Yes.................

 

I hope they are not. As for me, as the PIC I don't even ask or try to figure out which legacy I'm flying with. We eventually talk about backgrounds and if I hear a LUAL or LCAL aircraft I engage that info as an aircraft flown, not what company it was flown for. It's a safety of flight issue to me. We're there to operate a piece of equipment from here to there. Some things are distractions to that. That's my choice. But as Colonel Nathan R Jessup said, I have that privilege.

 

ALPA's history is written by - ALPA. You really need to read it with a grain of salt, or maybe a bucket of salt. ALPA at UAL is currently run by the 570, so add that into the bucket of salt.

As an analogy, if I wrote my own autobiography, I would be the Most Interesting Man in the World, World's Best Lover, Savior of the World, and Slayer of Staller.

 

Technically only 6 of the 63.

 

As it should be and most likely will be for the remainder of your time at United but then you already knew that.

 

That's where I am at as well. I don't have to fly with Scabs, as PIC, so that isn't an issue. Everyone else is from somewhere. It's like saying "you are from Kentucky." That's cool. So what.

Don't wish to offend, but wanted to know since it's ok to go off topic.....

I do have a question though as not a former L UAL person (former CAL). Is it (was it) the policy of UAL to hire their former in-terms with little to no experience? Just asking.... Does the in-ternship give you that much more leverage in the hiring process? Any difference between the hiring standards in the 90's for in-terns and today? I have flown with both sharp and not so sharp former interns and all I can really determine is just a lack of a breadth and depth of experience. Was this like the lawsuits that made UAL hire more women/minorities without the experience of their white-male competitors?

 

Don't know about that.

 

The intern program, back in the day, was based on the idea UAL would essentially look for the best people from university flight programs. At the time the absolute minimum experience for 121 carriers was multi-engine commercial and instrument certificates. UALs min flight time was 350 hours (which dated back to a lawsuit in the mid 70s) at the time. Most of the interns who were hired after their semester of free work and close scrutiny (think daily non-stop interview) had more than the minimum time.

I worked with several interns, OEd a few and without exception they were all outstanding pilots and very sharp people. Did they have enough experience to step right into the left seat? No, Most of the new hires today are far more experienced than at any other time in UALs history. Most today forget the beloved Dubinsky was hired with basically no flight time.

What am I writing about? Let your "experience" prejudices go and enjoy the ride.

 

Interesting question. I can only imagine that yes, the standards have changed. I was an intern. I was hired low time (3000 hours) at a very young age. The new hires that we have now mostly have 6000+ with jet pic time. Generally lots of it. Many interns were hired in the early to mid 90's with minimal time (1000?) but at this point you aren't flying with those guys as they are all Captains/senior f/o's? Many, in fact, are in leadership roles within ALPA (ORD Cap rep?) After roughly 2001, UAL didn't hire many until 2008?, so perhaps you're flying with some of the guys that have been furloughed a couple of times?

So, who are the guys you are flying with?

Not sure about the leverage of interns in today's hiring prospectus.

Speaking to the influence of the hiring process. Of course it made a difference. It was a 3-6 month long interview. How could it not? If an applicant makes a positive impression on a decision maker, how could that not make a difference? There was no quota (that I know of) for a minimum number of intern hires. There most certainly wasn't a lawsuit about it.

So, have you flown with sharp and not so sharp regional guys (which most interns fall within)? How about sharp and not so sharp military pilots? Cargo pilots? 91 fellas? 135 guys? Me too.

Scott

 

Like you, all types. Mostly very sharp folks. But sometimes in just discussing the industry and the profession, I get the weirdest comments from former interns. I just get the impression that their dues paying process was much shorter than those who were out there busting their humps. The FO's I fly with are all very-very sharp. Most have had significant time in the regionals and have great weather and instrument experience, and their procedures are very sound.

It's more of a subtle nuance that I notice that while an applicant thinks they are getting a leg up on the competition by getting an internship, they may be short changing their actual pilot education in terms of experience. With quick upgrade times it may be wiser for the company to focus on experience in the future. I am sure the internship program has its merits.