I doubt it, Alaska isn't growing and only retiring around 150 over the next 3 years

Take about a quarter of that total number and if things go well we might hire that many.

400 when you reverse engineer the chief pilots math. Thats why I said its funny about the forecast being 720. :D

This seems like a less-than-certain opportunity for people to get their foot in the door at a 3rd/4th tier airline. What am I missing here?

Nothing, you nailed it. At best, the program is a semi-OK backup plan if you don't get hired by FedEx, Southwest, Delta, or the other major airline of your choice. I think a lot of the guys and gals in the program are going to jump ship as soon as they get a better job offer, be it Alaska or someone else.

Pilots are already required via PRIA to allow transfer of records, at least the ones that matter. This isn’t unique just over at Horizon Air. So, if sick days, or disciplinary details were also transfered, due signing the Alaska papers, who cares? Wouldn’t a pilot have already been honest about that in an interview,,, or at least not try to cover it up by relying on records being confidential?

The problem I have is that those records contain (or allow someone to easily infer) information Alaska isn't legally allowed to have access to for a job interview. If you read through the records release we're required to sign, it specifically mentions "Any other records which contain necessary and relevant information for the Pathways
Program", which basically allows Alaska to look at whatever records they feel like.

Normally, employers are legally prohibited from asking about things like marital status, kids, disabilities, etc... at an interview, but the records we're required to sign over to Alaska would contain some of that information, or would make it pretty easy to figure out.

If the pathways thing was an actual flow agreement, it wouldn't be as big of an issue, but the current setup of the program makes it distinctly possible that Alaska could look at those records, make an illegal hiring decision, and as long as they weren't stupid enough to put something like "We didn't hire Bob because he's gay" in writing, they'd get away with it under the guise of claiming something to the effect of the person "wasn't a good fit."

"If you have nothing to hide, then you won't mind us taking a look right?'

Pretty far fetched that they're looking discriminate against gay, or married, or parents, who work for QX.

They probably just want to look at your attendance records.

attendance records, discipline records, and all irregularity / safety reports.