Finally a Somewhat acurate article

[Phaedrus]

You were doing some good until the 2nd and 3rd to last paragraphs.
I won't go into it, but I'm sure others will. Too much negativity and narrow-mindedness.
Peace.

 

[UALjan15]

This need is driven mostly by what I have come to call "Personal Mythology." Which is best described as a collection of sometimes bizarre, sometimes one-sided, sometimes bigotted, sometimes blinkered, often self-centered, self-serving, or self-aggrandizing beliefs that, together, allow an otherwise unremarkable, medium achieving, and moderately flawed individual to feel superior to his fellow man.

Comment?

Yeah, I have a comment......WHAAAT?

 

[whymeworry?]

I remember when CAL opened it's windw in 2005. I heard a figure, being tossed around at the schoolhouse, of 10,000 plus apps.

And NW likes to brag about 1400?
86% less? Pathetic!

 

[NuGuy]

I remember when CAL opened it's windw in 2005. I heard a figure, being tossed around at the schoolhouse, of 10,000 plus apps.

And NW likes to brag about 1400?
86% less? Pathetic!

Exactly....1400 is a fart in the bathtub compared with what UPS, FredEx and SWA have on file.

Nu

 

[igneousy2]

The SWA recruiters are saying they have nowhere near 10,000 applicants that they once had, those days are long gone.

That is why both SWA and UPS have recently lowered their minimums.

The reality is that for pilots that meet the requirements - the regional career looking forward as a Captain is better than starting at the bottom of a major.

If you are working for Horizon, Skywest, Eagle, etc. and you are a Captain you are easily pulling in around 70k-80k a year or more. Plus you have pretty good seniority, have virtually no chance of getting furloughed, and have the same, if not better, travel benefits than the guys at the majors. Aside from SWA, UPS, and FDX, it will take you several years just equal what you were making at a regional.

That is why Alaska has had to drop the PIC requirement for Horizon guys/gals recently because they can't get any of the Captains to leave. I think you will see the PIC requirement go away at Alaska sooner than later for everyone with 121 SIC experience. All airlines will eventually be forced to lower their minimums.

As for the military guys, aside from not training as many, not many are getting out. A field-grade officer that is still flying makes significantly more money than just about any airline first officer. It use to make obvious monetary sense to leave the military to fly for an airline - it just isn't so clear anymore.

I think the pendulum is swinging back our way, hopefully things will start looking up.

Later

 

[pilotss]

Pathetic Responses

I find the amount of applications to the majors pathetic too. I find it even more pathetic that the majors try to spin up how great their airline is by touting how many people applied.

Summarizing from above,

Factor out the unqualified,
Factor out the ones who are turned down
Factor out the ones who turn down the job for another


Average time is around 4500 for the major airline applicant. Remember when that used to be around 7-8k?

This industry drives me nuts. And even if all goes well will the dead dinosaur juice last for 30 years?