Yes. It was 4 back in the day and they increased it to 5 or so to help some that needed it, but yes, the AA training is a completely different experience for any of my NK guys coming over.

Help keep the great reputation NK pilots have earned here. It’s refreshing when a CA says “oh dang, you’re ex Spirit, everyone from there has been great to fly with”.

As someone that went through Spirit initial training a few years back, even from flying previous regional jets, that **** was hard.

It was cut or be cut.

Can we get a recent update please? What are currently the competitive minimums to get an interview?

Current competitive hours?

no idea, they dont publish. website has mins.

If everyone posts their times then you can see who has the lowest but that doesn't adjust for outliers like being a former intern, etc. The only thing we know for certain is unless you have a special differentiator, bring some turbine PIC time (hopefully for an Air Carrier certificate holder)

ex Spirit pilots, flow pilots, and ex mil. Are the vast majority of pilots

A large percentage of those spirit guys were captains, too. So you’re probably looking at 3k TT and 500 TPIC minimum to be competitive. The good news is that we’re supposed to keep the hiring train going.

Yes, I was mostly looking at input from people who were invited and what their hours were

Thanks to all else who answered

It is ironic that you went off on the Spirit forum how everyone should be leaving because they will be out of business any day and only a fool would stay there; and now you’re competing with those who took your advice, but they are applying with more time and experience than you.

Good luck. Spirit CAs getting the calls are all at least 5,000 TT and A320 PIC. Job fairs and networking is your best shot to get some eyes.


Around 200 NK pilots went to AA this year. AA hired about 550-600 this year from non flow non military.