Right now, we have 27, with 2 being leased to Morningstar in Canada. Right now, the delivery schedule says 50 total by the end of CY 2011, minus any sent to Canada (they currently still have 3 of our 727s which will probably be swapped.)

We have about 200 <65 SOs. We were supposedly overmanned by over 400 '08-'09 and didn't furlough. I think you would be o.k.


Even if every single 64 year old stays in 2011 we will still see over 200 retire in 2012.

Ok, thanks :-).

I believe we just sent another up to Canada on Monday.

Okay, this is the way I see it.

There are only 19-20 folks on the property that don't have a window seat. The company wants get to get rid of passover pay...fair enough.

If the bean counters were smart, they would hire right into the right seat of the 757. Otherwise, you actually create a whole new passover pay issue.

If you put the first new hires in the SO seat, then hire into the right seat (I mean, you can't hire 150-200 folks to the SO seat) you will be paying passover pay to those 80-90 you hired into the backseat.

This doesn't even consider the cost of training to train all the SO's, this turn right around and possibly train them in the right seat of something else.

To me, it makes sense to hire directly into the 757 or possibly right seat 727. Discuss?

I predict they will be going "old school" --- those hired in Jan, Feb & March 2010 will be to the back of the Boeing to fill the shortfall that will clearly be there by next spring.

Given that, those that follow will also train in the back.

If/when a bid comes out for bigger FO seats those who want to upgrade to FO will do so in seniority order.

If/when the 727 fleet gets small enough and fills up with over Age 65 guys that can't hold a window seat any longer, they will direct hire to 757 or 727 FO seat.

I don't see this happening until 2012...2013 though.

Due to the need for lift, their high launch reliability, and our current inability to purchase more 757s rapidly, I think the 727 probably won't go away as fast as they are predicting/planning; and thus, there will still be a need for a substantial # of SOs over the next 18-24 months.

YMMV.

Well, I am on the fence with this one. I went through recurrent not long ago and ran into a metering professional instructor. He said one of the reasons they were not on the line already is the Basic Indoc class and the fact that it was being redone.

He explained redone means it is now supposed to be around two weeks long and cover 7-10 days of FOM because they plan on hiring to he right seat immediately if not, within 5 months or so into 2011. At least that is the story they are getting from the higher ups.

So, I'll reserve judgment for 60 or so days and let you know in January when they go to the line. (in theory)

Yep.

1) Hold an FO bid.

2) fill it with any current SOs that bid it, which should be very few, and pros.

3) Then start newhire classes and put the first classes into FO training. Most or all would go 757.

4) Put the rest of the newhires in 2011 into the SO seat.

The kicker is the 727 bidpack is going to get smaller in 2011. SO will be more of a revolving door than in the recent past.

Just wondering if the caboose hat can be found! :D

But it's nice to hear hiring will resume in a few months. Once again good luck to all.

Good call. Let's see how it plays out...

I am still betting right seat new hires initially...no matter how they do it.