Spirit airlines furloughs
Posted by Longjumping_Focus862@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 286 comments
Hello, I’m a CFII with 1200 hours. Just saw the news about spirit airlines stopping operations soon which means close to 500 pilots who are so much more qualified than me will be on the market with a lot of turbine time too. Airlines have just slowly opened hiring and I was hoping I could get to the regionals soon. With that number of pilots on the market from spirit going under, what do you guys think will happen to the new CFIs that just hit their hours and hoping to start their career?
Guysmiley777@reddit
You're out of luck in the short term. Either keep building hours, staying proficient and being hireable when the pendulum swings back or find a different career.
When people say the airline industry is volatile, cyclical and unpredictable this is what they mean.
Individual-Elk-6759@reddit
I starting to think find a new career might be a better option. Making my blood boil having to live in poverty.
DooseEight@reddit
Not every lion that chased the deer caught it, but every lion who caught the deer chased it. Keep chasing that dear. You will eventually catch your dream
Overall_Raisin_9159@reddit
This is the advice I told my brother in law with a gambling addiction when he tried quitting.
special_edition_5@reddit
That's just giving him false hope at this point...
Silent_Mi@reddit
That seems like a translated African proverb. But very on point.
No_Excitement455@reddit
How many hours do you have ?
What is your backup career options ?
special_edition_5@reddit
How much time and money have you sunk into this field so far?
CourageSea9851@reddit
Become a Dentist/chiropractor etc buy a Bonanza and fly it on your WEEKENDS OFF
Watch your kids grow up and be there on holidays!
I’ve been gainfully employed as a pilot for 25 years saw/see lots of cool things fly some cool planes but the toll it has taken…
My 20 year old self should have stayed on the podiatrist/surgeon route!
brongchong@reddit
When you quit, you’ll never make it. Never give up.
Bowzy228@reddit
Exactly how I’m feeling right now.
sirpsychosexy8@reddit
How long have you been at it?
shadyshackk@reddit
Brother I felt the same way. I ended up going to medical school because I didn’t want to have an unstable career. I figured I could still fly as a doctor and keep it a hobby.
Individual-Elk-6759@reddit
Smartest one here. Makes me wanna be an NP and not having to deal with this crap.
JadedJared@reddit
A good way to think about it is, this market disruption will have a temporary effect on pilot hiring as those pilots flood the market. But, as Spirit closes its doors the remaining airlines will grow to absorb the routes no longer served by Spirit. More pilots will be needed to fly those routes. These Spirit pilots may fill a lot of the new hire positions that are available right now and in the near term, but it will eventually even out.
yourlocalFSDO@reddit
There is a sizable amount of Spirit’s customer base that cannot afford to fly at the rates they currently do on other airlines. There will certainly be a permanent reduction in the number of people flying if Spirit does indeed liquidate. The argument that other airlines will absorb their aircraft also rings hollow to me as I expect a number of those aircraft will probably relocated overseas.
No_Excitement455@reddit
How many have the PW engines that have problems ?
JadedJared@reddit
For sure. Now that Spirit’s competition is gone, legacy airlines can charge more and get away with it. They’ll lose some low cost business but the higher prices will make up for it.
lil_layne@reddit
The other airlines will still need to wait to get the planes to fly those routes. Most of Spirit’s fleet was leased and a lot of those planes could go to airlines in other countries that need the A320. Scott Kirby outright said that he is not interested in any of Spirit’s fleet. So if he wants to replace those routes he is looking at waiting on the backlog of the airplane production that has already been delayed time and time again.
winwaed@reddit
A) Scott Kirby says a lot of things.
B) I thought that comment sounded much more of a "we'd prefer to wait until they're bankrupt and the price is much cheaper"
Japanisch_Doitsu@reddit
The US government could always just step in and forces those planes to be picked up by domestic US carriers.
Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit
You mean stealing airplanes from leasing companies, Russia-style?
I sure hope US doesn't sink to this level...
Japanisch_Doitsu@reddit
The company would still get paid. It would just be strongly encouraged that they lease back to an American company.
Apprehensive_Cost937@reddit
Forced, strongly encouraged... and if they don't comply, because they simply got a better offer somewhere else?
AlbertR7@reddit
Can they? That seems like it would be quite an overstep of their authority
Japanisch_Doitsu@reddit
Wouldn't be the first time the US government oversteps their authority
notfbiinformant@reddit
You think the current federal government is worried about overstepping their authority?
jun8803@reddit
what makes you think the airlines will takeover every single routes operated by Spirits ? there are many reasons why Spirits had been suffered. more than 30% its route won't come back.
JadedJared@reddit
Not every single route.
DarthSagacious@reddit
Airlines are hungry for gates, so I agree it’s likely that these will be taken soon. It’s most likely bad for consumers, though, as the gates will be taken by higher-fare carriers.
Cdraw51@reddit
I honestly hadn't thought of that, but it definitely makes sense. When an airline goes under, everyone else will be vying to different degrees of enthusiasm for that former airline's gates, routes, etc.
shrunkenhead041@reddit
Exactly. Most of the demand for those routes, or similar ones, isn't going away. Fuel prices will slow the take over of those routes, but it will likely even out within a year or two. A new crop of pilots learning that aviation is a cyclical market.
Bowzy228@reddit
Oh boy! There’s gonna be a lot of rusty CFIs working at McDonald’s. The sooner we get comfortable with the possibility not making it in this industry, the better off we’ll be. Well At least we tried .
throaway691876@reddit
Holy doomer lol, yeah, if you’re not willing to wait a few years, then yes, just find another field.
I know the CFI lifestyle can suck but man if it’s that bad then just find something else.
Bowzy228@reddit
That’s the problem. I can’t even find a CFI job. Luckily my current non aviation job allows me to keep flying on my own dime but god knows how much longer I wanna keep dumping thousands or dollars into this.
I LOVE flying but damn it sucks trying to make a career out of it.
CourageSea9851@reddit
If you’re making good money and “Love” flying don’t make it a career! It’s not what you think it’s gonna be! The shine will come off that diamond pretty fast!
throaway691876@reddit
Yeah it sucks, I’d just focus on staying proficient, few hours a month or something.
missbehavin21@reddit
Get your resumes out there fast. FedEx and UPS are always hiring
CourageSea9851@reddit
Haha!!!
I used to send UPS and FedEx resumes monthly after I amassed my first 1000 PIC JET (20 years ago) i even had their pilots write recommendations “0” response. I’m a white guy with a spotless record which is even more repulsive nowadays!
mass_marauder@reddit
To drive the trucks?
missbehavin21@reddit
fly their planes
mass_marauder@reddit
FedEx ain’t hiring pilots
Whisky-354@reddit
Neither are hiring 1500 hour CFIs
KudzuAU@reddit
Make sure to remember to carry a volleyball to the interview.
