known more than a few corporate CAs making close to 200K who lost jobs since 2008 and can't find jobs anywhere near what they use to have. For every dude telling you 121 is toast and their deal is safe, I would be very, very cautious....

 

[filejw]

AA73's thread got me thinking about next year. When AA and others begin to ramp up their hiring practices next year at what point would it be lateral to make the jump? As a mid cabin class captain in corporate for the last 12yrs and looking to move back to Ft. Worth i'm certainly pondering the thought. I know there are several people who have made the jump in 121 after getting accustomed to the 135/91 world and would like to hear their opinions. Thanks in advance for the input-

Corp

If getting back to DFW is your goal don't forget there are 2 airlines in TX.
I would be sure to apply to both.

 

[CorpCaptain]

Personally, I would much rather remain in corporate aviation. I enjoy the perks and developing the personal relationship with who you work for. I think in the next 5-8yrs I can find a F100 position within the corporate network. The decision really has no bearing until the job may or may not be offered. Balancing whether to take my lumps during my early 30's in the 121 enviornment or to hang on in hopes of employment with a corporate position that I envision myself retiring from is what's proving difficult. Regardless I am going to apply once the window opens, i'm simply trying to look ahead and get notion of what to expect and if anyone has been through this that could shed light on the subject. Thanks again for the replies-

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

AA73's thread got me thinking about next year. When AA and others begin to ramp up their hiring practices next year at what point would it be lateral to make the jump? As a mid cabin class captain in corporate for the last 12yrs and looking to move back to Ft. Worth i'm certainly pondering the thought. I know there are several people who have made the jump in 121 after getting accustomed to the 135/91 world and would like to hear their opinions. Thanks in advance for the input-

Corp

LOL! I make more than that flying around a barbie jet with 15 hard days off a month.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

LOL! I make more than that flying around a barbie jet with 15 hard days off a month.

Does that not deeply concern you?

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

It concerns me that there are guys like you that couldn't get an airline job if you payed for it that will undercut professionals like myself!

 

[Gulfstream 200]

It concerns me that there are guys like you that couldn't get an airline job if you payed for it that will undercut professionals like myself!

As anticipated, the entire concept went way over your head.

The OP was asking about leaving an admitted lower paying corp gig to try at a major airline or a better Fortune xx opportunity and was looking for any info on guys who have made this transition...simple career building advice.

You pipe in with Regional Pilot Touretts Syndrome and brag about being in a "Barbie Jet" long enough to make more money than him...moving up the chain at a regional, now there's something to brag about, huh?

As far as wanting your job (dear god) do know that I would likely shoot myself before being able to drive to work and fly an RJ 15 days a month with clowns like you and make 85K....but to each his own.

Please, do come by often and give us lectures on RJ pilots keeping the bar high, its entertaining if anything.

 

[Willy21]

CorpCaptain

Network, network, network. Understand that there are thousands of AA pilot's kids, squadron buddies, furloughed friends...... that are lined up wanting to get a shot at an AA interview. Your resume will only get you so far. Your contacts my be the only thing that get you in the door early on in the hiring wave. The chance of just making a "hop" to AA next year will not be easy.

There is going to be large turnover at AA over the next decade and the lucky few that make it in first should have a decent QOL quickly. I can assure you from my current position you don't want to be stuck on the bottom of a seniority list.

Best of luck to you.

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

As anticipated, the entire concept went way over your head.

The OP was asking about leaving an admitted lower paying corp gig to try at a major airline or a better Fortune xx opportunity and was looking for any info on guys who have made this transition...simple career building advice.

You pipe in with Regional Pilot Touretts Syndrome and brag about being in a "Barbie Jet" long enough to make more money than him...moving up the chain at a regional, now there's something to brag about, huh?

As far as wanting your job (dear god) do know that I would likely shoot myself before being able to drive to work and fly an RJ 15 days a month with clowns like you and make 85K....but to each his own.

Please, do come by often and give us lectures on RJ pilots keeping the bar high, its entertaining if anything.

