With non-locals, mostly

 

I can understand some hesitation, but how many from the mainland have moved out to the islands or made the job work? Unfortunate for those of us on the outside looking in who want to make the move and make Hawaiian our long term stop.

 

the reality is Hawaiian is supposed to be 1/2 way thru their expansion, and if we're to accept this, they'll need 200-300 more pilots in the next 2-3 years... this WILL require them to accept commuters in much higher numbers... there simply aren't that many qualified pilots on the islands.. A company of this caliber should higher the most qualified and best pilots they can, and being more commuter friendly will be a part of that. I would not be surprised if a new west coast base was next (LAX or SFO).

 

Picky isn't the word I'd chose to describe it.... quirky.. my class ran the gamut from FAR 135 and no jet experience to several type ratings, heavy international experience and former LCC/UAL/KAL/EK experience...

 

I like "quirky" better. You're 100% correct.

 

I'll offer an alternative view from my esteemed colleague..

I wouldn't count on a new West Coast domicle. It's not in the cards, on the horizon, or being discussed as a possibility in management circles, and you wouldn't want to accept employment based on thinking that it's likely to happen. Of course we all know something could change tomorrow and then the picture evolves. But given the existing route structure and even considering the new flight and duty time regs, they don't anticipate a new West Coast domicile.

As far as being more commuter friendly, the airline has no policy against commuters. You can commute if you choose to, but as has been explained in the hiring thread, commuting is not feasible for those assigned to the interisland flying, and is usually difficult and can become frustrating for junior worldwide pilots given their limited influence in bidding a schedule conducive to commuting. At five and a half hours or more from the west coast gateway cities, commuting from the mainland is generally more time consuming than a commute within the mainland. And it's a commute that gets harder as time goes by....full flights, other more senior commuters, etc..

Like any other company, Hawaiian wants a happy and contented workforce and knows that commuting can bring additional burdens and hardships that lead to frustration and other problems. None the less, you're fee to commute if you can make it work. But the job is where it is, and you will get more out of it....and a better quality of life, if you can make the transition to island living~

 

which is why I'm willing to bet a west coast base is an eventuality. There was a time (if you look at our contract, the language is still in there) that we had two other west coast bases.... at that time, we were a much smaller airline with far less ambition. There is no logic to this being a 1000 pilot 1 base airline... not if we're going to hire the quality of pilot we need. The MEC plays a role in this too...

But I agree, if you get hired, don't plan on an easy commute initially... I live in a HAL served west coast city so it's not bad at all... but if I had to make it in from somewhere else, it would be miserable.

 

Having been stationed in Hawaii and lived in Kailua, I would do anything to get that call so I could move back there, but unfortunately my phone sits silent.

 

So what's with all these 'under consideration' emails that went out yesterday...seems they went out to a ton of people, which does not jive (assuming they are good news) with the small number of people they invite back for phase 3. Opinions?

 

Sending a ton of "under consideration" emails out doesn't jive with good news unless they're hiring tons of people. Maybe they are. Is there another post regarding current emails? I never read anything about those emails.