Any word on how long the window will be open?

 

I don't know, but last time they only opened it a few days.

 

I remember in 1999 when US Airways hired guys off the street, my buddy went directly into the B767 International program. What are the prospects that that might happen again to 190 FO new hires onto different aircraft types i.e. A330 etc.
It would be cost effective for the company ( $3000 month first year pay) and be a training float solution.

 

At the numbers they are talking about hiring over the next couple of years, I would think new-hires to the A320 would be a possibility. I doubt the 737 since the airframe is headed for the boneyard over the next couple of years. As for the widebodies, I suspect there are plenty on property already who want those slots. But I suppose anything is possible.

One never knows about the future of the 190 fleet. A friend on the inside there got directly from Scott Kirby that a fleet of 15 airplanes wasn't sustainable in the long term ... he said the fleet would either get bigger or go away over time. Anyone's guess how that plays out vis-a-vis capacity issues, minimum fleet count, and the usual industry turmoil.

 

Yeah, new-hires directly into the A320 will be a possibility. Becoming very likely into 2013 when the retirements really start to leave the property. Between now and then, E190 looks to be the only option unless the new flight time/duty regs require a recalculation of pilot manning levels.

No prospects at all for the next several years. All the guys coming up on retirement who desire a B767/A330 seat, must bid it prior to age 63, or the company will not train them. The majority of the pilot group is already at top-of-scale (12th year) pay rates, so both CAs and FOs desire the widebody positions in order to maximize their pay from an agreement that was made during bankruptcy. The most junior 767 FO is a 12 year employee (possibly from the same 1999 new-hire class as your buddy), at top-of-scale pay, and makes only $1 less per hour than the most junior E190 CA that has the same 12 years of service.

 

So has anyone heard a guess on how many they plan on hiring off the street?

 

28 from the pool, 4 from the west and 20 off the street

 

Pilot Bid effective for September 2011 was published today. All new-hires from classes in January and June 2011 have been placed on the E190 in PHL, all those pilots are still seatlocked into the E190 for the September 2011 bid.

September bid still shows 33 open pilot vacancies. Should be filled by new-hires in the July 18, August 1 and September 12th classes. Remaining open positions are:

2 CLT A320 FO
14 DCA A320 FO
3 PHL A320 FO
14 PHL E190 FO

 

I'd sell my first-born for one of those slots!

 

Looks like the application window has now closed. No hyperlink on the company website to start a pilot application anymore. This time around, the window was open for just a few days beyond two months time.