CourageSea9851@reddit
Aviation as a career sucks! Furloughs,, medicals, economy can all take you out of the game.
How do I know this? 11000+ hours Jet-PIC in my mid 50’s why 11000+ ? Because that’s my best low estimate almost nobody keeps track after 15+ years in the left seat other than the company printout logging your currency.
All these experienced Spirit captains are going to sit right seat for who knows how long at their new company (if they can get a job) basically starting from scratch at bottom of seniority-you don’t want to be doing that in your 40/50’s I was Lucky my 121 plans dissolved after 9-11 since then strictly corporate which IMO is slightly better.
Any new aspiring pilots I’d look into another career field the companies will soon be using “drone” planes with one pilot effectively cutting half the pilot 121 workforce and then after the kinks are worked out some DEi hire will sit upfront with no control to make pax feel better!
I have colleagues becoming medically disqualified At a ever increasing rate as we approach our 50s/60s
Aviation-piloting is not a “Profession” it is a skilled trade-anyone with half a brain and enough money can buy themselves into a job. I’ve seen it 100s of times.
How many Professionals-Doctors/Lawyers etc start at the bottom when changing companies after it goes tits-up?
I wish my buddies at Spirit well and you young whippersnappers take note!
ApprehensiveEditor81@reddit
Not to mention they will have preferential interviews to jump the line.
ThatLooksRight@reddit
Keep in mind. It’s preferential interview, not preferential hire.
Spirit folk, don’t go in thinking it’s a gimme.
CarminSanDiego@reddit
But it is kind of a gimmie, no?
Why would another company not hire an already 320 type rated , experienced airline pilot vs a cfi or even a mil fighter guy
CaptAros@reddit
The cost of currency training is less than the acquisition and new hire training cost plus retention forecasts for each hire are definitely a variable (that 320 guy is more likely to jump ship at the first opportunity)
ThatLooksRight@reddit
At a legacy? They’re likely not jumping ship. But it’s also not a gimme.
CaptAros@reddit
I should have clarified .. this would apply to regionals more so than legacies
prex10@reddit
Nope nope nope nope.
That line of thinking has burned hundreds if not thousands of pilots in that past.
Whether it be some sort of contractual guaranteed interview, you're getting furloughed, you get picked up far below whatever everyone else is being hired. You're being offered a chance to interview.
By no means is there a handshake agreement any sort of part of that deal. You have to show up fully prepared like everyone else. The interviewer couldn't care less you are out on furlough. You have to earn the job still.
Clipper94@reddit
So those guys that get turned away, are then more or less black listed at that particular airline? Just curious.
prex10@reddit
You usually get two chances. After a 6-12 months cool down
Clipper94@reddit
Thanks for the insight!
Euryheli@reddit
Because it takes the exact same amount of training to get any of them through to the line. So no, not a gimme at all.
thisistherubberduck@reddit
Def not a gimme. I know multiple Spirit guys who have failed interviews with legacies.
prex10@reddit
I recently flew with a pilot interviewer. He said some of the worst people coming through lately were the spirit first officers who got hired that like next to no hours.
Avlatlon@reddit
Can't even wrap my head around a candidate showing up to a legacy interview doing zero prep.
Swimming_Way_7372@reddit
I can, a lot of the covid clowns never had to really try to get to the LCCs and ULCCs. The regional job was a guarantee and quickly found themselves at frontier, spirit and allegiant without any real adversity. At WAI this year you could see pilots at meet and greets in jeans and I even saw one in gym attire. Let's not act like the new generation has any idea what tough times look like.
Avlatlon@reddit
Still remember when Covid hit and I was walking through the terminal with the only other people there as airport workers and gate agents. That sucked…
boobooaboo@reddit
Yeah, I’m afraid some of my colleagues ruined that for many of us.
ApprehensiveEditor81@reddit
That's what I said. Preferential interview.
ThatLooksRight@reddit
Yes. I was reiterating that. Because some people seem to think it’s an automatic hire, then they go bomb the interview.
YKRed@reddit
Let me reiterate what you're saying; Spirit Airlines, and furloughed pilots in particular.
ApprehensiveEditor81@reddit
This is very true! Prep course after prep course! It's really the only way nowadays.
brongchong@reddit
There’s no line.
SmartyPantsJohnny@reddit
Honestly I believe that Spirit going away will reduce prices because it will create an opportunity to pick up additional customers and add some additional flights. These pilots will be absorbed quickly and many will probably retire.
UnknownStuntMan76@reddit
Are unemployed “commercial” pilots allowed to fly jump seat / standby to get to their home base?
I’m just curious about the Spirit Flight Crew, that is away from their home base, when flights cease.
I imagine there is still some flying time available to return the planes to their home base. I can’t imagine that asset just left at some airport, to pay a parking / storage fee.
40KaratOrSomething@reddit
I don't think they can because they are no longer in CASS so no cockpit access.
retiredflyer@reddit
I started flying commercially in the 80's and have been through 2 air carrier bankruptcies (obviously I'm long retired). The ups and downs of hiring has always been around, but the number of retirees coming up is fixed by age and there are a LOT of pilots approaching the age 65 mark. It's easy to get discouraged but don't, it will change. I do have to say, despite the 2 bankruptcies for my carriers, moving a couple dozen times and being unemployed and starting again at the bottom of a seniority list, I would absolutely go back and do it all over again. I had a blast, and have a grandchild that's hopefully going to be a professional pilot like grandma.
MehCFI@reddit
Gotta get rid of the ‘just hit my hours’ from your mind. Keep building, networking, getting multi and turbine time. Don’t expect a job offer at atp minimums. Make yourself as competitive as possible, pursue 91/135 operations and get twin turbine time.
You *have* started your career. You’re a CFII getting paid to fly. Remember that. The pay and QOL will come, but you are just getting started
hudson_458@reddit
As a CFII who cannot find any instruction job I’d kill to be in OP’s shoes right now. For now i’ve settled for an airline ramping job to pay off my student loans.
Ornery_Ads@reddit
Serious question, would you feel comfortable teaching students? Like right now. No additional training, no curriculum given to you, just start doing the job?
hudson_458@reddit
I have 40 hours of dual given and hundreds of ground instruction so I feel pretty confident in my skills. Obviously I have a lot to learn but a great pilot's always learning!
Ornery_Ads@reddit
What is stopping you from offering flight training?
