The new airline thread

[SurelySerious]

16 minutes ago, Sua Sponte said:

How many people on here have pulled their separation/retirement due to this?

No thanks; separating because I have no faith in the AD Air Force’s talent management, so not giving them the opportunity yet again. 

Edited March 23, 2020 by SurelySerious

[BashiChuni]

40 minutes ago, Sua Sponte said:

How many people on here have pulled their separation/retirement due to this?

delayed it. still jumping to the reserves.

 

[WheelsOff]

6 hours ago, mcbush said:

Once hiring does start up again, do you guys see it initially being more competitive than it has been in the recent past for mil guys, based on the potential glut of guys whose UPT commitments are now expired, who got enough hours at their regional to be competitive, etc?

Wondering the exact same thing! Hopefully it won’t be quite as competitive as it was for the guys trying to get hired in 2014-15...not an airline guy so what do I know obviously. 

Curious what folks currently in the industry think about this one?

[Danger41]

I’m delaying mine for much more practical reasons. Gotta feed the wife and kids.

[pcola]

My ADSC waiver to retire was denied just last Friday. Can’t say I’m too disappointed at this point. ADSC ends next January anyway and I’m a free agent, line flying, ADO, O-5. Not sure now when I’ll push the button again. Definitely going to hold off and see how things play out.


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[HuggyU2]

2 hours ago, pcola said:

ADSC ends next January anyway and I’m a free agent, line flying, ADO, O-5. 

I don't know your specific circumstances, but that sure sounds good to me.  Enjoy the next 8-10 months.  

 

13 hours ago, mcbush said:

Once hiring does start up again, do you guys see it initially being more competitive than it has been in the recent past for mil guys, based on the potential glut of guys whose UPT commitments are now expired, who got enough hours at their regional to be competitive, etc? Just wondering how much of my new-found free time I should be dedicating to the more ancillary parts of the resume like formal education.

I'm not involved in any way with hiring at my airline, however there will be a logjam of applications building up due to the hiring stoppage.  And yes, it will be that much more competitive.  Three years ago, UAL had 10,400 qualified applicants, and I'd guess less than 15% of them got interviews.  I'd say we will probably end up there again... or worse.  Trivia:  UAL will retire 2.1% of their current pilots by the end of 2020.   Thirty percent will be gone by the end of 2027.  

I don't know what you mean by "dedicating to the more ancillary parts of the resume" but flying regularly as an instructor/evaluator would be my advice.  

Based on very recent union town hall meetings, I would expect it will be a while before any significant hiring takes place.  Even though they are the experts, it is still speculative at this point, so I'll skip the details of what they said.  

Find a place to ride things out for a year or two.  If the situation improves faster than that, all the better.  

Edited March 24, 2020 by HuggyU2

[AirGuardianC141747]

Are you an early riser Huggy? Or late to bed sleep all day type. Impressive. I just flew in from ANC, here in quiet JFK / New York City. Toooo quiet. But it’s a good sign that these people need to hunker down. We’ll see what victims to be daylight brings. Had my mask and thankfully my Uber Driver had his, granted he was Asian and well ahead of the game. Not his first rodeo.

34 minutes ago, HuggyU2 said:

I don't know your specific circumstances, but that sure sounds good to me.  Enjoy the next 8-10 months.  

 

I'm not involved in any way with hiring at my airline, however there will be a logjam of applications building up due to the hiring stoppage.  And yes, it will be that much more competitive.  Three years ago, UAL had 10,400 qualified applicants, and I'd guess less than 15% of them got interviews.  I'd say we will probably end up there again... or worse.  

I don't know what you mean by "dedicating to the more ancillary parts of the resume" but flying regularly as an instructor/evaluator would be my advice.  

Based on very recent union town hall meetings, I would expect it will be a while before any significant hiring takes place.  Even though they are the experts, it is still speculative at this point, so I'll skip the details of what they said.  

Find a place to ride things out for a year or two.  If the situation improves faster than that, all the better.  

