I will be done with my bachelors degree in January. Will this hiring boom still be going on then. I know pilots are getting hired left and right. Will this slow down because companies are hiring non-stop????

 

It is not likely to slow much for the next 1-2 years. UAL and USAir will start hiring soon, which will create more movement out of the regionals.


Longer term things will likely slow a bit because:

Age 65 is coming. I don't think this will cause a 5 year freeze (many folks will not WANT to work to 65), but some slowing will occur.

Regional hiring has been driven more by growth than attrition since 2002...most of that growth is complete now.


Of course any economic, security, or natural catastrophe could bring it all to a screeching halt later on this afternoon.

 

.... or any light breeze out of the west. Or any small shower over corporate headquarters.

Point being, long term planning in the airline industry is literally two weeks. The truth is, no one knows anything...

 

I wanted to comment on the current hiring window. You seem to be afraid that it will stop sometime soon. That is false. I want to dispell the rumor that this hiring window will stop anytime this DECADE!! Think about it. Right now all the regionals are hurting for pilots. Yet only 2 of the 6 legacy airlines are hiring! Just 2 of them. Imagine what happens when American, United, Northwest, and US Air begin to hire (in 1-2 years). American and United are the world's largest airlines, and they are not hiring. Also, none of the legacy carriers are expanding. Air Travel is expected to double in by 2020. The legacy carriers will need to expand and then hiring will be amplified! Check out this link to my pilot shortage thread. Lots of good facts.
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/sh...ad.php?t=12901

Trust me. Don't worry about the hiring window closing on you. It will not close anytime this decade. Only a few of the majors are hiring, and there is currently a shortage. Imagine what will happen when they ALL start hiring in 1-2 years, and then expanding. Do not let this fear play into your decision. As some famous jedi once said, "Fear leads to the dark side." Don't let fear affect your decision!
Graduate first. Getting a 4 year degree is too important. Then get your ratings, instruct, and move on. You will have plenty of time!

 

Maybe I am misunderstanding your argument, but given the fact that colinflyin said that he/she will be finished up with the degree in January, and you said there will be no slow-down of hiring this decade...do you mean the hiring will still be taking place at this pace ten years from now...or do you mean by 2010. Since, you know, that's only two and a half years away anyhow.

 

Is it almost 2008 already?!?! Boy how the time flies! LoL

I think he means in the proceeding ten years...!

 

Guys/Gals........... there is no point in predicting anything, 9/10/2001, the future for the airlines was at its brightest.................

 

Well we aren't Airline Pilots for Stability! If we wanted that, we'd work for better wages at McD's ;-)

 

It's not that far away, really. If you start submitting resumes in September or October, it wouldn't be hard to have something lined up as soon as you graduate. And, most of my students who have been hired recently have had a class date at least one or two months out, except for one that only had 48 hours notice (at AWAC), or been able to choose their own class date.

 

Nope...Gulfstream and Mesa are always hiring. You should be good to go.