All discussion about the company has fallen off the forums and it seems that hiring has frozen, a short time ago it seemed they were in great need of pilots.

Anyone care to enlighten me? Is the company new mission include a downsize in ops? Are they actually going to move ALL management to Chicago including training management?

They are hiring again. I got my resume in along with probably 400 other pilots. Im sure They wont even make it to my resume in the pile before they hire someone. I applied for these guys back in 2006 and was called in Feb 2007 just hours after i signed my training agreement at my current job.... Wish they had called sooner. I might actually have logged some useable time by now.

1 new hire class so far this year, 4 people I think. But 3 people gone in the last month, probably more to come as hiring picks up in other places. Not sure what the plans are, but I would expect more classes this year. Hope this helps, good luck.

So I see they do bidding for bases, which bases seem to get the most bids?

It all depends on who moves on. A pilot stays in a base until they decide to move. Then that base goes up for bid. No junior base at all. There are plans to hire and run a class next month.

What are the competitive hours for gettin on there?

FAR 135 mins.

Do they hire back-up pilots for bases?

Seventeen years ago, when I got hired there, what counted was 135 mins (1200 tt) and a VERY SHARP instrument scan. Back then, the interview was a basically a multi-engine checkride.

I know the mins are part 135 mins, but in todays economy, with all the cometition, is that really what is gonna get me an interview?