Originally Posted by
Ben Salley
Scott, no violin. You're gonna be WAY senior to me. You should be, but you got hired at 23 (big congrats on that), but not exactly the baseline. Be thankful that you'll never have to learn the CAL system bid process; vacancy bidding is much more realistic.
Yes, I flew as Captain in '08-'09.
-Ben
Almost 22, actually. Got lucky. Believe me, I know. Slam/comment on me all you want (I know you aren't, just making fun, but feel free) I'm comfortable with who I am, where I come from and what I've done while I've been here. FWIW, I came from an airline family, had 3500tt, flew night freight all through college, had no college life, and paid for my college on my own while flying anything, anywhere and pretty much anytime. Not an unusual story. Incredibly lucky. I get it.
That said, the bubbas immediately ahead and behind me were Mil pilots in their early 30's with similar time. Around them were 10k+ hour 30+ year old pilots with a decade or more in the industry. Leverage what you want, just understand that the UAL side isn't lacking in experience in this range of seniority, regardless of what you think of me.
Doesn't change the fact that the CAL proposal places you 400 senior to my group, with around a third the longevity. Glad I never have to see the CAL sys bid process. The vacancy bid process actually works pretty well.
Scott