US Airways Calls

[wanabe_fo]

Just curious if the guy that interviewed with you was from a wholly owned. Thanks

Yes he was

 

[greed]

So bummed out, just got the call! offered an interview but I will be out of the US (current position is on a rotation as an EXPAT) on the only date that is currently available.

Talk about timing, I wish I could just call in sick and go, but not possible from where I am. I was told that my current application status will remain the same and I will get another call later in the summer.

Hopefully someone else will get the good call.

FWIW- I don't have any internal rec's and never worked for a fully owned. I applied during the first and second postings and not the last one.

Blue skies!

 

[acaTerry]

So is it still about $36,000 a year for new hires?

 

[CFIfornow]

So is it still about $36,000 a year for new hires?

Yup, $36,000 ($3000/month salary) on anything other than the E190. E190 is $38,300 ($42.05/hour * 76 hours short call guarantee * 12 months.) First year pay is going down around September when American comes out of bankruptcy. New first year pay on all equipment will be $35,000 ($40.00/hour * 73 hours reserve guarantee *12 months.) This will be the same for those who end up getting hired at American too.

 

[greyskyracer]

I know the MOU is a good thing overall, but it's still a bit of a bummer to reduce firt year pay even more.

 

[johnnyb]

being a Captain in15 months will ease the pain?

 

[acaTerry]

being a Captain in15 months will ease the pain?

Free advice for those about to bite: Never count on projected upgrade time when planning your future.

That $35,000 is enough to keep me away. That is yesteryear's mentality. A major airline is no place to be working for those wages. They were invented when new hire pilots were wet behind the ears. These days with all the stagnation, (and this will sound out of character for me to say) there are not many pilots who have not paid their dues. Sitting right seat at a commuter for what, 7 years, is not enough? Even in the "old days" commuter upgrades happened fast. The kids today have paid for the most part.

 

[Smoke Toliet]

Is there any word on August class dates?

 

[LittleDeuce]

Class Dates

Is there any word on August class dates?

Membership Services just put out an e-mail 10 minutes ago- 2 classes a month until November and 1 in December...

 

[LittleDeuce]

Free advice for those about to bite: Never count on projected upgrade time when planning your future.

That $35,000 is enough to keep me away. That is yesteryear's mentality. A major airline is no place to be working for those wages. They were invented when new hire pilots were wet behind the ears. These days with all the stagnation, (and this will sound out of character for me to say) there are not many pilots who have not paid their dues. Sitting right seat at a commuter for what, 7 years, is not enough? Even in the "old days" commuter upgrades happened fast. The kids today have paid for the most part.

acaTerry,

Feel free to stay away with that attitude. I just flew with a guy that was hired in Feb. 2012. He starts upgrade training on the E190 soon.

So he will be a captain with American Airlines this fall.

Could the new hire pay be better? Of course. That's what I made in 1999. Look at the big picture Bubba...

The upgrade time at US Airways is LITERALLY shorter than most Regionals.

 

[acaTerry]

acaTerry,

Feel free to stay away with that attitude. I just flew with a guy that was hired in Feb. 2012. He starts upgrade training on the E190 soon.

So he will be a captain with American Airlines this fall.

Could the new hire pay be better? Of course. That's what I made in 1999. Look at the big picture Bubba...

The upgrade time at US Airways is LITERALLY shorter than most Regionals.

I understand what you are saying, but to gamble so big on what MAY happen is financial suicide. Aviation being what it is, the smart man plans on the worst case, and plots his career according to how deep a pit he can emerge from.
When I was hired at Trash States, the upgrade was about a month. It never happened. When I got hired at NJA, it was a matter of weeks, and yet here I am in my 9th year as an FO. I can see the FOs at AA taking the E190 PIC spots in droves with the merger (the details are not cast in iron just yet) and all those hopeful FOs who are hired now getting stuck in pay that is just plain insulting to any major airline pilot while Doug continues to add airlines to a list of pilot groups that will NEVER have a contract completed.
All I am saying is that to go to US Airways thinking "Oh it's only $35,000 for a year and I will then be a captain so I'll gamble my life on it" is a fool's roll.
I wish I were in a position to take that chance, but I'm not, so it's not worth the risk to me. I'd advise the same caution to anyone else.

