I think he may have confused it with my saying that flow-type programs are trash, but that wasn’t a comment directed at AA WOs but rather a general comment that I believe applies equally to Aviate, DGI, and whatever Alaska has going with Horizon. The purpose of these programs is to staff the regional, not the major.

The major can pretty much hire all the quality people they want OTS and what most of them would really prefer is military fixed wing pilots who have separated after their ADSC is up (10 years for UPT), are still in the Reserves (although that may change with the USERRA CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS) or are retired after 20+ years. And that isn’t because any of these guys/gals are more of a ‘hot stick’ than anyone that came through the regional route, but rather they are getting someone who is a known quantity, oftentimes already with a pension or military healthcare benefits, who is not particularly union oriented, and who is old enough that they will not spend an inordinate amount of their remaining career at the top of the pay scale or getting maximum vacation time.

So yeah, I have been extremely critical of programs that claim to be a pathway from a regional - wholly owned or merely affiliated - to a major that then chokes that flow down maximally to keep the regional staffed. And we’ve all seen that happen. And my recommendation has been universally - not picking on AA, that regional pilots ought to keep their apps current, their resumes up to date, and aggressively pursue any major they would be willing to work for since they are pretty much ALL better than ANY regional. Basically, the older they are when you hire them the cheaper the unit cost.

Clearly, some people are so emotionally invested in their DGI/Aviate/flow/Horizon Pathways Program they don’t believe that or are offended I voice such an opinion. More fool them. You can lead a horse to water....etc.