Future American Hiring

[Snuggle]

I had a CAL FO in the jumpseat who is furloughed from AA. He was telling me about their recall policy. He said something like he has a couple of years after they recall the last pilot on furlough before he has to make a final decision to go back or not. He told me he thinks it will be at least 5 years before he has to make that decision. Either way, that sounds like a pretty good deal. I wonder what that policy is like at other majors.

 

[Gonzo]

With 2000 pilots on furlough at AA, Jace is right. 8-10 years before they hire again.

Out of the 2000 over 900 have been offer recall and passed.

There have been no new-hires at AA since 2001.

There were some recalls in 2007. I do not know what their acceptance rate was, or if they have the ability to bypass and for how long if they do.

Word is 1 in 10 is talking the recall

 

[mrivc211]

Keep in mind a lot of those eagle pilots will not take that deal. By the time they are given that opportunity, they will have invested 10+ years at eagle, are FINALLY in the left seat, getting decent pay and a decent schedule. They've probably had a kid or two and gotten married. I highly doubt a lot of those guys will be eager to jump ship to mainline only to sit reserve as an FO for another 5+ years with no weekends or holidays off. I know I wouldn't. This jobs not worth the best years of my life.

 

[Socal321]

AMR specializes on reserve right? They must have some sweet reserve schedules at AA. Who knows plus pay goes up over time.

 

[MQAAord]

AMR specializes on reserve right? They must have some sweet reserve schedules at AA. Who knows plus pay goes up over time.

What do you mean "specializes on reserve"?

When I and my friends (AA & AE pilots and F/As) were on RSV there it sucked just as much as it would to be on RSV anywhere else.

 

[ready2fly]

Keep in mind a lot of those eagle pilots will not take that deal. By the time they are given that opportunity, they will have invested 10+ years at eagle, are FINALLY in the left seat, getting decent pay and a decent schedule. They've probably had a kid or two and gotten married. I highly doubt a lot of those guys will be eager to jump ship to mainline only to sit reserve as an FO for another 5+ years with no weekends or holidays off. I know I wouldn't. This jobs not worth the best years of my life.

I believe more will take the deal, than those who will not.

Plus, it's still unclear how AMR/Eagle will handle it when that day comes.

Do they pretty much tell those with AA seniority numbers that they either go to American or they're out? (not even sure they can do that.)

Do they give them a choice?

My personal opinion is that those who chose to accept an AA seniority number - regardless of how long ago it was - should be men of their word and go.

That's just my opinion though.

 

[meyers9163]

More importantly....will they hire ME when it's time to make that jump?

What pilot out there goes to an interview wondering if they are going to get hired? Most that I know go to the interviewing knowing they will get the job as long as they dont say something stupid, or do something stupid during an eval session. Thus the reason we spend hours to prepare before we even go to these interviews.

 

[Captain_Bob]

What do you mean "specializes on reserve"?

When I and my friends (AA & AE pilots and F/As) were on RSV there it sucked just as much as it would to be on RSV anywhere else.

:yeahthat:

I JS'd on AA DFW-ONT a lot when we had a west coast base... and the flights were always full so I got my share of "up front" time.

Along with my share of sitting up front... I also got my share of listening to the Bitc*ing. One flight that stands out was one where the Captain had been there for 21 years and was still sitting reserve. He was only getting @ 9 days off that month and he was getting abused because their reserve rules were archaic compared to ours at XJT.

He didn't believe me when I talked to him about our reserve rules so I pulled out the contract to show him... this made him even more mad. He couldn't believe that a "Fu**in' Regional... no offense man" had better work rules than they did.

Anyway... he asked for a copy of our contract so he could give it to their union guys, so I emailed it to him.

Also... the FO on that flight had been there for 19 years and had just recently been awarded upgrade... but lost the slot a month after the age 65 rule went into effect.

Needless to say... neither of those two were happy campers.

Bob

 

[Velocipede]

Cap'n Bob,

Invariably the 'happy' campers are the guys who got hired at 21, wrenched for 6 months, yanked gear for a year and flew left seat for 35 years, 20 in widebodies. They LOVE their career.

