Pilot Hiring 2025

[Flyboy736]

Why do the PIT classes have 737 short and long courses offered?

The short course is for 737 type rated pilots and shaves around 2 weeks of training. Less training means cheaper cost of a new hire. Obviously not everyone joins with a 737 type rating and thus the long course is for those guys

[bobcaygeon]

How many pilots per class when we move to two per month?

I'm not in the hiring department, but I believe they will be "full" classes. We had a few half classes the last couple months, but we are back to full classes (~20-30?) moving forward.

Hiring 40–60 pilots a month again — that’s aggressive, especially with no end in sight. At this pace, we’re adding roughly 600 per year, and a big August bid suddenly seems likely. The 787s alone could drive 500 movements, plus A220 growth and looming retirements. Sure the 321 replaces some older airbuses but this 2x full class sizes looks to me like an expansion drive again.

But unlike post-COVID, this new wave isn’t full of seasoned pilots. I’m seeing lots of “started flying in 2021/2022” in bios. Are we really putting 2022 grads into the left seat by 2027 with only two years of ops experience in their careers?

It’s one thing hiring a WestJet or Sunwing captain in 2022/2023… but a CPL graduate in 2022 is not the same candidate. No matter how good the training is.

With the 7,000 rumour target on the horizon, that’s another 1,300 new hires needed (closer to 2000 if we count the retirements coming up in the next 3-4 years).

Are the candidates interviewing ready for what’s going to be available to them in 18-24 months?

Things are about to get interesting.

So how huge was the HUGE bid.......... 125 pilots....... "the day the music died...

[itsgrosswhatinet]

Why do the PIT classes have 737 short and long courses offered?

The short course is for 737 type rated pilots and shaves around 2 weeks of training. Less training means cheaper cost of a new hire. Obviously not everyone joins with a 737 type rating and thus the long course is for those guys

If no one is coming from WestJet where are the 737 pilots usually from? Canadian North?

[twa22]

I'm not in the hiring department, but I believe they will be "full" classes. We had a few half classes the last couple months, but we are back to full classes (~20-30?) moving forward.

Hiring 40–60 pilots a month again — that’s aggressive, especially with no end in sight. At this pace, we’re adding roughly 600 per year, and a big August bid suddenly seems likely. The 787s alone could drive 500 movements, plus A220 growth and looming retirements. Sure the 321 replaces some older airbuses but this 2x full class sizes looks to me like an expansion drive again.

But unlike post-COVID, this new wave isn’t full of seasoned pilots. I’m seeing lots of “started flying in 2021/2022” in bios. Are we really putting 2022 grads into the left seat by 2027 with only two years of ops experience in their careers?

It’s one thing hiring a WestJet or Sunwing captain in 2022/2023… but a CPL graduate in 2022 is not the same candidate. No matter how good the training is.

With the 7,000 rumour target on the horizon, that’s another 1,300 new hires needed (closer to 2000 if we count the retirements coming up in the next 3-4 years).

Are the candidates interviewing ready for what’s going to be available to them in 18-24 months?

Things are about to get interesting.

So how huge was the HUGE bid.......... 125 pilots....... "the day the music died...

For the remainder of this year... add whatever was hired, and then factor in XLR and 787 delays... while not hiring at post covid levels, there still is hiring, the music hasn't died, it's slowed down, probably to the normal pace

[Av8andsleep]

What is the TT of applicants being interviewed ?

[BTD]

This bid like many is just a paperwork exercise. It shows 125 new hires for the next 12 months. Yet the ground school rates will have us hiring 160 by Christmas. As with most things in this industry, don’t believe anything until you are sitting in the seat and your colleague calls V1.

[Darleck8]

Curious if anyone has heard back recently. Been waiting a while now still crickets.

[GodlvlPilot]

Gonna hijack as well. Anyone here recently apply know the time frame for initial contact?

2k+ fixed wing been working rotor last year.

[squawk2me]

Curious if anyone has heard back recently. Been waiting a while now still crickets.

When did you interview? Nothing from me either

[Dry Guy]

You're not the first helicopter pilot I've seen applying for a major airline. Does the experience translate well?

