one thing I noticed was WB captains look like death and seem like they have lost their mind a bit. NB captains even the older ones look much younger and healthier.

I don’t think that it is a matter of losing their mind, it’s that they operate at a different pace. Depending on the base, they are usually used to only working with very senior pilots and flight attendants who just do their job without needing supervision. There just isn’t that much to deal with on most days. Review one set of paperwork, have one briefing, and decide when you want to eat or sleep. The ones who look like the living dead are usually those who eat everything that is offered, drink more than they should, don’t exercise, and don’t get proper rest. I’m hoping that a large number of WB first officers who displaced into NB captain seats decide to stay when things turn around. I’d much rather go back to WB flying than have to upgrade when the pay protections end.

Great and accurate post. WB flying is like working for a different airline.

Also, you get priority on just about everything. I figured this out sitting on the ground in BDL with the guppy engines running ... waiting 49 minutes for release so they could get the international guys overhead past me.

Its a different airline. Worked for me for 19 years. Blessed.

eh I stand by what said. But I’m glad there are guys that like it, and we are at an airline that has a choice.

Just completed the MAX RTS CBTs. Having flown the A-320 and now displaced to the NG, all I can say is I can’t wait to get back to the Bus!! 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

it’s amazing what passes for “training” these days. What a joke. I don’t remember the exact numbers, but the retention rate of information from this low cost type video training is like 20%, and that’s in the short term. Let some time go by and it’s much less than that. But heck, the feds sign off on it so it must be safe!

I was forced to go through 737 transition in September. Since last flying a 737-300-500, I’ve been on the the 777 F/O and instructor, the bus as a captain, 76T as an F/O and instructor, 777 as an instructor, the bus as a captain again and then the yuppie guppy. It’s not like it’s a hard airplane to fly but the engineering and ergonomics are absolute bovine excrement. I kept thinking to myself you’ve got to be kidding me Boeing! This is the best you can do with this antiquated POJ? I was never so happy as when my displacement was canceled and I came back to the bus.

But UAL did pay me to get a 737 type. So that was something I guess because seven type ratings is better six?

The Southwest effect. Back when UAL ran the 737-200 and 737-300 / 500 as separate fleets despite the cost, there was no way that would have ever been a consideration at SWA. Keeping their 300/500s more simplified was the strategy. Right on up to these days with the million dollar per Max penalty on Boeing if simulator training was required. The house of cards finally collapsed.

WTH with the MAX already...
 

Boeing's infamous 737 Max plane has a new issue, and 16 airlines are being told to ground planes (msn.com)
Infamous...you mean notorious.

"Electrical issues" - UAL has approx 16 planes affected right now. Hopefully it's a quick fix...

This appears to be a production QC issue, not a design issue. Nothing new at certain production facilities, but should be an easy fix.