United DEC 2 Class
 

Hi all,

Just wanted to see who in APC is going to be in this indoc class with me?


Spanky

I know my buddy is. Wish it was me, but congrats to you both :)

I might be at your 8-ball ceremony as I will be at TK until 20 DEC. Beers on us!

Pulled the Bus, I'll be there with the current 8ball

Congrats!

Did you get a start date for transition training yet?

Please define the 8 ball term. I could only find street slang reference to drugs when I searched.

United DEC 2 Class
 

Hey Guys. Just wondering what's your qualifications. I've been trying for united for a while. Was wondering what I need to do

Funny, didn't you post something similar to this on UALforums in which no one reacted?

8ball is the junior person in each class. Carries a bowling ball among other things with them wherever they go.

Ever heard the saying "nothing behind the 8 ball"? JR pilot on the property until the next class starts.

IOW lame frat boy-like leftover from pre-merger days, I'd tell you to take the bowling ball and shove it..what are we in high school???

Lighten up, Francis.

foofighter,

Speaking of high school, jealousy is a beotch, isn't it?

Among other things, the 8 Ball is a United tradition. In a seniority driven system its the only time in the 8 Balls career that he will get to go first in anything (except the equipment / domicile bid obviously). The Ball ceremony is a great team building exercise and helps form Espirit de Corps. Most new hires are anxious to join that group and would love to be The Ball. The Ball is essentially the Team Captain for that first week. I have no idea what that means under the current TK regime, but in the past it was special.

As a former Ball, I've got a crisp Andy Jackson that says if you put 100 former 8 Balls in a room, perhaps two would bad mouth the experience. I guess that you don't get it. And I guess there would be three if you were one.

There was a time when getting hired at UA really was a BFD. And now for some it still is. Hopefully we can all get together in the future and shove this joint back to where it once was. There are some that would rather be divisive and toss bombs while skulking around in their slick ties. That's OK, your type and scabs have always been a detriment to the good of the group. The rest of us will just have to pick up the slack, as we always have.

Blah blah blah. After paying dues in sweat equity of flying to build time only to have a ball dropped in your lap as some cutesy hazing ritual? No thanks. Keep your 'proud' tradition. Glad I'll never have to see it. Let me do my CBT's, get my training done and get out the door with my paycheck. This place is not my life, nor will it ever be. I feel sorry for the newhires subjected to this lame crap. But again you were brainwashed and told as l-ual hires back in the day you were the best of the best of the best. So it's no surprise your ego's are in rationalized damage control mode to hang onto your ill-gotten perceived truths

Right, cuz the old CAL way of fending for yourself at $29/hr, no health care for 6 months, and listening to scabs brag about the new set of fake **** they just bought for their 2nd or 3rd wife is awesome :rolleyes: The 8-ball may seem like a lame pre-merger LUAL tradition, but it is a unity builder from day 1. That unity will carry over to contract time so that maybe folks won't act like many at LCAL who operated in full wh0re mode during negotiations.

Like the l-ual's who yes voted in the contract out of fear of IAD base takeover's and l-cal CA upgrades? Spare me the 'we'll band together and get'em next time' speech. You guys had your chance, and I was hoping you'd put your votes where your chest beating union mouths were and hold out for full retro and PBS changes. Nope. Took the first offer and ran. Unity. :rolleyes: If you were so convinced that the arbitrators would pay heedance to the Tenet of longevity and give your your rightful place post SLI regardless of the l-cal upgrades, why the votes out of fear? ....CRICKETS....

(Thanks mako for the spellcheck)

THATS what I mean. Nice 24/48.

As mentioned, we'll just have to do the heavy lifting while gives tradition and the rest of us the finger.

Hey foo, its tenet.

ten·et
ˈtenət/
noun
a principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy.


TENANT
1. a : one who holds or possesses real estate or sometimes personal property (as a security) by any kind of right
b : one who has the occupation or temporary possession of lands or tenements of another; specifically : one who rents or leases (as a house) from a landlord
2. occupant, dweller

Knock yourself out hero

Feel better CH? For a guy who says he wasn't affected by the SLI, you sure are prone to rant about it. Got news for ya, the new hires don't wanna hear your moaning and neither do most former CAL folks.

Nobody asked you. And I have a feeling if you showed up with that attitude nobody would want you there anyway.

I see what you mean though. Why would anyone want to make our newest pilots feel welcome on the property?

