American Eagle is hiring again

[Tuneman]

I just got a letter in the mail today inviting me back to continue the hiring process with Eagle. (Not sure exactly what that will involve though).
Prior 9/11, I was scheduled for a November 01 class.

 

[pilotshan]

I faxed my stuff to 817-963-2004 last week and got an application in the mail today.

 

[AftCG182]

I faxed my stuff to the same number this afternoon. Let you guys know what happens.

 

[ShyFlyGuy]

So Many Questions...

Conditions are deplorable down there in SJU, even for the Puerto Rican pilots. The seat lock thing should be explained to these kids in here. I don't think they understand what's going on over at Eagle and why so many people hate flying for them. 50% did not accept the offer to return to Eagle, and that is simply because it is not worth going back. Once they had the taste of a normal life once again, they started asking themselves why they were doing what they were doing. Think twice about Eagle before you commit and get all the facts straight. Perhaps a few Eagle pilots would give their deposition on their view of the airline from the inside.

 

[Av8trxx]

Re: So Many Questions...

The seat lock thing should be explained to these kids in here. I don't think they understand what's going on over at Eagle and why so many people hate flying for them.....Think twice about Eagle before you commit and get all the facts straight. Perhaps a few Eagle pilots would give their deposition on their view of the airline from the inside.

True, there are lots of things that can be better around here. However in the present hiring environment, just getting a 121 job these days is a challenge unless you have several thousand hours over mins and are the CEOs neighbor or someting. The seat lock is for 12 months. Since it costs so much to train they don't want to waste money, so you must stay in your aircraft for a year. You can't bid between turbo props, so that means if you got SJU and want off The Rock, you must be able to hold jet F/O (or MIA on the ATR) to leave. Of the 400+ new hires, from what I have heard, the majority is expected to go to ORD jet expansion.

Personally, I am glad to be at Eagle. I'd rather be up here looking down on my old job than down there looking up here (like I did on furlough). I know there are plenty of negatives but look at the positive- getting to fly for an airline! The short term sacrifices are worth it for the long term pay offs. Everybody has to pay dues somehow. For most 1000/100 pilots, no matter how you look at it, it is a 'step up' from what they have. Even if one decides to move on after a year or two, 121 time will look good on the resume.

On the plus side, most of the line guys are really great and the training dept is awesome. Management and their interpretation of the contract? Another (looooong) topic....but there are many posts on that already.

 

[mach zero]

Attention all low timers looking for an airline job: Don't go to American Eagle. Working conditions are bad, morale is low, the company hates the pilots, the progression to the left seat will take many many years, etc.

You will NOT get hired at a major without PIC turbine time (a few exceptions apply but most won't). You will sit right seat at Eagle for around 7 years as it stands now. In a seniority driven career, you are wasting precious time in getting yourself competitive for a major. Additionally, you cannot afford to live on Eagle's F/O wages for that long.

They WILL lie to you and tell you about the flow through and AA and how great it is. Trust me it is not what they advertise. I wasted almost 8 years of my career there. Don't make the same mistake I did.

Signed,
Mach Zero
former Eagle SF-340 CA and Check Airman

 

[JohnDoe]

quote:

"I know there are plenty of negatives but look at the positive- getting to fly for an airline! The short term sacrifices are worth it for the long term pay offs."

And there it is folks....the number one reason why things will never get better at eagle or any other regional: "I know I don't make squat for money, and have no home-life, but I get to fly for an AIRLINE!!!!!!...............


Long-term pay offs????? Which ones are those?? Getting 121 time so you can go to a major? Sorry. None of those are hiring right now and probably won't for another 6-7 years. Ok, I'll go to Jetblue or Southwest you say? Well, you need 1000 pic turbine time to go there. Plan on getting that at Eagle? Wrong again, you'll be waiting 6 or so years for that one. Flow-through to American? Yeah right. People that are at Eagle right now are never going to flow-through, and the flow-through agreement expires in 2007, or near there. You will never get an AA senority number.

The only benefit at Eagle is to build some flight time........and you are much better off doing that at some other airline where you might have a snowball's chance getting a pic spot.

 

[mach zero]

Just to make a point about the flow through, I know of at least one senior jet CA who currently holds an AA seniority # that has just applied at ATA. It says something when those who already have AA #'s are bailing to the LCC's.

 

[fly2002]

Hey guys

Hey guys...I fired off a resume to eagle back in october. I just received an application in the mail yesterday..but I AM under the 1500/500 mark. I've got about 1300/400 right now. Am i wasting my time sending the application back? I got online here and saw the mins...but why would they take the time and send an app if I didn't meet them? Ok ...fire away

 

[WMUdz]

What are the chances of newhires going to ord. If they were sju based, how long after the seat lock would it take to bid an ord line?

