Originally Posted by
acl65pilot
DAL is already doing this to a lesser degree, but with a level of insulation. DAL has gone to Western Michigan and started a program where they select candidates to enter said program. These pilot candidates then generally go to a DCI carrier, spend a few years there, get a 73N type scholarship, then interview here. If one is savvy enough they can be at DAL before 25.
I can tell you that they have and continue to have huge success with this. I also expect to see DAL enlarge this sort of program going forward.
It is pretty easy to have "huge success" giving away a $300,000 gift to a $4,000,000 + career. Where do we sign up?
The problem is ... the program is highly discriminatory.
Further, in Europe & Asia these programs have led to a sort of indentured servitude where 5,500 applicants fight for a dozen spots and then realize the training contract ain't all that, so they end up bidding a trip and phoning in the "I quit" from an outstation.
With 12,000 applicants at Delta, at least 5,000 of whom have already been flying Delta passengers for most of a decade and several thousand who would make good Delta pilots, I just don't see why you and me should be eager to share our (pick one CAPEX for new airplanes, or, profit sharing) with a wanna be who put nothing into the effort but a X chromosome.