Originally Posted by
Bluetaildragger
Everyone knows that for the most part, you get to AA because you flowed or you're military. OTS happens but is difficult and the minority. Many at the WO regionals have their eyes set on AA due to bases/retirement projections, and that is 100% of the reason they are there. Because generally, it is the only way to get in for civilians.
You SERIOUSLY believe that half of AA new hires are going to be military? Really?
Total USAF fixed wing pilot training is only about 1100 a year, including guard and reserve. And the active duty side is about 2000 pilots below their authorized strength. Everybody who isn’t guard or reserve gets a 10 year active duty service commitment start after UPT and considerable bonuses to stay on active duty until retirement.
Realistically, that’s 1000 pilots per year at best SPLIT AMONGST ALL THE MAJORS.
AA alone will be retiring nearly 800 pilots next year who will have to be replaced, assuming no growth, do you seriously think AA will get 400 military pilots - 40% of the whole number - with United, Delta, SWA, Alaska, UPS, FEDEX, and everybody else wanting the same people?
You’ll be fortunate to get 200 military pilots a year in the coming years. The rest will either be OTS hires - which again puts you in competition to everybody else - and the remains of the AA wholly owned regional pilots after everybody else has hired the ones they thought were the best.
That’s reality.