E_Dawg
Moderator
Don't worry you'll be on my bid avoid.
downgrading to FO, and the career
- Thread starter E_Dawg
- Start date
Don't worry you'll be on my bid avoid.
SlumTodd_Millionaire
Most Hated Member
1,500 is the new 1,000. I wouldn't recommend taking a voluntary downgrade until you have at least 1,500 TPIC. The 1,000 hours just isn't looked at as a cutoff as much as it used to be.
jtrain609
Antisocial Monster
I'm anticipating interviewing at a major within the next 5 years without any TPIC.
It's not unprecedented, and I think we're about to end up in an interesting situation where senior guys at regionals won't want to leave, and when the exodus happens at American, they're going to forgo any TPIC requirements.
What kind of exodus are you referring to? Retirements? Are they suppose to hit American particularly hard?
I read that Delta was anticipating up to 600 retirements a year once age 65 hits. I assume American will be similar?
My hope is that the coming years will bring good times for those entering the professional piloting career, with the movement expected when age 65 hits. One can keep their fingers crossed and hope, at least. Your statement gives me some of that hope!
Bumblebee
Commodore
Quite astute
E_Dawg
Moderator
jtrain I agree 100%. Currently the market is hyper competitive and we all are coming out of a very slow decade for majors. The 50 seat jet grew in popularity, the economy took a dump and the retirement age was raised all of which worked against hiring at the top.
But now the opposite is happening: economy is slowing coming around, nobody likes the 50 seaters, and in a few years when age 65 hits the floodgates will open again and the majors' only choice will be downsize or hire.
But now the opposite is happening: economy is slowing coming around, nobody likes the 50 seaters, and in a few years when age 65 hits the floodgates will open again and the majors' only choice will be downsize or hire.
zmiller4
Well-Known Member
I agree with Jtrain completely as well. I think you have to almost get to reserve captains here before finding a lot of guys willing to go to a major. They would make less for years, have a worse schedule, and less padding below them. Of course, if another situation like Comair happens captains may start heading to majors for job security--but right now I don't know many that would leave.
That being said, I don't think I'd downgrade yet. I think it's going to be a while before the FO hiring really starts happening. I'm hating watching Delta, Airtran, and Jetblue hiring while I've got 5000 hrs with no TPIC. I'd hang out for a while. If you don't, I'll have to think about bidding for EMB CA!
Baronman
Well-Known Member
There really isn't that much difference anymore. Most upgrades occurred 2-3 years ago, so I'd guess most 121 regional captains have well over 1500 by now.
Sure I guess the OP is in a little different predicament, but I'd say that's more for being a brasilia reserve captain than anything else.
SlumTodd_Millionaire
Most Hated Member
Don't count your chickens before they hatch. A movement is already getting off the ground for Age 70. That pilot shortage may still end up being a little ways off.
Boris Badenov
Fortis Leader
I'm a 135 guy so it may be apples and oranges, but my ~2500 TPIC got me an F/O job on a BeechJet. And it's not a bad job at all, I like it, but these notions of X TPIC = Go Directly To Dream Job seem a little bit exaggerated. Plus, even if you find your way through it there's no automatic cheese at the end of this maze...you don't suddenly become totally happy because you Got Hired At A Major. Do what you need to to enjoy your life...the rest will follow.
Cruise
Well-Known Member
Are you kidding me?!?! This is crazy....I don't want to fly until I'm dead....AND, I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO DO IT A REGIONAL. Keep pulling that ladder up further. Grrrr.
[/hijack]
You can come back at any time now, and tell us you were joking.........I mean you were joking.......right?
SlumTodd_Millionaire
Most Hated Member
Nope, not joking. Captain Rice reported on this in his address to the Executive Board this week. The activists are getting geared up, and it won't be long before this is a serious problem. I hope pilots take it more seriously than they did last time and put up a good fight.
You dont have to. That's only the MANDATORY retirement age. You are free to pull the handle at any time you choose.
surreal1221
Well-Known Member
And that's some honest, wholesome, garbage.
These HEMAPs (High Experienced and Mature Airline Pilots) are just waiting for that sudden heart attack at FL390 crossing the Atlantic.
Damn it.
Cruise
Well-Known Member
I think you missed my point. I'm not planning on retiring at the regional level. If this goes through....the odds of ever being able to get out of the regionals is minimal, at best (for me anyway...time is not on my side).
I did miss it. My apologies.
Cruise
Well-Known Member
Polar742
All the responsibility none of the authority
Actually with the attrition rate here, I don't think age 70 would be a threat.
I hate to see it, but on the other side of the house, there have been several over 60 guys expire this year.
Yes, several. All I can do is plan financially as best I can, and hope the gods of aviation fortune keep me employed continually until I hit about 55 and can pull the cord!
Flying with the over 60 guys, I can say they are still great pilots, but they are tired. Most of them aren't shy of saying they're ready to hang it up. There are a couple that will go to 65, but already we've seen a large percent medical out, or do it until 62 or whatever.
Now, I don't have any hard statistics or studies, these are just the guys I fly with.
I can tell you this much, no matter what the mandatory retirement age is, I won't see it in 121. At the end of the day, it's a job and I'm not going to let it kill me.