Envoy, Piedmont, PSA All Aggressively Recruiting Pilots

Three regional carriers affiliated with American Airlines have announced hefty signing bonuses for new pilots who sign on with the carriers.

Envoy Air is offering new hire pilots a $15,000 bonus when they join the company. Piedmont Airlines will pay a $15,000 signing bonus to all new hire pilots, effective immediately. Piedmont employees will also collect $5,000 for every pilot they refer to the airlines.

And  PSA Airlines rolled out a $15,000 sign-on bonus for all new-hire pilots. PSA says the move "enriches PSA’s existing top-notch employment opportunities which already offer the highest quality of life in the regional industry and the only true seniority-based pilot flow through program to American Airlines."

PSA will also be enhancing the value of its employee referral program for pilots by increasing the payout from $1,000 to $5,000 for eligible participants and aims to further reward current employees as ambassadors for the company to attract the best and brightest future aviators.

“We project that a pilot hired at Envoy today will upgrade to Envoy Captain in two and a half years,” said Captain Ric Wilson, Vice President Flight Operations at Envoy. “And with our flow-through program to the mainline, he or she can enter training at American Airlines in less than six years from hire.

“This substantial signing bonus, coupled with a growing fleet of 76-seat Embraer 175 aircraft, shared bases with American in Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago and a generous commuting policy, provides our pilots with an outstanding quality of life and solid career progression.”

“We’re hoping that the $15,000 signing bonus will encourage more pilots to look at Piedmont as a career choice,” said Lyle Hogg, Piedmont Airlines president and CEO. “Piedmont offers a very quick upgrade from first officer to captain and a guaranteed job at American Airlines in a few years, so it’s a great career option. The $15,000 will help experienced pilots transition to Piedmont, and help new pilots pay off some student loans.”

Pilots who come to Piedmont enjoy a generous benefits package including excellent health care and 401(k) with company match. Piedmont provides hotel rooms for commuting pilots and industry-leading flight benefits on American Airlines.

PSA says it is building on the success of its sustained pilot recruitment initiatives, including these two enhanced programs announced this week. Earlier this year, the airline implemented an industry-leading Cadet Program which helps the most promising future pilots make a smooth transition from the classroom at top colleges, universities and flight schools to the cockpit and offers various levels of support as the Cadet’s certifications, training and experience evolves.

(Source: News releases)

FMI: www.psaairlines.com, www.aa.com