The "ninja" term has never been a complement as I understand it. Old NWA Orient hadn't hired for over a decade (12 years sticks in my mind somewhere) and when they did hire just prior to the Republic merger, they hired a bunch of guys in their late 20s. By vertue of the Roberts awards they shot up to widebody everything including Capt very young.

I have a friend who is older but hired during that time period. He called it "running in front of the green wave". You were never going to be senior on anything so you move up and made money. As soon as something went insufficient bidder, you were only going to drop on the equipment list and it was time to move on/up.

Ferd