<p>Rapid growth can be wonderful for an airline. It also presents major challenges though, especially when you’re not just tripling the size of the fleet, but doing so by adding turbofan-powered aircraft rather than more of the turboprops which are already in the fleet.</p>
<p><img alt="CommutAir" src="/getasset/3d57eb4e-00f5-4ee8-83f5-d2ea5d946fa0/" /></p>
<p>With a pilot shortage in the United States, CommutAir – which operates under the United Express brand – has found the above scenario so demanding that it has announced an increase in its sign-on bonus for senior pilots. That extra payment, which was announced as being up to $15,000 when the airline’s fleet expansion began in 2015, has now gone up to a potential $50,000 for captain-qualified candidates.</p>
<p>According to CommutAir’s chief operating officer, Joel Raymond, the carrier’s rapid growth is continuing to create opportunities across its expanding operation with jet deliveries continuing still. “That rapid growth has increased our demand for experienced leaders in the left seat— so much so that in addition to a $50,000 sign-on incentive, we are offering immediate upgrade slots for captain-eligible pilots,” he explains.</p>
<p>The airline claims that, as one of the fastest-growing regional airlines in the US, CommutAir “appeals to pilots who want to move up the seniority list quickly. This also allows for shorter reserve times, so pilots are in the air, doing what they love, more often”.</p>
<p>As noted, it was in late 2015 that CommutAir began the programme to essentially triple in size from 21 (a mix of Bombardier Q200s and Q300s) to 60 aircraft, with all the incoming aircraft being Embraer ERJ 145s. Eventually the turboprops will be phased out and the carrier will have an all-jet fleet. When this fleet rollover started, it was the first time that the airline had operated jets (CommutAir celebrates its 30th Anniversary on 1 August 2019 and completed its 100,000th revenue jet flight during July). Thus not only did the airline have to acquire pilots swiftly, they also had to be qualified for the jets. Of course, some of the airline’s own pilots took the option to move across to the jets, but others have been brought in who were already Type Rated on the ERJs.</p>
<p>CommutAir is now looking for even more of the latter as it aims to hire 200 Captains (as well as those who will fill the gaps at First officer level when promotions occur) and is clearly making it worth their while to consider a move. “Qualified candidates entering captain training will see a total first-year benefits compensation package of up to $122,000 and the ability to move quickly to a mainline carrier,” the airline states. Logistically, the carrier believes its bases in Newark, NJ, and Dulles, VA, are “easily commutable”.</p>
<p>The potential move into mainline operations comes through the company’s Career Path Program (CPP), in which CommutAir offers “the fastest direct path” to United Airlines, a minority owner of the carrier. “Our shortest wait for a pilot going to United has been 2 years and 10 days, and we would love to have a new Captain come in and beat this record,” remarks Laura Prince, vice-president of human resources at CommutAir.</p>
<p>This pilot merry-go-round among US regionals has become stronger in recent years as the task of attracting brand new pilots to the industry has become harder, not just because of the competition from other industries, but also because the cost of training – usually borne by the individual – is now above the $100,000 mark. For some airlines, a signing-on bonus for Type-Rated pilot is often more economical than paying for a student candidate to go through <em>ab initio</em> training.</p>
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<p><img alt="CommutAir" src="/getasset/3d57eb4e-00f5-4ee8-83f5-d2ea5d946fa0/" /></p>
<p>With a pilot shortage in the United States, CommutAir – which operates under the United Express brand – has found the above scenario so demanding that it has announced an increase in its sign-on bonus for senior pilots. That extra payment, which was announced as being up to $15,000 when the airline’s fleet expansion began in 2015, has now gone up to a potential $50,000 for captain-qualified candidates.</p>
<p>According to CommutAir’s chief operating officer, Joel Raymond, the carrier’s rapid growth is continuing to create opportunities across its expanding operation with jet deliveries continuing still. “That rapid growth has increased our demand for experienced leaders in the left seat— so much so that in addition to a $50,000 sign-on incentive, we are offering immediate upgrade slots for captain-eligible pilots,” he explains.</p>
<p>The airline claims that, as one of the fastest-growing regional airlines in the US, CommutAir “appeals to pilots who want to move up the seniority list quickly. This also allows for shorter reserve times, so pilots are in the air, doing what they love, more often”.</p>
<p>As noted, it was in late 2015 that CommutAir began the programme to essentially triple in size from 21 (a mix of Bombardier Q200s and Q300s) to 60 aircraft, with all the incoming aircraft being Embraer ERJ 145s. Eventually the turboprops will be phased out and the carrier will have an all-jet fleet. When this fleet rollover started, it was the first time that the airline had operated jets (CommutAir celebrates its 30th Anniversary on 1 August 2019 and completed its 100,000th revenue jet flight during July). Thus not only did the airline have to acquire pilots swiftly, they also had to be qualified for the jets. Of course, some of the airline’s own pilots took the option to move across to the jets, but others have been brought in who were already Type Rated on the ERJs.</p>
<p>CommutAir is now looking for even more of the latter as it aims to hire 200 Captains (as well as those who will fill the gaps at First officer level when promotions occur) and is clearly making it worth their while to consider a move. “Qualified candidates entering captain training will see a total first-year benefits compensation package of up to $122,000 and the ability to move quickly to a mainline carrier,” the airline states. Logistically, the carrier believes its bases in Newark, NJ, and Dulles, VA, are “easily commutable”.</p>
<p>The potential move into mainline operations comes through the company’s Career Path Program (CPP), in which CommutAir offers “the fastest direct path” to United Airlines, a minority owner of the carrier. “Our shortest wait for a pilot going to United has been 2 years and 10 days, and we would love to have a new Captain come in and beat this record,” remarks Laura Prince, vice-president of human resources at CommutAir.</p>
<p>This pilot merry-go-round among US regionals has become stronger in recent years as the task of attracting brand new pilots to the industry has become harder, not just because of the competition from other industries, but also because the cost of training – usually borne by the individual – is now above the $100,000 mark. For some airlines, a signing-on bonus for Type-Rated pilot is often more economical than paying for a student candidate to go through <em>ab initio</em> training.</p>
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