Is this just the usual FOM review/re-indoc/be-our-manager (like it is at CAL) or is it something else that discusses CRM, crew dynamics, leadership, etc? All meals provided? In a hotel? Special guest speaker? Nice, although they do stock our vending machine with energy bars.

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January 10, 2013

Welcome Captain!

You are scheduled to attend “Flying The Line”, which is the first phase of your Captain Development Course training. Our goal is to facilitate your transition to a team oriented, customer focused, asset manager. “Flying The Line” will be held in Denver at the DoubleTree Hotel, across the street from the Training Center.

February 11th at 12:00 noon through February 14th at 3:00 p.m.

Hotel accommodations have been made for you at the DoubleTree Hotel, 3203 Quebec St., Denver, CO 80207. Their complimentary shuttle service from DIA is on the Baggage Claim Level 5, West side only, Island 3, Door 508. The shuttle leaves DIA 15 minutes after the hour and 45 minutes after the hour. Check-in time at the DoubleTree is 3:00 p.m. with earlier check-in usually available at 11:00 a.m. If your room isn’t available, please bring your luggage to the Crystal I Ballroom.

PLEASE BRING YOUR I-PAD FOR THE FOM MODULE

All meals are provided during training beginning with lunch at 12 noon on Monday. We look forward to visiting with everyone at the evening dinners. A special guest speaker will attend the Monday evening dinner. Please adhere to the first class travel dress policy for all Flying The Line events.

Again, welcome to your “Flying The Line”.

Flight Training
DENTK

 

Ha! I got a limo ride (booze was locked up, damn them) with my classmates and scab "facilitator" to the puzzle palace in IAH. Had to buy lunch at the Subway in the lobby and wolf it down while getting a weak "Thanks for upgrading" speech from Elmer Fudd..... Starley and then watch a 25 min PowerPoint on how much it costs to carry Add fuel around. (Note to self: add gas when I deem it prudent and don't single-engine taxi for safety reasons)

Then get marched around to the various departments where we get specific "talking points" about being new 737 Capt's. MX control tells us how much each retractable landing light motor costs (16k) and how we can prolong its life if we use it sparingly. (Note to self: use all available illumination devices for safety reasons)

Scheduling supervisor gives us their "top 10 list" of stupid pilot tricks on reserve. Etc.

Didn't even get a free t shirt at the company store.

 

My captain training was a type rating. The premise was that you'd been a flight engineer and f/o for long enough that you'd seen all the things you liked and disliked, and you were probably smart enough to tell the difference and resourceful enough that you could implement them without any coaching.

TW

 

Went thru it last decade. First three days were good, depending upon facilitators. Last couple days were a waste of my time, except when Fletcher got an earful and the good looking hookers were at the bar.

Evidently the cal experience was different from ual.

 

Yeah...

BTDT, I wonder if they are going to try and make us go through it again when the time comes.

 

I see two possible outcomes. The first is we have to be indoctrinated into "the culture" since we are part of the unwashed mass and therefore previous Lual Capts go. The second is their love of saving a buck would prevent us from going. They would make us take a test on the computer for a couple shillings of extra pay and we stay at home.

 

Did it help the first time?

 

The first couple of days had some useful information. Our class won the award for the most amount of beer consumed to date for any captains class that had been given.

So that was helpful because the beer was free. I heard they quit comping the bar shortly after my class went through.

 

Wow, what a terrible attitude. Lets cost the company millions of dollars of waste for no good reason. Like it or not, we have to compete with our competitors. If you cause all this waste for no good reason, then the company either has to make it for it other places (lower labor costs) or we start to loose money and the company begins to downsize (lost jobs).

People wonder why we get paid less than Delta. I guess we have more idiots like this guy than Delta has.

 

Idiot?? That's harsh, even from a company sycophant like yourself. Did you not read the words "prudent" and "safety" in my post before you called Fred to tattle?

Obviously I was illustrating how, in my upgrade class, the company appeared to lean on new Captains to set a certain tone.