Log jams of applications - totally agree. Cargo applications especially. Compass to close 7 April and even sooner Tran States (Regionals) closes its operations 1 Apr. GoJet is mixed up in this as well with its relationship with Delta which may disappear by the end of 2020. So far that’s nearly 1,100 pilots out of their jobs. This may be just the beginning as the Majors consolidate themselves into critical mass to survive. Won’t disappear as transportation is a critical/vital national asset, but the structure/landscape will change and yes retirements will damper the effect and hopefully offset this crushing situation. Sooner we bounce back the better and that is why the public needs to be disciplined just for a few weeks. Longer it goes, the longer it will take to recover having depleted savings, retirements, small and large businesses, trade conventions, etc.. More debt, less leisure travel. Companies swung back quickly to video teleconferencing, etc and the bean counters may find it’s a more profitable venture and limit former employee travel having set up shop with VTC. We did in the DoD during budget constraints so we know it all too well. Google, Microsoft, Zoom to name a few offering free trials for companies = “the new call for video will lead to a “fundamental, permanent shift in how people work.” - Zoom CEO. We’ll See how this matures and it worries me somewhat.  Of course there will be the must travel for actual sales and hand shake agreements, but it is concerning. We all have a Big Flat-Screen TVs now in your homes, it can’t be too hard with telecommuting running the show right now. Our appetite for entertainment and social gatherings will come back fastest after being cooped up for awhile is just my guess. Some things will come roaring back hopefully, but others will have morphed into a non-travel adaptation forced by this crisis at hand. Flatten the infectious curve fast is the key judging by the more successful nations coming thru this. It will take some time unfortunately. Military aviators have very competitive resumes. Having civilian airline hours as well even shines brighter as proof of your assimilation from Blue to gray (or whatever mil background you come from.) As you are witnessing unfortunately but a proven fact, timing is everything.

[SocialD]

Truth is, the 2 years "consensus" is all bullshit.  Not a single person knows how this will all pan out.  Even if the virus turns soon, will the traveler confidence return quickly?  I'd say continue to log the IP/EP time if able, maybe sign up for various schools (safety, etc...) if you have the change.  If it turns quickly and you have the means, then a trip to the regionals wouldn't hurt either...though likely not needed.  I think it will be as competitive as it ever was, with you having a slight edge for being military.

[Duck]

SWA just announced Voluntary Leave with partial pay. Details haven’t been disclosed yet, expecting words later in the week. I am so thankful to be a junior guy with them during a time like this.


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[SocialD]

28 minutes ago, Duck said:

SWA just announced Voluntary Leave with partial pay. Details haven’t been disclosed yet, expecting words later in the week. I am so thankful to be a junior guy with them during a time like this.

 

...and DAL just took our partial pay leaves off the table and said you can take a personal leave of absence (no pay).  Essentially, because it might look bad to the other employee groups. 🙄

Edited March 24, 2020 by SocialD

[BADFNZ]

22 minutes ago, Duck said:

SWA just announced Voluntary Leave with partial pay. Details haven’t been disclosed yet, expecting words later in the week. I am so thankful to be a junior guy with them during a time like this.


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Sarcastic?

I too am a junior guy with SWA and give me this job with the uncertainty over AD any day.  I'd honestly rather go apply at Home Depot and sort hardware than plan an ORI or build a power point for the WG/CC. 

[Duck]

Sarcastic?
I too am a junior guy with SWA and give me this job with the uncertainty over AD any day.  I'd honestly rather go apply at Home Depot and sort hardware than plan an ORI or build a power point for the WG/CC. 

No not sarcastic at all. I feel blessed that we seem best equipped to weather this storm. Still praying for all my other airline buddies. Several have told me that they feel like furloughs are coming for them. I have seen enough positive comments from our group at SWA that the culture isn’t dead.


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[nunya]

Don’t be fooled.  The Bobs will put any of us on the street to save themselves.  Even SWA.  

[AirGuardianC141747]

Never trust CEOs, CFOs, etc. Very few names come up as stand up folks. They’re like politicians, take the credit during good times, lay the blame elsewhere during hard times which they contributed too behind the scenes or blatantly in your face. “Mongo just a pawn in game of life!”

A dropped ball never bounces as high from whence it came. The rebound is dependent upon the gravity of the situation, in this case specifically public health, confidence and any surplus savings. Paychecks have stopped completely in many areas.

Stay strong, stay inside and we don’t need this to spike twice or more. Thank God for truckers amongst many others.

*Just flew into JFK early this morning from ANC, still too many people out joy riding around. Definitely less than last week so that’s good. Oceanic control had some turmoil last night due to virus concerns kind of like New York shutting down temporarily for virus exposure. Yeah, good times - not.

[AirGuardianC141747]

4 hours ago, SocialD said:

 

...and DAL just took our partial pay leaves off the table and said you can take a personal leave of absence (no pay).  Essentially, because it might look bad to the other employee groups. 🙄

If it was “just” taken off the table, did anyone manage to secure it prior - or it didn’t matter if or when as it just dissipated like vaping entirely... basically an expired shelf life for management to capitalize on? No take-backsies dammit. This blows...