The rest of us are the guys you flew with. 7-10 year F/Os who finally upgrade and never bid higher than #200 in their base.

Guys like me.

 

[Gonzo]

Along with my share of sitting up front... I also got my share of listening to the Bitc*ing. One flight that stands out was one where the Captain had been there for 21 years and was still sitting reserve. He was only getting @ 9 days off that month and he was getting abused because their reserve rules were archaic compared to ours at XJT.

He didn't believe me when I talked to him about our reserve rules so I pulled out the contract to show him... this made him even more mad. He couldn't believe that a "Fu**in' Regional... no offense man" had better work rules than they did.

One of the worst flights I ever had was in the jumpseat of an AA plane when we (the two pilots and me) realized Eagle has better reserve rules then AA.

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

One of the worst flights I ever had was in the jumpseat of an AA plane when we (the two pilots and me) realized Eagle has better reserve rules then AA.

You should have told them to vote for ALPA.

 

[derg]

Still takes leadership. AA will probably never get a decent contract until that situation with Arpey and umm, you know, that "personal situation" cools down and blows over. There's going to be a lot of spite for a while.

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

The problem over there is mainly with the APA leadership. The APA has the resources and money to get a decent contract done, but their leadership is shooting the pilot group in the foot. The NMB will soon park their negotiations because the APA is being so incredibly unreasonable, and then the membership will demand Captain Hill's head on a silver platter. The resulting recalls and new elections will set them back by at least a year, probably two. They need some real leaders who can get down to business and negotiate a fair agreement. They don't have them right now.

 

[jtrain609]

What's the APA asking for?

 

[zmiller4]

Plus, it's still unclear how AMR/Eagle will handle it when that day comes.

:yeahthat:

Who knows. The win will probably go to the side with the best lawyers.

My personal opinion is that those who chose to accept an AA seniority number - regardless of how long ago it was - should be men of their word and go.

That's just my opinion though.

I know exactly where you're coming from and agree with you, but I sure wouldn't blame someone for fighting tooth and nail to not go there. Wouldn't the guys who accepted the number have done so over a decade ago?

I think as well that it may be a long while before AA hires off the street. I'd bet that AMR is going to try--as pretty much every other legacy has--to switch domestic flying to Eagle as much as they can in the next couple of years. If they continue to shrink and can squeeze scope concessions from the APA, it's going to be forever before they hire.

 

[Boris Badenov]

Announcing your ten or twenty year Aviation Plan is a good way to hear God laugh. Enjoy what you're doing now, the rest will happen however it happens no matter what you do.

 

[ready2fly]

I know exactly where you're coming from and agree with you, but I sure wouldn't blame someone for fighting tooth and nail to not go there. Wouldn't the guys who accepted the number have done so over a decade ago?

Therein lies the rub: they accepted AA seniority numbers just prior to 9/11. After 9/11 AA furloughed......and Eagle allowed 400 or so AA pilots (many whom had never been captains anywhere) to come to Eagle......as Captains.

So, the Eagle pilots with AA seniority numbers still sit there waiting.

(Zmiller - I know you know the story, I just regurgitated it for the masses)

I think as well that it may be a long while before AA hires off the street. I'd bet that AMR is going to try--as pretty much every other legacy has--to switch domestic flying to Eagle as much as they can in the next couple of years. If they continue to shrink and can squeeze scope concessions from the APA, it's going to be forever before they hire.

Of course that's one of the rumors, but when was the last time "airline logic" ever matched real logic?

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

What's the APA asking for?

Basically, they're asking for $5 billion worth of improvements on a $1 billion contract. They're already the most expensive pilots in the country on a block-hour basis, but they want incredible increases on top of that. Even Obama's NMB won't help them with that crap.

 

[Trip7]

Basically, they're asking for $5 billion worth of improvements on a $1 billion contract. They're already the most expensive pilots in the country on a block-hour basis, but they want incredible increases on top of that. Even Obama's NMB won't help them with that crap.

Last I heard they want a full restoration of 1992 wages accounted for inflation PLUS a certain percentage raise on top of that. I forgot what it was I'm guessing 5 percent. AMR management's response was basically like "you're kidding right"?

 

[surreal1221]

Aim for the stars!