For My Pilot Friends careers.aa/en/ac/home Pilot selection process Q&As: Q: How many pilots do we plan to hire in 2014? A: For now, it looks like we’ll be hiring approximately 1,500 new pilots over the course of five years. The plan is to hold two classes a month with 25 new hires in each class beginning Dec. 2013. The new hire classes are currently scheduled through the summer of 2014. Q: How does someone apply? A: We will accept pilot applications through AACareers. Q: What should I tell friends/family who are eager to get an interview? A:Please tell them to be patient. If they are competitive, their name will surface and they will be contacted by American Airlines. You should also encourage them to update their online application often as they gain experience. This will allow them to remain as competitive as possible during any evaluations of online applicant data. Q: Does it help to write a letter of recommendation? A:Since we anticipate a large number of applicants, we have developed an online automated system of accepting employee recommendations via AACareers. Remember that when you submit a LOR, you’re essentially putting your reputation on the line on behalf of the candidate you recommend. We expect that if you are recommending a pilot, you personally believe that s/he would be a solid addition to the American Airlines pilot corp. Q: So, what is the bottom line on helping someone get an interview with American? A:First, tell them to be patient. We plan to review thousands of applicants, for approximately 30 interview slots held no more than 24 times per year. Second, encourage them to update their online application often. The best thing about our automated system is that a pilot applicant can update his/her information as often as they like and that information will continue to be an important factor in one’s ability to rise to the top in the competitive evaluation process. Q: I have a friend that is coming in for an interview, what should I tell him/her? A:Tell them to relax, and be themselves! The selection team is fully committed to making sure each candidate is able to show us their best qualities. The questions are designed to allow candidates to share real experiences and help us get to know them better. Tell them to be prepared to share stories that demonstrate their own values and then, if they’re right for this role, it will be obvious. Q: How are we able to hire new pilots while we’re in restructuring? A:A number of factors are driving the need to grow our pilot workforce, including our broad fleet renewal efforts that include taking delivery of new Airbus and Boeing aircraft, the addition of new routes to our global network, projected pilot retirements and the FAA’s new rest and duty time rules that come into effect in 2014. Having sufficient, qualified pilots to operate our fleet is critical to the success of the new American. Q: Do you expect these pilot hiring projections to change as a result of the merger with US Airways? A: No. The factors driving our need for new pilots will still be in effect if the merger closes, including our fleet renewal plan, which is one of the foundational strengths of the merger. If our proposed merger is approved, we’ll continue routinely evaluating our staffing and making adjustments as needed, and are hopeful that a merged new American would provide even greater career progression and growth opportunities. Q: What is American doing to attract pilots from diverse backgrounds? A: As always, American seeks to hire the most qualified employees. We have a strong relationship with Women in Aviation (WIA), the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) and many other organizations that can tap into a pool of qualified pilots. We plan to work closely with these groups to support our goals in hiring the most qualified pilots. Q: Where will the new hire pilots be based and what type of aircraft will they fly? A: Base and aircraft are assigned by seniority, so our new hire pilots will be assigned to the most junior base(s) and aircraft. Currently, the most junior crew bases are LGA and MIA, and the junior aircraft is the MD80 and the 737. Q: How will the American Eagle flow-through pilots be handled? A:With two new hire classes being held monthly, we anticipate that half of each class will have flow-through pilots from American Eagle and the balance will be external hire candidates. Q: How does the new flight background selection software work? A:The system allows “filters” to be set and honed according to parameters that we feel can help ensure success for the candidate and American Airlines. The automation can sort through hundreds of applications in just a few short minutes, which allows us to effectively select the most qualified candidates. Q: How can I participate in the new hire pilot process? A:As we need experienced pilots to assist with new hire pilot recruitment, selection and hiring, we will communicate those needs through our regular communication vehicles – AAPilots, CCI and company email. Have a question about the new hire pilot section process? Send it in!
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 21:42:13 +0000
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