Either take out a loan to buy a plane, or find somewhere/someone that you can rent from to offer instruction. You can also just offer your services for people that have their own plane. You can also offer ferry flights, and a few other things without any special approvals from the FAA.
hudson_458@reddit
Oh I’ve tried. I have my own website, business cards i’ve tabbed in every FBO within driving distance. Walked into every flight school resume in hand within driving distance. Currently i’m in the process of joining a flying club so I can try to get students that way. I was going to buy an airplane but the finances don’t work out unfortunately. It’s just so demoralizing to constantly taking L’s with no W’s in sight.
ip-p@reddit
Just curious, where are you based out of?
hudson_458@reddit
Both originally Daytona Beach, FL but i recently moved to my home of Albany, NY because it’s too saturated in Florida.
ip-p@reddit
Can I DM?
hudson_458@reddit
Yes sir
Longjumping_Focus862@reddit (OP)
Thank you! It’s always a breath of fresh air when a comment is useful. Lots of sarcasm and cynicism on Reddit
Physical-Program-509@reddit
Do you have a job lined up to get multi/multi turbine time?
Have you ever heard of queuing theory?
UndeadFrogman@reddit
What’s queuing theory?
Physical-Program-509@reddit
-Arrival rate (λ): new pilot applicants entering the pipeline -Service rate (μ): the number of people the system can actually absorb into decent jobs per unit time -Utilization (ρ): λ / μ
An ever-growing applicant pool does not just mean “more competition.” It means the system becomes increasingly nonlinear. Once arrivals outpace throughput which has always been the case but to a huge degree the past few years, delays rise, standards tighten, luck matters more, and people start confusing survival with merit.
That is why “someone is always getting hired” is such a weak rebuttal to hiring trend threads, particularly from many people hired around the big dig era
AntoineEx@reddit
Hindsight tends to rose color things. I’ve been an airline pilot for a short 12 years. When I look back I still genuinely feel that my time as a CFI was some of the most fun and rewarding flying I’ve ever done. I can’t wait to fly with all of you guys one day soon!
skyHawk3613@reddit
100%
mav3r1ck92691@reddit
Huge emphasis on the networking. It's not the airlines, but my buddy walked into a right seat job flying lear jets at 269 total hours with only his commercial multi-engine and no turbine time. He's now a captain at that company making great money.
EpicDude007@reddit
You’ll be CFI for a year longer than planned. It could be less, too many fluid variables at the moment. Roughly 1500 pilots at Spirit as of door closing, so less than your 2400 pilot estimate.
RaspberryFair6717@reddit
So I’m going to preface my comment with the following…I’m not a pilot and I know nothing about flying or the airline industry, just a regular consumer that does a lot of reading and absorbing information…so I almost get the sense that there are a lot of younger pilots and/or CFIs who are looking to get on at the major carriers, and the influx of displaced but experienced Spirit pilots to the job market has them concerned. So my question is, is it an option that some of these people can start at carriers overseas? I don’t really know how that works. All I know is we get a lot of foreigners coming to the United States on visas for work. Is it even an option for some of these younger pilots (even displaced Spirit pilots) who may not have families who are still in that “I’m not tied down and I can do whatever I want wherever I want and whenever I want” stage of life who might be willing to go overseas and get hired by an overseas airline? They can up their hours and experience on different aircraft and then bring that experience back stateside to make themselves more marketable or is that not how it works? Genuinely curious…
awkwarddachshund@reddit
I wonder what will happen when all the aircraft that are liquidated by Spirit get acquired by other airlines. It would probably allow them to expand and start taking on some of the new routes that they may not have been able to do before. I don't have much experience in this but I don't think it's all the doom and gloom of all these spirit pilots are going to take our jobs
Mike93747743@reddit
Their airplanes are leased. They will be returned to the holding companies. Who knows where they end up?
exbex@reddit
They last 5 years really messed with peoples sense of what’s normal. Just because your buddy got hired at a regional with the bare minimum of time, and got a huge signing bonus, then went to Delta 6 months later doesn’t mean that was normal. What’s normal is what’s happening now, bankruptcies, airlines going under and long waits to “start your career”.
IndependentAlps9649@reddit
Except now you’re doing it with 2x as many applicants competing against you
exbex@reddit
There are a lot of applicants? Are you familiar with “pay for training”? Thats when you know there are a lot of applicants in the pool.
brongchong@reddit
This times 1,000.
You young whippersnappers are pussywhiners. Yep, that’s a Gen X term. 1992 sucked. Now is better. Quit your crying and go fly.
flyingron@reddit
Furlough is a stupid word for "My airline went bust and we all are out of jobs."
Elios000@reddit
there asking for 500million and theirs still the chance of buyout in the last hour
flyingron@reddit
And that is irrelelvent to the point. The premise that the poster stated and to what I answered, is that Spirit was dead.
Elios000@reddit
im sorry for trying to hope there was better outcome
throaway691876@reddit
And that buys them another three months, what then?
Elios000@reddit
my guess is keep looking for buyer.
UnusualCalendar2847@reddit
Isn’t this the 10th time they’ve said spirit is going to go under? Granted this latest report is saying something otherwise but I won’t believe they’ll cease operations until it happens. Let’s say they cease operations some pilots might take an early retirement, so might leave aviation, some will go to 131, and others will go to UA, DL, AA, AS, or SW not to mention frontier. Some might go back to being a CFI you’ll never know if/when it happens
CavalierRigg@reddit
Welp, it was real this time. Spirt has officially ceased operations 05/03/26 at 0300 EST. Big RIP
UnusualCalendar2847@reddit
I just saw their statement. It’s sucks for the pilots , flight attendants, mechanics, schedulers, and dispatchers who lost their jobs just now.
aerohk@reddit
Spirit might be gone, but the passenger demand for air travel hasn’t. All the airlines will buy up Spirit’s jets and hire their pilots in order to absorb the demand. The pilot labor market will be roughly equal to today at the end. I wouldn’t worry too much.
brongchong@reddit
The Spirit jets are ratted-out and have maintenance concerns. Legacies don’t want them.
Whisky-354@reddit
I'd be shocked if even 1 of the aircraft spirit are operating rn end up at a US carrier.
Several-Village5814@reddit
Some spirit passengers cannot afford mainline prices.
Ornery-Ad-2248@reddit
Welcome to the industry, buddy. It’s boomer bust, feast or famine hardly ever in in between. The Covid era was such an anomaly. I recommend reading ALPA’s book flying the line.
brongchong@reddit
Bingo. So many young pilots are clueless about this industry. Covid hiring was a glitch. It won’t ever be seen again.
Several-Village5814@reddit
Apparently FA union is already sending out emails saying that the are closing down May 2
Worried-Ebb-1699@reddit
Assuming spirit shuts down. I could estimate perhaps 100-200 will simply stop flying/ retire.
So let’s call it 1,800 pilots for simplicity sake. They all now have priority over you.
