Flight Manager
 

I was hoping someone could shed some light on life as a flight manager. I know you have to stay current, but how much do you really fly? How much time do you typically spend in the office? What do office days pay? Does the junior flight manager work the holidays in the office? The weekends? Thanks in advance.

Strange question!

In reality one does not apply to be a Flight Manager and if you are a UAL pilot you would know that.

Actually you do. You have to be a united pilot. It's an office job that you apply and interview for. You can work four 10s or three 12s. It pays 95 hours at whatever equipment rate you could hold system wide. You have to fly something like 3 days a month. As far as who works what days, not sure. Seems like a decent deal if you live close to the domicile and like working in the office.

If you are applying and don't know which "candidate" (cough) has the inside track.....it's not you.

I won't say I disagree with that.....

The one with fewer sick calls?

Exactly! He get's it.


Triumph, really!

Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves.

They have condensed 4 day schedules when I asked one of our old DCA FMs and get paid like 85 hours or so... and they fly one trip a month (FBO a pilot's line). Like the guys said above... you might have to submit an online app to get hired officially but all the real hiring is behind the scenes. If interested You need to volunteer for special assignments and become one of the good ole boys... then you "apply" when the incumbent good ole boy leaves for another job. I'd go the ALPA route if you really want to help and get involved with "management"...

Triumph, thanks for the response. Regularguy, FYI, you officially need to apply for the job. The instructions are in the ccs message.

I am familiar with office politics and playing favorites. I was just trying to get an idea of the risk is worth the reward.

RJgod

Just so you know back in the day I was in "management" and know the full routine. So unless you get asked and are in the know you will not get hired no matter how you applied.

Yes you "have" to fill out the official application, but rarely is there a surprise person in the office. They have already been vetted via special assignments and other work, including ALPA volunteer . You'd know that if you worked for UAL. So I'd say you have very little risk or threats.

Press on!

PS. It really isn't politics or favoritism (well mostly not). It's bringing men and women that are known and can be trusted with the "keys. "

If you actually work for UAL volunteer in your local ALPA council and get known for your quality work and support of your fellow pilots. It's not about improving you lifestyle.

Doing personnel management in most industries, you spend 90% of your time dealing with the bottom 10%. But at least you get to spend some time with the good folks. Thank keeps you sane.

Working in the flight office of an airline, are going to spend 99.9% of your time, mostly dealing with the same problem children, over and over.

I have done management in other places. For me, being a flight office puke would be bad for my attitude. I will rather just fly my line, go home, and beat up on Staller on APC.

Concur. Although now, working with newhires is rewarding. You're paid 90 hours per month and are able to displace pilots in order to maintain currency. The other facts mentioned above are basically true.

I'm not sure where your skepticism wrt me being ual is coming from. Anyhow, there seems to be openings for said position advertised on a somewhat regular basis in my domicile. A while back a flight manager suggested the idea to me. Now that I drive to work I figured I'd explore the idea. But thanks for trying keep this somewhat new guy in place ;)

I've been front line management in the past (non aviation) and had to deal with said percentage of people.

I'm not sure I'm a strict office guy either. I would hope my unique personality would rub off :D

Think about it Probe - You think more about Staller than he does about you - does that mean you have a male crush for Staller or something?

It's sad that there is still such an obsession with said former user. That was what 2-3 years ago now?

Agree - Somehow it emboldens Probe. Low self-esteem maybe.

re·cid·i·vist
rəˈsidəvəst/
noun
noun: recidivist; plural noun: recidivists

1. 1.
   a convicted criminal who reoffends, especially repeatedly.
   
   
   
   

adjective

Regardless of this guys history, it just blows my mind to see guys are still so hung up on what some anonymous internet low life is up to.

He does have his problems with story telling/making stuff up but I don't think we should call him a low life.

It's ok if it's used in an endearing "brotherly love" kinda way!

is it usually senior FOs that do this? What about Sim instructors is that a senior FO job typically?

It depends on the job description. Flight managers are typically Capt in the domicile. There are FO's in the office, they essentially do the same job, with less pay, different title. Chief pilot and assist Chief pilot? They are the sheriff in town. Think SFO. Usually an upper management suck up.

TK, Standards capts are Capts. Usually all the hard working instructors are FO's. Also depends on the time of the year, phase of the moon, and how good the skiing is as to what they are called.

In order of priority

1. Diversity
2. Relationships
3. Sick calls
4. Airmanship/judgement/knowledge
5. Professionalism
6. Rapport with crew members

It's an "HR" box checking exercise and friend of a friend thing.

