Careers

Headlines aside, there are places to find a job

Are you paying attention? Do you know what you are getting into? Such questions could come from a worried parent bent on diverting a youngster from pursuing a path to mayhem and ruin, but they're also applicable to the thousands of pilots enrolled in aviation universities, colleges, and academies. Are you paying attention to industry trends? Do you know how much you will earn in your first year at a regional airline? Do you know who the top carriers are today?

Many people are drawn to the aviation business because of "excitement and adventure," according to Phil Roberts, a vice president with the Unisys management consulting firm. Reporting on a recent career fair at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Daytona Beach News Herald said that young people continue to "flock toward careers in aviation." Never mind that the airline industry is now in debt to the tune of $100 billion and lost more than $25 billion since September 11, 2001. Forget that the "Big Six" -- American, United, Delta, Northwest, Continental and US Airways -- have shed an estimated 109,000 jobs, cut nearly a quarter of their seats, and chopped pay and benefits in an attempt to stall losses.

But is gloom warranted? On one hand, USA Today reports that airline pilots who cannot make mortgage payments are taking part-time jobs to make ends meet. On the other hand, at ERAU's career fair, World Airway's human resources coordinator Michelle Ross said World has been profitable for 18 months and needs more pilots and ground crew.

It's still possible to find career opportunities with the airlines. But, as we've said, a flight deck job with the Big Six is a goal that should be shelved for the foreseeable future. Industry consultant AIR, Inc. says that pilot hiring is beginning to recover. Through September 2004, some 7,472 pilots found jobs in the industry compared to 4,743 during all of 2003. But of those hired through the third quarter of 2004, only 877 found work at a major airline. Many more found work at regional airlines -- but which ones are the movers and shakers in terms of size, hiring trends, and pay?

The Regional Airline Association (RAA) tracks the performance of member airlines and provides ranking data by passenger enplanements. Additionally, AIR, Inc. keeps tabs on pilot hiring. Some of the results are surprising. Based on that data, here are the top 12, arranged in descending order (some pay and hiring data are estimates).

American Eagle: American Eagle takes the top prize based on 2003 data. The carrier has transported nearly 12.5 million passengers in its diverse fleet, ranging from ATR 42 turboprops to the Embraer 145 and Canadair Regional Jet 700. As a brand-new first officer your base pay will be $19,776, rising to $32,772 as a five-year regional jet pilot. A 15-year captain on the CRJ700 earns $81,300 annually. The company recruited 486 new pilots in the first nine months of 2004.

Express Jet doing business as Continental Express: COEX transported 11.2 million passengers in 2003. Although the details of a new contract are still unclear, new-hire first officers can expect at least $20 per flight hour with a guarantee of 75 hours monthly; that means a projected annual base salary of $18,000. A 15-year captain flying the ERJ-145 earns $77 per flight hour or about $69,300 annually. The company recruited 393 pilots in the first nine months of 2004 and plans an additional 120 in the first quarter of 2005.

Comair: In 2003, the nearly 1,700 Comair pilots carried 10.9 million passengers. First-year first officers will likely earn $1,800 monthly based on 80 hours of flight time, or $21,600 annually. However, first-officer pay rises quickly -- in the second year, CRJ700 pay is projected at $37,884 per year. An eight-year CRJ700 captain will earn $75,804 annually. According to AIR, Inc., Comair hiring was not as brisk in 2004 (74 pilots through September) as in 2003 (322 pilots).

SkyWest: Affiliated with Continental, Delta, and United, the 1,700 SkyWest pilots flew 10.7 million passengers in 2003. Flying a mix of CRJs and Brasilias, new-hire first officers will expect $1,617 per month, for an annual base salary of $19,404. A two-year CRJ first officer will take in $35,232 each year, and a 10-year captain will earn $74,700. SkyWest hired 325 pilots from January through September 2004, compared to an estimated 185 during 2003.