Sorry, but you’re gonna CFI for a lot longer
prex10@reddit
Even then. Probably 700-900 will go to DL AA UA. Probably 200 to 91/135. Like 400 to regionals. Some will go CFI.
Not everyone is flocking toward your dream job.
United alone wants 1600 still this year and they're on a big pace still
brongchong@reddit
The Hat is looking at 1300
unfortunatetourista@reddit
Nah. The regionals aren’t taking any spirit pilot.
Chaxterium@reddit
Honest question. Why not?
unfortunatetourista@reddit
Speaking as a former banana bus driver, regionals want a return on their investment. They know spirit pilots will be out at the first opportunity they get.
A bunch of guys I know who got furloughed during the 3rd round were told as much by recruiters at LPA, RTAG and OBAP.
0621Hertz@reddit
My friend at Spirit went to Envoy last month and 8 other classmates were Spirit.
Another went to Piedmont a year ago and had 5 other Spirit classmates.
Pretty sure the AA WO doesn’t care.
Several-Village5814@reddit
Kinda surprised they hired them. They will leave in less than a year to another major.
Chaxterium@reddit
Yeah that makes sense.
Time_Match_7900@reddit
What are they going to do?
Loudnthumpy@reddit
Delta is still hiring another 900-1600 this year as well. Spirit closing will cause a slight disruption but not stop hiring from other companies
Time_Match_7900@reddit
Means less attrition.
tomdarch@reddit
Tangent, but is Spirit going under going to mean that other airlines expand a bit to take on those routes/that demand? That would obviously take at least a few months, but is this really a surplus of 2000ish pilots or slightly less if other airlines fill in these new gaps in travel demand?
prex10@reddit
For all the doom and gloomers. Spirit has like 2000 pilots. The market isn't gonna be flooded. Moistened maybe. But this isn't like a legacy with 17k+ going under.
Physical-Program-509@reddit
I don’t think this has to look like a 17,000-pilot legacy collapse to matter.
2,000 Spirit pilots is not a rounding error, it is a huge batch arrival of pilots into the exact rung of the market that feeds majors, LCCs, ACMI, fractionals, and the better 135 jobs. which leaves CPLs and CFIs waiting longer at the bottom. All the while we’re producing pilots at rates unheard of in living memory
Nobody is saying nobody will get hired. Just that this absolutely can make an already competitive queue materially worse.
That is fine as long as people are honest about it.
prex10@reddit
I don't know why people think every Spirit pilot is some 25 year old 2000 TT who can only wind up at SkyWest. A lot of these guys are going to majors and legacies. A lot of will get gobbled up at AA DL AS UA. Atlas, Kalitta, ABX. AA WO, 9E, Southwest, F9. 91/135,
Spread out 1800 people and there is still hiring to be had.
IndependentAlps9649@reddit
Yes but that’s gonna slow down the regional->major pipeline further slowing the cfi->regional pipeline
Physical-Program-509@reddit
So you’re really optimistic about the socioeconomic macro situation then?
prex10@reddit
For Spirit? No.
I am propitious about the long term and short term hiring trends though.
Physical-Program-509@reddit
I’m not saying you’re wrong, but a lot of people would disagree
https://www.reuters.com/business/us-consumer-sentiment-dives-record-low-april-amid-iran-war-2026-04-10/
reshan@reddit
MOISTENED
Reputation_Many@reddit
Try 2000 pilots not 500 if it actually happens.
Whisky-354@reddit
That's pretty right afaik, 1800ish on the seniority list and about 1500 active pilots.
CFIs going to be CFIing a little bit longer
Reputation_Many@reddit
I was guessing around 2,000. The ALPA Spirit website login is down, so I didn’t have the actual numbers to look at.
But either way, there are going to be a crapload of us back out on the street. For a lot of people, this is probably going to be the end of their pilot careers. I couldn’t get a pilot job while I was furloughed, so this time feels like it’ll be even worse. And if it happens… all of us who came back from the furlough.. the last month of constant grinding getting recurrent for nothing. At least I know I can still fly an a320 sim after more than a year of not flying.
The CFI guys with around 2,000 hours will probably still be able to get regional jobs. Guys like me, with zero TPIC time but a lot of 121 jet time, will probably get denied because they know we’d leave for a major as soon as we could. And the majors will have their pick of the litter, mostly taking people with TPIC time.
It’s going to be pretty bad for a while.
skyHawk3613@reddit
I hear that United is giving preference to all Spirit employees
Reputation_Many@reddit
Yes, they give a lot of us preferential hiring while furloughed. Quite a few friends were able to get a job there. They probably hired 50% of the guys from Spirit who interviewed with them. (I'm 100% guessing on that number, based off my friends and myself who did the interview. About 1/2 got the job the other 1/2 didn't.). Unfortunately I didn't get a job offer and cannot reapply for another few months.
I'm grateful they have hired as many of us that were furloughed as they did.
We will see if any airlines have any thing they will do for Spirit employees that will be affected IF Spirit closes its doors.
ThatLooksRight@reddit
Preferential interview. You can still definitely mess that up and not get hired.
Rictor_Scale@reddit
You have expressed both empathy and gratitude on Reddit. This is a serous violation.
In all seriousness I wish you all the best and with your positive attitude I'm sure it will turn out well.
21MPH21@reddit
Why aren't other ALPA companies jumping in?
beercanpilot@reddit
Bc other company’s pilots didn’t spend negotiating capital to help out fellow ALPA members
Whisky-354@reddit
ALPA only really does anything for Delta and United everyone else is just a paypig. But somehow they're still better than Teamsters.
Reputation_Many@reddit
This is true.
lil_layne@reddit
I have seen the headline over a dozen times in the last 2 years of Spirit close to stopping operations. I’ll believe it when I see it. Until it does actually happen there is no point of talking about it.
Several-Village5814@reddit
Well well well. Looks like I was correct. Unfortunately they are actively cancelling all flights tomorrow onward. All red eyes are cancelled as well tonight.
prex10@reddit
Historically speaking, airlines have a history of essentially ceasing operations on zero notice. There is usually little to no warning. It's basically like the CEO snaps their fingers and that's it. If they give passengers warning they'll cancel their tickets and workers will bail.
They want every last dime to give back creditors and every flight out until the end.
dopexile@reddit
Even talking about shutting down is a kiss of death. Think about it, if you are planning a vacation, are you going to book Spirit and risk not having a flight? No. That means they have no cash coming in.
Several-Village5814@reddit
https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/spirit-airlines-prepares-to-shut-down-as-rescue-deal-falls-apart-5a2d5936
lil_layne@reddit
My point is that many of these articles have been written lately and as a result I will not believe it will happen imminently until it actually happens.