 

[JTrain]

WMUdruz-

Although I'm not with AE, if you'd bothered to read this thread you'd have learned that newhires are mostly getting sent to ATR SJU or ERJ (BOS/LGA). I suspect that *if* you were hired it would be sheer luck of the draw couple with a bit of what a/c assignments your class got which would determine what you'd be in.

What's the big deal about getting SJU though - it was my goal in 2000 to go to Eagle (thankfully ACA, which was supposed to be a practice interview turned into a job offer). It'll be an experience, a unique place to fly, party, have a good time. Enjoy what SJU has to offer, then transfer back stateside when the opportunity comes.

But don't base your decisions on "If hired, what are my chances of getting ORD." APPLY NOW - and IF HIRED (expect competition to be keen), worry about getting ORD.

Fly2002-

Apply, and if you're right on the fence for TT and ME time, update frequently. You are *never* going to get a job by not applying and the only thing applying will cost you is what, $.33 for a stamp. So apply!!! Worst they can say is no.


JT

p.s. if you'd spent the time you did posting questions to this board filling out your app, it would probably be in the mail.

 

[spitfire1940]

Long-term payoffs?

I have to agree with John Doe.

What kind of long-term payoffs are you guys looking for? I just don't understand what world some of you guys are living in to see "long-term benefits" to being an FO for Eagle.

Yeah, it's better than digging ditches or being a janitor, but there are better options in aviation (I hope) than anything Eagle has to offer.

I have their mins but won't send an application because it would be a waste of time--how do you support a family on that salary? Guess that's less competition for the eager beavers.

 

[Av8trxx]

Long-term pay offs????? Which ones are those?? Getting 121 time so you can go to a major? Sorry. None of those are hiring right now and probably won't for another 6-7 years. Ok, I'll go to Jetblue or Southwest you say? Well, you need 1000 pic turbine time to go there. Plan on getting that at Eagle? Wrong again, you'll be waiting 6 or so years for that one. Flow-through to American? Yeah right. People that are at Eagle right now are never going to flow-through, and the flow-through agreement expires in 2007, or near there. You will never get an AA senority number.

The only benefit at Eagle is to build some flight time........and you are much better off doing that at some other airline where you might have a snowball's chance getting a pic spot.

I didn't say long term at AE, but meant 'long term pay offs' in general, like at the end of ones career where they will retire. As in everyone has to suck it up and start at the bottom someplace to get to their dream job- so be it if that starting point is Beagle. Like I said, one must have extremely competative times to even get a 'thanks for your interest' reply these days. So while there are "better options in aviation than anything Eagle has to offer", getting one of those options may be difficult or next to impossible depending on the kind of resumes one is competing against. I passed the test at Skywest and was told they'd call me for an interview. I am still waiting. Their competative mins are twice what I have. Don't waste a stamp if you don't want to (to any airline), but we all gotta know that 'beggars can't be chosers' these days.

As far as getting my 121 time for the majors, if the majors aren't "hiring right now and probably won't for another 6-7 years", then what difference does it make that I won't upgrade for 5yrs at Beagle??? That gives me 1-2 yrs to build PIC time to get ready for the 'major' airlines recall. Plus if we hire 400-700 pilots next year, that time will drop a year or two. From what I have read here, the upgrade times at other regionals are starting to creep back up towards the 4-5 yr mark. If we do expand as predicted, then our should come down and be in that ballpark. We shall see....

Slow Through Agreement? And work for the Sky Nazis? Not interested. Besides, even if I upgraded next year, and wanted to flow, they aren't hiring so it's moot. AA probably won't hire again until loooong after the agreement expires.

Every pilot looking for a job knows to use the 'shotgun' approach. Apply everywhere and if you get more than one hit (offer) great! If you did so and only got an offer from AE, take the opportunity and make the best of it. It certainly can't hurt. If after 6 mos/yr it's so bad you can't stand it, or the money just isn't enough then apply elsewhere. Odds are your resume will look better with 121 time on it to the carrier you really wanted to work for that turned you down before.

 

[8HourPilot]

Hey JTrain,

I work for Ae, and various Check Airmen for Ae say the opposite of what your saying, settle down.

 

[mach zero]

Ok AV8TRXX here is the deal. Southwest is going to start hiring alot of pilots next year. Air Tran, Jet Blue, and ATA are also planning on hiring in '04. There are rumblings of hiring at Fedex and UPS next year also. While you are sitting at Eagle building worthless F/O time, somone who went to another regional and upgraded to RJ CA early on will be taking that job at the major while you are left flying as RJ F/O making 35-40k / yr. with no retirement. So then 6 years from now, you finally make CA at Eagle get that coveted 1000 hours and realize that Delta and United aren't all they were cracked up to be. You finally go to SWA or some other major but that pilot who took the quick regional upgrade and got in on the leading edge of the major hiring curve has 5 years on you. Meaning you commute to the junior base on reserve while they enjoy a nice line and are looking at a CA award.

