blizzue

I get the feeling you’re upset and I want to be sure you’re upset with management and not a fellow line pilot. I am an ALPA volunteer that volunteered to be a part of Aviate because I enjoy being a mentor. That comes from my life experience of not having a mentor when I needed one and if I can help someone else avoid my mistakes, I consider that a success.

The company asked us a while ago whether or not we as a group of volunteers thought the company should move forward with connecting us with these Aviate pilots. I don’t know what most said but I thought it would be better to connect now, even in the face of uncertainty, than to not.

At least I can connect with these pilots now and tell them what’s happening and they can hear it from me rather than the flight attendant or the van driver.

I can’t tell you what other people are doing, only what I’m doing. I’ve told them about the displacement, the drop in revenue, and the possibility of furlough. I’ve got nothing sell and nothing to spin. My goal is to make sure they have facts and that they don’t make rash decisions.

Thor

I’m not mad, I am trying to understand why Aviate is still even a thing. The company claims to have killed all CAPEX, is asking for givebacks, and is preparing for furloughs. But somehow it has the funding to operate a flight school? Why?

You say you’re an ALPA volunteer (for the Aviate committee?) but also say that Aviate is a 100% company effort. I’m sorry but something here doesn’t add up.

Fast forward to later this summer when ALPA is being pressed for concessions and the company is still operating a flight school. How’s that gonna play?

SONORA PASS

Blizzue,

Thanks for being an ALPA volunteer and stepping up to be a mentor with the Aviate program. Positive guidance and long term perspective are more important now than ever for those starting this career path; hopefully the rest of the program mentors are doing the same.

Our profession is challenging in more ways than one, and understanding how to face challenges is an important skill to develop. We are not defined by our circumstances, but rather how we handle them.

Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.

SP

blizzue

Ask the company.

I meant that I’m an ALPA volunteer that was asked if I wanted to be part of Aviate, and I said yes.

Ask the company.

The stillest

Recruiting new talent is a monumental task for most, if not all businesses. Especially at the highest levels at which we operate. Clearly not many can get to this level of the flying game.

while we may not need pilots “today”, “tomorrow” always comes and every employee on the roster should be looking for cover the day we find out that our company has stopped looking for ways to cultivate or otherwise find new hires for all departments

Thor

No problem, I’ll remember that when I’m asked for concessions. The company is spending money now to cultivate “talent” at the expense of employees currently on the property and they want me to pay for that? F that.

JUNEBUG82

We don’t know that the company is currently spending anything on Aviate. All activities that would involve substantial investment, such as interviews, have been suspended. It doesn’t cost anything to keep a website up and allow the Mentor volunteers to communicate with the Aviate members. And keeping the Aviate hires engaged seems to be a prudent thing to do given that resources have already been invested in establishing the Aviate program and interviewing the candidates. The company has a lot invested in the program and those who have been given job offers, and throwing that away would be irresponsible since they have put the program on hold and can continue to maintain its current assets at essentially no cost.


Disclaimer: to look at this objectively it is recommended that one be in a non emotional state and think rationally.

gollum

did you stop to think that maybe the flight school is actually generating revenue?

Thor

Aside from purchasing a flight school?


from the UAL investor relations page.

Thor

since it’s a business unit of UAL Corp, I guess we’ll see on the next earnings report.