I can hang out for a while. I just hope they don't flush the pool.....

 

From what it sounds like is no new bodies coming into the training center until summer of 2013. I honestly don't think that will happen, but I do think we are done for the rest of the year. My guess would be early next year they will start up again.

 

There is no talk of flushing the pool. From what I understand the pool is flushing itself all on it's own. Guys are taking jobs elsewhere.

We covered our staffing needs for the deliveries this year as well as planned for the new rest rules and some attrition. This left us overstaffed. Only one net A/C next year, but other airlines will be ramping up hiring. The trickle up here will be slower in the next 24 months, but all others will be hiring. Keep your options open, but if you really want to be a blue pilot you'll get the oportunity.

Many are talking about heading to bigger operations here. (How many do is another story) Lots of DAL guys that are being forced to make the decision to stay or go. No one knows if any AA guys will go back after the BK. People talk of the "mass exodus" like in 2007 when we lost 10% of the pilots. Makes it hard to grow when you have no bodies to fly your product. I guess time will tell.

 

Thanks Capt. Question; does anybody know how long the DAL guys have to make that decision? Thanks.

 

Our Q-10 shows 3 - A320, 4 - A321, and 2 - E190 due for delivery next year (2013). Have you heard about lease returns?

 

9 deliveries and 8 leases expire. I would like to assume that we could keep them, but they havn't had any official anouncment either way. In the past they have rotated out many old hulls. Every one knows though as soon as you assume.... Trust me I was more planes and more pilots, Im in the bottom feeder zone. Just trying to keep a realistic view on progression.


I think the DAL guys get 10yrs... I don't know when or what triggers the clock though. The guys I talk to say that time is running out. I'll get a specific.

 

FWIW, the 320 fleet captain told us in recurrent a few months back that we have 5 320s with leases due to expire soon that are being re-upped due to JB being offered the same 'too good to pass up deal' as the last time the leases were set to expire.

 

I don't expect lease returns in the near future. Could be wrong, but I don't think so. As long as we are doing well, which we are.

 

Lease returns are based on age of the aircraft, cycles etc...

It has nothing to do with JetBlue doing well.

We recently re-up'd 5 lease backs due to favorable terms. JetBlues stated goal is not to own the fleet but rather lease which allows for a simple asset purchase.

 

Your post contradicts itself. We return aircraft because of cycles, but we-up because of favorable terms?

We have returned aircraft in the past that were not "old" or "timed out with cycles".

We return them when we don't need the capacity (too many new ones showing up and leadership doesn't want to grow that fast) or are not in a financial position to responsibly grow, or we can't get GOOD finanancing terms to re-up the leases.