Originally Posted by
jethikoki
Sir to you and other mainliners, not meaning to get in a ****in match with you but were you at DAL? I referred to NWA and AA. I remember flying with a furloughed NWA pilot that came to my company. As far as being welcomed I am sure there are plenty of examples good and bad on both sides. I don't understand the bad when we all should be working against the main problem which is management but we spend to much time blaming other pilots. I do think ALPA, APA and pilots at regionals and majors could do a better job for all furloughed pilots.
As far as regionals, they NEVER should have been started unless they were going to be independent. However anyone wants to interpret regionals beginnings and expansion, Pandora's box has been opened. Pilots need to be in more control of their contracts and airlines. It doesn't help to have it farmed or contracted out like it is now. You cannot expect small regionals going up against any major management who is ultimately calling the shots unless they have the help of the major pilots.
I know most majors pilots do not favor a flow or giving out a seniority even if it is to the bottom. A more immediate solution would be for everyone who is contracted to fly for a represented carrier like DAL be allowed into DALPA. Keep your testing and interview as it is for those moving to the major side. (NO EASY WAY IN) Also for all future flying in the case of DAL, be done ONLY by DALPA pilots. All future hiring should be done by DAL like it is now with pilots going to regional or major and those that don't make the jump to the major side will just retire or attrit out.
On the other hand, lets say Richard Branson and other investors go in with Sky West and did a hostile takeover of DAL. Now lets say all current pilots at DAL now must be tested and interviewed before being allowed continued employment. How would you feel?
I'm also not looking for a pi**ing contest, either and I'm glad our exchange has remained respectful. To answer your first question, yes, I am at DAL.
As far as the second question, I'm sure I wouldn't like having to interview for my same job. But I think you're mixing apples and oranges (I'll admit up-front my knowledge of regional carriers is limited). I believe a few regionals had prospective applicants interview with the associated mainline carrier (Compass and NWA comes to mind). If they passed the interview they started at Compass and had flow rights to NWA.
But I don't believe all that many pilots currently at various regional carriers interviewed with NWA or DAL. For example I'm quite certain no pilots at SkyWest had a similar interview route
So why should they get to short-circuit the hiring process at mainline? To continue with the SkyWest example, they have fee for departure contracts at several carriers; Alaska, Delta and United. So does that mean they should get to bypass the interview at any and all of the above?
Interestingly back in the late 1990's both Delta and United were hiring. One would think they'd be looking for similar pilot attributes. But talking with DAL new-hires at the time, many were turned down at United. And I understand from a very good friend at United, many of their pilots were turned down by Delta during the same time period.
I DO think the interview process is worthwhile. It's not a question of having the necessary flying skills... It's also making sure the interviewee is a good match for the corporate culture.
I ***** plenty, but I have great respect for the job Delta has done at recruiting and hiring pilots. In that light I don't want the process that has worked so well to be circumvented.
I'll also admit I am not in favor of any preferential hiring for ALPA members, and the part of our contract that stipulates 35% of newly hired pilots must come from ALPA represented regionals proves the conflict of interest that ALPA national denies so vehemently.