Good News-Hiring

[atpcliff]

Hi!

It seems there has been a general upward movement of the economy in general the last 6-8 weeks. Here are the airlines that are hiring, etc. that I've heard of:

New hire classes in Aug:
Have been hiring steadily for the past year or so:
JetBlue
AirTran
ATA
Flight Options
Comair
Mesa
Haven't had new hire classes for a while, but are now:
Frontier
AWA (also had a class in July)
Air WI
Horizon???????
SkyWest
Mesaba

Others with Good News:
SWA: (copied from "flying@swa" off this board)
"there COULD be as many as 500-600+ new hires in 2004. ALso adding that we may add as many as 1500 NEW pilots by the beginning of 2006." & Acceleration of aircraft orders
AirTran: Ordered a bunch of new planes
JetBlue: Ordered a bunch of new planes
Spirit: Ordered a bunch of new planes
UPS: Captain upgrade classes announced
TSA: Recalled ALL of their pilots on furlough, and currently interviewing. Announced a new code share for regional jets with UAL - A new prop agreement will be out soon
ACA: Announced they will buy big jets and fly on their own as a LCC (is this GOOD news???)
Branson-Virgin & Virgin Blue: Announced he's starting a new American LCC in June of 2004

Anyone else have more good news I've missed???

Cliff
MCI

 

[Q200_FO]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news....

Since I know for a fact that my company (Horizon) isn't hiring for the rest of the year, that makes me question the validity of your post since your information is inaccurate. (Anybody else at any of these carriers that can vouch for this statement?) Not to sound like a downer, but I wouldn't post things like this on a board and get peoples hopes up especially if it isn't true. Sorry, please prove me wrong if you can though. I hope things are getting better.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I get most of my info from this board-and, of course, some of it turns out to be wrong.

In the past week several people have posted that Horizon is currently having new hire classes this month-I just tried to find the posts, but couldn't, so maybe I'm losing my mind???

If Horizon is NOT having classes, thanx 4 the correction!

CLiff
MCI

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

A few months ago Spirit put out a press release that they were anticipating getting financing soon to buy a bunch of planes-120-150???

2 days ago a freind of mine told me that Spirit had obtained the financing as they had planned.

Cliff
MCI

 

[KingAirer]

Good deal, i was not aware of that. Thanks for the info.

 

[AAflyer]

So Spirit is anticipating geting aircraft but have not anounced it yet. I would hold off.

As for Measaba, are you sure? I thought Pinnacle was hiring, nad Measaba was not, let me know.

When did ACA make that announcement? What type of larger aircraft are they looking at?

Just curious, thanks!!!

AAflyer

If all is true, great news!!!

 

[English]

Citationshares is hiring...

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I jumpseated on Mesaba about a week ago, and the pilots told me that hiring was being resumed. I did forget that Pinnacle has been hiring all along-also forgot about CitationShares.

Thanx for updating all of this info for me!

Cliff
MCI

 

[flybrowntails]

atpcliff:

Nice job on the info. It is nice to hear there may be movement (in the right direction) in the industry.

UPS- 11 MD11 Capt. What was posted was 20 Capt.--but the word is 11 new upgrades--not realignments. Which means at least 22 First Officers and at least 22 needed FE's (not to mention the couple hundred crewmembers needed according to staffing models but that's another story for another day). Postions filled with upgrades and hopefully new-hires. 11 may not sound like much but it is a turn and may start the hiring machine.

We are hearing rumors but right now they are just rumors.

F

 

[46Driver]

ATPCliff,
You said, "ACA: announced they will buy big jets and fly as a LCC (is this GOOD news????) "

The answer is YES. What are you implying?

 

[Freight Dog]

Aloha Airlines is hiring as well...

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Aloha Airlines is hiring as well...

And as it usually goes, Island Air is following suit.

 

[Green Banana]

PICK ME!! PICK ME!!

 

[MarineGrunt]

Is anyone hiring pilots with 400TT yet?!

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

The ACA thing, it seems to me, could go either way.

If things go bad at ACA, they may end up in bankruptcy in a year or two. Hopefully it'll go great, and ACA will be a viable airline on their own.

Also, ACA doing great could adversely affect UAL or USAir or Delta, so, while they might hire more pilots, more may be on the street from other carriers.

I hope it goes well.

Cliff
MCI

 

[350DRIVER]

I believe you are wrong to a certain degree with regards to Mesa. I received my packet via email from Lori about a month or so ago and I followed that up with some research. I think the pool is quite deep and they need to get the CCAir guys through which I think they (or quite a few) are still waiting for a EMB-145 class (CLT), they have the option of "waiting". Doesn't help guys like me who wanna go 121.... Any Mesa flyas have any news with regards to this??


