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-   -   Larry Kellner of CAL stepping down.... (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/major/42040-larry-kellner-cal-stepping-down.html)

Shrek 07-17-2009 06:59 AM


Originally Posted by contrail67 (Post 646101)
Thought Tilton would be first....guess not.

Nope - we WISHED Tilton would be first !! ;)

Pharo351 07-17-2009 07:06 AM


Originally Posted by Captain Bligh (Post 646290)
The post was tongue in cheek... intending to prick the conscience of pilots to be more proactive and involved in labor organization and political action. We can call ERAU the "Harvard of aviation", just like we can call my experience in high school shop class the "Julliard of wood shop 101". These guys really did go to Harvard AND they excelled there. They network with capable business associates and academic contacts simply because of credentials. 20 years after graduation they are still being courted by their universities for awards ceremonies. They "Networked" long before the term networking was a household name more commonly associated with myspace than with business advancement.

Am I singing their praises? Not in so many words. If however you earn a living in the cockpit, never underestimate the people that revolve through the CEO track. They have effectively reduced us to technicians and intentionally distanced themselves from us and distanced us from any managerial capacity. Only one thing will swing this pendulum the other way - iron clad and galvanized unity. Industry wide "These people" have done well in helping to destroy that as well.

Well said Captain Bligh. It is a mistake to underestimate the management types Harvard coins. Airlines in the 20's and 40's were built by pilots and managed by pilots. Unfortunatly today we have lost the way as airlines are built on the backs of pilots and managed by hotel managers.

IMHO Gordon just had personality as a CEO where as Kellner had none. Gordon's largest contribution at CAL seemed to be his desire to give all the 737 flying to Coex/XJT I'll never forget Gordon saying quote "The pilots are just like children, and you don't let children build your house."

robthree 07-17-2009 08:58 AM


Originally Posted by Pharo351 (Post 646309)
IMHO Gordon just had personality as a CEO where as Kellner had none.

The biggest difference wasn't Gordon's personality. Gordo was a builder - that's why his tenure at CAL was one of the best times in the airlines history. He tore the rotten parts out (A300-POS!), and carefully built it back up. Yeah the EMB fleet went from 0 to 3 million, but the 737 and WB fleets grew too.

Larry just squeezes more juice out of the fruit. He hasn't added a dime of value to the airline.

757Driver 07-17-2009 04:06 PM


Originally Posted by robthree (Post 646361)
The biggest difference wasn't Gordon's personality. Gordo was a builder - that's why his tenure at CAL was one of the best times in the airlines history. He tore the rotten parts out (A300-POS!), and carefully built it back up. Yeah the EMB fleet went from 0 to 3 million, but the 737 and WB fleets grew too.

Larry just squeezes more juice out of the fruit. He hasn't added a dime of value to the airline.

Completely wrong.

When we did have the A-300, we had, (percentage wise WB/NB), more widebodies than ever. Our widebody to narrowbody fleet ratio is an embarrassment and the only major carrier that has a worse percentage is UsAir.


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