I can’t believe there’s been 15 pages of arguing over something that we have no power to change.

 

Ok, let us hear a couple, crossing the Atlantic is boring.

 

From my past experience at a WO here’s what I know. The regionals were hiring anyone. These guys were sometimes extremely unpleasant people but the interviews had become a joke. These guys may be great pilots, but even after the flow and their talent, still suck to fly with. Everyone that I know of that was hired outside of the flow did it through their respective recruiting departments.l or unions. They showed interest in their company and helping it, not just collecting a paycheck. And so AA picked them up. Why? Because people like this are great for the company. These people will try to make it a better place and show customers why they should fly for American. The ones in the flow American HAS to take. But this is why other airlines want to see you trying to be there and show involvement and that you genuinely want that airline. Those are the kind who will for the most part promote that brand at any opportunity, and not just show up to collect that paycheck and go home. Not to say all flows don’t care about the company, but the majority don’t and it shows through their lack of effort to do anything other than just flow. In my opinion the flow must go argument has nothing to do with skill or experience, we all have that. But it has more to do with the people you let in and how they will help or what image of the company they will project. I was entirely against the flows before they started and still am. Not just for the lazy guys being rewarded and the end of their regional tenure, but because those who seriously don’t care were given a premier job as well.

 

How long exactly have you been at AA, and which actual airline did you interview with? Just curious, sounds like you were here since at least ‘97 since you said you were against the flow since before it started? Or were you taking about PSAs piggy back flow they sold out for like everything else after the merger?

 

To say most flows don't care about the company is flat out incorrect. Most pilots I know who flowed over DO care about the company and its success and DO work hard to give the passengers the best possible product despite some of the constraints/roadblocks set up by the company.

 

^^^^^this right here.

**Every** flow FO I’ve flown with have been nothing but professional and darn good sticks too. No issues whatsoever. They’re all very glad to be here.

 

One rivaled Delta’s Captain Hollywood for PA’s at zero-dark AM stating at the end, “you’re in good hands ladies and gentlemen...I’m a furloughed American Airlines pilot.”

Another had zero time as a part 121 captain.

Another told me (7 year FO at the time), “you know, all of you Eagle guys should be on the street. We should have all the seats, not just the left ones.” We had several hundred on the street at the time.

Rumor says there was a scuffle in Chicago in or near the crew lounge between a FB and Eagle pilot, but can’t remember the details.

Glad it’s over now. It was a lifetime ago....

 

I’m just telling you what I saw in my years working at the WO. Some were just sloppy and lazy, despite being great pilots. But that was ok to them because they had a guaranteed job waiting on them. My point was that everyone keeps talking about how they have just as much experience as the next, but still aren’t getting picked up and how it’s impossible to get hired outside the flow. Which is not true.

 

Ok let me guess then. PSA? Sounds about right.

 

There was the flowback back in ~2006 who didn't want to wait for the ramp freq to clear him to taxi off of G19, so instead he just spun a hard right off the gate, and wedged his RJ onto a concrete barrier that he didn't notice. A month or so later some genius spray-painted "flushback mountain" onto the barrier. It remained there for over a year before it was painted over.

Overall though the flowbacks were very good to fly with.