The numbers are simple guys/girls. 30 + % of the airline industry is within 5 years of 60, with Northwest & American having the largest percentages of those pilots. That means that within the next few years, as they start to retire, the conditions will dramatically improve at Eagle as well as everywhere else. American has 12K + pilots so imagine if 30% of those pilots retire in the next 5 years. That’s 3,600 pilots that will retire, subtract the 2,800 on furlough and that's a positive 800 pilots needed if they don't grow at all. And, I wonder how many of the 2800 will actually return? Mark my words; in the next 5 years the majors will be dropping there mins because of the lack of qualified pilots and the regionals will be dropping their mins to CPL hours. Upgrade will be quick at the regionals and movement to the majors will be at all time record. The only problem is if you get in at the end of the push to the majors, then upgrade will go back to 6+ years at the regionals and 12+ at the majors because of the youth. There are 120,000+ airline pilots in the industry and an estimated 36,000 of them will be retiring.

These are impressive numbers and if anyone feels that I am in error then please prove it. I have done the research and the numbers are as accurate as an estimate can be.

Good Luck All!