I am not an FMR, nor was I from peeps, but as far as I know, the FMRs process was semi-ab initio training. PE went to the colleges, and hired the "best and the brightest," all, I believe top 10% of their class, to become SOs. Don't know who paid for the primary training. They flew on the panel for a few years, and then went to a regional carrier to build front seat time. After a year or two, they came back to a front seat. This is not entirely different from a really smart individual going to the military after college to get training.

I have some issues with the fact that they continued to earn seniority while away at the regional, but it is what it is; water under the bridge.

My analysis is that because FMRs are pretty smart, intellectual, and driven (who else gets to the top 10% of their college class), they have tended to gravitate to management positions. It is worth mentioning that not all management guys are bad guys. As a matter of opinion, mine that is, most of the management guys on the CAL side are pretty good guys. I've met a few from the UAL side, and most of them are pretty good guys also.

As for Future Managerial Rube, somebody has to be in management, and someone has to deal with the small percentage of pilots who can't hit their you know what with both hands, can't manage a cockpit, can't remember to get to work, can't stay off the bottle, or whatever. I've been at CAL for over 25 years, and have one or two unpleasant conversations with a management type. Most of the time, I let them know what I want/need, and usually they help me get it. Sometimes they explain why I can't have it, and that is OK too.