I took it as typical pilot gallows humor. Like the old one about being in the crew room to hear a guy died and before long everybody starts muttering about what number he was. I remember the time the shuttle Challenger blew up, by the time I got to work that day somebody had already come up with Now Accepting Seven Applications for NASA.

Sick bunch...

I was saddened to learn of the death of a good man that helped guide me and get me started in my career. It was in NO WAY a reference to not having a line pilot give me a recommendation. I didn't even consider that when I wrote this. I had to read it a few times to try and understand what you were asking.

Apologies and respect to anyone that took it any other way. I was simply bummed to learn that a good man and mentor was no longer with us.

Any word/rumors on new hire classes in 2015?

Word, no...rumors, yes.

Rumblings of 50-200 newhires in 2015, and my best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night that the first newhire class of the year will be in March.

Might be pretty serious???

The fact that the First Officer job posting was relisted yesterday, combined with interviews scheduled this month and next based on applications from last year, and that there's an existing hiring pool rumored to have at least 100 people put into it (who knows how many are still available), leads one to think there will be at least modest hiring in 2015...but line pilots are always the last to know.

Of course, the standard 'Expectation Zero' disclaimer applies...

Just announced, hiring 25, first quarter of 2015.

No specifics

Carry on.......

Love the screen name and avatar....made me laugh. Thanks.