A few things to think about
:
By all accounts it is going to be a difficult year for recruiting. Quoted numbers are on the order of 550 to 600 pilots.
I have heard but not substantiated (this is a rumour network after all) that the above numbers include the use of flight time factoring for calculating required crew. (You remember when we were told that the company "didn't want to do it but the GCAA was making them."
)
The Virgin Australia/Korean/SIA factor. Depending on who you talk to and how it really pans out, resignations may pick up after the 2nd half of the year for folks departing to the above airlines. Resignations have been rather slow this year.
We will see what really happens but I certainly see the potential for it getting ugly in late 2008. For you starry eyed newcomers, ask some of the guys who were on the Airbus back when factoring was in full force what it was like.