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FriendlyPilot 09-07-2025 10:12 AM


Originally Posted by Turbosina (Post 3946545)
During a very short window in time (late '23 through early April '24 hires), we had new hires get CA slots in indoc. To my knowledge, nobody actually went to upgrade class after 350 hours, but they did start receiving CA pay at 350 hours.

However -- since the new hire CA phenomenon ended in April '24 (the last class to have NHCA slots was April 2, 2024) -- CA slots have gone WAY more senior. The current vacancy bid has the most junior NBCA at 61 pct system seniority. Lots and lots of senior FOs who delayed upgrade are now bidding for NBCA.

I' would be utterly astonished if we ever see CA slots being awarded in indoc ever again. We do have a large NBCA vacancy bid supposedly happening in November, and I can see upgrade dropping to maybe 2 years at that time. Which is of course ludicrously quick by any measure...

We just had a bid in February of this year where pilots under 3 years were getting Airbus CA, and it wasn't even a very big bid. Also we haven't had a Narrowbody bid since then, only a couple backfills, so to say "its gone senior" isn't really accurate since when you only have one backfill and its someone with 7,000 seniority number that's because its only one person so it isn't a fair picture of actual seniority.

Round Luggage 09-07-2025 11:32 AM

Ever wonder if American was American despite of him or if he brought American to United?


Turbosina 09-07-2025 12:06 PM


Originally Posted by FriendlyPilot (Post 3946624)
We just had a bid in February of this year where pilots under 3 years were getting Airbus CA, and it wasn't even a very big bid. Also we haven't had a Narrowbody bid since then, only a couple backfills, so to say "its gone senior" isn't really accurate since when you only have one backfill and its someone with 7,000 seniority number that's because its only one person so it isn't a fair picture of actual seniority.

It's really a semantic difference. It doesn't matter whether it's because we haven't had many NBCA vacancies recently or because more senior people are bidding it. The end result is the same: nobody in a new hire class (like BusBoi) should realistically be thinking they're going to snag a CA slot in indoc. That ship has sailed. (I missed it by one week lol).

It's anybody's guess whether the next NBCA bid will see those slots going to people with 2, 3, 4, or more years on property. The current snapshot reflects the FOMO we keep mentioning -- the very large number of senior FOs who delayed jumping the trash bag because they figured NBCA would always be available. When that dried up, it left a lot of them stuck in the right seat. In recent months as the new hire CAs finished upgrade training and started flying, a lot of those senior FOs wound up flying with people *way* junior to them.

And so I think you're going to continue to see a lot of those guys bidding NBCA in every foreseeable vacancy bid until they are awarded it. I can literally name 8 of my friends whom this describes perfectly, and that's just *one* BES I'm talking about, let alone all of our NB bases and aircraft types.

Regardless, though -- it's still incredible and unprecedented movement.

FriendlyPilot 09-07-2025 12:44 PM


Originally Posted by Round Luggage (Post 3946657)
Ever wonder if American was American despite of him or if he brought American to United?

If you listen to Kirby on podcasts he wasn't allowed to implement hardly anything over there. Almost every time he tried to make a difference, he was shot down by Parker. American would be a much different airline right now if they had just let Kirby run it.

dmeg13021 09-07-2025 01:06 PM

Yes, but their call sign would be "Cactus"

Shrek 09-07-2025 01:41 PM


Originally Posted by BusBoi (Post 3946536)
What are the specific rules for bidding captain under the new contract? If there are unfilled vacancies then people with less that 12 month/500 hours can be awarded? Is that right?

Without getting into details…… yup !

ThumbsUp 09-07-2025 02:17 PM


Originally Posted by BusBoi (Post 3946536)
What are the specific rules for bidding captain under the new contract? If there are unfilled vacancies then people with less that 12 month/500 hours can be awarded? Is that right?

In addition to the previous responses, I'll add that this scenario is fairly unlikely in your time horizon. You'll more than likely get both the hours and the time before you'll get awarded a vacancy.

GPullR 09-07-2025 03:12 PM


Originally Posted by FriendlyPilot (Post 3946624)
We just had a bid in February of this year where pilots under 3 years were getting Airbus CA, and it wasn't even a very big bid. Also we haven't had a Narrowbody bid since then, only a couple backfills, so to say "its gone senior" isn't really accurate since when you only have one backfill and its someone with 7,000 seniority number that's because its only one person so it isn't a fair picture of actual seniority.

that bid was the largest 320 ca bid i think we have ever had. It was definetly not the norm. 80 ca 320 in ord?? Not the norm.

mostpeople 09-07-2025 05:03 PM

Just curious, I am aware that new hires were being awarded NB CA in indoc - but why? Is there a sizable cadre of lifetime FOs or is there something else?

St Exupery 09-07-2025 05:14 PM


Originally Posted by Turbosina (Post 3946607)
I think that's what we call capitalism...

I don’t think you’ve read any of what Adam Smith actually wrote. Or maybe you’re being sarcastic.

But to suggest our system is “capitalism” is hilarious. Our government picks winners and losers all the time. The amount of government intervention in our system doesn’t resemble capitalism in any sense of what that word means. We also don’t have free markets. Which for our industry a good thing. See cabotage.

But I generally agree with your sentiment that a golden parachute for a CEO that destroys a company brings to mind the “moral hazard” term that became so popular after the 2008 financial crisis. Negligence and crooked practices should be punished.

I certainly prefer our system to whatever you want to call China or even European countries and Canada have.


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