 

[aewanabe]

OR, you can think of Beagle as another stepping stone. Back before 9/11, that was my plan; (thus the screen name). My 100 hours of multi wasn't really competitive for anywhere I wanted to be (AWAC, Mesaba, ASA etc.) but I was offered an interview with AE as a former AMR employee. Even then I knew I was looking at a 4-5 year upgrade, but I figured if I got hired I could milk it for the turbine and 121 experience, and then voila I'm actually competitive for Air Whiskey, Comair, etc. Just a thought.

 

[pipejockey]

Lets see now, everyone who shows interest in working for Eagle is met with nothing but criticizm. How can you be so dumb, we are told. Youll never get PIC time which is needed for a Major airline job we are told. Go somewhere you can upgrade to CA in a couple years. Well I agree, ME PIC time in a transport category aircraft is whats imporatant but I bet the first person on this thread that says they are going to Mesa for that quick growth and upgrade will be promptly attacked as well. Lets see, maybe Freedom or Republic, or the new Midway. You get my point, no matter where one chooses to go there will be those that will attack the decision.

And as far as the comments that people like me who will work for such an airline like Eagle are the reason the profession is the way it is....well thats just idiotic. We didnt even vote on those contracts...let alone vote yes. All I can say is that I will sign on with the first part 121 carrier that will have me. And If there is a vote on a contract while I'm there, I will vote no on any second rate contract! One of the reasons the Mesa pilots probably voted in favor of their current contract was the promise of growth and new jets and the all important oppurtunity to get that PIC time that you all are saying one should be doing everything in their power to get.

Its ashame, but the number of people who dream of being airline pilots will always far exceed the number of positions available. Everybody bitc*es and moans but when it comes time to vote on a contract more than 50% cave in and ratify it. Those voting yes may say, "I'm only going to be here another couple years so who cares that this contract isnt worth the toilet paper in my bathroom." If a contract is up for ratification and you feel it doesnt provide a pilot the pay and QOL and retirement you deserve...VOTE NO!!!

Good luck to the Mesaba pilots. Hopefully they can turn things around. Unfortunately if they strike for a fair contract and miraculously get one, their Avros are out the door in June I believe, and Mesaba will be downsized and many of their pilots will be out the door...sad but true, lets hope not. Raising the bar is going hurt many pilots but the benefits in the long run will be great. Most will not allow themselves to be personally hurt though, therein lies the problem.

 

[FO 4 Life]

Come on now Mach Zero (LT), being one of the last FOs you flew with I know what you're saying. However, Eagle and Pinnacle are really the only ones hiring now. Skywest has stopped, Comair slowed, I guess there is Chatakeaway. We are supposed to hire 4-500 a year for the next 2 years to staff the 90+ RJs we're getting. Talked to a buddy at Comair and they're upgrade is over 3.5 years and climbing. Maybe I'll at least get to upgrade this year and join you and your sim partner.

As far as less than 50% accepting recall, think about it. When these people got the ax, a lot of airlines were hiring. If I got hired somewhere and had been there a year or two and Eagle called me back with my 6 months or less of service there, where do you think I'd choose. Seniority, Seniority, Seniority!

 

[AAsRedHeadedbro]

My take...

I make about $75,000 to $80,000 a year having a great time doing what I love to do. I have no regrets. With my wife's salary, we live just fine on well over $120,000 a year. I don't think my financial situation is unusual at all considering that most housholds today are dual income. True, when I was an FO, our houshold income was closer to $60,000 a year (30K from me and 30K from her), but we still had a nice little home with a pool in the Ft. Lauderdale area.

I never got into this business in order to get rich. I got into it because I loved aviation. I STILL love aviation.

Eagle is not nearly as bad a place to work as some feel it is and neither is it heaven. I suppose a lot of it has to do with one's attitude.

I welcome any new pilots who decide to fly for Eagle.

 

[chuychanga]

Chuychanga

Here's what a lot of us are thinking:

My current job also has no long term benefits. No retirement, I'm maxed out on pay at 24K. Sure, I am getting PIC time, but it's in a piston twin. That piston twin is about 40 years old and it shows it's age not only on the outside, but in the cockpit as well. I fly this antique aircraft into the worst weather at night on a regular basis. No opportunity at all to transition into a turbine powered aircraft. On call a lot, and usually fly in the middle of the night.

I understand that Eagle is not a place to be for the long-term and I am looking for a better job with a reputable regional. But I'd rather continue that search as an Eagle FO than as a freightdog.