"We are very aware of the wave of pilot retirements that will begin to impact us in five years. Our current analysis shows, depending on the Delta pilot attrition rate and expected growth in flying, we will need to begin hiring sometime between the end of 2013 and early 2015. All departments in Flight Ops are actively engaged in preparing for the impending wave of pilot retirements from a staffing, training and recruiting standpoint."

I've moved up 316 seniority numbers since I was hired 18 months ago, with no backfills. Since the company is shrinking they haven't hired. But any upturn in the economy will cause a need for more airplanes & pilots, so I'm remaining optimistic. The longer they wait, the more difficult the training pipeline problem will become.