Guardguy

OK I promised to report what I could find out and here it is. Talked with PS today and he assured us that Sept classes for 32 are going to happen, he said it is his call and it is a done deal unless major changes. On upgrades he said 144 this year and 48 new hires starting in Sept! Now, as for HR honoring pool people he said it was not his decison and peolpe in the pool needed to get that infomration from HR! Good Luck.

Yardley

Poor Yardley here got made fun of for asking if a rumor that the cancellation of April classes was more than a rumor. A week later, it showed itself to be completely true.



I'm curious -- if the block hours we fly for DAL and CAL change so much just month to month that XJT barely knows how to staff the operation more than a couple months out, how on earth does crew planning know exactly when and how many new hires are going to start coming in? 32 in September? A heck of a lot can happen between April and September!

Secondly: "it is a done deal unless major changes." Judging from the news around here in the past week or two it seems like we might be seeing some major changes.

I hope for the sake of me, everyone below me, everyone above me, and everyone in the pool and everyone not in the pool that wants to work here that upgrades resume soon and hiring starts when PS says it will. But all that information sounds suspiciously specific to me.

DMP9679

I wish that they would upgrade 12/hire 12 a month, until we know exactly for sure what is going to happen.

When you make drastic changes versus gradual changes, alot of really big problems can occur.

Couple of problems:
1. What if the flying does not slow down, but increases.
2. What if we get more new permanent flying.
3. What if more people leave faster than anticipated between the CA's and FO's alike.
4. What if the company hands out COLA's, then storms hit, we are short handed, and delays blow through the roof.
5. It takes roughly 2-3 months to get someone new on the line, and a little less time to get new Captains on line. We could have a real problem growing here.

Maybe Continental could change their first class policy, and actually make their elite members use some of their **** miles!

All of the things stated above are just a matter of my opinion, nothing more.

__________________
"Get a rope"

Tiger2Flying

The most specific news we have heard in a while. Thanks for the update Guardguy! Maybe the official word will come soon from HR. I do know that I am not holding my breath any longer. I am preparing for new interviews as a backup (you never know right); plus the additional interview practice is never bad!

Yardley

With the cost of oil up to what it is now, I think both of these can all but be ruled out for not only XJT but several other regionals.

Tiger2Flying

Anyone else thinking Friday an e-mail may be sent out?

Kaktis965

Sure hope so...

aviation.miller

Ok, So lets say that there is a class in Sept. or later summer, and they have even 2 classes taking on 30 + or more pilots... Then what? Isn't it important to looking further down then just the immediate class date? If they are really only projecting limited hiring then who will take your place down the road for reserve? Or would this more likely mean you will sit reserve for a very extended amount of time and not be able to bid a different domicile for quite some time as well? I really wanted to work for this company but I also want to be able to eventually live in a certain base and not be on reserve...people that work there can correct me if i am wrong but haven't many people not been able to bid or change domiciles for quite some time, and are still on reserve because no one is replacing them?

Just thoughts.

phx_suns1319

You make a great point, one that I hesitated to bring up. Yeah, even if we were to get a class date later this year we're looking at long reserve times, a longer upgrade time and the possibility of being furloughed. I think I read on this forum that a guy who was hired in the last class before the pool has only moved 40 numbers since Oct 07 only due to attrition, so just because we're in, doesn't mean its secure.
For everyone in the pool it would be smart to look elsewhere, or stay put at your current job until this storm we call a "slowdown/recession" blows over and things in the industry firm back up. However, the hiring train is leaving the station...ASA is pooling, SKYW isn't doing much, and DAL just stopped hiring...and that only mentions a few who are slowing down the hiring. Don't be shocked if even the "untouchable" RJET starts feeling the pinch this year. To add to that, everyone seems convinced that CAL will pull more aircraft in Dec 09, oh, and the chances of branded being around this time next year is slim...so as I said before, even if we get in later this year, we still have an uphill battle to face, and no cushion below us IF we are furloughed.
I'm sorry to be negative, or a downer, but those are the facts that we poolies face...I know XJT is a great company, but our timing was just simply too late. I hope that things turn around and we get our class dates, but don't be hesitant to at least look at other options as it seems many in the pool have.

DUNNTPA

While you make some fair points, it just seems like Debbie Downer over all. This is a great company to work for, and I can assure you it will be well worth your wait. We have a great group of management folks and you will find the training second to none. Why would you not take a class date if offered and get that senority number? Once the slump is over and we start hiring again like gang busters, you would already be here and be that far ahead of the rest. That is just my personal opinion, it just makes more sense to me to take a short spell on reserve and be ahead of the game.