But at UAL I think we have allot of good folks. I think managers tend to spend too much time explaining policies, policy changes, and figuring out what your boss is trying to say. Way too much time on BS.

Yep, a few problem folks, but not too bad.

Riddle me this, What is Ray ever talking about? I no comprend-o.

It's like a Mexican radeeee-o.

From what I understand the Asst Chief Pilots deal with Captains and FMs deal with FOs...

Dave thanks for the info. I don't even were a United uniform yet so it is quite interesting but not really relevant.....yet....

I think anyone interested should apply. I have no idea if it's a good ol boy network or not. Even if it is, those get shook up every once and a while too. Here's why...

You have Arnold who is dating Betty and she was a nasty lady to a pilot. The pilot complained to Chuck, Arnolds supervisor, who is friends with Arnold but is sick of Betty's problems. Arnold covered for Betty and now Chuck is covering for both becuase he ows Arnold one from Burning Man. Now a position is open and Arnold is recommending this cool dude he knows from his glory days. Chuck has is own guy too. Now chuck doesn't want to look like he's retaliating at Arnold because that could blow their cover, or it might strain an already tense relationship. Chuck also doesn't want to deal with more crapola from Arnold and kin either. So he logs in to the resume system and looks for a guy that might give a hoot. Chuck just wants a person who wont screw up, who meets diversity constraints if there are any, and if she's single then that's a bonus.

Always apply. When you assume a GOB network then you should also assume that internal politics are very weird. You may have a chance.

Itching to become a Flight Manager is not my idea of a fun time - to each their own - lol

First is your moniker, RJDio or RJGod. UAL flys big jets, not RJs. They contract out that flying to others.
Second is the question shows a huge lack of common knowledge about the office at UAL.
Third your question indicates you aren't in the know group and if you are a UAL pilot the CCS page links to a page with all the data and requirements for the position.
PS. We officially changed the name "base" and did away with "domicile" in the merger.
Finally these are not private blogs and anyone can post their opinion about what it means to be an airline pilot.

Yes I'm skeptical of bloggers.

Also there's been a subtle change in the office. As someone pointed out Flight Managers these days are normally F/Os and the Assistant Chief Pilots are Captains. But I will say I've gotten better service and help from the Flight Managers when I have a problem or question than the ACPs.

You don't rock, and I suspect you never will.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...e3f88ec5e8.jpg

Thank you! How one get's so tightly wound up like that is beyond me...

I can see reading comprehension isn't your strong suit. If you read my original post I wasn't asking what the requirements are to be a flight manager. I can/did look those up.
I'm an FO/copilot (I'll use both since you seem sensitive to my diction) and asked about life as a flight manager not an acp. Yes I know we fly big jets and outsource little jets. I'm not sure if you're proud of that or not but that's a debate for another day.

Anyhow thanks for your contributions. I'll get off your lawn now.

Saw him in '85 at Reunion Arena. Sacred Heart tour. INCREDIBLE. Ears were ringing for days. :D

RJDio

darn you for going on a pilot forum and asking for some info. just darn you !!

if you follow about a dozen of the regulars on here you'll see that reading is not their strong suit. or logical thought.

i always think these dozen or so are all like those pilots you fly with and just roll your eyes as they talk and later avoid on the layover. you know the type

oddly (maybe not) they are overrepresented on online forums

Awesome! I saw him with Ritchie Blackmore in the late 70's. My ears are still ringing but I'll keep blaming it on jet engines. Those dudes rock!

You guys don't mind if I hijack this thread and turn it into a discussion about Spinal Tap though? Here's RJDio doing his best Nigel Tuffnel impression:

RJO
https://youtu.be/0AIh_-F1mcc?t=1m23s

Spinal Tap
https://youtu.be/g7-5io1muSQ

Or is it the other way 'round?

Good show! Love me some Spinal Tap

That's awesome. I was lucky enough to catch him in his later years a few times with sabbath. Most singers later in life have a hard time hitting those high notes and have to drop the songs a key or so. It usually ends up sounding not quite right. In Dio/Sabbath's case, it just made them sound heavier. Luckily my ears never rang after a heaven and hell show. It was only after the Motörhead shows that would happen :D

Speaking of spinal tap, we (my new hire class) had our spinal tap moment at TK. One evening we got lost and we're aimlessly walking around up and down stairs, down hallways, trying to find an exit.

Some guys are a bit predictable. I didn't think I asked a polarizing question. But I guess anything can be perceived as a micro aggression. Luckily 95% if the guys I've flown with have been pretty cool.