Originally Posted by
rocketman3746
Last summer I had both Frank Lorenzo and Gordon Bethune on my flights in the same week which was interesting. I've read about these people my whole life, even did a paper on Gordon Bethune in college, but it was interesting to see them in person. My uncle is a long time CAL pilot, so our extended family has been through the good and the bad at CAL. Mr. Bethune actually sat up front in the copilot's seat and we chatted most of the flight, he seemed like a cool guy. When Lorenzo flew, I had him sit all the way in the back (in a C-402) and at the end of my cabin safety briefing said, "on behalf of my Continental family, welcome aboard." (Hope you enjoy the non-existent head room back there...)
EXCELLENT!!!!!
Lorenzo tried to start another airline out of BWI called ATX. ALPA vigorously opposed his application for an air carrier certificate on the grounds he was unfit to hold said certificate. ALPA, along with others, ulimately prevailed.
When I was commuting between DTW-ORD many years back, we heard he was coming into DTW on a CO flight. This was in the late 1980s. We were heading to the parking lot when we heard about it from a ramp worker on the employee bus. We were ready to go back and join the welcoming committee. He told us he was already on the ground. I would have loved to join that ceremony.
