Out of curiosity (I have not interviewed with United) ... are they holding you in a "pool" for a potential future class, or do you have to re-apply at some point in the future if they start up training again?

I just got off the phone with a scheduler at TK (I'm returning from mil leave shortly). He said that all NEWHIRE INDOC classes after 31 March are cancelled for now. For those that have made it through Indoc, qual training will still happen, although I suspect that everyone with a 737 slot will now go to the airbus. It's still a fluid situation. Sorry for the bad news.

This is OT; better to be in a different thread. I fully agree with you on the $250 Mil. It wouldn't have gone to more cash on hand; that was part of the problem (excess cash on hand at the time). I would have REALLY liked to see some additional debt paid down early.
As for 3 yr captains, when I was hired at UAL, we had 22 month captains. This business is fluid; CAL's at the end of their hiring cycle, just as UAL was when I was hired, just as a 1989 newhire at USAirways east.
On the aircraft orders at DAL, their balance sheet is in worse shape than UAL; more debt, less cash on hand, less revenues. With the economy going into recession, do you think that they'll end up taking delivery of those aircraft, while at the same time parking 25 aircraft in 2008?
How long before airline traffic falls through the floor? It's great to have new aircraft to fly, but it's not great if those aircraft are half empty.

Too early to tell.

Andy:

Are you back at UAL?

Andy - not a flame but just curious...where did you get your information on the above outline in red? I've heard from multiple sources (and I work there) that CAL is continuing their hiring for the forseeable future. Inquiring minds want to know...

Thanks.

My official return date is 1 April. I thought that it was a fitting date to return to the payroll. :p
On the bright side, it sounds like most of the line pilots are still flying close to FAR maximums, so until there's a bigger fleet drawdown, I won't be furloughed for a while.
There are some widebody leases that will be expiring, so I wouldn't be surprised to see United return them to the lessor. United's also been talking about getting rid of the 737 for several years. If those events take place, I will almost certainly be back on the streets.

Is this VS? If you are, I saw that you opted to stay West rather than return to the lazy U. Probably a wise decision; I hope that you guys eventually get some peace between east & west.

Scrapdog, the hiring projections are based on aircraft deliveries and block hour increases, along with retirements. I expect CAL to shut off the first two. The third factor will merely allow CAL to not furlough.
CAL also has a large training float right now. If they stop the music tomorrow and do not have a bunch of pilots in training, their manning requirements instantly decrease.

Oil prices are only one part of the problem; Delta and United took the step of parking aircraft because future bookings are dropping off. Information that you and I do not have access to.

The entirety of the above is pure speculation on my part; take it for what it's worth. However, having grown up in the airline world, I've watched airline cycles since I was in elementary school back in the '60s.
The CAL comment was not intended to be a flame, merely an observation. CAL's a great company. I am sure that their management will take the necessary steps to ensure the company gets through rough economic times.

Anyone else feel like this guy is following you around today....

http://tn3-1.deviantart.com/300W/fs7...blackpoint.jpg

If your insinuating that we will defer new aircraft, your completely wrong. We are desperately short widebodies and that fact will not change.