Horizon hiring?
 

Did horizon stop hiring? They had a pilot link on their job page the other day but now its gone. Whats up?

The hiring plan for 2008 that was issues about a month ago was arround 70 new hires from now until March. I checked today and that number is now down to 37 new hires from now until may. I dont know if they are just going to update the page month-by-month but it seems like they changed their minds about the big hiring plan.

One of the factors was the 60-65 rule. I think QX had 14 planning on retiring in 08, but now thats changed. 37+14 does not equal 70, but I am sure that had something to do with it.

I would guess that reduced CA attrition might also be to blame. Alaska and Southwest have pretty much stopped hiring, and those were the two places that most Captains seemed to be going.

I didn't think Alaska was raiding any of Horizon's captains, hence the 2000 hour SIC policy for Horizon FOs that was enacted last year.

Rephrasing: It's not that Alaska doesn't want Horizon captains; it's that Horizon captains have no reason to apply at Alaska! Chances are, they're already living and based where they want to live and be based, and the pay penalty coming to Alaska from the left seat of a Horizon CRJ is pretty steep.

Well duh, anybody in the left seat of the CRJ tends to be an old fart that won't be going anywhere. However, until Age 65, there were still Q200 CAs going elsewhere, including AS. Also, age 65 means there prolly won't be any more 2000SIC FOs leaving for AS anytime soon, and I'm sure they were planning on more going when the hiring plan called for 70 newhires.

Somebody posted earlier that the reason why Horizon's pay was above average was because it's considered hazardous flying...is this true?

Not true...

It must have been true when they flew Metros!

Your rephrase is pretty much spot on.