Several-Village5814@reddit
They literally begged the Trump administration for a 500 million dollar bailout. If that's not evidence they are close to actually closing doors idk what is.
lil_layne@reddit
You would think going through 2 bankruptcies, having 2 rounds of furloughs, not securing all of their installment from creditors after their second bankruptcy would all be evidence they would be closing doors but here they still are.
Several-Village5814@reddit
We shall see. Jet fuel also doubled since their last bankruptcy.
TaskForceCausality@reddit
Airlines don’t die well. The first solid warning of Spirit ceasing operations will likely be the website going offline and crews finding out via ACARS in transit. If it goes down like that, TikToks gonna be spicy.
Several-Village5814@reddit
If they do liquidate, the company will deny it publicly until the last possible second.
willpc14@reddit
WSJ is reporting that Spirit is preparing to shut down. Spirit is saying that they have no plans of shutting down to NYT. I'm inclined to believe there's some truth the the Journal's reporting, but if no one's leaked a timeline, I don't think it's imminent. (I'm fully prepared for that last sentence to age terribly in about 4 hours)
militaryrat155@reddit
Spirit is like a cockroach. You can burn it, stomp on it, set it on fire but it will still keep going business as usual. Less resilient airlines would have gone tits up months ago
willpc14@reddit
After the nuclear apocalypse all that will be left are cockroaches, NYC subway rats, and some clapped out yellow A320s blasting Trap Queen flying into Florida.
Accomplished_Beat418@reddit
Someone please make a photo of this scene. I’d run it as a background for my iPad while flying over the Everglades.
EM22_@reddit
Most logical comment on this whole thread.
Prudent_Option1177@reddit
You’ll still get to regionals. All the spirit airlines are going to get hired by a mainline airline unless their background or professional history says otherwise
Whisky-354@reddit
Second/Third order effect though is mainline positions become more competitive therefore regional pilots find it harder to move to mainline and stay longer at the regional and then it's harder to get into a regional as an FO
Several-Village5814@reddit
Exactly. It keeps current regional pilots in their current seat longer.
BinguniR34@reddit
Probably the same that happened to me from 2003 to 2008. Worked construction, hotels, call centers, server, etc.
The lost decade was real and I fear that another one may be creeping up, especially with fuel prices spiking due to this useless war.
Whisky-354@reddit
How'd you get back in to the industry? From a recency perspective
BinguniR34@reddit
I never got to be a part of the industry. I finished all my ratings and degrees to a wasteland devoid of jobs.
I was in a part of the country with lots of flight schools, so I was competing with hundreds of other people in the same boat.
Eventually, in early 2008 things started moving and I was able to get a job as a CFI, then followed on with some Part135 flying where I got my ATP and then made it to 121 flying.
Whisky-354@reddit
Ah ok gotcha. Lack of recency is the kiss of death for airline jobs is why I asked.
daves1243b@reddit
Spirit shutdown isn't going to change passenger demand much. Jet fuel prices will have a bigger impact.
junebug172@reddit
Spirits passengers flew because prices were cheap. That's not what the other airlines offer. Some of those people won't fly again or will fly less.
daves1243b@reddit
Why not fly Frontier? Usually a similar price point. Sometimes lower if youre willing to go bare bones.
junebug172@reddit
Frontier will be raising their fares. I guarantee it.
junebug172@reddit
They're going to have to instruct a bit longer.
TwoBit_Hit@reddit
Not at a point where you have to pay for your training?
junebug172@reddit
Yep. Any 135 job you wanted you paid to get trained. SWA made you buy your type if you didn't have one.
Purple-Caterpillar57@reddit
Fuck that 😭
junebug172@reddit
That’s how lower time pilots jumped ahead higher time pilots. Anyone who was willing to pay moved on to better jobs. It was pretty much the only way out if instructing. Unless you got lucky.
HardCorePawn@reddit
I think they mean "airline training"... ie. paying for your type-rating and/or training bonds/contracts etc.
junebug172@reddit
Or 135.
TwoBit_Hit@reddit
I see. I was thinking pretty much everyone has to pay their way through training unless they go the military route, so I didn’t understand your comment. But I see you mean pay for job-specific training too.
AlexJamesFitz@reddit
Not to be callous, but: Exactly what you think will happen.
Individual-Elk-6759@reddit
High time CFIs will keep hogging the job and people who got their CFI certs back in 2025 who can’t find work will be screwed for another year.
nedy08@reddit
Wait until this guy finds out even at a legacy airline you are stuck with the dog shit, 10 hour duty days with 3 legs when you're junior. Those fucking senior guys hogging all the day turns.
0621Hertz@reddit
Yeah they should reverse the seniority list every other month.
Makes things fair, let the senior guys lead by example and take the shitty flights.
redditburner_5000@reddit
"hogging the job" as if they owe it to you to step down to you can get yours?
I promise that they want nothing more than to move on.
Individual-Elk-6759@reddit
I’ve heard ATP fired CFIs when they reach their minimums to keep the pipeline going. I think that’s a good idea. I know 15 people who got their CFI certs having to pay thousands a month time building while working a non flying job to pay loans back.
nineyourefine@reddit
Hey, you're not owed ANYTHING. Learn that sooner rather than later.
Had age 65 not happened and the 09 crisis not happened I'd probably be a legacy captain right now, but I'm not. I guess those guys should just leave because I want their spot, right?
If ATP is firing CFIs than that's a good strategy to keep wages low and labor in check. Last thing they want are guys who have been there 2, 3, 5 years to start asking for raises or work rules. Think before going into something with a ridiculous idea like "People should get fired after X amount of hours.".
Again, you are not owed anything in this industry. Welcome to the reality of the aviation industry, something us "old timers" have been saying for years.
Individual-Elk-6759@reddit
You’re not owed ANYTHING either. Where did I say I was owed a job?? I think it’s good ATP is firing CFIs to keep the pipeline going. Being a former CFI with 1500 hours is a much better place to be hung out to dry than 300 hours. You know what’s better than a low wage? Any wage. I know people so desperately trying to find a CFI job they listened to boomers like you and drove across the country living in their car trying to find a job.
nineyourefine@reddit
Right here.
You're willing to leave your colleagues "out to dry"
I'm not a boomer, but thanks. And yeah, welcome to aviation, where many of us pumped gas, swept hangar floors, and dumped shit for $10/hr just for the CHANCE to be near an airplane and maybe get hired as a CFI back in the day.
Individual-Elk-6759@reddit
People who got their CFIs are left out to dry right now. I know people 120k in debt who have been unable to find a flying job for upwards of a year now. They work at crappy non flying jobs to pay the loans back and thousands they can’t afford to timebuild. So I really don’t give a damn about someone given a chance to be a CFI who’s been told to leave because they hit their hours.
