WAI Was A Great Place To Check Out Airline Hiring!

By ANN Correspondent Aleta Vinas

Free chocolate and an interview with an airline. It doesn't get much better than that. In the Exhibitor's Hall at the 2006 Women in Aviation International Conference you can have both.

Guess what, ladies... the airlines are hiring!

For instance, Kathy McDonald from Continental Airlines was recruiting for First Officer positions in the 737, 757 and 767. The busy booth was kept running about six deep waiting to talk to McDonald who noted that, "almost all of them are qualified." In September of this year Continental looks forward to some intense hiring, 30 – 60 pilots a month, indefinitely. They are also looking for dispatchers, but says Triece Harmon -- a domestic and international dispatcher, "it's not an entry level dispatch position," so there hasn't been much action. There are also some engineering and maintenance positions open.

Celeste Green is a Generalist, she is recruiting pilots for Alaska Airlines. "We're seeing more men than we are women," says Green. There seems to be less female candidates than last year. Alaska Airlines plans to add about 100 pilots this year, then another 350 into 2008.

Alison Donway is an assistant chief pilot for Horizon Air and a First Officer in the Q400. Thursday was a little slow, but Friday they met, "many qualified applicants that we're thrilled about," claims Donway. Horizon looks towards some non-stop hiring through the end of 2006 to be ready for the 12 new aircraft being delivered in the beginning of 2007. Perhaps 60 – 80 new pilots will be needed.

Jane DeLisle is First Officer for Jet Blue as well as an Airbus instructor. "There's been a steady stream of people here," says DeLisle. Most are qualified, some are just short of the needed time, but are taking a preliminary step by meeting the airline folks and getting a bit of a head start for when they have the needed hours. Jet Blue is looking to hire a total of 550 pilots for 2006. The projection is to grow the pilots by 500 – 600 per year through 2012. Jet Blue is expanding routes, adding aircraft, and they need your help to fly them.

Even if you couldn't make the conference, you're encouraged to check out the Virtual Job Fair at the WAI web site. More than 75 jobs opportunities are there right now for WAI members.

FMI: www.aeroindustryjobs.com, www.continental.com, www.jetblue.com, www.horizonair.com www.alaskaair.com