 

[zymotic]

I understand what you are saying, but to gamble so big on what MAY happen is financial suicide. Aviation being what it is, the smart man plans on the worst case, and plots his career according to how deep a pit he can emerge from.
When I was hired at Trash States, the upgrade was about a month. It never happened. When I got hired at NJA, it was a matter of weeks, and yet here I am in my 9th year as an FO. I can see the FOs at AA taking the E190 PIC spots in droves with the merger (the details are not cast in iron just yet) and all those hopeful FOs who are hired now getting stuck in pay that is just plain insulting to any major airline pilot while Doug continues to add airlines to a list of pilot groups that will NEVER have a contract completed.
All I am saying is that to go to US Airways thinking "Oh it's only $35,000 for a year and I will then be a captain so I'll gamble my life on it" is a fool's roll.
I wish I were in a position to take that chance, but I'm not, so it's not worth the risk to me. I'd advise the same caution to anyone else.

I must make a few points:

190 Captain pay is essentially the same as narrow body F/O pay. This is the main reason for "quick upgrades". In reality, there are no quick upgrades here as of right now. However, none are necessarily needed due to the new pay rates. See next point:

The new pay rates are head and shoulders above the current East rates (as an F/O I will get a 26/hr raise at the merger date) but still lagging Delta and UA. Jan 1st, 2016, the rates are the average of Delta and UA.

US Airways will soon pay the same as UA and DL. One has to ask themselves should they turn down a job at the majors if they want to work there just because of the first year pay. As for completing a contract, these payrates are already set in a written agreement. Joint contract negotiations are forthcoming and foot dragging by any party will not be allowed. A timeline has been agreed upon in writing and any open items at the end of the timeline must go to an arbitrator.

In my opinion, staying at a regional is considerably more risky as a long term career choice vs. coming to a major. (I think you work at netjets so that's a different story).

 

[weasel_lips]

I understand what you are saying, but to gamble so big on what MAY happen is financial suicide. Aviation being what it is, the smart man plans on the worst case, and plots his career according to how deep a pit he can emerge from./QUOTE]

Yes, play it safe and stay where you are! Nothing like the "job security" at a regional or a fractional. NOT

Its an interesting phenomena that those that make posts about not taking a job at a major do not even work for a major.....

Those that get on now or in the near future at the new American are going to have an awesome career. New airplanes, new pilot contract, massive and I mean massive retirements.

 

[acaTerry]

I understand what you are saying, but to gamble so big on what MAY happen is financial suicide. Aviation being what it is, the smart man plans on the worst case, and plots his career according to how deep a pit he can emerge from./QUOTE]

Yes, play it safe and stay where you are! Nothing like the "job security" at a regional or a fractional. NOT

No argument there, not exactly in the best career for long term, but NJA is like gold handcuffs. So it comes down to $104,000 in the hand is better than $35,000 and hope in the bush.
If I was a gambling man (and depending on the next contract I might become one), I'm gambling on DAL and UAL. Or maybe I'm missing something....I'm going by what's on airlinepilotcentral.

 

[pave driver]

I understand what you are saying, but to gamble so big on what MAY happen is financial suicide. Aviation being what it is, the smart man plans on the worst case, and plots his career according to how deep a pit he can emerge from.
When I was hired at Trash States, the upgrade was about a month. It never happened. When I got hired at NJA, it was a matter of weeks, and yet here I am in my 9th year as an FO. I can see the FOs at AA taking the E190 PIC spots in droves with the merger (the details are not cast in iron just yet) and all those hopeful FOs who are hired now getting stuck in pay that is just plain insulting to any major airline pilot while Doug continues to add airlines to a list of pilot groups that will NEVER have a contract completed.
All I am saying is that to go to US Airways thinking "Oh it's only $35,000 for a year and I will then be a captain so I'll gamble my life on it" is a fool's roll.
I wish I were in a position to take that chance, but I'm not, so it's not worth the risk to me. I'd advise the same caution to anyone else.

Everything you wrote here is incorrect information regarding US Airways/ American. To all that read the above post, please disregard it in it's entirety.