AirBear

From a management briefing today:

160 new hires in 2018 (already have approx 20)

"as many upgrades as possible"

2017 Fleet Size 405 start, finish with 423
2018 Planned 430 to 440 by year's end.

Only hiring 7 in April so if these numbers hold (very big if) they'll need about 140 pilots May-December. Right now we're losing pilots. I've lost count of the number of "farewell" post on the Union message board the past few weeks. SWA seems to like our pilots. Hiring 140 may be enough to offset losses (questionable). But with fleet growth even more strain on an already strained schedule.

Anyone on this forum checking out NetJets for the 1st time, Captain upgrade is basically indefinite right now. Work long hours, but not as bad as some of our competitors. 12 hour days are the norm but frequently go up to 14 (overtime over 12). Rare to get more than 12 hours off block in +30 to show time. Not at all unusual just to get the minimum 10 hours.

ATIS

Will they be offering any type of signing bonus if we come from Flex jet with a type rating in an aircraft you operate?

Macjet

You want a boyfriend that beats you less eh?

AirBear

I don't see how they can unless it's negotiated with the union. As dumb as they can be there's a good chance you wouldn't even be put in the aircraft you're typed in. Most new hires are going to the Phenom, a few to the Excel and Latitude.

Jetlife

Just note that hiring is not, and will not, keep up with attrition. NJA lost more than they hired in 2017 and so far in 2018 so they will be attempting to do more with less unless they can really pull it together and attract people to apply.

jtf560

NJA is losing 10 to 15 a month now and those numbers are going up as hiring ramps up elsewhere. Management says there is growth, but with maybe half of those "hired" showing up for class, I really can't believe there will be any way to grow, unless they leave airplanes around strategically uncrewed at busy airports to use for recoveries. The seniority list has been shrinking for years and will continue to shrink unless working conditions change for the better and pay/ benefits go up. There will probably be some more, limited upgrades to keep the Phenom program running since new captains can't just bail for another airplane in less than a year the displaced captains from other fleets constantly do.

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David Puddy

SWA seems to LUV Netjets pilots... I am told plenty of Netjets pilots in recent classes.

GeeWizDriver

Once the first dozen or so came through the door and proved themselves to be trainable, flexible, and capable aviators, Southwest figured out they have an easy pipeline to good employees.

Watch those numbers grow this year.

Macjet

I can't imagine a 10 year FO career at NJA followed by 10 more years as an FO at WN. Some guys will literally die in the right seat.

flyguy37

10 year NJ SIC 97297
10 year WN SIC 176/hr plus profit sharing and dc 401k

I'd rather die in the right seat at SWA than in either seat of a phenom