I wonder how many of them will have to pay the $5,000 of the ATP course.

They told us today that Eagle expects to hire 720 guys for next year. iPads on the way they hope to get full approval for the EB in 2nd Q 2012, initial 6 months test starts next month.

720 next year? On top of the 500 this year. I better finish my Private license soon. You think they would hire me with 40/0 conditionally? This should get interesting how low minimums go.

720 more pilots next year, on top of the 500 or so this year???
Are you serious? If so, why do they need that many pilots? Did they say?

Guys, is no secret that AA will be the biggest player on hiring the next few years. There are around 250 eagle pilots with AA seniority numbers that will start getting recalled (they have the option to defer and allot probably will) in the next few months. Then there is the 824, this is a done deal. The arbitrator has ruled and we are waiting for the specifics, but as of right now they will take 50% of classes at AA. It is in AMR best interet to move them as fast as possible. Then there is the 35% but we know that is a bit suspicious but the above mentioned is happening (well we know how things are in the biz). Eagle will see allot of movement in the next few months, this is why we are hiring so much. We haven't seen a vacancy bid in over 2 months because the compant is waiting on the final details, and the AA retirements are making things a bit more interesting.

Assuming AA survives...And I do hope they do!
Don't you hear all these talks about Chapter 11? They seem to be really close!

I don't think BK is in the cards for AA. The political and business environment is very different than 2003; there isn't the "sympathy" for distressed airlines.

BUT, AA needs to do something dramatic to break out of its current predicament--poor financials, up against strong competitors, expensive contracts. In '83, they were seen in a similar position, deregulation didn't favor them, the analysts were against them. They pulled "two-tier" contracts out of their hat and changed the industry, combined with an historic economic expansion AA was top dog for 15 years.

What's the next "rabbit out of the hat"? Mainline 95-seaters at regional-like pay scales? A new B-scale? A huge change in its business model--move away from hub and spoke to an SW model?

All possibilities

GF

Hope your right, since my lively hood would be better off with them doing that. If I had to take a blind guess though, I would fear CH11 mid to late Jan is my gut instinct.

You said it yourself. So how is it not in the cards? Your right about the environment being different today. Companies aren't stupid enough to invest money into garbage businesses like they were before the recession. I see the the courthouse the only option. You remember how much UAL had to pay in interest to raise capital a few years ago? I would put AA credit rating inline with Greece. I see the only way out is all creditors refinancing the debt and terming out the note, but this is very hard to achieve. Creditors rarely go down this path. Not to mention all creditors need to be on board.

25 billion in assets and 29 billion in debt. Last 3 year trend is increasing debt, while most airlines were shrinking.

Only positive I see is the net income is increasing.
2 billion dollar loss three years ago to a 500 billion loss today.

Well...I'm an ERJ FO and it has officially been 9 days since I last flew. On any given day I have anywhere from 9 to 14 guys below me on reserve. I keep bidding RAP 2 or 1 and never get a call.

I'm getting so spoiled that I am actually going to bid for a RSV schedule next month again even though I can hold a line. The QOL is much better given my relatively high seniority on RSV.

On the other hand, the only lines I could hold are those horrible ones at the bottom with 300+ hours away from base, early shows, late finishes...you know what I'm talking about.

No thanks. I'll sit pretty here on Reserve until the cows come home....fly when I want and take "days off" when I want! I won't bid for a line until my seniority lets me hold one of those precious 3 day lines near the top of the bid packet...

Or until Eagle begins to furlough everybody below me..ouch!

Agh yes, another one of the new breed of pilots hopeful to be a pawn in the further erosion of the industry.

What you and your parasitic brethren fail to realize is that if the majors go that way outsourcing further and paying you even fewer peanuts to fly larger metal, that will be YOUR career stop. You may be young, hungry and free-wheeling now, but in 15 years with a wife, kids, a mortgage, saving for retirement on your peanut dispensment level will be difficult, if not impossible.

Of course then. You'll be complaining about the very situation you willingly and eagerly cultivated 15 years prior.

If your present hopes actually come to fruition, you'll be the most screwed of all, you just don't know it yet.