174 FO's from 2008 and back that can hold captain. That is 3 years worth of upgrades at Alaska. Junior Captain in the lower 48 is around 11 years for comparison

 

Good Point - thanks for pointing that out.

In my 17 years here, I've never seen a Captain seat go less than 8 years.
When I saw this bid result yesterday showing 5 years, I knew something was fishy.

 

Perfect sounds like we're on the same page now. After being in the regional airline world for 10 years and after going through furloughs, bankruptcies, consessionary contracts, displacements, mergers and SLI arbitration, I totally get it. I'm not disillusioned. I'm just trying to start fresh and make my own judgments as I see things happen. I do appreciate the brutally honest commentary so far but it would be so nice to have a threat just for info regarding new hires and helpful information for those who are coming on board (training stuff). Don't think I discount the feelings of those current pilots getting the shaft and the reality of what's happening rifht now with Alaska.

 

That's just beating around the bush. Of course there are many bypassers and lack of hiring cycles in the past. The question was a simple if an early 2012 hire was holding a CA spot and it seems that was answered yes.

 

July 9th 2012 is the junior CA.

 

Thank you

 

Any March hires received the class date call yet?

 

This is from this weeks Chief pilot newsletter. Good news.

" New hire pilots are now afforded a hotel while going through training as a test case."

"Briefly touching on highlights of hiring. We are planning on hiring 190 pilots this year, and 280 Alaska pilots the next. This is not a typo. VX plans to hire another 120 next year as well. The planned growth is impressive. Fortunately, we are s ll seeing many qualified interested candidates, although in general, a decrease in the numbers and experience. We know that we have to get in front of this pilot shortage crisis to a ract and retain the best pilots out there and all that it entails. I believe this week we are live with a new Alaska Pilot Recruitment Facebook page that will have informa on about app window openings, interview dates, job fair event schedules, Q&A, and eventually much more. There is a lot going on in this area and our numbers are huge for the next few years as long as the economy and the bank account can sustain the growth. Keep your recommends coming; they truly are top er when we are evalua ng poten al candidates.""

 

Good.
QX's debacle may have given them quite a fright.
That sounds much more proactive than they have been in the past.

 

Hiring a total of 400 new pilots in 2018 is very good.

If they maintain 30% of the hires will come from Horizon (120 or so), that will be comperable to the American and Delta Wholely Owned RJs, a flow rate of about 6 years.

With Horizon already short of pilots and cancelling flights this summer and fall due to pilot shortage, this could turn into a bigger crisis for them. They will have to make changes to be competitive!