actually, I think they are hedging pilots the way airlines hedge fuel.

Massive retirements at mainlines expected
Flight Time, Duty Time to require more pilots
1500 Hour rule soon to limit pool of hirables
much few new pilot starts nationwide

all means there won't be enough pilots for the jobs soon... so, get em while you can.

So, hire all the low time kids you possibly can, while you can, then when the 1500 hour rule kicks in, grab all the experienced guys....

anybody signing a new long term contract with these types of changes about to hit the industry are idiots. For the first time in 25 years the pilots will be in the negotiating drivers seat. I predict that the APA will get an industry leading contract within the next year, perhaps two... the longer they wait, the better.

time to start furloughing some lower to upper management types....