I just got an offer with no aircraft assignment. Does any one know when Southern Air will let you know what aircraft you get?

How long was it from when you interviewed to when you got an offer?

It took approximately 2 weeks.

Did you ask what aircraft you would get?

I got put in a pool also. However, if I upgrade next month most likely will stay put at my current company.

Latest rumors from the check airman meeting...

No more 777 classes this year.
Likely a 737 class in June and another in July.

I'm not sure how we are going to staff the operation we have without more classes, much less crew new planes, but I don't have the big picture.

B777F #5 on property in July? (That goalpost keeps moving.. it has been four to six months away for the last year.)

B737F #5 in conversion now. Estimated ready in July.

They haven't found an airframe to turn into B737F #6 yet. But they still hope to have it in service by the end of the year.

I don't think that there was ever a 5th 777. Just a carrot being held out to appease and placate the crews.

Anticipate that the "5th" will become the "9th" at 3S. Would not be surprised to see a depletion of 777's migrating to 3S as we see more of a push for Open Skies.

9S will be relegated to the 737's which will then be converted to the new price leader RF, effectively cutting out the pilot union at 9S.

IMHO at this point, pilot acquisition in the last 3-6 month period could be as the Chief Pilot was quoted as saying is, "hiring to furlough".

Looks pretty grim.

Any other new nuggets at the check airman meeting?

Things are much brighter here at K4 but still not good enough in today's market. Atlas is hiring, and seems to be picking up pilots from our other 1224 carriers. Even if you are a Captain at Southern it may be wise to look at Atlas. We have lost, and will be losing pilots to Atlas. I see this trend continuing for the foreseeable future as our lack of a contract, training department issues, and lack of a secure future wear thin with our pilot group.

There will not be a transfer of aircraft from SAI to Florida West or especially higher cost AeroLogic. The move to FloridaWest would take a minimum of a year just to get the FAA manuals approved and multiple $millions just in training costs.....let alone all of the office staff that manage another type, trained maintenance, ETOPS, etc. It currently costs about $50,000 to train a SAI 777 pilot by the time you pay salary, hotels, Boeing costs, etc. It's a little cheaper for a new hire but still substantial. There is not enough cost savings between the two pilot groups to even remotely make that idea worth it. It's all about dollars saved or dollars spent.

Florida West was bought for one reason and one reason only.....to take some of the current and future "high cost" ATSG (ABX) flying away and move it to Florida West. The "high cost" quote is from the former SAI COO (now Worldwide President). Management's plan is to under bid anybody else..which is not that difficult to do. IBT 1224 is fighting that move. However, DHL will have the one and only vote as to who gets the flying

We'd all like to think as pilots that we are smarter than any MBA and our current airline executives. The hard truth is that if we were that smart we would not be airline pilots making money for somebody else while we slave away for pennies. Southern's (now Worldwide's) executives think they see a way to grow the business to the point where they can sell the group or take it public and exit with their $millions.

Diesel8, if you are just a pilot like me working for a supplemental then obviously you just ain't that smart. Please give up trying to convince those that read this board that you are.

Robthree's post is mostly accurate for those looking for updates.

Birdstrikes:
Then maybe you should take your own advise!

Review the concept of circular reasoning.

Then we'll see how smart you are!