Thanks - told me he interviewed in Dec, he (and 9-10 others at same time) was handed CJO, told ERJ was “probably early summer at soonest, maybe later.” Some in that group opted for Q.

Any idea how big are ERJ classes? Perhaps they’ve met their quota at this point and it’s all about who gets through vetting first.

Appreciate the info, Ghost.

 

So everyone else they hire this year will go to the Q? Do they really need that many more Q pilots? My friend just scheduled his interview and the soonest they had was an April interview for him.

 

I have no inside knowledge, only anecdotal observations, but it seems that unlike many other companies, QX schedules interviews months out. My friend who interviewed in December had had it set a couple months in advance. I’m Rolf same HR as Alaska, so same processes and timelines. That could explain why it might be on a longer timetable than if that group were only servicing QX.

 

Yes....with a caveat it's a small but good company and they don't have the need at this point for hiring as many pilots as they did a year ago. Interviews for all airlines are going to be longer wait times (I think). There maybe heavy hiring periods and low hiring periods. With long and short wait times for training dates. Now pilots just need to go with "I'll fly whatever you need me to fly" and stop worrying about the new bright shiny airplanes. Not that's what your friend is doing or what your asking it's just what I see many pilots going for. The airlines put out a call for pilots and the people answered. It's still a great time to go to the airlines.

You never now people drop out all the time and maybe a slot or two will open for the ERJ. The Q400 is a great plane and if offered it your friend should take it.

 

I was actually asking because I have an interview scheduled in 2 weeks and my friend just scheduled his but they didn’t have any spots for him until April so that seems like they’re interviewing quite a few pilots in between mine and his. I would take either plane, the Q seems more fun to fly actually, but getting any base besides SEA is a deal breaker for me right now (new baby, I can’t commute right now, especially while on reserve). I was told it could take a few months to get SEA in the Q. With more jets on order and Alaska classes started back up how is it that everybody they hire for the next 11 months will go to the Q? Why all the sudden do they need a bunch of Q pilots?

 

I was told no one is moving on/leaving as fast as they originally predicted. So expect a long time on reserve also. Good luck.

 

Just speculation, but:
Plans change rapidly based on up to date conditions. A few months ago we got a request for any FO that was qualified to upgrade to do so. Therefore we could take on additional flying for air group. Q staffing probably changed due to that.
I'm sure that the revised hiring that Alaska plans for also reduced the number of Pathways poolies they were planning on taking as well.
Could also be a result of the training pipeline constricted by checkairmen.

Who knows.

 

I can tell you Horizon said it was absolutely not a training flow through issue it was due to no one was moving on as quick as they thought they would. They also said they did not need as many class dates/increase class size for FY19, because they met their requirements with new hire especially for ERJs. Yes the requirement could change however at this moment and the foreseeable 6+ months expect long delays for training class dates. I think they are a great company but I really don't think they have a real grasp on what there requirements are.

My frustration is the inability to at least provide a training date after being in the que for 4+ months. I could care less when my date is as long as they said your class date is "Month 2019/2020 and you are #5 on the standby list". That shows a higher level of understanding of requirements and pilots available to meet those requirements. You can draw conclusions for other things like long reserve times and the slowing of upgrade times.

 

So you interviewed a few months ago and still haven’t received a class date? Some of the recent Aviationinterview gouges from dec/Jan interviews showed June and July class dates, but maybe they just put that because it makes you put something.

Would they not just slow down on hiring vs hiring in excess and being very backed up on class dates? Or are they expecting alot of movement therefore a bigger demand over the next 6+ months?

 

I hear you, it is very frustrating. I have only been in the que for a couple of months, but some sort of projection and transparency would go a long way. I'm not a CFI so a lot of guys I interviewed with are just going back to their other gig till they go to training. I'm going to be walking into 7/11's with a ski mask in due time.