2200-2300 and growing hard. In STL there are no reserves hardly.

 

To my knowledge SKW is still hiring but they’re being very picky and everyone hired is being placed into a pool.

Currently we are still running EMB new hire classes (only about 10 per class per month) but they've cancelled all RJ classes with no word of when the next one will be. We are currently pretty fat on RJ FO's and short on EMB FO's. My best guess would be mid to late summer seeing that they will more than likely allow EMB FO’s to transition while replacing them with EMB new hires.

My advice to anyone looking for a job would be to try RAH first due to the fact that they are still hiring large numbers. This will improve your QOL by allowing you to gain some seniority rather quickly. But if SKW or some other carrier is who you want; then hold out, get hired (ask for the EMB if SKW) and enjoy swimming in the pool.

 

WOW I didn't think other people payed attention to what I had to say!!

 

When I got hired at SKW two years ago we had just over 2000 pilots. Two years later we have almost 2900 with an attrition rate averaging 15-17 per month total. That's over 1200 pilots hired in that span of 2 years, not to mention the large pool of pilots we currently have.

I personally feel that in 5 years SKW and RAH will own and control well over 50% of the regional industry with XJT (if they can get back on track and stay independent) possibly being a third major competitor and maybe 9E (issues? We’ll see) in a distant 4th. JMO.

 

RAH has been averaging about 30-35 a month attrition in the year that I've been here. We've also grown around 400 peeps in numbers. So figure about 800 pilots in a year. They fully expect to hire that many more as of 2008. However nothing is in stone. With Frontier eating crow there's always the possibility for a downturn.

 

if no one left rah as of today......they would still need to hire 400 pilots to staff what is on order to be delivered thru march 08. in march alone i will have moved up 24 numbers. will be interesting to see attrition numbers after april.

 

AWAC is still hiring but I just talked to one of the guys who interviews and he said that many future candidates will have to be 'more qualified' than what we have been hiring in recent months. They are trying to greatly reduce the washout rate. Additionally, they have been able to be more picky lately. The applicants have included folks with significant previous 121 time from Big Sky and Skyway.

The big question is, as Hercdriver mentions, what attrition will look like.

 

yep ....the guys that left in march......and those that will leave in april......had offers for the most part before most of the announcements of hiring halts.......MAY,,,,,and forward.....attrition probably slowing to just a couple handfuls a month probably as there will always be people leaving to go somewhere,,,,,,,,

 

I am also thinking it will slow way down at AWAC. The next couple of months will be interesting here with a couple of new domiciles opening (LGA and RDU) and how that will settle as well as any additional attrition. But it's cyclical and I am not worried.

 

For the past 3 months we've been losing around 12 per month which a reduced amount from the 18 we were averaging since I came here. I'm expecting that to decrease down to around 6-8 due to the condition of the industry.

I'd also expect attrition to decrease at everyone including those bottom feeders like Mesa. I hate to say it but the reduction is only going to hurt their fight against Orenstein. He’ll see the reduced attrition rate and think that his pilots are either happier or trapped and he’ll use that to his advantage, sadly that’s the kind of guy he is. Best of luck to all Mesa pilots! Times are getting bad and they’re going to be harder for you guys than the rest of us.

JMO plus 2 cents.