Quote:
Originally Posted by deltajuliet
I have a genuine question for you, and I'm not trying to be critical, I only want to understand. And Bzzt, you can weigh in too if you'd like.
Why didn't you go to a major in the 90's?
Genuine question, I am happy to answer;
Simply put, I tried. It seems things are very different now. Civilian pilots seem to get hired much easier than back then in the 1990's. It did happen, but it didn't happen as it does today.
I didn't/don't have any violations, have a 4 year degree. And I interviewed at them all, including AA(at my AA interview there was only one other civilian out of 20 people, an unemployed Pan Am pilot)UA, NW, etc. Remember, the Cold War was over in the '90s and the military was drastically downsizing, dumping thousands of military trained pilots on the job market. It sounds politically incorrect to even say it, but unless you were a military pilot, a white male was not in demand with the majors. Also, I developed medical issues that while legal to fly would/may have disqualify me at the "astronaut physical" phase that also seems less common today.
I was bitter for a while. Especially when I watched several female pilots, including former students of mine when I was a flight instructor, get hired into United, and are now captains. But I am over that now. It is what it is, and I would have taken advantage of any advantage I could have.
Today I still like flying airplanes. I don't have to fly a bigger airplane.
But I got into this career thinking I was going to retire at 60. The schedules, check rides, time away from home are starting to wear on me even at my seniority, and whenever this ride is over I won't ever look back.