A couple months ago, the company projected it needed 400 new pilots in '16 to cover retirements and 200 for growth. Then I heard from a regional director that the company wants to get ahead on manning and would "over-hire" in '16. Sounds like 700+ next year authorized.

The last 2 years, RA authorized hiring numbers at the beginning of the year then authorized more mid-year. Let's hope with 757s pulled out of the desert, domestic 767 retirements delayed, etc. that we have need to bring on 1000 next year.