How I got hired by DAL, the good ole days

[Paul R. Smith]

it was a good thread until the racists got a hold of it...thanks fellas.

Yeah! What the hell just happened?

 

[motch]

There was a time when Flying Skills and Determination meant everything...

Yes, a handful may have gotten in because they knew somebody or were related to someone, but that was far and few between.

Then we got HR and political correctness and now we have the system where-
Flight time and experience mean nothing if you are from a certain ethnic group or sex.

I don't judge a person until I know what their flying skills are like. But when I see and hear of certain people getting hired before others, I can't help but judge them by the fact that they didn't get hired by their skills and experience, but by the color of their skin or their sex.

Oh well, this is the state of America that we currently live in. Every great society has had it's high point before the start downwards. Just never thought I'd live to see it!

Always
motch

PS> I'll never forget my interview at DAL, to bad I didn't get hired. But at least I made it to another major that has alot of potential.

 

[retired guy]

Good story pilotyip, but unfortunately, that ain`t the way it was done (and still isn`t at Delta) How do I know you ask? Well, I hired on th September `66 and know the drill (retired July 97). Chief pilot wasn`t involved in hiring, still isn`t. Personell, now called HR gave the written tests, if they liked what they saw in your application, then Personell guy and a Captain, either retired or active gave an interview. If you got an "up" from them, you got to go and see the shrink, take the MMPI test and he (the doctor) put in his two cents. At the time I was hired, Big D had 15,000 applications on file with about a thousand guys that were acceptable. I`ve heard those tales about sitting outside the school house door, or a variation of the story also. BTW, Sam Graddy was the first black pilot hired, about `71. The first black naval aviator was killed in Korea in `51, shot down in a Corsair.BTW, first female pilot was hired about the same time frame as Sam...She had it a lot tougher than he did...you know, woman shouldn`t be in the cockpit, mans world, etc.

 

[retired guy]

Someone asked about the shrink`s (Dr. Janus`) rocking chair. Do you rock? do you not rock? My friend had the typical session with Janus, answered the questions that he was asked (he was hired)and as they were finishing up, asked my buddy if he had questions that he could answer for him. My friend said 'Why yes sir, am I suppose to rock in that chair or not?" Janus told him that his wife was going to get rid of the chair, and he rescued it for his office. I had heard that Janus was a semi-hawk on the war, so I wore my uniform for the interview (not out of the service yet). He thanked me for my service and then asked if I had read this mornings Atlanta Constitution (newspaper). I told him that I had not. He them told me that the headlines were that the Marines had dropped a bomb on Hanoi and leveled 9 square miles, and what did I think about that? I told him that I didn`t think the government would trust the Marines with a bomb that big. He just nodded and that was that. I did, however check the newspaper.BTW, Janus commited suicide years later. Prolly talked to way to many pilots.

 

[motch]

Does DAL do a class pic with new hires? Heard that but not sure if it's just rumor mill or legit.

I do remember seeing the names of all 8 individuals on the counter welcoming us to Delta and our interviews. Very classy and nice touch.

motch

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

retired guy... thanks for the first hand and factual information...

 

[Whine Lover]

"...it was a good thread until the racists got a hold of it."

Yeah.

Stupid Racists. Stupid discriminating Bastards...Let ALL the people be FREE! The Man can't keep us down!


1) People keep using the term "Black" pilot. That is not acceptable these days as we all know it's....AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

2) I am interested in the first Jewish Airline Pilot. When are they naming an aircraft after Him (or Her ) ?

3) What about the first Native American Airline Pilot? We really did a number on those poor Bastards and I don't see an airliner named after a single one.

4) Homos and Gays. What about the Gays? Heck, I knew a few guys that could shoot a Back-Course like nobody's business ( Let the jokes begin, I like playing the "Straight Man". Super-Double-Pun-Entendre' intended ) when are we naming an airliner after one of them?

5) How about Color-Blind Airline Pilots? ( Of which I am one ). Those who were told in no uncertain terms: "YOU can never be an airline pilot" and hurtled all obstacles to do so....Where's my Friggin' Airliner with my name on it?

6) How about all the Airline Pilots with really small cocks....Heck, EVERY other airliner in this country (World ) would have a name on it.

ETC. , ETC. , ETC.

Mods...Please lock this thread of useless and inane drivel.

Please?


YKMKR

 

[densoo]

The Delta party is pretty cool and they make a big deal about bringing your spouse, dressing up and celebrating.

