Just got out of Company recurrent last week.
New numbers on hiring are targeted (just increased) for 450 for the year (I think), and they have hired 240 so far as of August.
Training: expect from start to "on the line" about two months, give or take a couple of weeks.
A day in the life?:
Day 1: Show 0800, airline to airplane, fly two legs, go to hotel, Embassy Suites or the like. Duty time 13hrs.
Day 2: Show at legal (10hrs of rest), fly 4 or 5 legs (all Eastbound), Arrive in TEB, Go to Crown Plaza. Duty time 13hrs.
Day 3: Show at legal, fly 4 or 5 legs (NY to FL), go to hotel. Duty time 13 hours. Captain begs for later show - approved to show in 11.5 hrs.
Day 4: Plane found broken! Woo Hoo. 5 hours at FBO. Taxi (from hell) to new plane. Ferry to TEB. Go to hotel.
Day 5: Show at legal . . . get the picture? Keep going for 6 to 7 days!
Assume every other leg is pax leg - lots of bags, very messy. And very hot in the Ultra without an APU. Not complaining mind you - just not the regular corporate job, so leave your golf clubs at home - you won't be needing them!
Your first two week take-home paycheck should be around $600. It increases as soon as you get on Captain's pay or bypass pay. Then you will get $900 or so. After three years on Captain's pay you should hit $1500 every two weeks. You will log about 500 hours your first year depending on fleet.
Contract is where it was last year, as you remember the POS TA. Company (I think) needs a contract in place for the holidays - the numbers are already shot for 2005 (very bad year, starting with the holidays), and they will need to see pilot morale and productivity up for the holidays and next year. If it isn't amazing, then expect it voted down . . . I've waited this long, not willing to settle for crap.
Good luck. Kind of a crap shoot, you could get lucky and get in and have a good contract voted in - or walk into a pilot strike while on probation and get fired for not being a scab.
If you get the U-Boat, let me know and I'll hook you up with some gouge that I wish I had!