MasterOfPuppets

I'm writing this thread to give new hires and those waiting on class or an interview some insight into fleet movement as an FO. If you can read between the lines it should give you an idea of what aircraft to bid in training.

What this thread will not do is tell you how long it will take to hold a certain base, a certain fleet, how long it will take to get off reserve, hold weekends etc.....

The 737 fleet is taking its last 3 aircraft from Boeing this spring. In 2018 we will begin taking the MAX's. So the 737 fleet will no longer be a growing fleet. There is a rumor of more 737's coming from Copa but nothing has been officially announced.

The 320 fleet begins taking used aircraft from China and Spirit starting in the fall of this year. there are 12 or so firm with up to 30 rumored, no announcement yet. So the 320 will be the growing fleet.

Within the 737 fleet there are 421 FOs that can hold CA.
Within the 320 fleet there are 338 FOs that can hold CA.

The seniority, on the top of the list, is relatively equal so movement on either fleet should be about equal. The wild card that is impossible to predict is wide body FO. How many FOs senior to you on each fleet will bid for wide body FO.

In theory the 737 should still see more movement than than the 320 because of upgrades, however it will soon be a staffed fleet that will cause stagnation from the middle to the bottom (longer reserve time and poor schedules).

The 320 will see a significant bump in new hires starting in late summer 2016. This will be for the new aircraft coming on property. Movement up the list will be slower than the 737 because of fewer upgrades from the current FOs. However, the new hires will fill in behind you to move you off reserve. you will find the lines coming down to get your seniority instead of you moving up to the lines, the beauty of being on a growing fleet.

Both fleets will continue to see loads of new hires due to wide body growth, upgrades and retirements.

Choose wisely its 2 years of your life

Welcome to United Airlines its a great place to work!

worstpilotever

I thought we were getting the first of the Chinese Airbi this month? (at least in our possession, have no idea how long til the see the line)

GoCats67

I think that is correct, but with the required "mods and checks" they have to go through the rumor is that the first one doesn't get to the line until june/july

Boeing Aviator

What are the rumored additional Airbus numbers?

Aviatorr

I heard 50 more 319s total and 15,000 total pilots by 2018.......but I'm sure it's just a rumor....

24seven

How many pilots on the property now?

Grumble

Around 12,500 with about 10,500 active (per most recent CPO numbers).

C11DCA

Straight from the January 2016 Airbus fleet newsletter:

the first one is supposed to be online late spring, with 10 additional for the year.

Planning 500 new hires on the Bus alone this year

Aviatorr

Well that kinda kills my rumor then, don't think we could hire 2,500 in 2 years.....

untied

Not to mention the 600-800 we lose in retirements over that time period.