Well, that's a new one on me. Given the history there with SWA, I wouldn't doubt that F9 would possibly take a stab at supporting/complementing Westjet. However, I haven't heard anything - not even on our own little rumor mill. Sounds like you guys are doing well, and it sounds like it would sure be a cool combo.

Regarding the silver bullet (I know - it's a ripped-off term from Alaska...we really need to come up with something different), I believe it's better if the silver bullet has actually flown with the candidate, since the recommender has to fill out a form describing their experiences with the candidate - specifically regarding what type of pilot they are as well as what type of employee they are. Once the candidate is hired, it is expected that whoever recommended the candidate will mentor them. The best person to ask is Gary (F9Recruiter) - he is actually pulling the apps and selecting who comes on in for an interview.

And C175 - in these times, there have to be some limiting factors. Even the number of silver bullets out there would probably fill up all the ground schools for the next several years. There have been several people who have been hired without a silver bullet, but an internal recommendation is still valued very highly. There are thousands of qualified applicants, possibly yourself included, but there are only a limited number of ground school slots. How would you do it differently? It's not a matter of those with internal recommendations being "better pilots" - it's simply a matter of those who already work for the company seem to have a firm grasp on the type of person who would fit in, and their recommendations contribute to a comprehensive process developed to benefit both the employee and the company (whew, sorry about the long sentence). Valuing internal recommendations is not a slam toward those without a rec, simply a bonus for those with one. But what do I know...I'm just a line pilot...

Good luck to all who have applied and are interviewing!