Originally Posted by FlameNSky

Currently, that is the case. They will be announcing in the coming months that the 175 will be based in ORD as well. All the current pilots awarded the 175 are scheduled to be on the line around the March/April time frame so I would guess that they will be putting new hires in that aircraft in the FEB classes. We never know what will be offered though, until that first day of class.


Directed Generally:

To be clear, the only person in our company or union that have suggested a 2 1/2 year upgrade is our Director of Flight Ops and the Envoy Haters. Even our Union has publically stated that they 2.5 year upgrade doesn't add up and asked our Director to back up his claim. The 6 year flow does have logical support based on AA retirements. (the numbers have been previously posted and can be searched) It could be 7 years, it could be 5 years. Yes some things will effect it one way or the other. Single List Integration & PBS will cause AA to need less pilots but their effects will be minimal compared to the huge retirement numbers. More evident that eaglefly is a disgruntled man on a vendetta. He loves to point out that things can inhibit the flow but not a word about the fact that AA is actually slated to GROW 2-3% next year and that the CEO has openly discussed adding additional Airbus A320 to cover the failing regional feed. They have also delayed the retirement of the S80 fleet to meet these regional limitations. All these things mean more flow for envoy. He would also not like for anyone to know that, while UA & DA are hiring younger pilots, half of AA "new hires" are ~ 50 year old flow throughs who will be retired in 15 years or less along with most of AA Captains. For a envoy new hire today, even if its takes a little longer to flow to AA, over half of the FOs senior to them will be retiring within 6 or 7 more years. This continued seniority movement is unique to AA due to the Flow Through program.

Yes, envoy's upgrade times are based on new hire numbers. That is the case with every regional airline out there. The Envoy haters like to talk as if this is a problem only at envoy but this is a possibility at any company that a person would choose to go. envoy can guarantee that half of AA new hire slots will be given to envoy pilots. What other regional can guarantee their Captains will be moving on each and every month in those numbers? For a man that loves to talk about "no guarantee" so much, a well rounded public activist like eaglefly never mentions that.