Okay, this is my take...I have been flying for XJT for about 7 years. As many of you know, we're going to stop taking new airplanes in 2006. CAL and others will only keep the attrition rate as a trickle come April. I believe that the hiring will begin to slow in June or July.
We are still understaffed, but with that being said, we've been understaffed since I got hired.
I have the opinion that anyone hire this year will have "Eagle" like expectations for their advancement. BUT, anything can change. You never know.