Management Change
 

I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that I will be retiring effective April 30. I have been involved in the airlines since starting at TWA in 1975. I had the good fortune of helping to start Air Berlin and People Express, as well as being at Continental to assist it going from “worst to first.” However, even with all those great experiences, the past three years at United have been the best. I want to thank all of you for the great job you do every day. I know that I am retiring from the best airline, with the best pilots in the world. Please value what you have built here and always fly safe.
Howard Attarian will be taking over Flight Operations after I retire. As you know, he has been Vice President Flight Operations at United since 2008 and will do a great job leading the division. Please join me in congratulating Howard and supporting him in his new role.

FYI: the CALMEC signed statements not to take any management job.
I don't know anything about Attarian.

Attarian was Duane Weorth's right hand man at NW and ALPA.

That is correct. He is an ex-NWA pilot who was Executive Administrator at ALPA National for eight years. He does not have a UAL seniority number and has never turned a wheel on a UAL revenue flight.

In fact, when Attarian first started here at LUAL, he was communicating as Capt Attarian. Minor point, but we told him you could not call yourself that becasue you are not a pilot here at UAL...

...also to add that Howard Attarian was a USAF Thunderbird as well as 20+ with NWA and National ALPA. I'd rather have him over POS Pierce anyday.

JMHO

Second that!

What does JP have to do with VP flight ops job?

Yes and I heard he will be the first to tell you he was a Thunderbird upon meeting him. Kind of like the guy on day one of four proudly tells you that he went to The Air Force Academy. :rolleyes: Whoppy freaking do! Howard's career clearly indicates he is far better at being a bootlicker then a pilot. Expect People Express Flight Ops to live on.

Nothing and that's a good thing. The Jay's have done all the good/bad that they can do. It's time we thank them and send them packing. There's enough young blood ready and willing to do the job.

Change the names to Jeff Smesick and POS Tilton and I know I've heard this same sentence uttered around 2009-2010 timeframe. Thought you would have learned the never know what you got thing a long time ago......

Why wasn't Attrian a pilot at UAL? How could he rise to that position without having to prove himself amongst his peers and colleagues?

Why on earth would you think Pierce would be VP of flight OPS? LOL , You guys have some real issues. It is very entertaining... Maybe Pierce was involved in parking the 737's, or Did any of you guys see him on the Grassy knoll too? :)

May we refer to this post in the future?

Over my career, I've seen plenty of union reps who later ended up in managerial positions (or who wanted to).

Like Attarian?

JP signed a letter not to take any management job. All the CALALPA reps did.

I'm sure that will hold up.

Most guys don't want PIERCE floating to the top again. How he got to be the CAL MEC Chairman is explained by his blind following. He used fear and intimidation - just ask the CAL reps of the time. He was instrumental in helping the company delay the contract. This cost every United pilot money - including you.

Throw him a dinner and let him go fly his Guppy to Europe.

Howard was doing this also? Not doubting your recollection. I am thinking about it now, I remember hearing that he never upgraded at NWA, which is not a criticism. Apparently he was a Second Officer Rep, and eventually jumped onto Duane Woerth's coattails. Hopefully someone else can fill in the picture.

I distinctly remember Joe Cupcake (former Delta pilot, a 767 Captain over at Delta, but never flew here at United) calling himself captain. It drew formal protests, and he discontinued his misrepresentions.

Howard Attarian surely ain't a dumb guy, so I am optimistic about his potential.

To do what?

That's a good question. We can just speculate, however at the time these guys started showing up we constantly wondered why there wasn't any "native" United pilots getting these assignments. Some believe that management was being cautious to not **** off the union pilots with a scab appointment, and same by not giving the job to a "striker". Not so sure about that argument, as this was also done in Maintenance, Flight Attendants (I guess they call that "Onboard"), etc.

The first one was Hart Langer from Pan Am. He got hired straight into Sr VP of Flt Ops.

Some other non seniority list fellas:

Joe Cupcake

Don Dillman - American Captain retired from American in his early to mid fifties (good guy as I remember him)

Michael Quiello - former Delta Captain. Not sure if he retired from Delta. Believe he was hired directly into Sr VP of Corporate Safety. He has his picture in the inside cover of the SafetyLiner publication.

Attarian was brought in to be a hired gun along with Kolshak (who was ousted by Delta because the CBA required him to go as he was hated so much.)

Attarian is a conniving, slimy "me too" Abbot butt kisser so be prepared to continue bending over.

Attarian fired a number of pilots at UAL all the while spouting that he is an ALPA guy. Funny thing, everyone Howy fired was restored by the System Board.

He flew only one plane at NW , the 75. I bet he wears his black ascot while having sex, if he ever is that lucky.

His butt kissing of Abbot is indicative of how he "earns" his advancements.

Slimy Bastard!