Future XJT Classes
 

Does anyone know if ExpressJet is running classes/upgrades through this summer; Or are they holding off till this fall?

There will be at least one class in July.

Hiring and Upgrades will slow down for summer flying. Probably.... maybe.... actually IDK..

No hiring classes for the summer and possibly no hiring for rest of the year according to chief pilot @ Aerocrew job fair today.

Well we will have to just wait and see.

That doesn't sound accurate at all

I hear the same thing from a number of sources.

I haven't herd that anywhere .

All I know for sure is two upgrade classes in May and one in June.

There are some May new hire classes but nothing official has been released via the company website about future new hire classes.

We do know it's been winding down as management thinks we've hit a level thats "appropriately staffed."

Now, into the part where I'm just theorizing:

Not much reason to hire more people if we have enough for the summer, because flying will decrease after then. Most likely new hires will start back near end of year after attrition has whittled the numbers down a little, and they need to ramp up for warmer weather next year.

That being said, things are always fluid. If we get a contract done we could pick up some flying. Or attrition could pick up towards the end of the year if the majors get their heads out of the collective butts and start hiring. So far this year attrition has been equal to about one class of pilots per month.

Not the best news (I want us to keep hiring too), but what they are doing makes perfect sense. We were all hoping the hiring was because of new flying or something else big, but really we were were severely understaffed before the merger.

Heard from within the training department there is a potential June 11th 16 pilot new-hire class scheduled but still waiting on approval from the higher ups.

That would be cool. I've been hoping they keep hiring at least one class a month. It would suck to be in that last may class hired with no one behind you for 4-6 months. Especially if you are a commuter. Reserve plus commute = major suckage.

Now, again from the rumor mill:

The captain I'm on my trip with was telling me how short they are on reserve captains right now, in several bases. This is pretty thin info to base upgrade rumors on, but if it's a bad as he thinks more upgrades could be on the way.

That being said, the classes in the pipeline right now might cover it, who knows?

We will know at the end of the summer.

Prepare to be on reserve forever. Be happy when it's less. I was on reserve here for well over a year, Captain upgrades in some bases have been on reserve since they upgraded in 2008. It's how it goes. You won't get much sympathy here from guys if you're worried about the potential of there not being classes behind you and having to sit reserve for more than 4 months.

Yeah that's true. I've incurred the wrath of many on the pipe once when I made a complaint about a lack of movement one month.

Honestly though, I'm not one of those that thinks because I had to suffer through some ordeal, everyone junior should have to as well and keep their mouth's shut while doing it. I'm just not that guy.

I think it's because I spent the last 10 years working in an environment where I was compensated and advanced based on hard work, results, and ability, not based on what number I am in line. I'm not saying it can be done any differently in this industry, but it's taken some adjustment for me to get used to personally. Neither am I saying it makes me any better or worse than any other pilot in the company, it's just one of the aspects of the 121 world that doesn't jive with my nature. I knew that going in - I'm not complaining, just making a statement of fact.

Nobody thinks you have to suffer though it. You may get lucky and not have to but if you wind up sitting reserve for a year plus, bummer. You're not going to get any sympathy. Not trying to sound like a jerk. Just saying there are no "for sures" at this company or in this industry.

Reserve isn't that bad either. I did it for a year, you get a routine and get used to it.

I'll admit it; I've been lucky and was only on short call for three full months before my first relief line. Unless something happens and we start going in reverse, I think I'm high enough that I won't be back on reserve even if we drop a few lines of flying after the summer. Given that upgrades are likely going to slow or stop after June, I don't expect to get a hard line until next year, but I'll take coasting into a top ten relief spot in a heartbeat, especially if we get smartpref going for phase II and we get some more control over our schedules.

I'm really thankful that my timing was that lucky - I know many people have had it much, much worse. I honestly didn't know how rough commuting while on reserve was going to be for me. For some people (I would imagine if you are 23 and single it's easier than being in your 30's with many more family and financial obligations) life on reserve is easier than others. Everyone is different.

Legacy ASA side FO's on Reserve for 4.5 years. No weekends off until around 5.5-6 year FO. Captains around 12 years I think. That's all Atlanta 700/900. You guys got it good.

I've been here for 3 months and can hold a relief line in Newark. Reserve at ORD (most senior base) is like 6 months

ATL 200 need about 2 years to hold a line in June. Upgrade is about 6.5 years now. All 200 info...

All of this comparing reserve time on the ERJ side vs CRJ side is moot. CRJ has been "properly staffed" (hahahahaha) for years now so there has been very hiring and thus very little movement. ERJ is the exact opposite. They were a skeleton crew until the merger and then a hiring explosion. I commend you guys for getting in in front of the bubble, but to compare the two is nonsensical.

Maybe a little bit longer for ORD. At 10 months in I was on reserve .

Let's see ... About 320 hard lines in Chicago for June. Pilot #320 there is a W36ish number which is a June 2011 hire. That's almost a year, not six months. And Chicago is not the most senior base, Houston is right now.

Three months huh. Welcome aboard.

For Ws ORD is more senior.

ORD will speed up hopefully as the 100+ pilots still in training get out (I hope). But Houston went junior in 2 months worth of classes, I had to get ORD through perm

I hope it'll pick up quite a bit more too. At least hopefully it'll pick up just enough so that when we spool back down for the winter flying I don't end up back on reserve after getting a taste of relief over the summer. That would be quite the tease!

I guess it's a "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst..."

The plug in Dullus got downgraded a few months ago and he is at year 7.

More block hours then we have ever seen per airframe this summer. The slowdown in training is to get everyone flying and meet the performance metrics of our contracts. We need the performance bonuses to be profitable and they are doing everything they can. Expect hiring and upgrading to resume in Sept.