Originally Posted by
chase
DayFlyer,
Your assessment of the hiring pool is accurate but I would bet a in 3/6/9 months it will look very different IF the majors continue to trend in the direction they are going with more new hires. In Baker's situation we know we will need 140+ pilots in '26 (we've probably hired a dozen or more to begin filling out the new plane arrivals). Add to that the normal attrition of pilots leaving for other positions, Baker will be in a hiring mode clearly for awhile....I would suspect as the '26 unfolds, conditions may very well see the very scenario you are hoping for...non-typed applicants being accepted but it is impossible to predict wheni/if that will occur.
Bottom line, apply regardless and continue to prove your worth with upgrade opportunities, ATP completion, etc. Good luck!
Correct me if I’m incorrect with my analysis. I’m a former 119 post holder and 121 aviator. We were allowed to purchase as many aircraft as we wanted to. Yay! However, these aircraft would be nothing more than hangar queens, or advertising billboards. The operator had to demonstrate to the POI and PMI there there was sufficient support from within the entire company. This pertains to operations and maintenance. Been there when we had one bird on the property with 3 going through conformity checks. I would think that CFR 135 operations have to satisfy the same requirements? All the best for 2026.