Flew with a Line Check Airman last night...we were blitzing. He stated that in a recent meeting the discission was that interviews would occur late this year for 2013 hires, about 500, then 500 annually.

We were discussing the future contract as well, but their expectations weren't as high as mine. They anticipated negotiations to be completed by September, to give the company some time for its long-term plan. Management doesn't want a long drawn-out fight.

Oh, and get ready for tablet PC's in the cockpit. The LCA's preference was the iPad - I asked if they were funded, and he said yes. Fuel savings from the loss of weight from the kits means that we'd quickly see a return on investment.

Regarding the MD-88/90 flight instruments modification, it's getting a re-look for approval because the memory in the MD-90 is far less than the database in the MD-88, which limits operations, so it is actually a decent business case for the flexibility it provides.

And everybody loves Richard...they don't want to lose him and get another Leo Mullins.