Originally Posted by
Outsider
I figured I'd better ask this pretty soon because before long there won't be many who could answer it.
Back in the later 60's I was a new CFI and of course we were always trying to figure out what hiring was going on at the airlines.
But of course there was no internet and info was very difficult to come by.
There was a story about TWA during at least part of the time that it was being run by Howard Hughes.
It went like this; you hired on as an FE (as usual) then if and when you put in about 2 years (don't remember the exact amount but it was very short especially when compared to Pan Am which around this time it was typical to sit sideways for 7-9 yrs) and kept your nose clean you could take the oral and practical to become a FO. If you passed you were an FO, if you failed you were out, like out of the company. Same went for the move from right to left seat. Consequently there were some of the youngest Captains and oldest FE's in the airlines.
Does any body know if there is or was any truth or partial truth to this story. I've always been curious.
The best person to ask is Barry Schiff in which was a long time TWA pilot beginning in the early 60's from a civilian background. I had the opportunity to meet him while in high school in the mid 70's. My instructor for the private pilot ground was a TWA flight engineer on the 727 at the time, he was hired in 69 from a military background. Pan Am had about 4 or 5 positions in their cockpits in which carried over from the piston days. The piston airliners required a PFE with a A&P because of the unreliable operation of piston equipment. Many of the airlines training programs were long and thorough compared to todays short and learn on the road. 8 to 12 or 13 weeks worth.
It is also worth noting many airline personnel from the 60's and 70s were allowed to move into pilot positions from ground positions. I know a few, TWA wasn't exclusive!