forgot to bid[/B];1153404]
wee bit o'tort, 
4 years is really 5 now as of last month. I guess we should term those hired in the last 5 years as "new hires"?
It's interesting you mention 1 year from panel to window seat in 88. Looking at the PMDL 1990 fleet, about 45% of the planes required an FE. I'd estimate that probably 20% of the pilots were FE's at the time? If thats right, then imagine this- if we still had 20% of the 12,022 pilot group as FEs that'd be 2,400 pilots. That'd mean 12-14 years of sideway action on our seniority list. In the 80s when the guys were stuck as FEs, was it for 12-14 years?
Also, this reminds me of the "NEW HIRES IN THE ER!? DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO GET IN THAT SEAT!?!" Stuff. Look at the 2010 fleet versus the 1990 fleet. There's a reason it took so long. Not to mention but I believe CAL was hiring in the 756 and FedEx hires directly into the MD11 now. I know because I talked to an 17 year MD11 LCA who had two new hires coming up for OE. It's not uncommon in this industry now.
Of course the one thing i can't help but notice is the 200 "hundred" seaters that existed at DAL and NWA in 1990. Where'd they go? I should look at pilots and say "hired directly into the ER? Do I know how lucky I am? Do you know how lucky you were to have scope?"
Anyways, forgot my point.
I guess 5 years means you shouldn't complain even if you're complaining about outsource induced shrinkage and stagnation? Outsourcing that if it didn't exist would make age 65 nearly unnoticeable to everyone but the top tier pilots? Honestly, I don't hear "new hires" out on the line complain about being here. I'm in the mix with them, from what I see we're all glad to be here and have a seniority number. You should have seen the airlines we came from!
Anyways, the one thing I've noticed:
-FA's years ago loved that when a senior FA got old, fat, pregnant or married they were let go. Until they got old, fat, pregnant or married.
-Pilots loved age 60 until they turned 60. 'I'm not ready to hang it up..." but you were ready for everyone else to hang it up? Funny how that works.
-Everybody wants to be young again while everyone wants seniority.
If the bible talks about selfishness, it's not a new invention.