Originally Posted by
SNA320
Lets put this issue to rest for the "uninformed" about the interns.
Having personally worked in the DENEV (former UAL hiring dept) across from DENTK, I spoke personally with Nancy Stuke and her predecessor Roger Vesely about intern hiring. They BOTH stated unequivocally that they wished every UAL pilot could go through the vetting precess the interns go through. Each of them compete with thousands of other college students for only a few slots every semester in which they delay their graduation a semester and come to UAL at their own expense. Once at their assigned office of internship they go through a 4 month evaluation process including personality, work ethic, flying skills...etc. All one has to do is say the wrong thing to someone, make a sarcastic remark that is overheard by a secretary and you are blackballed! Think it hasn't happened? Think again! Its a huge gamble these guys take and it may or may not pay off in the end.
Now, as far as United regretting ever hiring any intern, total B.S. I've flown with many interns in both left and right seats and they've all been excellent pilots. So lets put the rumors and fairy tales about these guys to rest!
Interns are sharp people, but there is no reason to hire them too soon.
There's a big difference between pushing papers for 4 months and flying a jet. There is valuable experience to be gained by flight instructing and flying for the regionals. Once you skip those steps, you can't go back and often something is missing from your skill set.
Some interns were hired with virtually no time, and then they were 737 Captains 2.5 years later. That was a major problem for some (not all) of them.
I could care less what the HR people had to say. They're not pilots.
Everybody needs to pay their dues...