Just exactly like when I conduct an MV or other validation event the purpose of a retrain is not punitive. It is an opportunity to repair a deficiency. A probationary report should be the same.

Now if we’ve hired a guy who is a complete dud. And it happens, then the probationary report process might well lead to a needed dismissal. It should never be based on one bad report and there is a process that takes place before a probey pilot is let go.

Just like at the training center. One bad ride does not equal a firing. It takes a Herculean effort at being bad on the pilots part before they are ever shown the door.

Are you saying that probationary pilots now have formal representation in all CPO offices in the system via ProStan?

That’s been my understanding too, although I may have dated info. I’ve never thought that one negative report would torpedo a career, but several may show a trend that deserves a second look.

As a group why wouldn’t we want to let the probationary year work? I’m thinking about the guy shown the door last year with multiple felony convictions. His probationary year was a doozy, but represent at all cost gave every United pilot a black eye in the end.

Agreed. What’s the purpose of the probationary evaluation by the captain if it’s like an Air Force OPR....all glowing? That said over the course of a trip I’d expect a captain to address issues and not simply write it on the form at the end.

If the Captain was always right, we would not waste union time and money on Pro Standards. Are you telling me every captain out there is within standards on every item? I'd be happy to increase my profit sharing check by no longer requiring MV or LOE's for another captain from the line.

If they aren't all perfect, that probationary pilot report has to be taken with a grain of salt. I'd be happy to just fly a whole trip with one captain that doesn't have his own version of the sop.

I've flown with nervous and paranoid new captains that didn't trust a thing I did. I've also flown with new captains that built a solid crew and made CRM easy.

Start with Pro-standards first. The wrong report in the wrong flight office can ruin a life. If they made it past TK and the LCA's, it could be an example of a bad day with a captain who starts the preflight brief with "I do everything SOP except..."

You can't hold someone to a testing standard when the truth changes daily. The P/I's and LCA's are a bit more standardized than the average captain in our junior bases, who is still ****ed off that they changed the call-outs from what they were before the merger.

Pro-Standards always your FIRST call! :D

Call early and call often!

Yes, call them so you can hear such gems as:

"next time.. you know.. unless your about to get hurt... maybe it would be better to...um... pilot: shut up and color? yea!""=

"SO the cap said you flew a good jet, were professional, and standard, but (blabla playground bull**** blabla)"

Totally eff up what the legal concept of captains authority is. "capts authority totally applies to (something having nothing to do with an airplane)"

Hold different seat positions to different standards of professionalism.



Its not a magic wand of an organization, they have the best intentions but have a fairly strong agenda. They are not your REPS, they shouldn't represent you with the company.

Often they don't have a good frame of reference and only have the ability to try and shame someone into compliance.

They are not integrated with Hims/EAP/training/safety/newhire committee other than passing the ball and I am not aware of any and see no sign of professional conflict management, data driven decisions, human factors or mediation training.

That being said, my sample size is small and collected from ~10ish instances. (I work with new hires, not all me ;) )

I would say call them, just... be prepared to be disappointed.

This is exactly why we need probationary pilot reports. If a guy shows up this incoherent in the cockpit it needs to be documented. I mean seriously, everyone knows the Captain is always right.

Probably only drunk posting cause he’s dealing with one of “those guys”

Just a procedural question....Are probationary pilots considered "members in good standing?" The answer to that question may depend on weather they can use union services. I may be wrong, but I think only dues paying members can have access to committee resources. Any input on that is appreciated.