Sent you a PM

 

Welcome to the fray~
Enlisted USAF and also an A&P so I (and others who have similar backgrounds) will tell you that while it's not easy, just keep your eyes on the prize and have (some) fun while doing it!
Sounds like you already set an achievable goal and there will be more people out there willing to help you get it verse the few distractors. Just keep doing what you're doing and when/if you need it, feel free to reach out.

Best wishes and think about keeping a journal and someday publishing it to the crowd, if not just for your kids~
See you on the line in the future-

Always
Motch
FS, FP & FtC

 

Hey Motch,
you forgot BMW engine idle test engineer
in your signature line.

 

You have a few months to read "Flying the Line". I would highly recommend it.

 

really? Right before he is about to start studying like crazy, instead of reading the private pilot handbook, FARs, aviation weather, or any of the numerous books that would be helpful to him for what he is about to get into, you recommend “Flying the Line?”. I agree it’s a great read, but maybe one for when he gets hired for his 2 year regional stint.

 

Yes. Because the Aviate program has a large amount of corporate indoctrination per Kirby’s own public statements. He needs to know his history, and be aware of the tactics management uses from day one. Aviate is management’s own “core 4” robot farm, with allegiance to United, NOT the airline profession. I’d definitely encourage him to add FLT 1 and 2, and also “Of wooden wings”. It’s roughly 30 pages, and can be google searched, but is a must read for all United pilots, or potential United pilots.

On a lighter note, congrats to you, and welcome to the party!

 

Newhires have no clue about the history of the profession. Completely naive and ignorant, and most don't care. 2-3 years and your at united...few of them said they worked really hard..i get it. but no clue...kids.

 

exactly. This is a topic of conversation amongst some ALPA guys..

 

It should be required reading from day 1. Both volumes.

 

We have all been exposed to large quantities of corporate Kool-Aid. The difference in us and people coming out of the academy is that our exposure was over a long period and we had time to develop filters after being exposed to all of the ups and downs in this industry. These people coming out of the academy are going to get a huge dose and due to having zero experience, they won’t have any filters in place. They will be far more likely to believe what they were taught and think that it is the norm. Knowing the history of how we got here is especially important to those who will think that graduating a flight school, flying 2000 hours at a regional, and then getting on with a legacy is the norm. Without it they will be in for a rude awakening when they hit the line. It will be like a bunch of evangelical preachers walking into an atheist convention.

To the OP, congratulations. You already have a good systems knowledge base to build on, and you have been around long enough to take anything from the company with a grain of salt. You already have union experience. You will be an ALPA member in very little time, so I encourage you to learn our history. It’s a good read.