LOL again!. Will you wash the owners car? Yes! Will you vacuum and clean the airplane? Yes!. Will you you wipe the owners butt for him? Yes! Your hired!

 

[satpak77]

maybe I am missing something but 85K is still a decent salary in the "real world" and if you have any sense of stability there, I don't know if I would just throw that away for a dice roll at a major. What is oil now ? $90, $95 a barrell ? Is the ecomony coming back ? I am still waiting.

I don't know, FedEx/UPS, ok, sure, but a passenger carrier, in todays climate I don't know if I would leave for that.

 

[aa73]

Hi Corp Capt... I of course can't tell you the best decision. But like others have pointed out, AA is about to hit big time retirements when the age 65ers start retiring next year. Lots of movement just from that - starting around 2017, there are around 500 retirements per year.Also, AA seems to want to grow, and a lot, to catch up with rivals. More movement right there. Now throw in the upcoming duty rest changes, that's gonna require some more pilots as well.

What I'm getting at is that anyone who hires on here when we start is probably not going to undergo the tremendous stagnation we've seen for the past 10 years. I think this seniority list will turn over very quickly in the next 20 years.

Overall this career and place have been good to me - I was hired in Feb 2000 so I am in year 12, flying 75/76 int'l out of JFK and holding a line (not by much!) The pilot group here is great, sure we have bad apples like all groups, but overall a very professional group of guys and gals.

If/when we get the contract we're fighting for, we should see some pretty big pay raises as well as better work rules. All in all, we're trying to make this a career place once again.

Right now they can't recall fast enough. Just talked to an MD80 CKA friend of mine - he was told they will continue hiring MD80 CKA through the rest of the year! That tells you something right there. We're extremely short thru the summer, and we just had 33 early outs July 1 with probably more on Aug 1. I think we'll be hiring by next year at this rate.

As G200 mentioned above, you can't jump into 121 worrying about furloughs. They are a fact of 121 life. However, my crystal ball says that this is the beginning of another big growth/hiring wave, and if you can get in early, maybe you can build enough of a cushion below you up until the next furlough (notice I said when, not if...)

250 possible new aircraft is way more than they're planning on retiring in the next 10 years, so I think there's quite a bit of growth in this order. As I said, AMR needs to grow, a lot, to catch up to rivals.

Good luck on your decision. I'm sure it ain't an easy one! Stay in touch and I'll be glad to update you on what's going on here.

73

 

[Gulfstream 200]

LOL again!. Will you wash the owners car? Yes! Will you vacuum and clean the airplane? Yes!. Will you you wipe the owners butt for him? Yes! Your hired!

YOUR not very witty or original, and YOUR certainly not too bright.

Regional Board -------> that way.

 

[G4G5]

Its a crap shoot at the very least. I was hired 6 months after aa73 (8/2000) and my number gets me a reserve line on the MD80 out of EWR, 6am weekend mop up guy to Chicago 14 times a month, no thanks. I made the jump back to corporate in 2003 and have been lucky ever since. The thought of going back only comes around ever few years. I miss the schedule but that's only if you can hold a line. Reserve for an airline is worse then any corporate schedule I have ever had. Money is better in the descent corporate world. 12 year pay on the MD80 out of NY sitting reserve is $96,360 a year. Even with the A and B retirement funds calculated in, most Gulfstream/Falcon Challenger guys in a major city can do better. Hotels and meals go to the corporate operator, much better then paying for your own based on a minuscule per diem and consistently staying at the airport hotel negotiated away by some committee, what I have saved on just not having to pay for my own internet on the road has me way ahead.

People have asked me before and the only way to describe it is, the best corporate job blows away any airline job ever, the worst corporate job makes flying for the regionals look like Leonardo Dicaprio in, Catch Me if you can.

Just look at the current rate of acceptance amongst the AA recalled pilots. It's taking 10 phone calls to get one guy to come back. The current labor laws are so anti union the thought of getting recalled and then having to wait another 10 years for a contract is pathetic.

For the next few years I am on the outside looking in.