There may not be 11,000 qualified applicants but to think that there isn't a horde of people fighting for a slot at a legacy is just insane. Going to a career fair was eye opening and very humbling for me. There was a line before and after me filled with great candidates. Every LCC, regional, and military branch was there networking to get hired. There are thousands of others that couldn't make it with similar qualifications. I think you are referring to competitive minimums and not the posted minimums because those are already low. The competitive minimums are pretty high right now. Avg age of 37, 5500TT avg (weighted down by fighter guys), 4 yrs college, and 50/50 split mil vs 121.

Optimistically if you are 121 and want United there are 350 spots a year (Last number was 650-700 total for 2017) and the rest are military. There are a ton of regional guys who are motivated, flying 800 hrs a yr, and upgrading within a year at some places. Add in a volunteer position, networking along the way, and in 4 years you have a solid applicant who will be standing in line like the rest of us. You have stiffer competition than you think.

 

1. As a pilot I think we are happy about all this. Are you? If you are management. Not so much.

2. It's in a United thread because they claim they have 11,000 apps on file which is probably misleading at best.

3. Anyone at United who has more than a few years left at the airline.

4. Yes but at this point they have almost tripled their starting pay compared to just a year ago or so. This is an indicator.

5. Another indicator on how the market for pilots as a whole is.

6. On one hand we don't. On the other it decreases supply when they leave this market just the same as all the retirements are about to do. So we care because less supply with the same or increased demand = more money.


US major airlines will be the last to benefit from a pilot shortage. But you have to look below you to see what is coming.

 

Did someone mention a hoe that needed attention?

 

Lets say the company want to throw more money at pilot pay as a way to improve recruitment. Most of the money would go to the top 20-30% of the list in the form of widebody rate increases and leave years 1-5 with small percentage rate bumps.

How would this benefit recruitment?

Do you need a refresher on how CBA membership ratification works?

 

That's assuming the rate increases goes to the top 20-30%. There is nothing in stone that says the money won't go to the bottom.

In a couple years the majors won't be top heavy in seniority as all these guys retire.

Besides the majors aren't there yet. The regionals are. As evidenced by the ~250% pay increase on the bottom in one year.

Who knows what will happen but it will be good for pilots all over.

I really don't think the pay scales at the majors are that bad.

At the regionals it's insulting.

 

Well, nothing other than membership ratification of a CBA that would adopt those rates. You won't see any major airline's pilot group throw money at new hire rates unless they get a proportional increase. Do the math and let me know where the bulk of the money goes.

Your second statement is just too precious, think about that one.

 

That one sounded a bit fishy to me as well.

 

I met minimums for United recently but have not even applied yet. I'll apply soon though. There are still MANY MANY pilots who are qualified but have not applied yet for whatever reason, but certainly plan to do so. Anyone who reckons that it will be easy getting on with United in a few years is smoking some serious ****.

Also it should be stressed that not all the 11000 applications are the same 11000 applications everywhere else. There are pilots who want to work for Delta, but not United, and vice versa.

 

It seems vast majority publish their applications to all of the legacies regardless of whether or not they're the first or last choice. Now, after the applications are on file people tend to update their top choices and let the rest lag.

 

Make sure you check German as a second language.

After all you finally figured out how to spell "Duesenflieger" correctly... and you also upped the game in German grammar ... Finally you are something "von Beruf"