MrLemonDrop@reddit
Holy shit but this industry is gonna chew you up and spit you out
bhalter80@reddit
I do independent CFIing and make 12k last year doing that, granted I didn't get a lot of hours out of it but put that together with another entry level job and you can get by until hiring changes.
Most of my instruction is nights and weekends.
This mindset that being a full time CFI is a real job is a big part of what's killing CFIs
redditburner_5000@reddit
Who's fault is that? It's the people who lemming'd into a career they knew thing about and did no research prior to committing absurd cash to a fickle career.
Sucks for them. They should have dedicated a couple hours to serious research before YOLOing on a terrible decision. Sound advice is not hard to find for anyone even halfway serious about learning.
Also...you know...basic math tells you it's an awful idea to borrow $120,000.00 at 15%, or water the predatory rates are these days.
Finally, good decisions are being made.
Your opinion sucks.
Individual-Elk-6759@reddit
My opinions are “wrong” lol, you don’t give a fuck about me and I don’t give a fuck about you. You’re insulting people bellow you calling them stupid for accepting a loan. Why don’t you call up your old flight school (if they’re still in business) and see what they charge and get a reality check for how the world has changed since you were in flight school. You’re not getting this all done for less than $80k. I’m sorry I pissed you off so much because I said ATP has a policy of letting CFIs go when they hit minimums is a good idea for keeping the pipeline going. Then you fucking insult me saying I’m entitled.
redditburner_5000@reddit
Yes, they are. No quotes needed.
I wouldn't say that. I wish you'd take it upon yourself to buckle down and do what it takes to get a job. People are getting hired. Jobs are there.
Because taking a $120,000 loan at 15% (or whatever) is stupid! It's a math problem, not an opinion.
Who are you? Captain Marx? Here to seize the means of experience?
From each according to his loan, to each according to his logbook!
The peoples' hours!
Individual-Elk-6759@reddit
LMFAOO You’re Captain Marx. Comrade redditburner 5000. I’m not the one talking about keeping wages higher that’s you! Shit I don’t care what you pay me. I literally said any pay is better than no pay and you’re calling me a communist?!
ak3005@reddit
So just to get this right, you want people to be fired who in many cases took out similar loans to you or other jobless CFIs? So now that they have their hours, you not only want them to be jobless without a way to pay those loans, but also lose their currency/recency, making the regional/jet job even harder to get, all while not being able to continue to build their resume? Oh boy
Dabbinstein@reddit
Scary to think someone that stupid is allowed to fly a plane
bhalter80@reddit
The only reason to hang out to dry as you say an experienced employee is cost or performance. Keeping the pipeline going has 0 benefit to the employer "we hire all of our CFI candidates when they pass their ride" can be equally true the quiet part if you don't get hours until you gain seniority and most people quit before then. The pipeline will self-regulate
Individual-Elk-6759@reddit
No it absolutely hurts ATP when the airlines stop hiring. They need to keep the pipeline moving because they need to keep students coming and pushing people along. Plus I know you people clearly disagree, but don’t you think it’s fair that you give someone else a chance? Common at 1500TT you’re in a way better position to find a flying job than 300TT.
bhalter80@reddit
There's enough bad press about ATP, on top of that people hear the headline about getting hired when they get their CFI when they're picking a school few ask about QOL after that. The pipeline keeps running.
Remember ATP is also selling "0-hero" so "0-cast aside not working at an airline or even able to find a CFI job" is worse because people do ask about placements
Due-Letterhead6372@reddit
If I have a CFI job why should I be fired just so you can have my job?
bhalter80@reddit
The other reason to get rid of them is the way you get wages and QOL is through the U word and if everyone is always new that's not as obvious to them
Gulag_For_Brits@reddit
Boy with that attitude I hope you don't get a CFI job any time soon
Individual-Elk-6759@reddit
What attitude? The other guy is the one crying and bitching about me thinking ATP has a good policy.
Gulag_For_Brits@reddit
You're the one that said CFIs are "hogging jobs". That's not a thing, you are just entitled and feel burned that you chose this career path when hiring is rougher. Happens all the time in all types of industries, learn to deal with it or find a new career
Individual-Elk-6759@reddit
I didn’t think people would be so offended by that statement my god.
SpeedbirdTK1@reddit
No one here is offended except you cause you got rightfully called out on your shitty take. Maybe have a little introspection before crying victim here, otherwise you’ll never progress anywhere in this career.
anonymous4071@reddit
Because you didn’t think before you spewed that brain dead shit from your word hole.
Gulag_For_Brits@reddit
You're surprised that people don't agree with the concept of firing employees once they have a certain level of experience? Hardly surprising, show me any person that would be happy to be fired from their job so someone less experienced can have their role
Individual-Elk-6759@reddit
Go back to watching anime you autistic nerd
Ok-Mention-3310@reddit
Imagine these guys in the 2000s
Ok-Mention-3310@reddit
Hate to admitted it but your character will be what holds you back not the 1500 hour CFIs
redditburner_5000@reddit
Well, it's not.
skyHawk3613@reddit
I think the market is about to get flooded with a lot of highly qualified pilots, and a lot of companies are going to give preference to spirit pilots.
Inside-Finish-2128@reddit
There will be a rebalance. It will take some time, but if Spirit does fold, the need for those seats won’t go away. The other airlines will all ramp up operations in an attempt to swallow that business, and may even take some of the Spirit planes. Obviously repainting and recertification will take time, but the industry knows how to reprioritize on the fly.
junebug172@reddit
That's not necessarily true. Some of the markets Spirit flew to won't be covered and airlines prefer less seats being chased by more passengers. They've learned what happens when its the other way around.
Inside-Finish-2128@reddit
I’m making broad statements not setting absolutes. I think you understand my point nonetheless.
Ok_Witness179@reddit
Spirit has been on the verge of shutting down for like 2 years now. I'll believe it when I see it...
Several-Village5814@reddit
https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/spirit-airlines-prepares-to-shut-down-as-rescue-deal-falls-apart-5a2d5936
Elios000@reddit
my bet is some one buys them for pennies in the last hour
sandalsabsentsocks@reddit
And then what, keep dumping hundreds of millions of dollars yearly into a money pit operation with no real plan to be profitable.
No_Pollution2292@reddit
So much winning. Lots of pilots voted for this and I have no sympathy for them. For those that didn’t, I’m sorry you’re going through this and hope you find a place to land on your feet
Several-Village5814@reddit
lol what? Spirit hasn’t made money 5 years.
No_Pollution2292@reddit
Well maybe they could’ve restructured but this pointless war which caused gas prices to double was the final nail in the coffin
KudzuAU@reddit
I’m sorry, what? What has jet fuel done price wise?
