I work at NWA. The last time NWA had a push for hiring they received over 12000 applications in the first 2 weeks. This time they receive 1200 in 2 weeks. In August they hired and trained 26 internal new hire pilots. What they don't tell you is that in August they had 50 requests for early retirement and 37 resignations. We had about 800 guys on furlough in January 2007. Only about 300 elected to return to NWA. Although I don't have a specific number, I do know that there have been a percentage of people that were on furlough, returned to NWA, and have since quit.
The work environment at NWA is terrible. However, I would imagine the environment at the other bankrupt carriers is terrible as well. So NWA is no different. Everyone knows they were cheated by the bankruptcy laws, airline management and, more importantly, ALPA. With this knowledge of being cheated, very few and, I mean VERY FEW, people are happy working at NWA. Remember, there is NO PENSION and essentially no benefits to new employees. You will have to fund your own retirement and with the current pay, that would be very difficult if not impossible.

Be very carefull in your decision. If you are educated and have other skills I would HIGHLY recommend that you carefully weigh your career choices. There are very few benefits to this career. And, this is coming from someone who has loved aviation for his entire life. I am nearly 56 and deeply regret my decision to pursue the airline dream. If you are a young guy, you have knowedge that we didn't have in the 1970's. You have already seen what has happened to career pilots. Pilots my age had no idea that companies could, or would do, what they have done to faithful employees.
There are good companies to work for but, the airlines is not one of them.

"Bartender, I'll have what he's hav'n"...

Sweet now get your DC-9 outta my way.

Hey,

Dude, you're just building turbine time. Taxi time counts, too.

Ladies and Gentleman....I too work for NWA and somewhere between Flyguy 1 and Screwed by Management is the truth...a somewhat happy median..

Ladies and Gentleman... If FILEJW thinks that the majority of the NWA pilots are at a "somewhat happy median" I am happy for him. I notice that his postion is DC10CA. That would make him a wide body/international pilot.

The wide-body guys took the same paycuts that all the rest us of did. So FILEJW has had his INCOME sacrificed dramatically as well. However, what is never discussed at the wide-body level is that the draconian contract cuts in trip rig, layover hotels, minumum days, reserve rescheduling, bidding, pattern values, i.e., the stuff that makes your life bearable was stripped out of the NARROW-BODY flying with VERY LITTLE effect on the WIDE-BODY crews. One of the primary negotiators that came up with all these neet give-backs to the contract was a SENIOR WIDE-BODY CAPTAIN. He knew his suggestions would have VERY LIMITED impact on international flying. The contract for Domestic flying was raped. By the way, that SENIOR WIDE-BODY CAPTAIN is no longer flying the line and now works for ALPA National.

To be fair, other carriers quality of life issues are worse, UAL as an example. I am happy for FILEJW if he is enjoying a "somewhat happy median" in his wide-body fleet. I would estimate that 80% of the domestic pilots are extremely bitter. And, a bitter work environment does not lead to a "somewhat happy median"!

Typical wide-body international airline answer. Life goes on with very little change other than a pay cut. QOL didn't suffer one bit. Most of them are "relatively happy." The narrowbody fleet has an entirely different outlook and demeanor and it ain't a "relatively happy median" (whatever that is).

From my observation while jumpseating, I think you are right. Whatever happened to Senior CAs on widebodies looking after the entire NWA pilot welfare. It appears, widebody CAs only look after their own interest at the expense of everyone else.

I done building time...I have to go to the bathroom

Which reminds me of one of my favorite things about flying for UPS--one pay scale!! It's easy for the widebody guys to be out of touch with the issues faced by the domestic guys and vice versa. One pay scale at UPS has ensured, for the most part, an even distribution of seniority throughout the fleets. In fact, our most junior pilots are being assigned to factory new 747-400s with electronic flight bags.

Is there any effort at NWA or other carriers to move towards a single pay scale?