NERD,
Don't know what would make you happy. ShyGuy is trying to make himself feel better about going to Virgin America while it looks like his former co workers have an in to a Delta job. He's a little miffed and understandably so.
In 1999 we heard a lot about how unqualified ASA and Comair pilots were. Delta maintained it's standards while remaining divided. The result of that division was half of Delta's block hours being outsourced and Delta pilots getting furloughed while ASA and Comair hired pilots, including Delta pilots. ALPA lost members and relevance as a result of having lost focus on unity.
Personally, Mesaba is my least favorite pilot group (and I'll keep my reasons to myself) but, professionally I realize that
if Richard Anderson creates an alter ego who can bid on our flying in 2015,
then we are
better off merging with them than letting them run as an alter ego. Although they would receive a heck of a windfall, our more important concern is unity. If they are performing Delta flying (my work) then I want them on my list. Lets take a stroll down memory lane, starting with the Captain of this fixed gear, PT6 powered, 90 knot bug smasher.
Retired from Delta in this ... no interview
Can a Falcon 20 biz jet driver handle this?
I'm just stating the historical truth ... in airline mergers the pilots of the merged carriers are usually assumed to be qualified, even if the hiring standards were vastly different. Sure, some pilots have enjoyed a windfall as a result of their incredible good luck. In this business being well prepared is important, but once you are in the seniority system, labor is labor.