[SocialD]

Just now, AirGuardianC141747 said:

If it was “just” taken off the table, did anyone manage to secure it prior - or it didn’t matter if or when as it just dissipated like vaping entirely... basically an expired shelf life for management to capitalize on? No take-backsies dammit. This blows...

 

Although they were under no obligation to offer them, they negotiated to reinstate SILs (55 hour no-fly line) and then said they were going to offer them for May and June.  Then the day they were supposed to be posted for bid, they said nevermind, that doesn't work for us right now.  Basically, they don't want to upset the other employee groups (non-union) since 13k of them took unpaid leaves...then they offered us over 4,000 personal (unpaid) leaves of absence.  So they'll pay me 72 hours to sit reserve and likely not fly since we have 60-90 guys on reserve every day and basically no trips to fly (WB international category) rather than paying me 55 hours.  Of course they could be trying to negotiate a lowered line value.  In the grand scheme of things it's not a big deal, but it just destroyed what trust the pilot group had left in management.  Lots of moderate folks just turned hardline.

[AirGuardianC141747]

Phew! So not a total rug pulled from under you, that’s much better to hear. Yes, these moves do not solidify trust.

Thank you for clarification. Public needs you back, you need you back and least of all by far regarding our importance (we’re behind the scenes) us box haulers need you back. So much easier than chasing company iron around. Appreciate what you do.

[Duck]

Don’t be fooled.  The Bobs will put any of us on the street to save themselves.  Even SWA.  

I don’t trust “the Bobs” at all (or the Gary’s and Tammys at SWA), but SWAPA and the majority of other guys at the company are in it as a team. It’s been pretty cool to see. The private talk on our SWA forums is a pretty all-for-one mentality.

[HercDude]

On 3/24/2020 at 4:16 PM, nunya said:

Don’t be fooled.  The Bobs will put any of us on the street to save themselves.  Even SWA.  

There are 3 national airlines that I know of that have never furloughed a pilot: SWA, FedEx, and JetBlue.  Based on their balance sheets and the nature of the current threat, I'm really confident those 3 will continue the streak.  I wouldn't be surprised if the F word hits 1-2 of their peers though.

[Tank]

New guidance from our wing (so theoretically from AFRC):

“All airline pilots will self quarantine for 14 days after any trips.”

So the options are to conduct no AFRC duties or telecommute if you’re able to. These are definitely interesting times!

[SocialD]

8 hours ago, HercDude said:

There are 3 national airlines that I know of that have never furloughed a pilot: SWA, FedEx, and JetBlue.  Based on their balance sheets and the nature of the current threat, I'm really confident those 3 will continue the streak.  I wouldn't be surprised if the F word hits 1-2 of their peers though.

 

Sounds like this stimulus bill has some no furlough language through Sept 2020.  If true, and all the airlines take it, I'd be surprised to see any of the big airlines furlough.  But who knows, I never thought I'd see a global pandemic where I'd be forced to stay home either.  

 

25 minutes ago, Tank said:

New guidance from our wing (so theoretically from AFRC):

“All airline pilots will self quarantine for 14 days after any trips.”

So the options are to conduct no AFRC duties or telecommute if you’re able to. These are definitely interesting times!

 

Pretty much the same at my ANG squadron.  Not that it matters much since we're basically not flying anyway.  Can't fly at the Guard, can't fly at the airline...shaping up to be a relaxing April of drinking on the porch and watching the world go by.  

Not a big deal for most, but for those CAT E reservists, watch your points and ensure you don't screw up missing a good year.  I've seen it screwed up, especially since a lot of people lose track that a good year is based off the day you entered service, not CY or FY.

[Sua Sponte]

[Init2]

Hey does anyone here have any gouge on fedex hiring qualifications? I'm looking to make the jump here in 2 years and I'm wanting to make sure I have my ducks in a row. Thanks guys, cheers!

 

[HuggyU2]

38 minutes ago, Cherokeeflyer said:

Hey does anyone here have any gouge on fedex hiring qualifications? I'm looking to make the jump here in 2 years and I'm wanting to make sure I have my ducks in a row. Thanks guys, cheers!

 

https://lmgtfy.com/?q=fedex+pilot+careers

 

 

Edited March 30, 2020 by HuggyU2

[AirGuardianC141747]

3 hours ago, HuggyU2 said:

https://lmgtfy.com/?q=fedex+pilot+careers

 

 

Sorry, that’s too funny... Fell off the couch...