alvrb211

In reality, a lot more than 10% of the Pilot group are having issues. There's a situatuon involving approx 1000 PILOTS ongoing right now.


OOPS?


JJ

Cavity

Ohhhh Pleease. get a clue.

benzoate

If you can't get a job with a real major go to JetBlue. It's probably better than a regional though not that much. If you have enough time hold out as most majors will be hiring early spring. No need to go through two training cycles. If you don't have the time go to JetBlue and build time.
The point of most posts is to inform people of the reality of JetBlue.

coryk

What about is someone was at a regional, no family/kids. About 4k with about 2500 turbine SIC. Commuting to JB would be way easier than current company. No TPIC.

With the majors hiring in good amounts coming up, and TPIC probably not being as much of an issue as in the past, would this person be wise to go to JB if they really wanted out of the regionals?

benzoate

Then it's not a bad move. Go to JB and get some more time and move on to a major unless you will upgrade soon at which point JB is an unnecessary lateral move.

alvrb211

Dude, there are huge numbers of guys who have TPIC and degrees who will be trying to get on at the big carriers.

There is no question, many guys want to leave JB. There are some guys at JB who have neither the TPIC and/ or degrees. These guys don't have many options but hundreds will leave just the same.

There will be hundreds of positions at the big carriers but there will be no shortage of "highly competitive" resumes.

You have to be realistic in your expectations.

T

txbusdriver

I'm not based in FLL. I was hired and working for a real major airline in the late 1990's. Go ahead with your sweeping generalizations.

Fins Up

If you can't get on at a legacy, sure come here. Just leave the, "It's better than a regional" philosophy at home. We are supposed to be a "destination airline" but not being compensated as such. We need a CBA to have a fighting chance at getting some real improvements.

RJer

Anyone in training hear if that Jan 9th class will become a reality?

FNG320

Guy, you really are clueless! My adjenda has been for years is to get a union and a CBA here at JetBlue. However, I do not do it by lying to you or to other pilots.

Lets look at our growth: (total aircraft form recent 10K)

2013 - 10
2014 - 10
2015 - 17
2016 - 18
2017 - 13
2018 - 17
2019 - 10
2020 - 10
2021 - 10
2022 - 10

However, that does not include the selling of E190s to limit growth to 75. That does not include lease returns (which they have told the investor will happen to the older aircraft). But for discussion lets just say there are 10 aircraft growth each year (aveage). That means we need 14 pilots per plane

2013 - 2
2014 - 4
2015 - 7
2016 - 12
2017 - 13
2018 - 13
2019 - 16
2020 - 28
2021 - 43
2022 - 35

That averages to just 17.3 pilots per year.

So, JetBlue needs to hire just 160 pilots a year to cover growth and retirements. With a pilot group of 2300, that means it would take 14.4 years to reach 50% seniority and thus be a captain.

Yes, there will be some that leave, some that retire early (but still in that 10 years window), some that get fired, some that lose thier medical. So there will be the need to hire more than 160 per year. But remember, "most" that leaves will be FOs, so upgrade times will not decrease much so a new hire FO will see initiallya rapid increase in senioirty from the very bottom to the bottom 25% to bottom 35-40% but that is it.

Yes, you do have the "token" junior guy who gets Captain early, but "TOKEN" is the key word. This is because you have senior guys delaying upgrade for QOL, base, aircraft, etc. Yes it will happen from time to time, but it will not happen to/for the majority of FOs. In addition, the average FO will most likely not get the chance or want to take an early upgrade (due to bypassing senior FOs) and sit reserves for 5-10+ years for min pay and 12 days off and a crap quality of life.

Guys coming to JetBlue will be coming to slow growth, upgrades and crap pay, benefits, work rules, protections, retirement and no one to represent them/protect them. Where as guys who go to a REAL major airline get better pay, benefits, work rules, protections, retirement, a CBA and a union to represent and protect them.

Now, if you do your research, you will find that all of the real majors will be having much higher attrition due to retirements (upwards of 2000-5000 each) over the next ten years. This would put a new hire very close to the 50% or above in seniority at nearly every major airline. This also does not count other losses or growth. If you run the numbers, going to Delta or United, and even USAir and AA you most likely be in a better position in 10 years than as a new hire at JetBlue. (in both Seniority and compenation).

I don't worry about JetBlue finding guys to hire. There are plenty that would take the job. However, they need to know the truth and facts before they come here.

Just my opinion.......

FNG

ps. upgrading to CA on the E190 and sitting reserves for 5-10 years is no life. It is slave labor. Most FOs I fly with that could upgrade to CA/E190 don't because they want a life. They get better lines and schedules, better pay, and better quality of life than an E190 CA on reserves gets. Just becuase one could upgrades doesn't make it right or make it the smart thing to do.