Atlantic Southeast Airlines: ASA rounds out the top five regional airlines with 9.2 million passengers carried in 2003. More than 1,700 pilots fly a fleet of more than 130 CRJs and ATR 72s. A new first officer will command $1,522 in monthly base earnings or $18,264 annually. A two-year first officer on the CRJ700 will gross $35,748 per year, and a seven-year captain can make about $69,384. ASA hired a modest 120 pilots in the first nine months of 2004 but hired only 20 in all of 2003.

Atlantic Coast Airlines: ACA had 8.4 million passengers ride in its CRJs during 2003. However, the company reinvented itself as Independence Air and restructured its code share arrangements. Based on the fact that the company had more than 100 pilots on furlough as recently as September 2004 with no pilot hiring for the year, the jury is still out on how the company is performing under its new name.

Air Wisconsin: "Air Willie" hauled nearly 5.9 million passengers in 2003. The company is closing its longtime Denver base and opening one in Dulles, apparently in response to ACA's decision to drop its United Express association. With fewer than 1,000 pilots flying mostly CRJ and some BAE 146 equipment, a new-hire first officer can expect to earn approximately $1,936 each month, or $23,232 annually. Earnings potential increases to about $34,000 in the second year. A 10-year CRJ captain will command about $73,044, while his BAE-146 counterpart will earn $87,648. Air Wisconsin hired an estimated 183 pilots through September 2004.

Mesaba Airlines: With hubs in Detroit and Memphis, Mesaba carried 5.7 million passengers in 2003. With about 1,000 pilots flying Saab 340s and RJ-85s, this Northwest Airlink carrier hired only about 75 pilots in the first nine months of 2004. First-officer pay is about the lowest in the industry at $1,730 monthly, and that is based on 85 hours of flight time. A five-year regional jet captain should earn about $63,576 annually.

Horizon Airlines: Although ranked in the top 10, Horizon hired only an estimated 38 pilots in the first nine months of 2004. The company flies a variety of turboprops and regional jets, and it was the launch customer of the CRJ700. First-officer pay is not bad at $1,989 monthly, based on 82 hours of flight time, or $23,868. That can increase to $35,344 annually in the second year as either an F28 or CRJ700 first officer. A five-year CRJ700 captain should gross $66,852.

Mesa Airlines: Although ranked tenth in overall passenger hauling with 4.8 million customers, Mesa is ranked number one in 2004 hiring, adding more than 550 pilots-it has hired more pilots than Southwest and Jet Blue combined in 2004. First-officer pay is tied to equipment flown and starts at $1,719 on jets based on 84 hours of flight time. A 10-year CRJ captain should earn $67,356 annually.

Chautauqua Airlines: Coming in with 4.6 million passengers in 2003, Chautauqua was also on a hiring binge in 2004, having brought in 276 pilots through September. A unique wrinkle is the "Jets for Jobs" agreement wherein 50 percent of all pilots hired must be US Airways mainline pilots. However, a new first officer can expect to earn a base hourly rate of $22. At a guaranteed 75 hours monthly, that means $19,800 annually. That hourly rate increases to $34 in the fourth year as a first officer, or a base pay of $30,600. A 10-year EMB 190 captain earns about $76,500 yearly.

Pinnacle Airlines: This Northwest Airlink provider took on 4.5 million passengers in 2003. Pinnacle also ranked high in 2004 hiring, adding 303 pilots to its roster through September. However, pilot pay is among the lowest in the industry. Based on flying 78 hours monthly, a new first officer should earn $1,539 in monthly gross pay, or $18,468 annually. In the second year, that increases to $21,732. A five-year CRJ captain should gross $54,696 annually.

So, there you have it. If you aspire to fly for an air carrier, these 12 are where you'll focus your first efforts. We hope that you have gained some useful insight to your future employers.

Wayne Phillips is an airline transport pilot with a Boeing 737 type rating. He is a B-737 instructor and operates the Airline Training Orientation Program in association with Continental Airlines. He is also an aviation safety consultant in Michigan and speaker for the AOPA Air Safety Foundation.