Airhoss

So I attended one of the first OET2 classes this week. On reserve next month and have a line this month so might as well get paid having to sit there for 6 hours. I have to say that while the class is about as exciting and energizing as watching grass grow. OET2 did a nice job of explaining what steps are being taken and what training is being given to the other players. Ramp, dispatch ETC.

That in my opinion was what was severely lacking in the previous fuel efficiency classes at UAL and that is what killed the previous programs credibility with line pilots. Amongst other things like no contract Tilton robbing us blind, a complete and total lack of respect and one of the most hated, self important, (the fuel Nazi extraordinaire) in the company running the program.

(Natural born UAL guys will know who I am talking about.)

magro99

I agree. I think it was good to see the specifics on what we are doing now and going forward to make us competitive.

oldmako

Did you guys remember to wear your hats?

Kilder

This was always the "Continental" way...letting us pilots know how and why we are doing things makes us a better pilot group and helps the company in the long run, hence the success of the Airline now and before the merger....

Lerxst

Oh please not this crap again. We both sucked, now we both suck more together.

oldmako

Kilder,

The guys on the Blue Team already went to fuel school years ago. Now, we get to go through it a second, mind numbingly boring time because "Continental" management wants it to be a group hug. They want it to be a team building exercise so the guys on the Black Team don't have to do it by themselves. I can understand this logic and look forward to the delicious and nutritious "box-o-crap" and a soda. Oh, and the fuel saving tips.

I submit that the vast majority of pilots on this property need zero education on how to save US tons of fuel. They only need the incentive. Unfortunately, as long as the golden shower continues, there isn't much incentive. Brow beating ultimately costs fuel, it doesn't save it.

For example, the Blue Team had the opportunity to show the old UA management just how fuel frugal we could be just prior to the bankruptcy filing. Back then, most of the employees were pulling hard on the rope and were scared little sheep. After all, who wants to lose their job? No one. From what I recall, our burns decreased significantly and this was well before "fuel school". All the while the company (and the pilots club) were telling us that the A fund was sacrosanct. What a bunch of suckers we were.

Then FRONTLINE (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/retirement/) publishes a bit with James Sprayregan smirking as he explains how the pilots were duped and it was planned all along. We sure showed them.

Fuel school.
APU on a hot / cold day.
Constant light chop at Cruise or smooth as glass 4K below?
Pilots discretion on a descent clearance or start down now?
Direct or FP route?
SE Taxi or not?
Fly schitt or pepper?

Believe me, I want this place to be a steamrolling mofo so they have to dig deep to make those PS payments. I just think they're overlooking some really obvious ways to maximize profits while licking their pencils.

Airhoss

Hmmm that's strange. When I got hired in 1997 at UAL, CAL was on the skids and an absolute non player as far as employment goes. Prior to that it was an absolute nightmare, disaster of an airline. So when you say "always" just exactly what does that mean?

pilot64golfer

CALs boom years of 2010-2013.

Kilder

Continental was a good airline for many years before Lorenzo Hoss...the Lorenzo years and the bankruptcy years were a terrible cost to a proud airline, but it did have it's positive attributes after, like the Newark and Houston Hubs...

Once the "Lorenzo wa"y was replaced by the "Bethune way" Continental became the darling of Legacy airlines...since you were probably blinded by your love affair with United, while it was preparing to ruin the careers of thousands of pilots, Continental was winning award after award, making money, growing it's route network and more importantly it had won the hearts of its employees, something United lost...

All major airlines tried to do something creative after 9-11, airline within an airline (TED, Song) while Continental stayed true to its business plan of a good, solid Trunk carrier, providing a known product with happy employees.

Continental was innovative in its use of its fleet (757 to Europe, 737 to Hawaii, and maintaining the youngest fleet), instead of antagonizing its customers and humiliating its employees through concession after concession with no sense of ownership on their career and airline.

So Hoss, this new United will use the legacy created by "The Continental way" as it forges a new path to success...enjoy the ride as we have since joining Continental....

oldmako

Interesting twist of some facts and omission of others. Enjoy the Koolaid.