Regional Hiring Over the Next 6-12 Months

[propjockey]

We are so overstaffed on the jet right now at SkyWest that if this were any other airline, they'd probably be furloughing.

I'm with the guy on the economy. Despite what Tricky Dick II and his puppet, Curious George have been saying for the past several years, this is NOT a healthy economy at all. That is not to say that certain individuals in certain sectors of the economy have done very well, but on the whole, the US economy is in a tailspin. With the collapse of the dollar (the more conspiratorial among us believe to be intentional) and the intrinsically-related meteoric rise in oil prices, the majors are running scared. Delta flying at SkyWest has been cut substantially. I think hiring at SkyWest, at least, is going to grind to a complete halt for several months in the beginning of 2008. And you can forget about a quick upgrade at SkyWest for a while at least. The LAST thing we need now is another jet captain. The Brasilia is another story -- it might as well be another company, and I can't speak intelligently about it other than to say it is short-staffed, partially because nobody wants to upgrade on an airplane they know is breathing its last few before being sent to Africa.

Sorry to say it, but I'm feeling full of doom and gloom on this issue. With the economy stagnating, I think we'll see SkyWest become much more like Eagle and Horizon in terms of growth and upgrade times.

 

[ReverseSensing]

With the economy stagnating, I think we'll see SkyWest become much more like Eagle and Horizon in terms of growth and upgrade times.

Burn him at the stake! He's a witch! Burn, witch, burn!

 

[Goose Egg]

We are so overstaffed on the jet right now at SkyWest that if this were any other airline, they'd probably be furloughing...

Nah. Maybe you guys are overstaffed in the jet in SLC or California. But system wide? ORD and MKE are a completely different story. The way I look at it is that if we are that overstaffed in the jet, there wouldn't be nearly as many transition classes, and there wouldn't be so many EMB vacancies, and I wouldn't have been awarded a line during IOE. I think my seniority has literally dropped 90 numbers in the last two months. Those aren't all Brasilia guys leaving.

Sorry to say it, but I'm feeling full of doom and gloom on this issue. With the economy stagnating, I think we'll see SkyWest become much more like Eagle and Horizon in terms of growth and upgrade times.

Doubt it. It may slow down, which is reasonable. But 5-7 year upgrades? Eagle and Horizon upgrades are slow even with the economy cranking.

Oh yeah, and I know several Bro. captains that are in the pool with WN, so it's not exactly the career killer.

-Goose

 

[Crash Pad]

The regional boom has to stop at some point right? Every regional has been hiring 20-30 a month for months... Can that go on forever?

I have a guess that the guys who have been in this for 20+ years know how this ends.

 

[Rally]

Taco bell will be picking up after the new year....They start at $6.75. Good deal.

 

[Rally]

Burn him at the stake! He's a witch! Burn, witch, burn!

Yea he's one of those, the economy never picked up after 9-11 people.

This time its gonna be oil and mortgages bringing us the gloom. hmm

OMG Regionals might start their mins at 1000 TT again.

 

[lindsaya99]

PSA will continue to hire 30-40 per month until the spring. (According to a couple of Ground School Instructors) That is primarily to cover the loss of the remaining J4J captains. After they have gone back to Mainline hiring will slow down considerably. Only enough new hires to cover attrition. There is no growth projected (not even rumors). Upgrade time has dropped in the last six months from about 5 years down to 3. It remains to be seen what effect any flowthrough/preferential hiring agreement might have on the attrition rate. I think we will have a better handle on that around April or May.

 

[ex j-41]

I would like to agree on the slow economy...but everytime i try to commute i have trouble getting a seat. People are flying. Airplanes are full. As long as it is cheaper to fly then drive we will have full airplanes.
Go to the FAA.gov and see the statistics for Pilot Certificates issued. And look back 10 years.
We are on a steady decline after 911. Average age for pilots went from 40-45. We have the same number of ATP's then we did 10 years ago, but more people are flying.
Eventually the airlines will pay for thier greed. More pilots will take better paying jobs overseas and the regionals will have to transfer flying back to the majors. Or what should happen is anything over 50 seats should be a mainline airplane...but that is just wishfull thinking.

 

[ROSWELL41]

I feel that regional hiring will slow considerably. Age 65 combined with a slowing economy does not bode well for anyone. Just get in before the music stops, thats the best advice I can give.

 

[Salukipilot4590]

I'm glad I have a class date next week...

 

[amcnd]

SkyWest has a RJ Newhire clas with 33 people starting the 7th also a E120 calss with 20 in it on the 7th. We are taking 4 Delta 200"s and moving them to the United side. We are fat FO's for JAN but starting FEB we are short.

 

[time builder]

This is probably closer to the truth. The million dollar question though is consolidation in 2008.

I'm with you. With the right combination of economy woes and consolidation, there could be a lot of RJ's parked until a brighter day. It's already happening with Delta without consolidation. If United finds a willing partner to consolidate with, look out.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Look at the numbers of flights Majors vs. Regionals before and after 2001, especially at Delta and United hubs. Granted they parked a bunch of 727's that will likely never return to service, but just imagine if they brought all those 757's back on line. They could easily reverse the trend and park a bunch of RJ's.

 

[FirstMate]

This is probably closer to the truth. The million dollar question though is consolidation in 2008.

The whole outcome of the Open Skies agreement should be an interesting factor in regards to consolidation.

 

[CFI2766]

ASA is mighty fat on the ATR for FOs. As of Dec, we had nearly 50 FOs for less than 25 lines. WAAAAYYY too many FOs for the amount of flying to be done on an airplane that everyone thinks is going away.

(Now, 15 FOs are going to the jet or upgrading with a 1 May effective date....)

 

[ken]

Pilots needed

Here is a article about the need for pilots.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-flyboys0208jan02,0,7112403.story?coll=orl_mezz