phoenix 23684

Does anyone know how many more pilots they are planning on hiring. I know someone mentioned 120 by summer time or so, just curious to know how many more interview and or class they are planning on.

TurboDVR42

Goal is to hire just under 130. April I heard from a friend of mine will be the last class until fall.

MtnPeakCruiser

I heard 180 by September

Aero1900

To the best of my knowledge, Frontier will have hired 128 new FO's by the April newhire class. The training Dept will then take the summer off to be all hands on deck for the summer flying, and then resume hiring and upgrades in the fall, with new hire classes planned to resume in Sept.

Based on them calling me three time this morning asking if I would like to accept a voluntary junior assignment, I would say we need every one of those new pilots. I fly everyday on RSV as a DEN FO.

phoenix 23684

Thanks for the info, I'll be in the Apr class, I was hoping I wouldn't be right at the end, however, I'm looking forward to starting training there.

Aero1900

Phoenix, I wouldn't worry too much about being in the last class for a couple of months. Indigo plans to grow Frontier, they just need to take a break and allow the instructors to go fly the line during the busy summer months. Virtually all of the instructors are also line pilots.

Welcome aboard. You are going to love Frontier.

Jungle Rat

Hey Guys,

Long time listener, first time caller.

Some news on the fleet numbers/hiring front:

Flew w/ management type directly involved @ 10 days ago. Revisions to The Plan:

Old Plan: Hire 120+/- from Fall 2013 thru late Spring 2014 to cover pt.117, increased Spirit-style utilization, a few additional used 320s as they were sourced, some legacy recalls, and a very few retirements.

New Plan (as of a few weeks ago): 223FR is at GYR getting the once-over and a shiny new flamingo on the tail- in from Manilla 3 weeks ago. Should be on the line in April. Another used 320 in from Europe any day.
-4-5 additional sourced used birds to deliver this year.
-10 +/- used birds sourced for delivery next year ahead of the NEO deliveries.
Training Dept is maxed out right now at 20 new hires/mo. Plan is to maintain 20/mo thru late Spring, downshift but not stop through Summer, and then step it up to 20/mo indefinitely. SSS is looking to add a sim ASAP, and training is looking for sim time anywhere they can.

Looks like we can look forward to quite a few welcome new faces!

phoenix 23684

That's great news!

ULLI

I interviewed second week of FEB. There were 12 of us. Hand full of guys only had silver bullets.

We started the day out with brief introduction; break down of the day and company overview. Know when the 318 left the fleet (date and the tail animal.)

The reason for hiring is attrition, 117 and increase in block hours. Additionally I heard they are still waiting for official Indigo schedule.
Hired north of 100, goal is 128. I believe after all these FEB interviews everything will be filled till fall. Ipads are done deal, they give you $600 to buy your own (32gb or better is the suggestion.) TNN/ILW are expanding with destinations. Majority of people are getting the base they want. You will get your seniority from day one (assigned by age). There are also upgrades happening as well.

Ground school training is in DEN-18 days
SIMs will be in DEN (F9 and UA), MIA (Airbus) and SFO (Virgin), 5 FTDs and 8 SIMs, and a LOFT.
IOE will be around 40 hours

Rumors
MCO-not going to happen
A321-On the table now
APR is last class, starting back up in the fall

PHASE I

Panel:
3 pilots and 1 HR person. Very laid back and professional. No stump the chump questions, just getting to know you.

-When do Runway centerline lights go from red to white…how about all red?
-You show up to the plane and there is some ice on top of the wing, CA doesn’t want to De-Ice, what now?
-Have you ever taken controls from CA/FO?
-Where is the airport elevation measured from?
-Toughest Decision you had to make?
-Any check ride failures, letters, etc?

Look over AIM and review basic instrument rules.

SBI-7 min
Flying from IAH-DEN
1 pack inop, limited to FL310. +TS ahead. FFDO in the J/S. New FO, and you are the CA.
It starts out dealing with the weather, than they give you a situation in the cabin (they changed it up, smoke, unruly passenger, rapid depressurization…pretty much an emergency situation)

Everyone is constantly evaluating you. Smile, laugh make jokes (appropriate) and watch your language. One guy was dropping F bomb every other word.

After lunch they decide who will advance to PHASEII. I believe 6 left and 6 got picked.
You meet with the CP and two other pilots. They are just getting to know you and want to see if they can spend 3-4 day trip with you. Extremely laid back.

Those that got hired did the finger printing, drug test, and paper work same day.

I used Lori Clark for my preparation. She and Todd both were very accommodating with my crazy schedule. Lori has been doing this for a long time and has a great track record. One other candidate used different company, for some reason he was not selected.
Best of luck to anyone interviewing. It is an exciting time to be at F9!
I am thrilled to join the family. I feel optimistic about the future and the direction the airline is headed.


PS

sounds like the hiring numbers are changing for the positive since I typed this up few weeks back

zoooropa

Please don't be offended but whomever you flew with is feeding you inaccurate information. There is no possible way we can hire, train and staff an additional 4-5 shells in 2014 nor do we need to do so. You don't hire for what you need today you hire for what you need in the future. We have always had one additional 320 arriving in 2014 and the Company has increased our utilization by about 10%. Those two events equate to approximately 130 new pilots, or what we have been hiring/training since last year. The one new plane is arriving in a month or so, that leaves six months for an additional 4-5 aircraft? Not only is it not possible but it doesn't make any sense. Our schedule is very busy during the summer and then it thins out after the fall. Why would we add a bunch of planes during the lowest demand period of the year?

Forgive my pessimism but Management is nickel and diming pilots every month. Scheduling is violating our CBA every day. If I were in management I would be worried about filling classes. What better way to increase the number of applicants than a promise of rapid growth?

I hope I am wrong about the deliveries because this pilot group deserves the good news. Unfortunately it just doesn't make any sense. Indigo adding debt to the balance sheet prior to an IPO? Taking delivery of 10 additional aircraft in 2015 only to replace those 320's with NEO's in 2016? (We have a lot of short term 320 leases as well as a number of 319 leases that term in 2016-2020. The NEO's are replacement aircraft, not growth aircraft).

We aren't quite there yet, but F9 is creating a toxic atmosphere that isn't worth the low pay and constant abuse. David Seigel is a vampire that lives of the blood of labor. Indigo is a Private Equity firm that has no interest in managing an airline longterm. Apply here with your eyes wide open.