Finding Qualified Pilots...

[AA717driver]

I was told that Virgin America had pretty much cleaned out the ranks of "qualified" A320 typed pilots and will now consider 757/767 experience and lots of time for CA positions.

I told my friend that if they even paid $10/hr. more they would be able to find a lot more people.

We'll see if they're serious about getting and retaining quality people. TC

 

[Lear70]

There's no real surprise.

The ex-Indy guys are almost all somewhere stable, the majors have recalled a very large portion of their furloughees and will finish recalls by the end of the year in most cases.

There's just not a large pool of applicants to draw on if you want A320 experience.

I disagree with you about one thing: they could raise the salary $50 an hour and they'd still have a hard time getting guys to leave their major airline job and come fly there. Too big of a risk, not enough payoff.

Would you get some of the lower-seniority guys from maybe JBlue who would see A320 CA within 12 months? Maybe. But that would be about it.

They're going to have to take high-time regional guys before they start getting meat in the seats, and even then the experienced high-time pilots and check airmen might pass also since they're trying to get with a stable Major carrier.

Worst time in recent aviation history to start an airline (barring post 9/11 of course).

 

[Socalplt]

They hired a about a half dozen or so SkyWest guys last Nov-Dec without any 320 time.

 

[instructordude]

I'm considring applying. The pay isn't great but really isn't awful. I just need to make the jump into bigger equipment.

 

[BLUE BAYOU]

Yeah, wait until you sit reserve in SFO and see how far that pay will go...

 

[flyboyike]

Anybody know what their plans are as far as hiring FOs?

 

[Fly4hire]

Yeah, wait until you sit reserve in SFO and see how far that pay will go...

Or live in SFO if you can't JS........

 

[Non Union]

Worst time in recent aviation history to start an airline (barring post 9/11 of course).

Don't say that too loud or the ExpressJet guys will get mad at you.

 

[AA717driver]

They hired a about a half dozen or so SkyWest guys last Nov-Dec without any 320 time.

Those were for FO. They need CA's now. TC

 

[Yuppyguppy]

another scab operator brutal