For new hires, the training footprint is realistically 4 months from Day 1 to end of IOE. There is a ~1 month break between ground school and sims, and a 4-6 week break between your sims and IOE.

During the first break, you will spend one day doing your oral, and during the second break, you will spend 4 days in differences training.

The attrition has hit the most senior people in the training department pretty hard, and PSA has lost some check airmen and training captains. Fortunately, PSA has picked up some really good people from other companies (primarily Comair). This has led to a delay in getting to IOE.

But, you are paid during this time off, and you have travel benefits. After you finish training, you need to finish your 1000 hours. This will likely take at least 13 months. So, 13 months on the line plus 4 months in training puts you around the 17 month mark. That is why I was "guessing" that upgrades would be around 18 months.