Skywest or XJet

[Truckdriver]

Director of Flight Ops at XJT just announced this morning that XJT will continue hiring 32-64 per month for the rest of 2006 and beyond. This is due to the planned staffing for the 69 airplanes that XJT is KEEPING. This may chnange some peoples plans on coming to XJT. Look for upgrades to be about 20-24 months at XJT. If you can deal with a small amount of uncertaintly, XJT may be the place to go for a couple of years.

 

[Superpilot92]

Director of Flight Ops at XJT just announced this morning that XJT will continue hiring 32-64 per month for the rest of 2006 and beyond. This is due to the planned staffing for the 69 airplanes that XJT is KEEPING. This may chnange some peoples plans on coming to XJT. Look for upgrades to be about 20-24 months at XJT. If you can deal with a small amount of uncertaintly, XJT may be the place to go for a couple of years.

Agree! Definitly good news. I would assume hiring to continue even past that because there is a good chance we actually will grow on top of the 274 airplanes.

 

[SSDD]

I'm not all that familiar with XJT, so forgive my ignorance. Why do they have to hire more people to staff planes they already have on the property?

 

[Apache 5]

I'm not all that familiar with XJT, so forgive my ignorance. Why do they have to hire more people to staff planes they already have on the property?

Huh, good point. Probably a combination of the following, just a WAG, way above my payscale:

1. CAL will continue to increase our block hrs, especially in the summer and in IAH

2. Any non-CAL flying will probably require some other base...so the #s jump up to open a new base, staff it with lineholders/reservists and so as to continue the other 3 bases...same # of airplanes, but spread out more thus more peeps

3. Maybe more aeroplanes in the future, would be nice

4. We do have some attrition

Who knows...keep em coming though.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

I'm not all that familiar with XJT, so forgive my ignorance. Why do they have to hire more people to staff planes they already have on the property?

The company I believe was going to run the airline very short on pilots by increasing the hours on the lines so that if a bunch of planes were lost they would not have to furlough at all or as many. That along with a lot of people have been jumping ship thinking we were sinking. Finally we are at record block hours this summer for CAL. If chitaqua is not getting our planes and is going to have to scramble to find planes then the schedule is going to be all screwed up as far as them taking over block hours. We may be flying almost as many block hours with 205 planes, plus whatever we have found to do with the 69. It is going to be interesting over here.

 

[cobalt]

I'm not all that familiar with XJT, so forgive my ignorance. Why do they have to hire more people to staff planes they already have on the property?

people are getting hired at continental, airtran, southwest, jetblue, fedex, alaska, etc is one reason.....

 

[cobalt]

That along with a lot of people have been jumping ship thinking we were sinking.

not a flame, but seriously curious, do you know anyone that has "jumped ship" just off the rumors? If you call going to southwest, CAL, airtran, etc. (ie. somewhere you get paid more) jumping ship, then we have very different definitions. (and I don't think you do since you say they left thinking we were sinking). so you know people that have either quit flying, or went to another "regional" in the past few months just off speculation?

 

[Secret Squirrel]

I have talked to very junior F.O.'s who were putting their apps out but I don't know if any left. Express can be a very comfortable position and many find it hard to leave. 3-4 months off with our vacation touch drop and 80-90 grand a year can be tough to give up as a senior captain. I think many were slapped in the face by the announcement and have decided Express may not have the security other places MAY provide. A lot of people really thought CAL and Express were in bed forever.

Many of the captains that had the option to go to CAL during the flow through passed on the opportunity. I have heard as many as the top 500 captains are lifers. One I talked to said he figured, using a spread sheet he worked out, that it would take over 10 years to catch up by going. That includes lost pay, 401k-profit sharing, and such. That does not even include quality of life items, vacation and seniority and living in base. Did they make the right decision? Who knows. But after the announcement some might be thinking working for a company who sells its own tickets might be more stable.

 

[BluDevAv8r]

Many of the captains that had the option to go to CAL during the flow through passed on the opportunity. I have heard as many as the top 500 captains are lifers.

There are 243 pilots on the XJT seniority list as of today that either had a guaranteed job at CAL at some point in time or who had an interview(s) through the preferential interview program. Of those, there are a few left who are over 60 and in the Training Department so you can discount some of those 243. And I'm sure there are some in that 243 or so who would leave XJT for other opportunities should the right one come along. 240 out of 2500 isn't so bad...when compared to the super senior groups like Eagle and Horizon, etc.

One I talked to said he figured, using a spread sheet he worked out, that it would take over 10 years to catch up by going. That includes lost pay, 401k-profit sharing, and such. That does not even include quality of life items, vacation and seniority and living in base.

