Originally Posted by
rvr1800
Gateway 3, 4, and 5 are for people who already work at JetBlue. They are for people like a FA who already has all of their ratings and would like to work as a pilot at JetBlue.
Each one of those programs states that "satisfactory flight experience" is required in order to then go through the normal interview process to be selected by the PHC. What that number is I do not know but I have also never heard of anyone going through any of those gateways. I'm sure there have been but not very many. And I'm not going to take your word for any number considering your lack of knowledge on the other gateways.
I don't have a problem with any of those gateways. They are for Jetblue crew members working in other roles. They also don't cost JetBlue money. That is the biggest problem I have with gateway 7. They have already stated these pilots will have extra sim sessions and an extended IOE. That's money out of the company for absolutely no reason. This program is an unnecessary waste of money. No tinfoil hat needed to come to that conclusion.
I have good knowledge of each of the Gateways. You only assume that I don't.
Instructors go through Gateway 4, but they aren't the people I'm talking about. I'm talking about guys who work as instructors on the side and build flight time until they meet the 1500 hour minimum and then come to work here through 3 or 4. (3 goes straight to the line, 4 stay in their current position and fly 2 days per month) The fact that they are JetBlue employees already is irrelevant when we are discussing their flight experience.
Again, my point is that we already hire inexperienced people. Gateway 7 people will be heavily screened, fully qualified pilots with 1500 hours and an ATP. I was a recruiter at my last airline involved with a very similar program that we had with a prominent flight training organization. Those candidates were hired with 180-220 hours TOTAL directly into the right seat of a CRJ. They almost never required extra training or extra IOE. I'm willing to bet this will be just the same. The screening will be thorough, and the training will be directed towards airline flying. Plus, they will have 6 times the flight experience of the pilots I just mentioned.