That's correct, astronaut wings, a master's degree, running a full time charity. This is how it has worked since the beginning of time. They will set the bar as high as they can then slowly lower it as needed to fill classes.

It stinks because the next ten years looked so good six months ago but here we are. A decade ago I had F-18 drivers pulling gear for me for $21 / hour. At least this time they will get $38.

What a glorious career.

 

Space Shuttle was on the AA app at one time.

 

fedex has a millenium falcon on their app

 

All those are discriminators are in place to narrow the process. Not really necessary to fly an airplane but if everyone with a pilot's license applied then it would be impossible to go through that many applicants. SO - "requirements" are posted. Then to make it even easier those with recommendations are considered. Thinking here - if someone takes the time to vouch for another in written form then there must be some value over and above the "requirements" that justify priority hiring.
Now if your a notorious pest then the recommendation practice could work in reverse.
The advantage of the job fair goes something like this: first impressions are powerful. The biases are in place to make or break an applicant. A better process in the job fair model would allow for screening initial screening by an HR rep who could provide notes or ck boxes to be considered by a final board not made up of the screeners.
The good old boy system will always be a factor and "Guard" buddies will almost certainly get the jobs.
In conclusion - don't let these arbitrary discriminators lessen your sense of value or self worth. The hoops are not a true measure of what makes a capable pilot or person. One could argue that today most higher education provides more brainwashing than training - a position I have come to appreciate.

 

I watched a briefing by UA and they are actually projecting the next pilot shortage to be worse than the last one. This gives them an opportunity to stock up on pilot in their aviate program To soften the blow. They just don’t know when it’ll come back, but they fully expect a “when” not “if” scenario with pilot hiring in the next 10 years. This gives me a little bit oh hope.

 

So the challenge is to just not starve in the meantime. Great. I realize United did not cause the coronavirus, but what they have done competing regionals against each other Is old school 1990s United terrible. They say it’s to save money, but I call BS on that there are other regionals flying for United whose pilots are paid better than EV yet due to being a independent company there is no mention of them getting the axe. From what I understand, the timeline of this entire event tells me that United had already made up their mind when they Announced the EV vs C5 Thunderdome. They didn’t even give management and ALPA time to react. And I have heard absolutely nothing from the C5 ALPA MEC. Thanks for standing up for your union brothers.

 

If you think that UA orchestrated all of this in the last month, you really need to look at the history of airlines a little better. I am willing to bet the 175 transfer was one of the first pieces of the puzzle to be shown if it wasn't Mister wind down becoming your CEO before that. I am sure your upper management knew about it long ago.

 

I'm pleased United management is introspective enough to realize the endless supply of suckers willing to sign up for this abuse for a small chance of a decent payoff at the end might dry up someday.

The handling of the EV wind down has been shameful. It does stretch the bounds of credulity that the outcome wasn't preordained. United has been nearly mum about it publicly. I still expect them to drop another 'partner' in the near future but hopefully they will figure out how to do it with a little more class. I think blaming C5 or ALPA is understandable anger but misplaced.

Baring a 'dark ages' civilizational collapse past experience does suggest it will recover eventually but it will be a long, hard road for those left without a seat and yet another heartbreaking diminution of career earning potential for almost all. These issues aren't unique to the pilot profession but the amplitude of these boom-bust cycles does seem to be increasing.

 

So who has applied for the amazing opportunity at C5?

 

You taken a peek at the job market lately? Luckily, the ACMI world will be happy to take a bunch of XJT guys....but I won’t be a bit surprised to find a bunch of IAH based Major pilots who find themselves swinging gear on a 145 soon......