That's a good question.

First I'd say that staffing requirements aren't actually divulged during job interviews. We consistently hear one thing then see another. That's not to say we will or won't hire. This means that the people talking to you have an incentive to be rosy and echo good news (who promotes the guy saying "We're about to crash a plane!"?). Good times or bad, their job is to evaluate you and, if they like you, convince you that this is the place you want to be. Incentives run in the other directions as well. There are folks who make this place seem worse than it is purely as a way of limiting the influx as pilots. So the numbers you hear in an interview are, unfortunately, worth very little.

Second, I'd take a more global view of how pilots fit into the dynamics here. Pilots are commodities in a power struggle that's got less and less to do with the actual welfare of the crews. There are influence campaigns meant to affect our decisions on whether to come to work and also our decisions on the flight line. So I'd only focus on the things we can measure today (SEC filings, airplanes on the ramp, public announcements from Amazon, etc.).

I'd avoid basing your decisions on hope. Go with data. That's just me, though. I'm here and not at someplace better. So, really, am I qualified to speak? I speak anyway though. So I guess there's that.

all valid points, thanks for the insight.

thanks for letting me be a windbag!

The work isn't bad. I enjoy what i do. If you do come here, it'll be nice to meet in the line sometime.

A number of airlines will hire pilots right up to the day that they start furloughing. With the current volatile aviation environment, getting in a indoc class, and being furloughed the next day would not be unheard of.

Atlas has historically done a lot of interviewing, anytime there is a fluctuation in what their needs are, they start the process. I actually had received an unsolicited telephone interview with them at one point in time (internal recommend from an acquaintance). They were gearing up for a potential contract and would need a lot of pilots. Never went anywhere after that, as they did not get the contract.

Had another interview with them, went all the way through the process, interview, sim check, everything. There was a bunch of people at that one. Not one prospect in that whole interview process was hired. Why? They didn't get the expected contract.

Most major carriers do not see training costs as a detriment to their operational costs. Some smart accountants just write that off as part of operational expenses.

These are rough times, best of luck to everyone.

It’s such a downer to continue to hire right up to a furlough, granted if you get that line number than furlough with a backup bill payer then at least your foot is in the door perhaps. Amazing (I know, not amazing due to contract) how we had so much trouble filling classes; folks headed to class or in class and vanish to their career carrier of choice. Pendulum swings constantly and without remorse. Stay calm, stay safe and may all your endeavors work out.

Last two years ‘18-‘19 the net result of hiring / attrition was <20 pilots.
So hiring/training 350-400 and loosing virtually the same amount.
Its an assumption yes....but if we assume 20-30 retirements this year they could possibly use 350-400 extra pilots this years with 0 attrition.

Just got an offer of employment and a class date! The 767 will be my bird.

Looking forward to the challenge!

when was your interview date?

Congrats. I enjoyed the 747, but I really love the 767. If you want to cross oceans and see the world, you can. If you want to fly a predictable schedule and drive home during layovers at the hub in CVG you can. You already know the pay rates you're coming into. I got a new, portable coffee maker for K-cups for an early father's day. It's wonderful on the 767 since we don't have good coffee on the cargo planes. See you on the line.

I saw an all white 777 land at ORD the other day, N704GT. I noticed the callsign was "Air France 6734" but it looks like that tail is operated by Southern Airways. What's the deal with that?