So there definitely seems to be some different info floating around on this.. but i talked to Stan the other day and he said the new test was not negotiated as part of that new training contract section... and he was really fired up that people are blaming him. And Randy definitely didn't have anything at all to do with it either. A ground school teacher we all know and like told us point blank that the training department decided to change the test format because everyone scored like 98% on the old test, but when questioned orally or faced with systems problems in the sim, didn't show near that level of knowledge. In other words (and this is why we all liked the old test), people were just memorizing answers without necessarily understanding the material. I know I know, what a shame that we, as professional pilots, should have to understand the stuff in our books or at least know where to look it up. The old test was definitely the easy/lazy way, and the new test is slightly harder (although everyone in my cq class passed first try).... suck it up and invest a little effort in learning more about your profession.

As far as the whole "the union sucks" crew out there... remember "the union" is the guys you fly with every day. If you think they suck so bad why don't you walk up to them and say it in person instead of putting it online from behind your keyboard. You say your opinion isn't heard.. well i don't think they troll the message boards looking for our opinions either. You want your voice heard actually talk to the union VOLUNTEERS .. they fly the line and have email and telephones! Better yet why don't you take a position on a committee or as a base rep.. then you will really be in the loop. Or you can just sit at home and complain without doing anything at all to help the situation... let me know how that's working out for you. Why do you think our management walks all over us? It's because we have so many lazy/uninvolved pilots sitting at home complaining but refusing to help the cause. The handful of volunteers are trying to make things better here, but are getting very little help from much of the pilot group. Do your part, then you earn the right to complain.