to say the least ^^^^^

Being frustrated and jaded after our last battle is understandable, but the timing of the company coming to the table with something votable was as predictable and obvious as the sun rising tomorrow. I had always wagered that the company wouldn’t come forward until early 2019. I was pleasantly surprised when it happened slightly sooner. The real growth at F9 didn’t kick into overdrive until 2019. Prior to that, while we were receiving new aircraft, we were also returning and retiring quit a few resulting in limited net growth. We were getting by in the hiring department with what we had. The company had no reason to come forward and play ball any sooner than they did.

This time around is different. Planned growth will be non-stop and, between the 10 white tails and the new order for 91 more 321s, we are now about to grow by over 100 extra planes in nearly the same time frame of the original growth plan. Pilots will be needed and we will be competing against the legacies. Let’s face it… the legacies could pay LESS than Frontier and there would still be many pilots that would choose them over us if given the choice.

We will be at the back of the pattern again for this round of negotiations. Indigo’s hand will be forced to make a move if they want to keep talent coming through the doors. We’re also a publicly traded company now. It’s a bit more difficult for the company to claim financial hardship when we have nearly $1 billion in the back and they just bought 235 new airplanes for F9 alone. I’m not saying that it won’t be without its frustrations or that the union and the company will be sitting around the negotiation table singing kumbaya, but the environment and leverage are very different this time around.

The one where we got a $75 Million dollar and the largest pay raise in history?

Agreed,”Don’t Poke The Bear!”

Just read on the latest aviationinterviews gouge that the written test is back at the interview. Any truth to this rumor?

Test?
 

Yes, any news if a 25 question multiple test is similar to how it used to be?

Do you think Frontier ever gets to the point of hiring CFIs right off the street. The way hiring is going it seems some FOs are getting picked up for UAL, spirit has the work for 2 years as a FOI then move to the cabin as a FO. I know frontier has an agreement with ATP to hire CFIs from there and send them through a bridge program, however I’d rather go the route of college/part 61 mom and pop training over ATP.

Maybe. Maybe not. Nobody can predict the future of hiring. All it’s going to take is another covid hiccup and hiring at the “big 3” will likely halt. People will be tripping over themselves again to get on with the LCCs and ULCCs. Do keep in mind that the ATP program isn’t for all of their instructors, just a select few that are hand picked by ATP to be candidates for the program. So, going to ATP doesn’t guarantee you an opportunity at Frontier. In fact, the odds are still against you unless you get really lucky. If you want to go the mom and pop route with a good instructor I’d recommend that to anyone over ATP any day. Do the work up the career ladder the traditional hard way (get certificates and ratings, instruct, get job flying freight/charter/regional and keep working up from there). If a great gift opportunity comes your way or the hiring landscape becomes less strict then jump on the opportunity. With the way future hiring is looking that could very well happen. But if it doesn’t then you will have the training and experience to get hired the old fashioned way. Don’t make your training plans now based on hopes of a lottery winning opportunity in the future (ATP, Perdue, etc.). Go whatever training route is best for you personally.

For what it's worth:

https://atpflightschool.com/airlines/frontier-airlines-alliance.html

Yes I’ve saw that page. Just having the GI bill I can basically get my training for free instead of going the 90k route with them while keeping my current job also.