Originally Posted by
planesandhockey
I think it's great there are mentoring groups that help people get involved in aviation. I've needed lots of advice and counsel in my career and I'll continue to rely on people til the day I retire. The more the merrier...
With that said, are job fairs a good idea? It's easy for a single RJ pilot to jumpseat to one, not so easy for a corporate pilot with a family at home.
Our job is a safety sensitive one. Diversity in the cockpit is a noble initiative, however remember all the customer diversity too in the cabin that may be put at risk if the airline didn't chose the safest pilots to put up front.
Everyone we come in contact with has rights. To hire based on anything else but safety and efficiency is a disservice.
Job fairs are always a good idea. You make contacts, you practice your professional interaction, you learn some things about yourself. Sometimes, they directly result in an interview. It did for me.
Airlines don’t choose the "safest" pilots, never have. Just ask hundreds (thousands?) who have failed the Hogan test. They’ve hired their own child, child of a friend, friend of a friend, someone who has the Steve Canyon look (passengers like that), no one over 30 years old, someone who doesn’t wear glasses (until sued under ADA), scabs (to keep the money flowing at all costs, regardless of safety). And, yes, minorities and women. Hopefully though, they always hire "safe" pilots, pilots that are trainable, and pilots whose personalities create the best environment possible for a safe crew operation.