How do determine if there is a hiring boom?

[Hiboglossi]

When I first finished my training back in 2006, there was a hiring boom. People used to joke that anyone with a pilot licence and a pulse could get hiring at the regional airlines. Sometime in 2008/2009 the gravy train ended. I was laid off my job as Metroliner FO in late 2008, and couldn't find a job for the life of me. I send out hundreds of resumes but there was so many other people in my situation with more hours than me and there was not enough jobs to go around. Eventually I gave up and began pursuing employment in my "fallback" which is software engineering. I've been working as a full time software developer for the past 8 years or so. I've been considering getting back into flying the past 8 years, but it's only worth doing in there is another "hiring boom".

My questions is, how to detect when there is a hiring boom going on? What are the indicators?

There probably is, for the reasons others have mentioned. I received offers from 5 regionals this year despite having an accident on my record, and 2 of those were after washing out at one of the first 3. Definitely looks like a hiring boom, and I would stay it started in 2013 or 2014 so we're probably at the tail end of the hiring wave by now. The hiring boom you describe ended shortly after the economy entered a deep recession, and now it's been 7 years since the end of that recession. Historically, it has been very rare to go more than 7-10 years without a recession, so I would say we're just about due for another downturn.

You say it's only worth going back into flying if there's a hiring boom- the problem is, while there seems to be a hiring boom going on now, it could come to a screeching halt without much warning. You certainly can't count on there always being a hiring boom, sooner or later there will be an economic downturn or some event will happen that stops hiring for a few years, if not leading to furloughs. I would only re-enter flying if you accept the reality that there will be hard times sooner or later, and are prepared to deal with them. It might be a good idea to have plenty of money saved up for the hard times as well.

 

[flybywp]

There probably is, for the reasons others have mentioned. I received offers from 5 regionals this year despite having an accident on my record, and 2 of those were after washing out at one of the first 3. Definitely looks like a hiring boom, and I would stay it started in 2013 or 2014 so we're probably at the tail end of the hiring wave by now. The hiring boom you describe ended shortly after the economy entered a deep recession, and now it's been 7 years since the end of that recession. Historically, it has been very rare to go more than 7-10 years without a recession, so I would say we're just about due for another downturn.

You say it's only worth going back into flying if there's a hiring boom- the problem is, while there seems to be a hiring boom going on now, it could come to a screeching halt without much warning. You certainly can't count on there always being a hiring boom, sooner or later there will be an economic downturn or some event will happen that stops hiring for a few years, if not leading to furloughs. I would only re-enter flying if you accept the reality that there will be hard times sooner or later, and are prepared to deal with them. It might be a good idea to have plenty of money saved up for the hard times as well.

What makes you think we're hitting the end of the wave? Of course there is always the possibility that we hit an economic downturn or some sort of event could occur. But the industry seems stronger and more resistant to external factors than it was 7 or 8 years ago. Consolidation has that effect. As far as hiring goes, seems like things keep getting better and better. A year ago, Republic was the first to offer 40 an hour for first year FOs. Now a first year regional FO can reasonably expect to make 60k. I wonder what things will look like one year from now.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

What makes you think we're hitting the end of the wave? Of course there is always the possibility that we hit an economic downturn or some sort of event could occur. But the industry seems stronger and more resistant to external factors than it was 7 or 8 years ago. Consolidation has that effect. As far as hiring goes, seems like things keep getting better and better. A year ago, Republic was the first to offer 40 an hour for first year FOs. Now a first year regional FO can reasonably expect to make 60k. I wonder what things will look like one year from now.

Economic downturns happen, and will continue to do so, but it's better to be on the inside looking out.

 

[Cóndor]

I've seen a lot of job listings for Part 135 cargo gigs for a while now, along with an increase in the starting pay stated on them. Ditto for regionals and even charter/corporate gigs so the boom is still going strong. On-line retail sales seem to be ever increasing and taking a bigger chunk of total retail sales so, unless consumers somehow stop wanting to get their stuff asap, I think Part 135 cargo hiring should keep booming for a long time.

 

[Rocketman99]

I too enjoy Silver Gulch!

Silly pleb, we were up in da club with our homeys.

 

[zippy]

Take a look at projected retirements due to age 65 in the next 10+ years.

Even if there was a recession, there's enough mandatory retirements in the industry to keep career paths moving forward.

The hiring is only increasing and the dwindling pilot surplus should be turning into a true pilot deficit here in the next year or two (# of people entering the airline system vs retirements).

Airline retirements will fuel movement throughout the aviation industry in the US for the next 10-15 years. Now is a good time to get into the game.

