Originally Posted by
YAKflyer
I was hired by Delta back in 1976. I sent in my first application in 1970 on my way to Vietnam. In 1970 I was not competitive, but just three years earlier ('67) I would have been. When I graduated from HS in '67 no college was needed and if you had your Commercial & Instrument as well as your military obligation satisfied you were golden. Well I furiously worked on my ratings to the detriment of my college schooling and was expelled. No problem since I was going to be an airline pilot....except Sam had a different idea and I ended up in helicopter flight school and an all expenses paid trip to Vietnam.
Well it was 1975 before I finally received my BS and was a viable applicant. Delta had not hired since 1973 and would not before October of '76 which is the class I was fortunate enough to be selected for. The whole time between that first application and when I interviewed updated my application quarterly (typically sent to the VP Flt OPS....Snake). They used the first application as a cover jacket for all the updates and by the time I got to the interview it was between 3 & 4 inches thick. They got it out and it kind of spilled out on the desk and the interviewer said "wow you sure have been persistent". I was 27 years old and started on 10/18/76.
On a different subject I've been reading your posts in various threads about retirement restoration in the current negotiations. Since I only receive $300 per month instead of the $8K I should be getting I want you to know you have a cheerleader cheering enthusiastically for your efforts from the outside.
Thanks for your support, and for your service in 'Nam.
You know if it were up to me, the company would have to take our DB plan back from the PBGC and pay you, me, and every other Delta pilot who lost Millions, our full 60% FAE again, BEFORE the company pizz's away any more Billions on stock buy backs! How that is even legal is beyond me.
Oh, and I got to meet Snake, one on one, my very first day at Delta. We all showed up for day 1 class just prior to 0800. Some guy comes into our class, calling out my name. I said, "That's me." He said, "Grab your stuff, come with me."
I'm thinking...hmm...this can't be good. "Where are we going?"
"Captain Smith wants to talk to you."
(oh phuck...what have I done? I just got here!)
We go out into the parking lot, get into his car, drive across the street to the big red brick building. He walks me up to Snake's office, I'm greeted by his secretary, she says, "Go on in, have a seat, Captain Smith will be along in a few minutes."
I go into his office, sit in the chair, wait.... In walks Snake, I jump to attention, we shake hands, he say, "Have a seat. You know, I don't do any interviewing any more, so I like to see the type of people we are hiring these days, why don't you tell me about yourself."
Me, "Where do you want me to start?"
Him, "Anywhere you want."
So I start with my first ride in my dad's J3 when I was 8, up through all my 135 flying jobs, then joining the Air Guard, UPT, KC135's, more part 135, and I had just left right seat on a DC 9 flying boxes for Orion. (Purolator Currier contract).
He asks, "How did you like flying for Orion?"
I said, "It was great, they treated me well and the pay was good, and if I stayed there a little longer, I'd make Captain."
He said, "Why don't you tell me about the way you LEFT Orion?"
I had quit Orion, on a BOS layover, exactly 48 hours ago. Apparently the Chief Pilot had called Delta to tell them what a douchebag I was, quitting with zero notice, on a layover.
So....I explained how I would have loved have given them 2 weeks notice, but, "...you guys only gave me 48 hours notice to be here today. THIS is where I've always wanted to work, and all my airline mentors at the Guard told me, 'Don't EVER give up a class date! It could be the difference between making copilot, or captain, for YEARS!' so I called Orion as soon as I got off the phone with Dana (the gal from DL who called me Weds morning at 8) and I knew they had another copilot on reserve, in Indy (their hub) because I had just seen him there Tuesday night, and I called the Captain to let him know I wasn't coming that night, and I know they flew that F/O to BOS that morning and that plane left BOS on time that night."
He just smiled, stood up, (as did I) reached across his desk, shook my hand and said, "Well, I think you are going to have a fine career here at Delta Air Lines, now, get on back to class."
I could hardly walk, my knees were still shaking. I got on back to class, knowing I was now officially walking on egg shells for at least the next 12 months! (double secret probation).
Four weeks later, at the end of our 727 Engineer ground school, Snake comes to congratulate our class. I'm second youngest (26) so I'm sitting in the far back row, keeping my head down, maybe he won't remember me? It's been a month and maybe his memory and eyesight's not that good...
Snake walks to the front of the classroom, turns around, addresses the class, "Hi gentlemen, I'm Snake Smith, Vice President of Flight Operations, Tim and I have already met."
Yup, walking on eggshells!
