How I got hired by DAL, the good ole days

[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.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

The race issue seemed to be the only factual information...

 

[pilotyip]

WTF does that mean?

The race issue seemed to be the only factual information...

please splain

 

[GuppyWN]

The race issue seemed to be the only factual information...

What in the heck is your major malfunction? And where did you get permission to play the race card on this thread?

Gup

 

[retired guy]

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

HR (then personell) didn`t hang around the chief pilot`s office. No one did. The chief pilot couldn`t hire or fire anyone. He/they could put in a bad word, and probably keep someone from getting hired however. In the "old days" the CP had quite a bit of pull, but by the mid 60`s they were called (behind their collective backs) "hall monitors". The decisions, then and now, come from the fabled "fourth floor". You are correct, Delta was a "Navy (and Marine) outfit". It has, in my opinion digenerated into an Air Force outfit..."Let`s have a meeting and talk about it". I think my class of 36 new hires was about 50% Marines, 30% Navy, 2 civilian pilots and the rest, Air Force. The Marines (myself included) were all "regulars' who were allowed to resign on 1 September `66. That`s why the class was full of Marines. I don`t want to start a pi$$ing contest with Air Force guys. I promise to play nice from now on. My origional senority number was 1386. My son is a Delta MD88 captain with a senority number of 6000 (out of 12,000). Hard to imagine that many Delta pilots. Use to know most of the ATL guys, I hear that there several thousand there now. Well, back to my rocking chair.

 

[Benjamin Dover]

deleted

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

The new hire party was done away with around May or June of 07. I hear things "got out of hand" a few times and they didn't want to condone it.

That's about 3rd hand info- take it for what it's worth.


Rocking chair...didn't have that. I got to choose from a sofa and a regular arm chair. Recline on the sofa, sit back and stick my right hand part way down my pants, or what? It was a tough decision.

I actually did ask the shrink (upon walking in the room and seeing my chair selections, I'm just that much of a moron) where the rocking chair was. He immediately started talking about superstions and some other stuff that I don't remember. Just saw my career flashing before my eyes...

It all worked out...so far.

 

[Patriot328]

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

Well played densoo.. well played...


I, too, noticed the way newhires were treated at the airline that cannot be named.. What a joke...

 

[skywav8r]

Fall of 2007 still had the excellent dinner with spouses flown in. We had our own party.....every night. What's up with this Rez yahoo pulling out race in a cool history thread? What a tool....heck, my family even owns a house in Africa but I am just AMERICAN. Thank you to this great country that has given me so much opportunity. No rocking chair, just a nice leather couch to chill out on. Yes, a class pic is still taken either with the 767 or dc-3 in the background.

 

[jbDC9]

I, too, noticed the way newhires were treated at the airline that cannot be named.. What a joke...

Yep, I got that same treatment both as a new hire and during captain upgrade class. It might've even been the same plastic bag recycled...

Since we can't name the outfit, let's just say it's a Texas based airline, not Southwest or American.

 

[Going2Baja]

My fathers story is from the 'Original School.'

In 1941 he was talking to his guidance counselor regarding dental school and they were interrupted by a recruiter from Pan Am. The recruiter was dropping off flyers for interviews in San Fran. My dad always was interested in flying and sold his bicycle for a train ticket from So Cal to SFO. The details of the interview are fuzzy & I should ask to hear it again, but the one part I do remember is during the physical the doctor noticed a broken ear drum and told him "Son, I was going to roll you, but I think you'll be a good addition here at Pan American." He was hired onto the the Clippers, upgraded @ 22 in the DC-3 and retired on the 747 in 1980 @ age 60. No strikes, no furloughs, one pay cut his last year I think.

As for me - to get my 1st job I called the CP's secretary weekly and sometimes sent flowers & pizza, hired. Next I showed up uninvited to a CP's office and turned out I knew one of their Capt's I flew the Canyon w/...Hired. Next made a few trips to St. George (again uninvited) and got he interview & hired. I did try showing up to a ground school of a Skywest Metro spin-off in UT...everyone showed up and I went home. Beyond that it was all the same game.

From what I've seen I like the old days much better. Much more personal.

Baja.