I haven’t posted here in a long time, I’ve been reading but I’m sick of the animosity toward one another these threads can create so I took a little time off. I’ve also spent my time reading and pushing “Flying the Line” volume one and two on every pilot I’ve come across. I’m not pushing ALPA, just telling others that they need to understand where we came from and the sacrifices of others to gain what we now take for granted. FTL is a great history book written by a none-ALPA history professor. It’s amazing how much of the BS that occurred back in the day, when unions where weak and most were not unionized, actually goes on here. Yes SKW is a good (arguably great) regional but it’s still an airline with an Mgmnt group. Back in the day many airlines ended up on strike for reasons very similar to those that have lead to the termination of several pilots here at SKW. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not often when a pilot is let go here but when it does happen there’s no one to back them up………….NO ONE.

As for the policy, it’s not like you fail an oral and you’re out, you need to fail three major portions usually multiple times (they just have to add up to three), basically it’s a three strike rule. Hell My Sim partner wasn’t good at NDB approaches, after the FAF he ended up almost 30 degrees off course and doing almost 2000 FPM, he passed because he recovered and made an excellent call going around. The second time it was a bit better but still a bust. He did not fail because of his attitude and judgment. Now I’m not going to tell you exactly what happen with TW but he did fail multiple portions. In Tony’s defense they expect us to go from day one of ground to type (on the EMB) in less than 30 days, my class did it in 28. When you’ve never flown the old switch b1tch that’s fast. Especially when you get less than a week of Sims before your sim ride/type ride.

On the same note, we at SKW are “at-will” employees which means that SKW can do almost as they please. I do not feel our “up or out” police is just seeing that our careers are too fragile and since you’ve proven yourself to be a very competent FO you should be allowed to return to that position with a seatlock and at least one more opportunity. Dave Behncke would roll over in his grave if he saw what goes on here at SKW with absolutely no response from the pilot group. It truly baffles me why we turn a blind eye to the suffereng of the few for our own selfish gain. I can honestly say that, although I like SKW, I look forward to moving on to DAL, SWA, UPS, FedEx or Net jets one day for many many reasons, one being unionized job insurance and the ability to back my fellow pilot without the fear of losing my job.

I do, in the back of my mind, fear spending the rest of my career with an airline that doesn’t value their employee’s futures. Although they say they do, this “up or out” policy *(as well as many others) show otherwise. Our careers are fragile and when we lose our job for a BS reason, we either have to change careers or go overseas, which is exactly where TW (to my knowledge) is headed. Good luck TW.

BTW, ALPA has a history of defending pilots even if they (ALPA) feel they should have been terminated. That’s what you get with your measly 1.95%.

Forget all the political crap, at-will is far more dangerous than being unionization.

Ps. Forgive the rambling and mistakes, it’s late and I’m exhausted. I’m sure I’ll end up editing this posting tomorrow.