Originally Posted by
Scott Stoops
Generalize and stereotype much? Clearly you've had a bad experience (or a hundred?) with a former intern. Fine. I absolutely understand that (especially early in the program) there were interns that were hired either too young or with too low of experience that were lousy to fly with and were undeserved of the opportunities given them. That said, I believe your condemnation of an entire group of individuals as having as you put it "no business" being a part of this is patently absurd and frankly makes you look like an ass.
Scott, I agree with you about Probe's comments regarding interns, but short of listening to a scab complain about the union of contract, listening to someone who grabbed the "golden ticket" and was hired in their early to mid 20s complain, when most of us were busting our butts doing something so much harder than flying for a major, gets old pretty fast as well. Not saying you fit that profile, but understand where Probe might be coming from.
I got hired just shy of my 22nd birthday, and I was an intern. Does that mean that I have no business being here? What had you done at that point in your life? I had just shy of 3000 hours, a college degree, had my ATP letter of competency since I was 19, had been flying 40-100 hours per month since the day after I turned 18, paid for my flying and most of college myself (my Dad, a '90 hired former Frontier yet junior United pilot that started over after 7 furloughs, a shutdown and a company bankruptcy was in no position to help.) I was flying and teaching competitive aerobatics on the side, flying checks when not at school and skydivers on the weekend in turbine equipment. What were you doing when you were 18-19?
I'd tread lightly here, Scott, if I were you. I say with sincerity your accomplishments, drive and focus are remarkable. However, you're dismissing those who didn't get hired when you got the job as being unworthy. Most were in their 30s or older and had "been there, done that" in a way a 22 year old, no matter how accomplished couldn't. Would I have hired Scott Stoops at 25... little doubt in my mind, yes. At 22, I think it's tough to justify.
I saw an opportunity and I took it.
I certainly don't fault you there. In some way shape, or form, almost all of us got this job through our connections.
Clinton had shut down the military.
It actually began under Bush 41 and while significantly more competitive than in most of the 80s, military training wasn't "shut down."
Awarded the 2007 ALPA Superior Airmanship Award for an event as a Captain in 06.
Well deserved!
Many, if not most of the interns hired since 95 have spent plenty of time at the regionals to deserve a crapload more than the angst that you're serving up. You took advantage of the opportunities available, so did they.
Agree with you there, but never forget the amount of luck involved in this profession and when someone gets hired out of what would be expected to be the normal order, someone else gets delayed or isn't hired at all.