Originally Posted by
Scoop
The problem with DALPA as I see it is not with any particular group of Reps - its the structure. We have many well meaning folks that participate and then become totally enthralled with the FP Loss and the lifestyle, staying in union positions for years if not decades. If I were King for a day I would require all DALPA personnel to return back to the line for as long as they were serving in between DALPA gigs. Serve three years as a Rep - go to the line for the next three years. Serve 18 months in an Admin position - back to the line for 18 months minimum.
Some of these guys simply reek of desperation to avoid line flying and others lose touch with some of the day to day challenges of the Line Pilot. I always said that I wanted the DALPA gig to be good to draw the best folks, but perhaps its so good we have guys who start off with the best intentions and end up sticking in the job for self serving reasons.
Scoop - just my 2 cents
I'd support that. We had some real FPL gems at my old company and theyre here too. The problem is, some of the well meaning types who really excel need a few years at the job to become amazing at it. The thing that always fixed the FPL sniffers was more pilot involvement, more volunteers, more eyes watching these little dickheads milk the union. Word gets around and guys get tossed.
No one likes a mooching freeloader.