Originally Posted by
JamesNoBrakes
Use knowledge and skills. Make the pilots that want these positions apply for them (like every other business). These are not insurmountable tasks. Many simulators can be set up to "score" performance, coupled with objective tests and scenarios. It doesn't require a scored-sim, written test, interview, or anything else specifically....
Of course this works in any other profession...even the military, but the prospect of having to compete for a promotion terrifies airline pilots for some reason. I'm not sure why but someone once determined that 90 percent of pilots believe they are in the top ten percent of ability and skill. If most of them suddenly found out they were wrong....
You are right though that HR departments in large companies are very careful to avoid favoritism so the fear of "good old boy" syndrome is really not an issue. For the most part, even in the absence of a strict seniority system, promotions would still primarily follow date of hire when experience is in the same ballpark.
It's really not so scary to have a free labor market, most other professions in the free world have it.