Originally Posted by
Wasatch Phantom
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.
Excellent reply and thanks for your candor. Probably right with apples and oranges but then if DAL had the ability to buy out NWA, would all the NWA pilots have to be tested and interviewed at DAL? Probably not, but when a major buys out a regional historically it has not been a very good outcome for the regional pilots in the long run. Do you see any inequity there?
As far as furloughed pilots, why is there so much resentment towards regional pilots? It seems to me regional pilots had nothing to do with any mainline pilot furlough. Fellow mainline pilots however did when they gave up scope which ultimately allowed more mainline pilots getting furloughed in the first place. Without any agreements or flow up or down what could regionals have done for furloughed pilots or was it just easier to direct resentment towards regional pilots then at their fellow mainline pilots?
I did not advocate a "short-circuit" as you say. I said keep it like it is and so for those that go to the mainline have to get the interview and test.