As we all know the weekend candy striper/soup kitchen volunteer/death row motivational speaker renders the most qualified pilot. The reshaping continues.

Functional? Suffice to say the best is done under the footprint allotted.

Are you implying they’re passing people who don’t meet the FAA standards to pass? That’s a pretty serious allegation.

That’s what you read into it? You’re quite imaginative.

Spell it out for us then, what exactly did you mean by your comment?

Your “functional” description is not a full throated endorsement. The FAA approves the footprint and an admirable job is done under those guidelines.

My point is that the faux outrage over the hiring of low time pilots with good attitudes, demeanors, and backgrounds is moot at any airline with a functional training department. 1500 hours, 10k hours, they either meet the standard during their checkride or they don’t. If the training department is functional, it doesn’t matter if they’re low time or high time.

It’s sour grapes from people that somehow think there’s a measurable, quantifiable difference in value to the company between a pilot who flies within standards and a pilot who flies slightly better than that. Or that they’re owed a job simply because they’ve been doing it a long time. Furthermore, I’ve seen plenty of “high time” pilots at other airlines that only made it that far by PFL. Pilots that I wouldn’t trust with my life on a dark and stormy night. I’ve also seen plenty of low time ones that have already shown excellent airmanship and decision making a year or two into their careers that I’d happily ride along with on a V1 cut.

We have an excellent training department, which is why I’m not concerned at all that they’re hiring chipper, eager to learn 2000 hour pilots and leaving the 15k “United owes me a job because I flew for express a long time” bitter ones to spread their great personalities at other carriers.

You’re making some wide ranging assumptions. Under the current climate I’m not surprised. Furtherance of this debate would not be for public consumption.

Sounds like a key is ability to play nice, be professional, and willing to do extra things are the secret sauce?

How much TT time does United want?
 

You’re painting a very clear picture, if unwittingly. Got it—a civil discussion of ideas based on actual facts isn’t something in which you’ll engage in public. Got it…

For my part, seems like they’re hiring people who are qualified pilots AND have some other points on the board. It’s no longer enough to just point at one’s credentials and expect to be hired. Sounds like progress to me, frankly. I’d prefer to work with interesting, thoughtful people who can have a pleasant discussion even if we disagree than someone who can’t share what they *really* think in public.