DEC how long to hear back after applying
 

I applied as a direct entry captain a few months ago and just wondering how long it took the average applicant to hear back for an interview

As I understand it, they are no longer hiring DECs. Last year was a **** show, and they got rid of more than half of those that hit the line.

I have been hearing this as well consistently with most of the guys I have been flying with here.

I heard 80% from an LCA. One incident is being shown around a lot at HQ for new hires I believe.

80%? Even worse than I'd heard. 9 out of 10 stories start with "so it was a direct entry..."

I can't speak for specific numbers, but I can tell you that of my initial class (this time, I'm an Envoy re-tread from '94-'06) was 15 Cadets, and 50 DECs. I was the second most senior in class, 31 years in the industry, behind a 33 year Delta CA who only had 9 months left before he aged out. At the time we were around #2000 on the seniority list. I'm currently number 877, so in 3 years I've moved up 1123 numbers. Of the 50 DECs from my class, a few were like me, coming back from early retirement, but a lot were prior airline FOs who left when covid hit and hadn't been back. 25 of the 50 in my class are still here. So anecdotally, I can't think 9 out of 10 DECs are gone, but 50% of my class is gone. I can't say how many were fired, or how many aged out, or how many got hired at another airline and just moved on. Throughout most of my career, 50% attrition from a class in 3 years would've been considered a huge amount. Today it's different. Some of the overall drive up the seniority list is based on the flow through, some on senior people getting hired OTS at majors, etc. I do know I've heard some of the stories of other DECs who were "weeded out" because of bad habits, attitudes, whatever. I'd say from looking at the list that 90% is a bit overreaching.

Rumors are dummmmmdeeedeeedummdumm. No way that many DECs were removed. But hey believe what you want to believe. I hear most new hires can't fly their way out of a paperbag... Although I just flew with one that was excellent... or am I lying and starting dumb rumors.

PS: We are merging with AA in Q5 of 2027
We are getting 220's instead of 170s and 190s to replace the 220's so that we are an all Embraer fleet so that we can super seniority at AA because we are Wholly Owned and current AA pilots will be stapled to the bottom so they can fly 170's out of ORD.

Very clever. I know a few Captains that can't fly their way out of a paper bag, which is far worse, as a new hire at least has inexperience and firehose treatment as a reason. Nobody ever said 90%, he just went with that. I said half, and then 80% was suggested as being "heard". Keeping up with a thread is difficult.

It isn't difficult. I made it past grade 8.
Were mistakes made with the DEC process? You betcha.. that doesn't mean 50%, 80%, I heard 99.954% had issues. One can never deny there are weak pilots on either side of the aisle. That't life. Some go on to other airlines. Some stay where they are and people bid around them. I will stand by what I said, rumors are dumb, regardless of the topic. Some never learn..

A conversation was had over what people had heard. Your reaction to the mere *rumor* about a **** ton of DECs being canned tells us all we need to know. Given that you're arguing against something that never happened, I'll say: LOL.

Not even remotely true. DECs are exactly in line with the overall average on terminations for cause.

One or two bad stories has created a horror show reputation totally undeserved. There are good and bad in every group. Most are just fine. DECs no exception.

Without they would have been parking airplanes left and right.

You’re joking right? An LCA I had flown with told me it was more than a 50% termination rate, in training or on the line.

The CA that went off roading at night in Texas and took out the runway light? DEC

The CA that landed on the wrong runway in ORD because he couldn’t figure out how to auto tune with the preview needles up? DEC

The CA that landed on the runway edge light thinking it was the centerline lights of the runway? DEC

The CA that pulled the parking brake mid push (you know that video from the TEM training?) DEC

The CA that got a GPWS and didn’t add thrust and got as low as 800ft AGL and as slow as 103kts and nearly killed everyone onboard? DEC

So yeah, for the most part, DECs suck there’s no way around it. Some good ones here and there but most sucked. They were responsible for a lot of incidents and the reason for the no notice line check program. Saying anything else is just delusional.

Considering the fact that DECs were literally getting line checked multiple times a month I find this very hard to believe unfortunately. Most of the ones I’ve flown with recently were awesome, so I’m assuming the company cleaned up a lot.

Everyone is getting line checked. Maybe you missed that.

Go count the list. It's pretty obvious people are running their mouths without anything behind it other than, "I was told." (See above.)

Cool story, bro. 😏

(The rest of your bilge deleted. Way too many errors in the narrative to refute--and a public forum is not the place for it.)

More like you just have nothing to say buddy🤣 this issue clearly hurts your pride since you’re a DEC. At least you’re one of the competent ones since you’ve survived this long.

At I stated previously, this is not the proper forum for this discussion.

Your lack of maturity and discretion bears witness to your unreliability as a witness as well as your lack of sufficient knowledge to pass judgment on such issues. Let us hope you remain in the right seat (or better yet, your keyboard) until such time as your ability to inflict harm through your arrogance has been tempered by experience.

Mathematics alone destroys your theory. An FO a couple months back counted off all the DECs still on the seniority list and his numbers prove that math still works. 2+2 is not 3 despite your protestations to the contrary.

I wish you luck in growing up. Nothing personal there. We all had to.

/Duscussion

This is coming from the FAA, happening everywhere, if not yet at your shop it will be. I guess if you see a line check on your schedule your more apt to update your EFB and prepare a little. Can't have that edge you see. Sigh...

This guy. Wow.

TL;DR- "I remember my first Beer."

F138-