No_Pollution2292@reddit
It’s doubled since the Iran war started and spirits recovery plan was based on jet fuel being around 2 dollars a gallon
MEtoaviator@reddit
How many Spirit Airlines pilots are there really? Attrition numbers have been reported as excess of 100 per month, so I’ve heard a number close to 1800 left, unless someone has heard more recent numbers
Mr-Badcat@reddit
Hitting your hours, I’m assuming ATP mins is not a finish line. It’s the starting line. Building your network means a lot more than flying 1500 hours.
anon__a__mouse__@reddit
Bunch of Spirit planes headed west to Marana as we speak, reports saying 3am EDT tomorrow is the end
Twarrior913@reddit
Biggest losers are regional CA’s that were just becoming completely for an interview. This might shut down top end movement at the legacies for a good while.
CAVOKDesigns@reddit
When I first got out of flight school, two budget airlines had ceased operations and flooded an already crowded regional market. I started out looking locally, flying sometimes as a safety pilot for BE-C90s—that's where I had the most fun I ever had.
Freight, man. Freight is where you get handed an old airplane and told to go. It's the greatest time. The only thing you have to do is fly the plane and get home safe. Along the way, you're gonna gain valuable experience that will follow you through your entire career and make you far more marketable than those flying right seat for a paycheck or staying at the schoolhouse.
This isn't a problem. It's a blessing.
-CAE Instructor former demo/test pilot Embraer Executive Jets
Vihurah@reddit
News like this makes me happy ive stuck with finding work outside of aviation in the interim
Business_Passage1886@reddit
You're thinking about it wrong. The number of airworthy airframes isn't really changing. They'll get snapped up by other carriers.
No_Pollution2292@reddit
Yeah in other countries outside the US
rotardy@reddit
It will be what it will be. No way to know how it fully plays out until we are looking back.
Many regionals will still be looking to hire from the instructor ranks. Those are the pilots that stick around the longest.
Honestly the pilots getting the hardest deal will be from spirit.
Keep flying and applying for jobs. Expand to 135/91 operations. You’ll still have a career. Just not the one you imagined.
This business is in a constant state of change. Just keep rolling with it.
BassetCock@reddit
You’re lucky that it’s only ~2000 pilots, it’s a drop in the bucket if the big 4 keep hiring in big numbers. Not sure how much everyone is hiring a month but the Spirit pilots will get cycled through quicker than you think. Just keep flying and building time. Southwest is hiring 1000 this year by itself. Not sure about the others but I’m assuming a lot of hiring as well. A lot of the airlines like to hire a diverse mix of experience. My class had a lot of military, a lot of Spirit, a few regional, and one pathway guy.
jakenbake23@reddit
Source from an instructor I went to indoc with at a Dallas based carrier is that a not insignificant number of pilots in each of our new hire classes is former spirit. I think the majority of those pilots will be taken in by majors or other lcc’s. Hopefully this leaves a regional job open for you. In the meantime, getting out and networking is always a smart move, even in stagnant hiring environments
jakenbake23@reddit
Source from an instructor I went to indoc with at a Dallas based carrier is that a not insignificant number of pilots in each of our new hire classes is former spirit. I think the majority of those pilots will be taken in by majors or other lcc’s. Hopefully this leaves a regional job open for you. In the meantime, getting out and networking is always a smart move, even in stagnant hiring environments
No-Cell-8208@reddit
I'm a 30 year pilot and full-time airline industry analyst. I've spent the past three years telling anyone who would listen to have a backup plan, including having written an article for LinkedIN that got some traction basically predicting just this.
It's not just NK furloughing - it's a monumental shift in demand that'll come when airlines have to increase RASM 15-20% to cover fuel prices that will stick for at least 5-years (since that's how long it'll take to rebuild what has been destroyed by both sides). Sprinkle in the K-shaped economy and how much of travel spend rests with boomers, and the 10-year forecast isn't great.
Fly as much as you can, but explore alternative career paths. Take it from someone who got out of college right after 9/11 when nobody was hired for a decade.
Physical-Program-509@reddit
But I heard from a CFI and local flight school owners we need tons of pilots
I heard from the guy selling interview and resume prep that we need more pilots
Companies that sell airplanes say we need to buy more airplanes and they need pilots
Are you saying that allot of the people peddling pilot shortage material have ulterior motives? I’m shocked
Well actually I’m not that shocked
Flyingredditburner44@reddit
Something something selling shovels during the gold rush.
TupperwareRobot@reddit
Sent you a pm
Redfish680@reddit
Planes will be scarfed up by scavengers and will need pilots.
SkyMentorPilot@reddit
Totally get why that feels discouraging—but this is more of a delay than a dead end.
Spirit pilots aren’t really competing for the same jobs as 1200-hour CFIs. Most will get absorbed elsewhere, and regionals will still need pilots when movement picks back up.
1200 as a CFII is solid. You’re right where you should be.
I’d just keep building time, prep for interviews, and be ready when things open again—because they will.
I’ve put together some free interview prep flashcards—happy to share if you want.
120SR@reddit
lol, go watch VSL aviations video on the FAA Airmen Stats. Even without Spirit we have tens of thousands to many pilots, majority of which are at your level. CFIs were cooked long before this
dopexile@reddit
It means the new CFIs who hit their hours are going to continue being CFIs.
Logical_Check2@reddit
And many people are going to find out that getting $100,000 in debt was a very bad idea when they can't even get a CFI job.
Fancy_Wall5275@reddit
All the additional customers will be picked up by the remaining airlines and they will need more pilots. All is not lost.
skyHawk3613@reddit
I think the market is about to be flooded with a lot of highly qualified pilots
smart_bear6@reddit
The legacy airlines plus the other budget airlines will pick up the spirit pilots. I doubt many will go to the regionals, but the senior regional pilots trying to go to the legacy airlines will have to wait. Then regionals hire a little less. But eventually the other airlines will fill some of that gap left by spirit.
ozzies_35_cats@reddit
The days of 1500 being the automatic phone call are way behind us. It means you’ll continue to instruct and build hours and find ways to make your resume stand apart from the 1,000 others. How much multi time do you have? Any tail wheel experience? Time in niche types? All those things can help you land ferry gigs and open up great networking opportunities. Otherwise keep grinding, nothing in life is guaranteed.
Anon332563@reddit
You trying to go to a major or legacy? If not then likely you’ll be fine. It seems like the consensus is that most regionals are shooting for lower time pilots that will stay longer over experienced pilots who will jump ship to a legacy. Just get out there talk to the recruiters and get into a cadet program.
PILOT9000@reddit
Regional hiring will slow as they won’t be losing guys to the majors if Spirit shuts down. A 1200 hour CFII isn’t going anywhere anytime soon if that happens.
