Originally Posted by
HumptyDumpty
Okay, this is the way I see it.
There are only 19-20 folks on the property that don't have a window seat. The company wants get to get rid of passover pay...fair enough.
If the bean counters were smart, they would hire right into the right seat of the 757. Otherwise, you actually create a whole new passover pay issue.
If you put the first new hires in the SO seat, then hire into the right seat (I mean, you can't hire 150-200 folks to the SO seat) you will be paying passover pay to those 80-90 you hired into the backseat.
This doesn't even consider the cost of training to train all the SO's, this turn right around and possibly train them in the right seat of something else.
To me, it makes sense to hire directly into the 757 or possibly right seat 727. Discuss?
I predict they will be going "old school" --- those hired in Jan, Feb & March 2010 will be to the back of the Boeing to fill the shortfall that will clearly be there by next spring.
Given that, those that follow will also train in the back.
If/when a bid comes out for bigger FO seats those who want to upgrade to FO will do so in seniority order.
If/when the 727 fleet gets small enough and fills up with over Age 65 guys that can't hold a window seat any longer, they will direct hire to 757 or 727 FO seat.
I don't see this happening until 2012...2013 though.
Due to the need for lift, their high launch reliability, and our current inability to purchase more 757s rapidly, I think the 727 probably won't go away as fast as they are predicting/planning; and thus, there will still be a need for a substantial # of SOs over the next 18-24 months.
YMMV.