Aquaticus

The OBAP spring event is much smaller and generally for the regionals and maybe a LCC or two. It has been in Vegas I believe for the past few years. When some of these bigger airlines say they are going to the Vegas event they mean they will have a booth being manned by pilots. It isn't a recruiting event but it is a great networking event. Many of the guys who run the booths are big supporters of OBAP and if you can show that you are a volunteer for the organization there is a good chance they will remember you in August.

The big OBAP event is usually in August and the location moves around. That is the best, bang for your buck event with all the heavy hitters. It is one of the best run events every year and has the smallest lines. If you reserve early it is usually under $200 for all three days.

Thedude

Tell ya what, I am gonna be in re-current next month. I will try to take mental notes of how many non- "white male" pilots I see. Based on the FAA percentages, I should see roughly 5% female.

Does the FAA do statics on race/ethnicity for Commercial and higher?

My last check ride , I was the only white male in the sim. I didn't really think anything about it other than wondering how close both of them were to 65 so I can move up some more.

Yes white males tend to dominate this field and engineering too. Just like women tend to dominate the nurse/ health care worker field. I don't know the exact numbers but you get the idea.

By the way, I am convinced that I was an EEOC higher because of age. I was over 40. The only non-protected class is white males under 40. Hence my comment of white males to the back of the line.

When Kudwa was still the AA CP, didn't he make the statement he wanted to see 25% of the pilots be female. Other industries have the same problem. The try to raise their hiring ratios only to have the females quit a few years later to go raise their family. Then the ratios are back to where they started.

Again, my entire point is there should be one standard and not a sliding scale based on sex, race or ethnic origin.

fishforfun

If it wasn't for the white males paying for the conference they would be held in the La Quinta business center and not the Opryland Hotel. The conference wouldn't even exisit if it wasn't for the white males, so, you're welcome for my dues and conference fees.

SmoothLanderJ

One of the most ridiculous and ignorant statements I've read in a while. You would be dead WRONG about that and it probably shows how many events you've been to. The conference (OBAP, WIA) will, has and would most certainly exist without white males. When nobody was hiring and career fair turnout was low, the OBAP conference was not held in such a place as a La Qunta business center.

fishforfun

I don't get why everyone is so sensitive. Just look at it strictly from a money stand point. If WAI was only attended by women you would have about 80% less funds to pay for the conference. The Opryland this year and Hilton last year would have been pretty empty. That's all I'm saying. Everyone needs to calm down. Preferential hiring exists in this industry, it's just now swinging toward the non white males that it used to be for decades. Thats not an insult, just where the industry has shifted. I'm not mad about it, just have to understand it and move on. Many comments were made this year and last about WAI being the white males conference by briefers at the hiring briefings. Again, nothing to get all up in arms about, just a fact.

fishforfun

And it's WAI, not the WIA. Unless your talking about Women in Agriculture. Shows what you know.

SmoothLanderJ

What I DO know is that I've been an OBAP member and volunteer for more than 10 years. I also worked as a recruiter for my airline at last years conference. So you being butt hurt about minorities and women being called is just you being butt hurt. Don't blame anything on anyone else but yourself. Preferential hiring?? You do realize minorities and women make up just around 5% of Airline pilots, right? I have friends at every shop and one in particular was the only minority in a class off around 30+ at one of the legacies. Hell at my place the classes from OBAP were usually dominated by white males with just a token women or minority here or there. Finally, please trust and belive that there are plenty of white males with "low quals" getting class dates, the ratio hasn't changed.

fishforfun

I'm not butt hurt about it but you sure are. Guys get hired because dad was a pilot, they get hired because they are a girl or minotity. It's a fact of life. It's a bit higher than 5% but that's not the number that matters. The number that matters is the number of applicants versus hired. Since you said you were a recruiter I bet you know that number and prefer not to mention it. If I had to guess I'm thinking non white males make up about 15% of the applicants. As I said before, it's a fact of the industry and I'm fine with it. I say use every advantage you can. It's not me making the hiring decisions so I would never fault an applicant. Again, use every angle you can. You owe nothing to anyone, just don't bullsh1t a bullsh1tter.

SmoothLanderJ

Na, you're just making excuses as to why you aren't being hired. It's you and only you. Stop making excuses because that's all you've got. Everyone hired today is qualified as set forth by the minimums no matter if they are white, black, gay.... You seem to belive that the only reason reason women or minorities are hired is BECAUSE they are a minority group and not qualified. Thats just plain wrong. You need to stop complaining and blaming "the system" as to why you aren't being called, or not. Whatever.

fishforfun

Are you even reading what I'm writing? Are you saying people with less "quals" aren't being hired because of various reasons? Of course it's happening. I'M FINE WITH IT!!!! You just not wanting to admit it happens puts your credibility in question. If you look at what I've written on here you will see that my stance is everyone needs to do something to distinguish themselves. This conversation is the only time I've spent thinking about it. I don't worry about what I can't control.