Physical-Program-509@reddit
Well the problem with this conclusion is that you need to have basic critical thinking skills to determine 2nd and 3rd order effects
Apparently tons of pilots either ignore truths they don’t like, or lack that capability entirely
trampled93@reddit
https://youtu.be/yepvhknoGyk
junebug172@reddit
If you're in your 30's you're going to be poor for a long time in your prime earning years. It will be tough to recoup that.
PrayForWaves117@reddit
It’s over
redditburner_5000@reddit
No, it's not. It's just closer to normal than insane.
junebug172@reddit
Normal at a point was having 1900 hours of DUAL GIVEN before you were competitive with 500 multi.
dopexile@reddit
Can't wait to see the ATP threads.
"I am 200k in debt but working a ramp refueling job."
BeenThereDoneThat65@reddit
they will continue to be CFI’s and build hours
T0gaLOCK@reddit
Thats how it goes.... 1500 qualified pilots should be infront of you for any airline job.
Top_Resource9647@reddit
Not sure why it’s a common thing to say “oh you’ll have to go the 91/135 route” like it’s some inferior operation to that of 121. IMO it is as difficult to get on with a 121 as it is with a 135. Sure min hours is different but quite competitive all around
LookoutBel0w@reddit
I’m sorry and I don’t mean to be rude but that simply isn’t true.
When people bust out of 121 they go 135. Nobody fails out of 135 and goes 121.
Desperate_Exercise13@reddit
Most of them have their apps out already.
Simple_Match_1815@reddit
I know cfi’s who hit 1500 a year ago with no regional or 135 job. The only CFI’s getting on property anywhere at minimums nowadays are primarily cadets. If you sign the contract you can wait a year to get into skywest or republic potentially but yeah you’ll likely see 2000+ hours as CFI brother and thats assuming you 1 checkride fail or less. If you have 2-3+ fails in this market you’re gonna need ALOT of multi time or turbine. Commute at a hiring event said the few off the street cfi’s they take every other class or so have 400+ multi and mei. Its tough out here bro keep your head up
ltcterry@reddit
Your comments seem to indicate a lack of awareness of the market the last 18-24 months. "Just hit their hours" sounds like "hit X and roll into an airline job." Except for a couple odd years during Covid this has not been the norm. It might be *your* paradigm assuming you started flying 4-5 years ago and have been a CFI for a couple years. Starting their career began with a Commercial checkride. And building their resume began with choices the day after Private.
Airline hiring is pretty much on par with historical and expected rates.
What you see as a slow hiring issue is things like record numbers of new Commercial Pilots the last few years, creating a huge pool of potential applicants. There were over 20,000 new Commercial Pilots in 2025 but fewer than 8,000 new ATPs.
Spirit won't be the first airline to go under in the last few years. Those other airlines' pilots are/were also far more competitive than "just hit their hours" CFIs. The bigger the pool the pickier the hiring agencies can be. Three years ago flyExclusive would hire you as a Citation SIC w/ 600 hours and 50 multi. Not today!
redditburner_5000@reddit
(ha.)[https://imgflip.com/i/1a0hkd]
oranges1cle@reddit
Fitting that rising oil costs was the final nail in the coffin meaning a lot of those pilots voted to lose their careers.
sprulz@reddit
The guys who are still at Spirit are probably super senior with many years of experience in 121. Unless they have some serious skeletons in their closet I would not expect them to compete with low time pilots for regional FO positions.
Regional pilots that are trying to get to legacies are probably the biggest losers if/when Spirit goes under.
Bubbly_Upstairs6160@reddit
Um it’s a ladder. It will stop movement all the way down.
sprulz@reddit
My regional at least has mostly been hiring for growth and not attrition anyway. But yes I guess that’s true.
usernametaken78523@reddit
And what makes you think they're more qualified than you? I know a few spirit pilots with DUIs, upgrade fails, no degree, bad attitude, etc. just because they're at spirit dosnt mean they're more qualified than anyone else.
yaboygoalie@reddit
I mean, they are more qualified... in literally every capacity.
A pilot with a type rating and turbine time of any sort is more qualified than a pilot with 1500 hours of single engine piston time. It doesn't mean they are a better person or a better pilot but they are more qualified.
Turbine PIC > Turbine SIC > any other time.
usernametaken78523@reddit
I'm talking about the whole picture. Yes they can be more qualified in time, but there are hundreds of other things to look at. Like I said volunteer work, degree, arrest history all that stuff
BassetCock@reddit
I was at spirit before jumping shit. Spirit wasn’t hiring pilots with “skeletons in their closet” the pilots that do have less than ideal backgrounds is probably less than 5%. Not having a degree and +10,000 hours of 121 turbine time is still more qualified than 1200 hours of Cessna time with a degree and some volunteer work.
yaboygoalie@reddit
It doesn't matter unfortunately. The fastest way for airlines to filter applications is by flight hours.
Not only that but ALPA furlough stuff will get priority interviews for all Spirit pilots.
LikenSlayer@reddit
Get what you're saying, but really didn't help your case. If they have DUI's & they have the job flying with type rating. Why were they not unemployed already?
Because DUI's are definitely withen their control. Company going bankrupt isn't.
"Better to hire the devil you know, than the one you don't"
KehreAzerith@reddit
To be real, you likely will have to go the 135 route for a while before regionals. CFI straight to airlines isn't really happening that much anymore unless you were in a cadet program and have a very good resume
Negative_Swan_9459@reddit
1200 hours of Cessna time is not competitive with 320 type ratings, TPIC and SIC. You’ll be at the back of the line since your experience is limited and the market will be flooded with experience. No job is a given in aviation.
150_Driver@reddit
At the regional I interviewed with one of the guys there got furloughed from a different airline, he got a class within two months. OTS no 121 time can expect 6-8+ as is. So this is not great for people trying to break into airline stuff and will probably extend the wait times. Of course some Spirit pilots will be qualified for legacies and some may go 135.
Mr-cacahead@reddit
Future is uncertain, have a plan, keep flying, keep your job goals dynamic and obtain more experience to be competitive. There is no secret. This is coming from a dude that got certified on 2007.
OtterVA@reddit
Hopedully they can still scramble and get in with a cadet program…
BrtFrkwr@reddit
This is going back to what has been the norm in the last part of the last century. The Spirit pilots will be picked up and off the street and hiring will continue through the process, just not as fast. So hang in there.
Necessary_Topic_1656@reddit
they'll have to wait a little longer, just like all the other times.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hello, I’m a CFII with 1200 hours. Just saw the news about spirit airlines stopping operations soon which means close to 500 pilots who are so much more qualified than me will be on the market with a lot of turbine time too. Airlines have just slowly opened hiring and I was hoping I could get to the regionals soon. With that number of pilots on the market from spirit going under, what do you guys think will happen to the new CFIs that just hit their hours and hoping to start their career?
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