Looks like we're starting for United in September and ORD and IAD are going to officially be domiciles according to the new email

 

Thanks for the info.
Which do you think will be the more senior base?

 

I expect ORD to be very senior for Captains. I know of a couple Midwest FOs out there but I'm not sure how it'll look on the FO side once the dust settles

 

What's the plan with growth and hiring with the new contract? Is this just a switch of airplane paint or are you guys gonna be adding some metal? I'm asking because I'm trying to assess what upgrades might look like for a new hire. Any bases coming besides ORD and IAD?

 

Just a switch of paint. Keep in mind that a lot of people left in the past year when our future was uncertain, so our seniority list has shrunk to about 475 pilots. To get our staffing back up to fly 65 aircraft, we will need to grow to over 700 pilots. Also, we are losing about 15 captains a month. As long as we can hire, the upgrade time is going to go down dramatically.

 

The company is delusional when it comes to upgrade and new hires. They think this announcement along with the recent new hire bonus loa they have become Jesus like. The pilot group will not get a new contract anytime soon as the union has relinquished any bargaining ground we had to stand on with the loa. Upgrades will come by force due to the number of captains required to be on property, 305. The seniority list is already below 305, I think somewhere around 270. There are management pilots supposedly keeping us above the 305 mark but I'm beginning to seriously doubt that.

Unless we do something drastic, like actually get a new contract with better pay, resv rules, clearly defined language and no concessions, people will still only trickle into class.

The interview numbers are deceiving, as it looks like there is a lot of interest in awac, but we still looking only have 5 in indoc right now. I would like to know how that message is being received or interpreted with management.

We live in a world where the it is uncertain what the regional environment will look like in 5 yrs. Unfortunately for management, money, and fast upgrades talk. The pilot group will hopefully maintain unity and not sell out the protections afforded to is in our current contract and demand an increase in qol. This will in turn place the company in a position where they must negotiate responsibly to continue to recruit the necessary numbers to fulfill the cpa with United.

 

Now all we need is newer/bigger airplanes, and then we'll be on the same playing field as all the other regionals hiring right now.

What are new hires looking at? Pay, domicile, and a/c type. They rarely look at contract, health care, or other factors that *might* make ZW a better choice.

 

Honestly right now I think most New Hires are looking at Upgrade Times first mainly because they know the Majors are hiring like gangbusters for the next 10 years. I could be wrong but I think Upgrade time is pretty damn high up.

 

Upgrade, pay, flow/progression from what I've seen.
Few care about aircraft type, honestly.

 

In talking with the younger kids, they really do care about the aircraft type. They are convinced that the 175 is a better airplane, will be easier to pass training on (because they don't actually have to learn how to fly it), and the majors will want them faster.

I am not kidding. It is a real thing.