Not a huge fan of touchy feely team building, but the 8 ball thing was funny and a fun night. Great way to meet everybody else in schoolhouse and socialize. Will go out of my way to stop by any time i can for the ceremony.

It was a fun weekly ritual last year in training.

Speaking of the 8 Ball ceremony, is it still Tue evening at the Doubletree?

Wednesday, since classes have been starting on Tuesday. As a half-winger I thoroughly enjoyed the 8-ball ceremony. Who doesn't like free beer?

Actually, I was just a few numbers away from upgrade as a LCAL pilot and now I'm a couple of thousand. Had we voted no on the UPA I would probably be sitting in the left seat of a 737. However, I voted yes because the whipsaw was in full swing. Yeah I would have benefitted this time around probably not so much the next time. Not to mention that the "chest thumpers" on the CAL side who had the "balls" to vote no on the contract were also sitting there cutting deals left and right, taking it down to single digit days off, and covering for management every time the summer season reared its ugly head. Jeff thanks you! But hey, you showed him with a no vote (golf clap)

Welcome aboard! You shouldn't have to pay for beer as a half winger unless you're flying with scabs. The scabs will surely tell you all about their lake house, boats, and how they had to pay their dues as a newbie which is why you'll pay for your own beer.

I take it you are from the l-CAL side. I don't get the impression there was a tremendous amount of camrarderie and historical relevance from that side. Seems due to most wanting to forget the past and many of them definitely hoping you wouldn't look up their past. Everyone just looked forward because that was a better picture. If you don't like the ball ceremony it doesn't really matter because you are over the hurdle of new hire school. Howecer, I have flown with many people that really enjoyed the new hire experience and the ceremony over the years.

Actually I'm LCAL. Sure I miss some things from the pre-merger days, but I'm happy to have some of the unity that LUAL brings to the party.

Well said!

It's a huge deal to me! Swimming in the pool, waiting for the official class date.

Long list of folks behind me with a good attitude who are very eager to get started.

Spanky was an IP of mine, and I can honestly say he is a good dude. In fact, everyone I have met along the way (from ECIC prep, to the interview day itself) have been awesome.

There is a wave of bright eyed, bushy tail future half wingers chomping at the bit to get started.

What a ****ing cvnt this tool is…bet he'd be a blast on a 4 day

@ 24/48,

Beer's on me Bevis.

Why are you guys even responding to foo. It's obvious flame bait. As a former ball almost off probe time, it was a great time. And it was even better the week after when I handed it to a buddy of mine and he had it stolen within 45 seconds. Right jet blast!! It's a great opportunity to meet and drink with people you could very well be here 30 plus years with. God save the ball!

Looking forward to meeting everyone and enjoying tradition.

Gentlemen and ladies, I want to comment to the guy that hijacked a thread to see who was in my class and took it in another direction.

Tradition is what makes our country great. If you don't like it then leave but don't start dropping turds because you are upset. The 8 ball sounds like an awesome tradition. Have you ever heard of the anchor man (lowest graduating GPA) at the academy, someone I knew who went on to become a highly decorated Helicopter pilot loved his anchor. The problem with our military services and other corporations now a days is they are getting rid of traditions because of one persons objection.......Thank you United you just gave me another reason I am making the right choice.

VQ,
Don't have to respond to this pathetic bitterness but you did well. Foo almost seems like a fake poster. Anyways, tradition breeds comrade and oneness. Some may be mad that it went the way of the eightball, aka United, but it did. Why was this? CAL didn't have a great new hire program and I'll be the first to admit it. We need "a tradition to remember" to breed pride and brotherhood. I wish I was there to shake your hand at the ceremony. The beer is catered but I love buying beer for anybody in my circle. Was at the last eightball and we rolled it to the bar after. Little hard waking up the next day but fun times were had.

Btw...we are good peeps. We all worked hard and deserve to be respected as professionals of one of the largest airlines in the world. It's not perfect nor or we but it is a good job to say the least. Welcome aboard squid from a jarhead!

Yeah, I finish Indoc this Friday and then return on Monday for Fleet intro and systems. Should wrap up sims by New Year's Eve.

No delay there huh?! Any word on offsite sims? I heard we were going to use some LAS & MIA sims in the near future.

FYI, I am in a Captain Upgrade class starting December 16 and I will spend the last two weeks in Miami in their 737 sims.