Rumor mill: Future of Expressjet?

[Autothrust Blue]

Here's what I don't get. If your at StagnationNation Air why would you not go to some airline that is pretty much guaranteeing you will be a Captain in a year. I understand everyone feels like everyone will be ok and the majors will take care of us all PIC time or not BUT the argument of getting the schedule you want is moot because you'll be very senior quickly as an FO, 1 year of sacrificing probationary pay again then either upgrade or keep your cush FO schedule. Sitting as a Captain is a lot better than an FO if you all of a sudden realize those major jobs aren't as easy to obtain as people make it seem.

Because unless and until they put it in my contract that I will be a Captain in a year, it's amazingly speculative. This is the problem with chasing an upgrade. Delta might look at you guys and go "eh, not so much on the amount of flying with you guys anymore" - like they have for us, it's not really growth that's happening with DCI LAX, it's a swap of routes - and things would, consequently, change*.

It's also hard to walk away from $37.15/hour to go and fly more airplane for $25 (or whatever it is) an hour. It would take me ~3 years as an FO to get to where I am now, financially, at Compass - and I have expenses now. Life marches on, and, consequently, a speculative move backwards is NOT appealing.

* Delta may have some sort of agreement to keep your fleet at x airframes or whatever - that notwithstanding, of course.

 

[Screaming_Emu]

Here's what I don't get. If your at StagnationNation Air why would you not go to some airline that is pretty much guaranteeing you will be a Captain in a year. I understand everyone feels like everyone will be ok and the majors will take care of us all PIC time or not BUT the argument of getting the schedule you want is moot because you'll be very senior quickly as an FO, 1 year of sacrificing probationary pay again then either upgrade or keep your cush FO schedule. Sitting as a Captain is a lot better than an FO if you all of a sudden realize those major jobs aren't as easy to obtain as people make it seem.

Pretty much what Ross said.

I want to upgrade, get PIC, and move on. But the sacrifices I would have to make in my personal life (which is where I get most of my happiness in life) isn't worth it for a maybe in my professional life. If that was the only way to move on, or even a guarantee, it would be worth it. But there is no such thing.

Throw in the fact that bailing a well established regional for one that is fairly new and was created simply to have a cheaper overhead by having nothing but very new crews is one of the major reasons our industry is what it is. My not going isn't going to suddenly make things better, but if I can I'd like not to support the whole "create a whole new regional in order to save money by screwing career people" scheme. Not faulting the pilots who have gone there, just bothers me.

 

[Gonzo]

Here's what I don't get. If your at StagnationNation Air why would you not go to some airline that is pretty much guaranteeing you will be a Captain in a year. I understand everyone feels like everyone will be ok and the majors will take care of us all PIC time or not BUT the argument of getting the schedule you want is moot because you'll be very senior quickly as an FO, 1 year of sacrificing probationary pay again then either upgrade or keep your cush FO schedule. Sitting as a Captain is a lot better than an FO if you all of a sudden realize those major jobs aren't as easy to obtain as people make it seem.

Not so easy when you are looking at a 20K pay cut for somebody like me. Trust me I have been trying to make the numbers work for the last year to make the jump over to Compass, I just can't find a way.

 

[ClarkGriswold]

Not so easy when you are looking at a 20K pay cut for somebody like me. Trust me I have been trying to make the numbers work for the last year to make the jump over to Compass, I just can't find a way.

I understand people have bills, I do and everyone else does. To the others, I know many feel getting hired as an FO is easy but if you're in the bottom 25% percent why not stack the deck in your favor with a way higher chance of upgrading and getting PIC time. The saying has always been get your PIC time and get out... That may be changing slightly but it still stands.

 

[Bama]

And the race to the bottom perpetuates.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

I understand people have bills, I do and everyone else does. To the others, I know many feel getting hired as an FO is easy but if you're in the bottom 25% percent why not stack the deck in your favor with a way higher chance of upgrading and getting PIC time. The saying has always been get your PIC time and get out... That may be changing slightly but it still stands.

Ugh.

(you're right, of course, but ugh.)

 

[bronco21016]

I understand people have bills, I do and everyone else does. To the others, I know many feel getting hired as an FO is easy but if you're in the bottom 25% percent why not stack the deck in your favor with a way higher chance of upgrading and getting PIC time. The saying has always been get your PIC time and get out... That may be changing slightly but it still stands.

When I was hired on at 9E they were supposed to hire 400/year indefinitely under a pretty great JCBA..............

 

[desertdog71]

When I was hired on at 9E they were supposed to hire 400/year indefinitely under a pretty great JCBA..............

I was supposed to be 6'5 and athletic.

 

[ClarkGriswold]

When I was hired on at 9E they were supposed to hire 400/year indefinitely under a pretty great JCBA..............

You mean walked into class? Anyway, Yes I know I was there. We know what happened next, which then lead me to CP. My opinion still stands.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

I was supposed to be 6'5 and athletic.

It's overrated.

(the 6'5" part, anyway)

 

[bronco21016]

You mean walked into class? Anyway, Yes I know I was there. We know what happened next, which then lead me to CP. My opinion still stands.

Yea I mean it obviously wasn't a factor in my decision to go work there but everyone acted like we were gonna be captains in 2-3 years.

I think Compass is a very safe bet if someone is willing to go. I'm just saying NOTHING is a given.

 

[Used2Fly]

I understand people have bills, I do and everyone else does. To the others, I know many feel getting hired as an FO is easy but if you're in the bottom 25% percent why not stack the deck in your favor with a way higher chance of upgrading and getting PIC time. The saying has always been get your PIC time and get out... That may be changing slightly but it still stands.

I'd imagine that's what the guys hired within 5 years before the recession said and probably never considered that the "get out" fast part wouldn't be an option. Are we in a stable enough economy now that there is low risk of getting stuck as a regional FO for a decade again?

 

[ClarkGriswold]

I'd imagine that's what the guys hired within 5 years before the recession said and probably never considered that the "get out" fast part wouldn't be an option. Are we in a stable enough economy now that there is low risk of getting stuck as a regional FO for a decade again?

Good question, I can't answer that.

 

[surreal1221]

A whole heck of a lot of bingo, bango, bongo going on in this thread.

I'll toss up the likes once I chill in my office while my boy goes to bed.

But, if I were to run off to the latest amazing spot then I would be playing less bingo, bango, bongo, and that is what is ultimately unsatisfactory for me in life right now.

I remain cautiously optimistic about my company. FWIW.