Originally Posted by Dave Fitzgerald

You may be misinformed. The flight test group may fly under our contract, but they do not have seniority positions, and are not allowed to fly in revenue service, or even a generic ferry. They are a totally separate group. If UAL is furloughing, it may or may not affect the flight test group.

Yes, they are legitimate pilots, most with formal flight test school experience, and multiple higher degrees. They have to live in the bay area, and can't commute to a flight test job. Cost of living....