Pilot shortage (desperate?)

jgheggie

jgheggie

Well-Known Member
I noticed awhile ago that American Eagle was offering a $5000 signing bonus for new FOs. I didn't think much of it at the time. But today I saw an add for Silver Airways offering a $6000 bonus.

Almost every airline (regional and major) is, or will be, hiring. Most of which have confirmed large hiring projections this year such as 400-500. It seems as though the hiring bubble that a lot of pilots didn't believe would happen is actually taking off!

My question for those of you who have been around for awhile is this; have airlines ever offered hiring bonuses in the past hiring bubbles? If so, this large? Are they getting desperate?

If they are desperate, I am curious to see how this will effect the 1500 hr rule. I say this because in the past the airlines have basically "run" the FAA. So could the airlines force more exceptions to the rule? I'm also wondering if regional pay will finally go up!
 
At this current juncture it would appear that there are a shortage of people with 1500 hours, or that qualify for an R-ATP that at willing to work for the current rates of pay at the regional level. Yes most of them are having trouble filling classes, but it would seem that pay will not go up. I must also add that for example at xjt, all the hiring is being done to cover 117 and the current contract with United while no new growth, and even a shrinkage is clearly on the horizon, which leads me to believe that all this hiring is just to fill a gap in the next 2 years, after that they should be fine and may begin furloughing. Also bigger airplanes are being moved to airlines that pay less and have significantly worse contracts i.e. 175s PSA, so again pay is not going up. There will never be a shortage at UA/AA/DL, but there is movement, it would seem that if you are a quality candidate that in the next 5 years you will have a "good" shot at getting on with one of them where in the past 10 years it was next to impossible to even get an interview.
 
Last edited:
I'm broke, looking for a job so I can afford to get re-current. Tell you what Mr. Airline; for a guy that is in my shoes, utilize your bonus to invest it in the pilot get current and time building fund, I need 250 hours. With some creative thinking we can utilize my four year aeronautics degree so I am eligible for the R-ATP. I'll go fly for you. :)

Edit. It is only a matter of time before this expensive piece of plastic in my wallet and will be put to use once again.
 
Last edited:
Eagle offered bonuses in 2007- referral bonuses to active pilots bringing in others, and domicile of choice to new hires.

The $5000 new hire bonus has been offered a few times lately, I believe.
 
During the last hiring boom I recall a majority of the people getting hired seemed to have well less than 1500. I know of many people that were hired with wet multi-commercial certs. They were some I know who were hired with <200 tt. Hell when I applied at Mesaba for a crew scheduling position (with 190tt) and told them of my eventual goal, the HR rep said if I had closer to 250tt they would bring me in for a pilot slot....

Anyhow with the new 1500tt requirement how will they continue to fill classes during a boom when people are having trouble bridging the gap from completion of certificates to 1500 to keep up with the current desired pace of hiring.
 
Stomp16 said:
Why a bonus though? The govt taxes the living hell out of bonuses so you're not really getting that much. Why not just increase YR1 FO pay by 5K????
Click to expand...

They actually tried to do that- the Union cried foul that they were circumventing the contract, and said if they wanted to give raises they could give them to everybody. The company went back to bonuses. I'm no fan of taxes, but I think a bonus still gets the job done.

I would, however, prefer they just gave us all a raise.
 
Drives me nuts as I have the hours and would love to go fly a jet. I (like many others on here) from a young age have dreamed a of flying for a mainline one day. The only thing stopping me is the terrible starting pay. I can't afford to make the leap and live on poverty wages. (I know, I know...pay your dues, yadda yadda yadda) But with a wife, kid, mortgage and everything that does along with it, I'm kind of stuck at the moment. Best of luck to others in the same situation battling with similar decisions. They certainly didn't advertise that in the 141 packet starting out!
 
Firebird2XC said:
They actually tried to do that- the Union cried foul that they were circumventing the contract, and said if they wanted to give raises they could give them to everybody. The company went back to bonuses. I'm no fan of taxes, but I think a bonus still gets the job done.

I would, however, prefer they just gave us all a raise.
Click to expand...

But bonuses are taxed at at least double what normal wages and that's where the money is disappearing. If it's all the same money out of the companies pocket, why don't they help their own cause and put a bit more of that same 5K in their pilots pockets by not giving it to them in bonuses? As for the people crying foul because they've been there for awhile, that's tough. They signed the dotted line knowing what was waiting for them and therefore knew what they were getting into. If times change and their company needs to offer a bonus to get new hires in the door, that's too bad for the others. They should be happy the company is making steps to secure bodies for those spots because eventually if they don't have enough people to fill seats, the entire company goes belly up and the people crying about 5K are out A LOT more at that point.

Before anyone says I don't know what I'm talking about since I'm not 121, I can tell you I'm going thru the exact same thing at my employer. They finally extended the pay scale beyond year 3 and I am on year 5. Do you think I'm getting back-paid the money I should have got in year 4 if the new scale would have been in place??? Lol...no, not happening.
 
When I first started my PPL in 2011 I was my instructors first student. (Sucked). Anyway, I was also his only student. When I finished my PPL he got hired at a regional with 306tt and 99.3 multi. Maybe they made him get the 100 multi...idk. But it's crazy to think that just over two years ago he squeezed in with that low of time.

Oh how I wish....
 
Stomp16 said:
But bonuses are taxed at at least double what normal wages and that's where the money is disappearing. If it's all the same money out of the companies pocket, why don't they help their own cause and put a bit more of that same 5K in their pilots pockets by not giving it to them in bonuses? As for the people crying foul because they've been there for awhile, that's tough. They signed the dotted line knowing what was waiting for them and therefore knew what they were getting into. If times change and their company needs to offer a bonus to get new hires in the door, that's too bad for the others. They should be happy the company is making steps to secure bodies for those spots because eventually if they don't have enough people to fill seats, the entire company goes belly up and the people crying about 5K are out A LOT more at that point.

Before anyone says I don't know what I'm talking about since I'm not 121, I can tell you I'm going thru the exact same thing at my employer. They finally extended the pay scale beyond year 3 and I am on year 5. Do you think I'm getting back-paid the money I should have got in year 4 if the new scale would have been in place??? Lol...no, not happening.
Click to expand...

While bonus pay is subject to a higher level of withholding, it's not taxed any differently than regular income. You'll get the money assuming you complete your tax return correctly.
 
Polymox said:
While bonus pay is subject to a higher level of withholding, it's not taxed any differently than regular income. You'll get the money assuming you complete your tax return correctly.
Click to expand...

That is correct. Up front it's taxed differently but at the end you get it back. However, first year FO's need that money now, not tomorrow.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top