3 5 0

 

[CitationLover]

mesa news

i heard from a cc-air guy that ALL cc-air guys are through now. the senior guys waiting for CLT had to junior bid (most just left).

 

[350DRIVER]

thank ya much-

3 5 0

 

[JJJ]

I don't know about interviewing, but I know that Pinnacle has pushed back 3 new hire classes, and there will be no more upgrades until the end of the year... all in an effort to reduce staffing once again. Watch for less days off, more JM's and extensions, and less reserve coverage. They are setting themselves up again to be way understaffed. When they figure this out there will be lots of hiring and upgrades till they are overstaffed, starting another cycle.

 

[Salty Dog]

Vicious rumor about ACA buying bigger planes (737s or even 757s!) is that it's more of a negotiating technique.

UAL is looking to use their bankruptcy leverage to lower to the departure fees they're paying, so ACA is threatening to split and go make their own cash. Doing so in competition w/UAL sure sweetens the pot a little.

If nothing else, after doing the research to make it look like ACA is serious about it, they may see a great opportunity and actually go for it.

Not saying of it's good or bad, just repeating what a little birdie told me.

Personally, I'd love to know what they'd pay for a 757 pilot.

Just think, if this was happening at ASA Mark could sell tickets to the Fins/FDJ 757 wages "discussion" and support this board in perpetuity...

 

[enigma]

Hi!

A few months ago Spirit put out a press release that they were anticipating getting financing soon to buy a bunch of planes-120-150???

2 days ago a freind of mine told me that Spirit had obtained the financing as they had planned.

Cliff
MCI

Don't believe any Spirit Rumor. Spirit is privately held and can put out disinformation to their hearts content.

The company does want new aircraft, and may well end up leasing a few A320's, but since the owners are not willing to committ their own money for financing, and no financing is yet to be found, no airplanes. We will probably continue to search for cheap MD83's, but it appears that the "new" fleet is still a long way off.

We have recalled all furloughed pilots, but it seems doubtful that any hiring will take place in the next six months. Spirit has actually lost pilots in the recent past because of issues like base closures, etc. It's a job, but we're a long way away from being a place to spend your career.

regards,
enigma

 

[46Driver]

"Vicious rumor???" ACA IS buying bigger planes and going solo - expect to see the announcement on airplane type within 2 months.

 

[trainerjet]

"Vicious rumor???" ACA IS buying bigger planes and going solo - expect to see the announcement on airplane type within 2 months.

This may very well happen, but you obviously haven't been in this business very long if you believe everything you hear, just because someone said so. You know, it's a "done deal". Yeah, right. It happens after the fact. AFTER the aircraft are on the property, and ACA HAS GONE solo, then you can say it IS going to happen. Even an "announcement on airplane type" means nothing.

But, you'll get used to it. Or at least you'd better if you plan to stay sane in this business.

 

[PositiveRate]

350- you're seriously considering going to mesa? That surprises me.

 

[ksu_aviator]

About Mesaba,

They are interviewing and hiring, but beware. With NO NEW AIRCRAFT DELIVERIES and SEVERAL AIRCRAFT RETIREMENTS to come you could be back out on the street again as early as Jan. I use to be a "seasonal reserve" pilot for them (not an official title, just one we made up). I got 500 hours and 2 furloughs with them in a little under 2 1/2 years. Essentially, I put my career about a year behind where it should be because I was ignorant enough to stick it out. The pay sucks, benefits are virtually nonexistant and oh yeah, there may be a lengthy strike. Not to mention the whole Big Sky issue that may come up to bight Mesaba in the arse. I know that turbo prop and jet time looks so inviting, but trust me, it isn't worth it. You will just be walking into a death trap.

 

[46Driver]

NO, I haven't been is this business long. But when ACA spends money to buy back the ACJet operating certificate, spends money to buy a reservation system, and spends money to hire an advertising firm, I take that as a likely sign that we will be separating from UAL.

 

[alrightythen23]

KSU Aviator-

Let's just say.........there are many Capt.'s who were elated to see that you weren't coming back from furlough. Let it go man.....quit your badmouthing of Mesaba and just go away. A constant whinner in the cockpit and the same holds true for webboards. It was your decision to go to Mesaba.....no one put a gun to your head!!

Allllllllrightythen

 

[enigma]

KSU Aviator-

Let's just say.........there are many Capt.'s who were elated to see that you weren't coming back from furlough. Let it go man.....quit your badmouthing of Mesaba and just go away. A constant whinner in the cockpit and the same holds true for webboards. It was your decision to go to Mesaba.....no one put a gun to your head!!

Allllllllrightythen

I assume that the advice to quit gripping is valid, but he did bring up a point that needs to be clarified.

Does Mesaba have a history of repeatedly hiring and then furloughing? Or, is this just a post 9/11 issue?

I have no thoughts of ever trying Mesaba, just curious.

regards,
enigma