The B-ground "Check's in the mail"
Opie,
I recently talked with LL and was told these updates were being mailed this week. (not using FedEx this time in the interest of saving $$).
I got the impression that they are in no big hurry to meet any sort of urgent update deadline since it doesn't sound like any Feb '02 interviewees will make it to class until 1st quarter '04 at the earliest anyhow. Apparently the 140 number of new-hires for '03 that we've been hearing is looking more and more definite as days go by.
Even with 60-70 mil call-ups, 60-65 age 60 retirements, and a net of 11 new airplanes this year, the plan now seems to crew these positions (230-250) with 140 new hires and the hope that quite a few guys will pick up open time to split the difference. It's certainly a plan that makes good business sense, but not exactly what we poolies want to hear. But given the current state of this industry, we are certainly in a very good position, even if it does mean waiting another 12 months.
Let's all keep hang'n in there.
Coop