flyingfarmer

70 more at 6 to 1 acceptance means around 1000/1437 have an opportunity to be back flying... Hpoefully, new bid in Dec/Jan will allow the rest of the 1437 an opportunity by end 2012. In addition, hopefully L-UAL will have to bring back pilots by the end of 2012. Things could get interesting!

unitedflyier

Interesting yes. When they hired in 2007 they got a lot less applications than they expected and the quality was not what the company expected.

If other major airlines start to hire around the same time I expect the same problem. How many will choose to work for an airline that has proved in the past that it's management and fellow senior pilots will furlough and throw the junior pilots under the bus to save themselves?

If there are 1,000 pilots still on furlough that can come back at anytime and bump you down for another 8 years, there would seem to be much better options for anyone trying to make it to a major.

They will also have to increase the pay as all the majors will be fishing from the ever decreasing pilot pool.

I hope it happens and gives the pilot some traction in labor negotiations after so many years of give backs and pay cuts.

Grumble

It's sad you mention this. I remember back in the 90's when a job at UAL was the holy grail. It's where everyone wanted to be, that was the finish line. I don't know a single guy that ever wound up there (luckily I guess) nor do I know anyone that wants to be there. The guys I've met that "are" there, never want to go back. They either found something else or are riding the military deferment train all the way to the station.

The more I read in the news, books, forums, etc the more I believe the growing gap in income. What used to be a upper end job has been shoved to the middle class... And the upper class in Mgmt seems to be doing everything they can to stand on their heads and push them further down. Name your excuse for why, but their bonuses keep rolling in.

Old UCAL CA

In an ultra-competitive, de-regulated industry, all related markets seek equilibrium. That includes pricing, labor, management and a whole host of other categories. I'm not advocating, it just is.

As long as most companies have thousands of qualified applicants on file, pilot labor will feel pressure, especially in marginal economic times. When management manages and survives tough economics or mergers, or both, it will be rewarded. The degree of which is negotiable.

When applicant pilot labor decides that this isn't the industry for them, the pilot labor dynamic will change. That isn't the case today, nor has it ever been in my recollection back to the late 1960's when I started. The ADA of 1978 and big events (911) greatly compound the pilot surplus.

Looking back, being smart would have been nice. But most know a relatively successful pilot career is based upon extraordinarily good luck and timing. The dynamics today require some hard decisions by young men and women contemplating entrance to the industry.

pilotgolfer

I was hired in 2007 and was in the first class of new hires. The interview process was a complete reversal of what took place in the 90s. Very laid back, non-confrontational. I wasn't sure I had walked into the correct building. I think the Company knew they had to change the tone of the interviews because they knew they weren't the king of the hill anymore.

As far as the quality of the 2007 new hires...I hope that wasn't coming from you. I know a few people that would probably take offense to that.

flyingfarmer

Pilotgolfer,

I bit my tongue on unitedflyers comment about "less qualified" candidates... But I guess if around 7000 hours, 3000 jet, and 2500 turbine pic is less qualified than the late 90's early 2000 hire with no pic time hired from the right seat of a Beech 1900 who happens to be a minority of some sort... I am guilty. CAL and UAL have both been guilty of the aforementioned "experience" hiring. I will bite my tongue again for a while.

NFLUALNFL

To me, the more interesting aspect will be the final acceptance rate; i.e. when the company gets to the bottom, works back up and there is no longer a bypass option. It seems logical that with people who have been out relatively longer and the bottom ~1000 on their second furlough, there might be more reluctance to leave what they have to come back to this wonderful place. Some will undoubtedly, but others will have a difficult decision. I'm sure we all know folks who have made a clean break. I wish everyone in that circumstance the best of luck with that decision.

Coto Pilot

They do not work their way back up the list this time. They call you once, you bypass and you can stay bypassed for up to ten years from the date of your furlough.

NFLUALNFL

Coto,
Thanks for the clarification. Maybe then they will get to the end quicker.

bigfatdaddy

bypass, bypass, bypass.......make em beg!!!!!!!!