I've done the numbers too and I don't think it is anywhere near 10 years, especially if you are willing to take the first upgrade opportunity in EWR. Guys who started at CAL a year ago are already 50% on the 737 in EWR and 60% on the 757/767, which means they are getting just as many, if not more, days off at CAL than they would at XJT. And those who left a year ago (113 group) who live in IAH are now line holders on the 737 and 757 in IAH. I just bumped into a 777 FO who was in the 113 and he is now at $72/hour working 6 days per month on reserve on the 777. 2 weeks of vacation are accrued in your first year so that picks up pretty quickly too. 10% B Plan in 1 month and that goes to 12.75% in a year. I am sure that most of those guys who made the choice to stay did so with eyes wide open and don't regret their decision at all...but I'm sure there are a few that did. I know of one pilot who could have gone to CAL a year ago but stayed at XJT...well...he started at CAL a month ago. Go figure.

-Neal

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Neal
So did ya just get out of the sim or just get back from the strip club? 1am post.

I did not make the spreadsheet, nor did I see it. But he was a commuter and said he figured a 7-8 year upgrade to be a line holding captain so he would not have to be on reserve. And it was a cumulative total. Not just how long to get back to his current pay and benfits, but how long to catch up for the loss of pay and retirement. I am pretty sure his calculations were probably pretty close. It would not have been my decision but I can not fault the guy for his.

He took a lot into consideration and made a tough choice. 2-3 kids, mortgage, bills, debt, and having to go into more debt for the opportunity to go to the bottom of the seniority list.

 

[BluDevAv8r]

Neal
So did ya just get out of the sim or just get back from the strip club? 1am post.

Neither.

I did not make the spreadsheet, nor did I see it. But he was a commuter and said he figured a 7-8 year upgrade to be a line holding captain so he would not have to be on reserve. And it was a cumulative total. Not just how long to get back to his current pay and benfits, but how long to catch up for the loss of pay and retirement. I am pretty sure his calculations were probably pretty close. It would not have been my decision but I can not fault the guy for his.

He took a lot into consideration and made a tough choice. 2-3 kids, mortgage, bills, debt, and having to go into more debt for the opportunity to go to the bottom of the seniority list.

I completely understand his decision. Everyone's situation is different and the assumptions I used in my spreadsheet were probably much different than his as our situations are different and that is why I, like you, can't fault the guy for his decision. Commuting...family...etc. It all comes into play. Nonetheless I think XJT will weather this storm just fine...just like it has in the past.

-Neal

 

[Arrow11]

Throw Republic/CHQ into the mix...

Interviewing at both in the next 30 days, if you were lucky to get 2 offers which would be your choice? Priorities would be quickest upgrade, pay and stability.

All within 3 weeks of each other! Be nice to get all 3 offers, but might make for a difficult decision, I live on the West Coast and would have to commmute for a while with any of them.

 

[AdamKooper]

People never mention where do you want to live. Thats the biggest descision. Commuting is crap. You ruin most of your time off with it.

 

[Bushhatesyou]

Good Luck... Having 3 job offers is a problem that many people wouldn't mind having..

 

[AdamKooper]

Many of the captains that had the option to go to CAL during the flow through passed on the opportunity. I have heard as many as the top 500 captains are lifers.

Thats the problem today. These people who park-it in a loading and unloading zone only. This is why regionals shouldn't fly anything other than turboprops.

 

[Bushhatesyou]

Thats the problem today. These people who park-it in a loading and unloading zone only. This is why regionals shouldn't fly anything other than turboprops.

I like that analogy..

 

[BluDevAv8r]

Thats the problem today. These people who park-it in a loading and unloading zone only. This is why regionals shouldn't fly anything other than turboprops.

What is wrong with someone making $100-110k to to fly 10-12 days per month, go to 150 cities, have a nice retirement fund, 3 months of the year off for vacation, etc? Is it because they are in your way of upgrading so that you can get that job that you are entitled to flying Boeings and Airbuses at a major?

-Neal

 

[SMOE]

not a flame, but seriously curious, do you know anyone that has "jumped ship" just off the rumors? If you call going to southwest, CAL, airtran, etc. (ie. somewhere you get paid more) jumping ship, then we have very different definitions. (and I don't think you do since you say they left thinking we were sinking). so you know people that have either quit flying, or went to another "regional" in the past few months just off speculation?

Before the CAL announcement in Dec, most of the seasoned CAs I flew with were happy as could be to spend the rest of their lives at XJT. Since the first of this year, I'd say 90% of the CAs I fly with are waiting on class dates or interviews, or have apps in waiting on phone calls. Coincidence?
I say, good on 'em and best of luck 'cause its sustaining some very rapid movement up the seniority ladder for those of us sticking around ;-)