Make the AA hop next year?

[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.

 

[aa73]

G4G5, can't say I blame you if you have a decent corp. gig. I would prob defer, too.

That said - 8/00 hire, yes you would be on reserve in any base but keep in mind, you would also hold JFK and MIA 767/Int'l... if you have to be on reserve, might as well go big. Esp. if you live in base.

And based on the company's plans to continue recalling and then hiring off the street, my guess is that you'd be off reserve within the next few months, at this rate.

 

[G100driver]

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!

You really have no clue ...

 

[G100driver]

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..

That whole week of flying this month might change that for you ....

 

[AA717driver]

Corp--Stand by for a PM. G200, you're losing your touch. B-J boy should be doing his own colonoscopy now. I still owe you a call.

TC

 

[aviator82]

Willy21, well said. Getting on at AA within the first 3-4 years of hiring will take an act of congress!! Only those that are extremely well connected and well qualified will get the chance to interview. AA interviews have traditionally been very difficult. There are a few thousand military pilots itching to get out over the last few years and over 20,000 regional pilots that want into a legacy carrier. My guess is over 10,000 AA apps within weeks of the window opening. AA does seem to be poised for a very bright future and those blessed ones that get in early should have a great ride! Just want to keep things in perspective, best of luck!

 

[CorpCaptain]

Thanks for the useful responses everyone. No doubt that it will be a competitive interview process when it does begin. G200, if you need a recommendation i'd be more than willing once you build a little more turbine PIC

 

[Gulfstream 200]

G200, if you need a recommendation i'd be more than willing once you build a little more turbine PIC

I appreciate it!...

Oh, to be one of the blessed ones.

 

[fullsail]

CC,

All depends on your age and AA retirement numbers. I might have misunderstood, but I think you indicated you were still in your thirties? Probably enough said right there...Go for AA. I really enjoy my corporate job, but we will never have hard days off and never pay what the majors will either. In addition, what if my owner decides to sell the jet? Over the years, I've always heard about "great" corporate jobs out there. As you know, there are some great flight departments in America. But, usually the details emerge as some hard days off and decent pay which not all corporate jobs have. Well, you will have hard days off day 1 at AA. As far as decent pay goes, you should be able to surpass your 85K at AA quickly.

I have done both corporate and major (furloughed). If you live in base for AA, your job will be much easier than it is now. I don't have to tell you about cleaning the plane etc.....Whether that is better is up to you. Another poster described "upteen" furloughs awaiting you at AA. I may be wrong, but I seriously doubt that with the age 65 exodus beginning next year.

Lastly, don't leave your job now for an RJ. Beware of the corporate pilot who "knows" all about the airlines but never flew for the majors and don't EVER commute!

Hope this helps!

 

[CorpCaptain]

Thanks FS-
Yes, I am 32. I'd prefer to stay corporate but was interested in anyone else who has made the move and if there were any unexpected or unforeseen issues I may be ill-informed about. I will probably continue to monitor the situation in the coming year and make a decision when the "gates" open. Thanks again for the insight.

 

[aa73]

32 years old? Holy cow. Dude if you get hired into one of the first few classes, do you realize how long you'd be # 1 on the seniority list at retirement? Seriously... our youngest pilot right now is 36 and we haven't hired since '01! Good luck with your decision and keep us posted.