New hires base/fleet
 

I’m waiting for class date and was wondering which domiciles has vacancies for new hires.
What is chance to get SLC or LAX base as a new hires and what type of ac do I expect?
How does DL bid for base/fleet in training? Based on age or ssn?

Thank you.

Its been awhile since we have had classes, and our latest vacancies have been very sparse, so I am not sure anybody can predict right now what the class drops will look like. Only I know for sure is that you will bid based on SSN. Welcome, hope they get you a class date soon.

Check the Newhire Class Drops thread a few down. Lots of info there.

https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/d...ass-drops.html

There are currently no vacancies for new hires.

Typically, NYC has always had some offerings. That’s always a safe bet, especially if junior in your class. But in the relatively recent past, we have seen offerings in SLC and LAX. But as others have stated, with no hiring in 6 months, it’s hard to predict what you might see. As you may know, NH’s can only be offered a position that pilots on property have had a chance to bid on. Given so few bids recently, there may be a lot of demand for some bases that will mean little/no offerings in smaller or more popular bases.

You will know a lot more in a couple months, when a larger bid is held with extra positions to set up for new classes to get the ‘leftovers’. Last 4 of your SSN is how you will bid, with a high number being good (XXX-XX-99XX is best).

All that said, very often even the most Junior pilot can change bases on the original equipment almost immediately. We have monthly bids (called AE’s) these days. So choose wisely with something that is also in SLC (320/73/220) or LAX (320/73/7ER).

Welcome to the company, and good luck!

The being able to change is highly dependent on running classes. New hires have been locked since the last class ran over 6 months ago

Not really accurate, CB, at least not in the big picture. Yes there may be a few individuals whose desired base didn't have a vacancy at the bottom of the list. In 2025, other than Apr, Aug, Sep (which were very unique bids for different reasons), every AE this year has had base changes down well into the 17,000's, with about 17,400-17,500 on the list over that time. In the first six months of this year when hiring is active, there are literally multiple dozens of base changes for NH's, all the way to the very bottom.

There are never any guarantees that your desired base will have a vacancy. The last class in 2025 was May, but after March they were all 9E flows who chose their base/equipment in March when they got their seniority number. They all had chances to change bases within a month or, at most 2, of getting on property, even if only to escape NYC.

For example, July had a SLC 73 at 16,59X, and a LAX 73 at 17,42X. June had a SLC 320 at 17,35X, and multiple SLC 220's at 16,9XX. May saw a multiple LAX 73's at 17,5XX., and a SLC 73 at 17,4XX. Jan-March were wiiiide open.

My point to the OP is, don't stress if SLC or LAX isn't available on the original class offering. There is a very good chance you can change base within a matter of months, if not the very first month. Some folks are even converted by the time they finish Indoc and sims, and never have to even report to thier original base. While it looks like the 73 had the most opportunity in the above, I wouldn't necessarily pick that just because of that. Things change regularly.

I believe that 9E flows can bid on AE's as soon as they hit the seniority list. So they can bid even before they actually show up to indoc.

Agreed. I was trying to include that, but apparently poorly.

Yeah I kind of figured you mean that, but it didn't read well. Just wanted to clarify more for other people who may not know.

Some people might think that the holdback is a bad thing for the flows, but in reality it's a pretty good deal. They knock out 3 months of what would have been first year pay at a much higher 9E captain rate. This also knocks out 3 months of probation (unless they hit 400 hours first anyways). And then they hit the line 3 months later than everyone else in their class, meaning in most categories they already have a good buffer of people below them already on the line so they most likely won't be super junior on reserve, or maybe even walk straight into a line. And finally as was mentioned they can bid on AE's before they ever actually hit indoc so there is a much smaller chance that they have to spend a month or two in an undesirable base before being able to trasnfer.