 

[Flying Saluki]

When I first finished my training back in 2006, there was a hiring boom. People used to joke that anyone with a pilot licence and a pulse could get hiring at the regional airlines. Sometime in 2008/2009 the gravy train ended. I was laid off my job as Metroliner FO in late 2008, and couldn't find a job for the life of me. I send out hundreds of resumes but there was so many other people in my situation with more hours than me and there was not enough jobs to go around. Eventually I gave up and began pursuing employment in my "fallback" which is software engineering. I've been working as a full time software developer for the past 8 years or so. I've been considering getting back into flying the past 8 years, but it's only worth doing in there is another "hiring boom".

My questions is, how to detect when there is a hiring boom going on? What are the indicators?

Send out resumes to all the regional airlines. If you get a bunch of offers to interview and/or hire, there's a hiring boom.

 

[nbv4]

Send out resumes to all the regional airlines. If you get a bunch of offers to interview and/or hire, there's a hiring boom.

The problem is that you have to be current in order to get a job offer. Back in 2012 or so I tried sending my resume out to a couple places. One of them contacted me and as soon as I told them I hadn't flown in 4 years, he pretty much hung up on me. It costs a lot of money to get current.

 

[Eagle421flyer]

Hiring boom at the regionals and LCC's? Yes. The majors? Sure they are hiring but they still have thousands (and thousands) of applicants that have been stuck at the regionals for years. I'd say go back if you ok with being at a regional for a long time in case you can't get on with a major.

 

[Stone Cold]

The problem is that you have to be current in order to get a job offer. Back in 2012 or so I tried sending my resume out to a couple places. One of them contacted me and as soon as I told them I hadn't flown in 4 years, he pretty much hung up on me. It costs a lot of money to get current.

I don't know you, but you need to suck it up buttercup. Griping about a sim session 9 years ago and then this. You hadn't flown in 4 years but you expected them to hire you? Do you want to fly? if so, get current. IFR current. Be able to pass a sim session if there is one in an interview.

Man, talk about entitled. Holy smokes.

 

[bp]

It costs a lot of money to get current.

And they spend a lot of money to train you. It's not unreasonable for them to ask for a pilot that's been in an airplane in the past year.


How many of you got hired at a regional with total times that would have been below ATP mins? When my first instructor left for AWAC in '10, he had over 1300hr iirc. Just curious if the total time hiring requirements were different/significantly lower before the ATP regs.


Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Flying Saluki]

The problem is that you have to be current in order to get a job offer. Back in 2012 or so I tried sending my resume out to a couple places. One of them contacted me and as soon as I told them I hadn't flown in 4 years, he pretty much hung up on me. It costs a lot of money to get current.

[/QUOTE]

Ok that's a fair point. You're lack of currency means people aren't calling you, so you can't gauge if there is a hiring boom.. So let's look at it this way. Every regional airline is advertising openings, entry level pay is sharply increasing, and everyone is offering signing bonuses, flow through agreements, direct entry captains, etc. The evidence suggests there is a hiring boom. So if you want to bet back in, now is the time. Get current and get your applications out there. Initially you may have a step down the career ladder a rung or two to build up your skills and get back into the swing of things, but 6 months as an instructor or something, and you will be prime regional airline fodder.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

Lack of currency or recency: another great reason for a sim interview portion at entry-level gigs.

 

[Hacker15e]

Honestly, how expensive is it to go buy 1.5 in a 172 for a Flight Review, and then another 1.5 for an IPC? These are instructional events, not checkrides. Not exactly really tall hurdles to get over.

Go get back in the saddle and send in applications to regionals. There's never been a better time.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

Honestly, how expensive is it to go buy 1.5 in a 172 for a Flight Review, and then another 1.5 for an IPC? These are instructional events, not checkrides. Not exactly really tall hurdles to get over.

Go get back in the saddle and send in applications to regionals. There's never been a better time.

And buy yourself some Redbird time.

 

[zippy]

The problem is that you have to be current in order to get a job offer.

This is no longer the case. In 2015 I got recruitment contacts from 4 different regional airlines and 2 part 91/135 and 1 government agency. I applied to 3 of those jobs and got offers at all 3, and I hadn't flown in 3 years.

The first time I flew in 3.5 years was my first flight for my company after doing CTP and initial training.

 

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

True definition of a hiring boom:


You apply on Airlineapps and 2-4 weeks later, you get calls from all three: Delta, United, and American (pilotcredentials.com).

 

[Autothrust Blue]

True definition of a hiring boom:


You apply on Airlineapps and 2-4 weeks later, you get calls from all three: Delta, United, and American (pilotcredentials.com).

 

[zippy]

True definition of a hiring boom:

You apply on Airlineapps and 2-4 weeks later, you get calls from all three: Delta, United, and American (pilotcredentials.com).

That's happening for plenty of people with the correct pedigree that they all seem to be looking for.

 

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

That's happening for plenty of people with the correct pedigree that they all seem to be looking for.

Not without multiple letters of rec and/or others seriously pulling for them. I'm talking applying out of the blue and getting called at all 3 in 2-4 weeks. That's a true hiring boom. And when for-fee pilot job fairs become obsolete as a result.

We're not even close.