[GodlvlPilot]

You're not the first helicopter pilot I've seen applying for a major airline. Does the experience translate well?

Not sure hence why I am asking. I would think so.

King Air captain for close to 1300 hours, 90 survey for the first 600 mainly pic. Been flying IFR Helo for the past bit both as sic and pic

[cdnavater]

You're not the first helicopter pilot I've seen applying for a major airline. Does the experience translate well?

Not sure hence why I am asking. I would think so.

King Air captain for close to 1300 hours, 90 survey for the first 600 mainly pic. Been flying IFR Helo for the past bit both as sic and pic

To be fair, your question was related to time, ie; how long to hear
I’m not in the hiring department, as a trainer rotor flying is not the same as fixed wing, so if I were in the hiring department I’d be looking for recent relevant experience. It’s good you’re flying IFR despite some subtle differences, I’m not sure how much weight they put on rotor experience.
You’ll have to let us know if you get called, to be honest, I’d be surprised but really these days anything could happen, my thought is you have 1300 of relevant experience and don’t meet the requirements.
Call HR, they wouldn’t care know better if you actually meet the requirements.

[altiplano]

Helo hours are fine. Lots of military helicopter background guys here, out of civilian side all time is well regarded, but particularly 2 crew IFR machines.

[CaptDukeNukem]

Couple military helo guys hired at porter. Great attitude and solid pilots. If it flies, it counts as time.

[Me262]

Couple military helo guys hired at porter. Great attitude and solid pilots. If it flies, it counts as time.

Not according to TC for ATPL

[GodlvlPilot]

You're not the first helicopter pilot I've seen applying for a major airline. Does the experience translate well?

Not sure hence why I am asking. I would think so.

King Air captain for close to 1300 hours, 90 survey for the first 600 mainly pic. Been flying IFR Helo for the past bit both as sic and pic

To be fair, your question was related to time, ie; how long to hear
I’m not in the hiring department, as a trainer rotor flying is not the same as fixed wing, so if I were in the hiring department I’d be looking for recent relevant experience. It’s good you’re flying IFR despite some subtle differences, I’m not sure how much weight they put on rotor experience.
You’ll have to let us know if you get called, to be honest, I’d be surprised but really these days anything could happen, my thought is you have 1300 of relevant experience and don’t meet the requirements.
Call HR, they wouldn’t care know better if you actually meet the requirements.

I think your misunderstanding me. I have 1300 hours pic ifr in a king air 200. My total fixed time is north of 2000 hours majority turbine majority pic.

Only been flying helo for a year 90% 2 Crew IFR. But ifr rules are ifr rules.

[Man_in_the_sky]

You're not the first helicopter pilot I've seen applying for a major airline. Does the experience translate well?

Not sure hence why I am asking. I would think so.

King Air captain for close to 1300 hours, 90 survey for the first 600 mainly pic. Been flying IFR Helo for the past bit both as sic and pic

To be fair, your question was related to time, ie; how long to hear
I’m not in the hiring department, as a trainer rotor flying is not the same as fixed wing, so if I were in the hiring department I’d be looking for recent relevant experience. It’s good you’re flying IFR despite some subtle differences, I’m not sure how much weight they put on rotor experience.
You’ll have to let us know if you get called, to be honest, I’d be surprised but really these days anything could happen, my thought is you have 1300 of relevant experience and don’t meet the requirements.
Call HR, they wouldn’t care know better if you actually meet the requirements.

Some guys never entered a cloud before being hired. Never felt icing. Only supervised students. 2000 with helos and ifr beat that any day of the week in my opinion.

[BTD]

IIRC I flew with an FO who had mostly helo time with Cougar. That was a few years ago. But it’s all good time. What might make things a little slower, is if you have a little over 2000 hrs fixed plus a year of helo, I’m guessing you might be at max 2800 hrs total? That could be a little short depending on the stack of resumes that yours is mixed in with.

[ZephyrOne]

Does anyone know when the next class is after September and if calls have went out yet?

[Man_in_the_sky]

Does anyone know when the next class is after September and if calls have went out yet?

Next PIT —> sept 10th

Calls were done around august 10-15.