Our's was pretty cool, too.

Two epaulettes and one set of wings in a sandwich bag tossed on the table during a 10 minute bathroom break during indoc training (which was a retired pilot reading the FOM word for word to us for a week).

Not a word from anyone--and it wasn't even a ziplock bag.

You know, it's the little things a major airline does for its pilots that tell you what they really think about them.

I still tear up when I think about it.

 

[retired guy]

My ancestors cane to this country from europe a long, long time ago. I`m not a European American, I`m just a white guy from Alabama. The white guy that works on my motorcycle and the white hemotologist that lives down the street both imigrated from South Africa. They are truly African Americans, but they are really a couple of white guys that I know. I`m guessing, could be wrong though, that Whine Lover wasn`t born in Africa. I didn`t put in my two cents to be castigated about what I called my friend, Sam Graddy, who by the way refered to himself as "N1".

 

[Whine Lover]

" I`m guessing, could be wrong though, that Whine Lover wasn`t born in Africa. "

That is CORRECT SIR.

Although, many so-called "studies" claim that we all have emanated from Africa.

Truly, your point about your Doctor being African-American is most correct.

Also, since you mention me specifically, I hope that you have not taken any of my statements as meant to castigate you personally (? ).

That was not my intent.

YKW

 

[retired guy]

" I`m guessing, could be wrong though, that Whine Lover wasn`t born in Africa. "

That is CORRECT SIR.

Although, many so-called "studies" claim that we all have emanated from Africa.

Truly, your point about your Doctor being African-American is most correct.

Also, since you mention me specifically, I hope that you have not taken any of my statements as meant to castigate you personally (? ).

That was not my intent.

YKW

Nope...we`re all buddies here.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Our's was pretty cool, too.

Two epaulettes and one set of wings in a sandwich bag tossed on the table during a 10 minute bathroom break during indoc training (which was a retired pilot reading the FOM word for word to us for a week).

Not a word from anyone--and it wasn't even a ziplock bag.

You know, it's the little things a major airline does for its pilots that tell you what they really think about them.

I still tear up when I think about it.

where was this?

 

[densoo]

where was this?

I cannot say. No, really, I cannot say. New policy directive from legal and HR.

 

[pilotyip]

Under the influence?

Good story pilotyip, but unfortunately, that ain`t the way it was done (and still isn`t at Delta) How do I know you ask? Well, I hired on th September `66 and know the drill (retired July 97). Chief pilot wasn`t involved in hiring, still isn`t. Personell, now called HR gave the written tests, if they liked what they saw in your application, then Personell guy and a Captain, either retired or active gave an interview. If you got an "up" from them, you got to go and see the shrink, take the MMPI test and he (the doctor) put in his two cents. At the time I was hired, Big D had 15,000 applications on file with about a thousand guys that were acceptable. I`ve heard those tales about sitting outside the school house door, or a variation of the story also. BTW, Sam Graddy was the first black pilot hired, about `71. The first black naval aviator was killed in Korea in `51, shot down in a Corsair.BTW, first female pilot was hired about the same time frame as Sam...She had it a lot tougher than he did...you know, woman shouldn`t be in the cockpit, mans world, etc.

We were drinking a lot of wine, perhaps, I missed some of the fine point, but I know he got hired in about week, said he was driving up to ATL, a week later he was in class. Perhaps he had done the application prior to the drive, perhaps he had taken the tests, perhaps it was the hiring director and not the CP. Would that HR guy hang out in the CP's office? I wasn't there. But I know he disappeared from the squadron on 60 days terminal leave and was working for DAL. Bob is a great guy; I don't think he would make this stuff up. BTW they may have had 15K applications, but I bet not many were Navy pilots; the Navy guys did seem to get head of the line privileges. I know a bunch of guys from my squadron (VP45) got hired over a three year period at DAL between 67-70

 

[xjhawk]

Great post, those good ole days are gone. I think I may be stuck at a regional since I got a late start on my airline career by serving in the Army for too many years and then going to college. Sure hope being in a Delta Wholly owned regional (Mesaba) does not prevent me from getting hired at delta (opps, I forgot I think it does). I am one to think that the race issue need not have been brought up here. Being professionals in our career field we should all agree that ones skill as a pilot should not have anything to do with your race, color, or creed (I guess add gender in there as well)

Good day all, more stories would be great to add to this post.