If pilots want sympathy.....

[Flic1]

...from the public, they need to stop saying things like this...as quoted from a Wall Street Journal article about UAL's possible bankruptcy:

"I make $210,000 a year as a captain," says Michael Baida, a United pilot for 23 years. "If United folds, I'm sunk. I don't have a lateral path." He says he doesn't see himself, for far less money, "being a co-pilot to some 30-year-old kid. I'm not going to pull up the gear on a Beech King Air." Capt. Baiada says he definitely would leave the industry altogether, and expects "the best I'd earn is $50,000 to $60,000" in another field.

Don't get me wrong, because I do sympathize for a lot of these guys losing their jobs, but I have to say that when I see these types of comments, it puts a sour taste in my mouth.

 

[chawbein]

ditto

 

[Timebuilder]

His comments also further a public perception that ALL of us make that kind of money.

I flew a guy out to CLE the other day, and as he stepped out to get into his limo, I got a firm handshake. I'm sure he tipped the limo driver, however, who makes more than I make!

Frankly, I hope I'm never so jaded that I won't be willing to fly with a young crewmember, or raise the gear on a King Air.

 

[VaB]

Sounds like a bunch of BS. Can any UAL guys confirm this guy is real. I did a search on the airman certificate website and there is noone by that name that pops up. If he is real, someone tell him to have a little more sense when he talks to some schmuck with a funny hat that says "PRESS" on it and is sticking a tape recorder in front of his flapping pie hole.

 

[NJA Capt]

I did a search on the airman certificate website and there is noone by that name that pops up

There is an FAA form you can fill out that keeps your data confidential. It sure cuts down on your junk mail.

 

[GuppyPuppy]

Mr. Baiada's comments about the 30-yr old kid were in poor taste and ill-timed.

Heck, I'm almost 40 and have been all too happy to jerk the gear for 30-yr old Captains I've flown with at United.

Cheers!.....I mean Beers!

GP

.....32 days left and counting.....

 

[bobbysamd]

Gear jerking, etc.

When I was going after airline work, it wasn't at all for the majors. If I would have succeeded, I, at 40+, would have been raising gear in a 1900 for a 25-year-old or less who might have been my student not too long before. And, I would have been thrilled to death to receive the opportunity to do so.

I guess few people have humility any more.

Let's see how that United pilot likes bankruptcy. For a good lesson, he can read Flying the Line, Volume II to see how the Eastern pilots liked it.

 

[FlyingSig]

Re: Gear jerking, etc.

Let's see how that United pilot likes bankruptcy. For a good lesson, he can read Flying the Line, Volume II to see how the Eastern pilots liked it.

Not defending this guy's comments in any way.... but for those that have read Flying the Line will know right away that EAL and UAL are apples and oranges.

UAL is not being raped and pillaged by another airline like CAL did EAL. Mr. Tilton is no Frank Borman Lorenzo puppet(although neither has/had much airline experience).

 

[RightBettor]

UAL pilots

As a former UAL pilot (on the street for 1+ year now) I can certainly attest to the fact that most of the pilots at UAL are pretty darned good people. That said, there are those few who have lost all touch with reality!! I flew with one guy who, according to him, got hired in the late 1960s with something like 34 total hours flying time. This was back in the days when United and others had ads in the newspaper for pilot employment. United hired him and trained him for all his certificates and ratings. Well, you're never going to believe this, but this guy did nothing but bi+ch and complain about how crummy EVERYTHING at and about UAL was. He didn't like the crew meals, he didn't like the hotel, he didn't like the contract, he didn't like the flight attendants, he didn't like the CSR, and you can bet that he didn't like ME! (And I'm a swell guy, by the way! )

The best part was when he asserted that I must have something wrong with me since I didn't get hired on until after about 6500 hours and 10 years of professional flying. When people like that make those comments, one can only surmise those types have lost all touch with reality and are off in "La La Land!" Unfortunately, it is that small percentage who ends up on the nightly news or in the McNewspaper (USA Today) spouting off some drivel.

I think some folks are in for a serious reality check in the weeks to come. Not that I want anything bad to happen to these folks, but there will likely be a lot of humble pie being served up for some of them.

 

[hyper]

What goes around......

I'm a firm believer in Karma. And rightfully so, it's coming around for this guy.

 

[Boeingman]

Re: Re: Gear jerking, etc.

Not defending this guy's comments in any way.... but for those that have read Flying the Line will know right away that EAL and UAL are apples and oranges.

UAL is not being raped and pillaged by another airline like CAL did EAL. Mr. Tilton is no Frank Borman Lorenzo puppet(although neither has/had much airline experience).

Point of fact here Chris, TAC raped and pillaged EAL then leased all the assets to CAL at astronomical rates. This was nothing more than an upstreaming scam for Texas Air corp. If CAL got all that money from EAL why did they file BK again?

Also, this UAL guy's attitude is typical of the "Brain Surgeon" mentality over there. There is going to be a very rude awakening in ORD soon. I firmly believe UAL will not survive a chapter 11 filing.

Anyone remember my argument with FDJ last year? Almost everything I predicted has come to roost. Everyone rah rahed their contract and ultimately the timing of it could be their undoing. Who raped and pillaged whom?

 

[bobbysamd]

Flying the Line

Not defending this guy's comments in any way.... but for those that have read Flying the Line will know right away that EAL and UAL are apples and oranges.

UAL is not being raped and pillaged by another airline like CAL did EAL. Mr. Tilton is no Frank Borman Lorenzo puppet(although neither has/had much airline experience).

That's very true. My point, that I should have made clearer, above, is the guy should count his blessings, because if he maintains the attitude he has he may find himself not flying again for an airline.

I, too, wanted to add that this gentleman's comments left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[JetPilot500]

"I make $210,000 a year as a captain," says Michael Baida, a United pilot for 23 years. "If United folds, I'm sunk. I don't have a lateral path." He says he doesn't see himself, for far less money, "being a co-pilot to some 30-year-old kid. I'm not going to pull up the gear on a Beech King Air." Capt. Baiada says he definitely would leave the industry altogether , and expects "the best I'd earn is $50,000 to $60,000" in another field.

If he's leaving the industry, GOOD RIDDENS!

Let him go. I'll bet there are many others that will not return either. I'm not gonna be happy to see UAL go under and all of these people lose their careers, but, it will definatley clean house.

If UAL goes under, someone will pick up their routes, probally AA or CAL, IMO. If that happens, and many pilots change careers, there will be plenty of recalls and new hiring in the industry. And you will be left with a group of pilots that want to be there.

JetPilot500

 

[Fitzy]

Jetpilot500-
What color is the sky in your world?

 

[FlyingSig]

Re: Re: Re: Gear jerking, etc.

Point of fact here Chris, TAC raped and pillaged EAL then leased all the assets to CAL at astronomical rates. This was nothing more than an upstreaming scam for Texas Air corp. If CAL got all that money from EAL why did they file BK again?

Very true, I stand corrected... what I was trying to point out was that Lorenzo was more responsible for Eastern's bankruptcy then the Eastern employees were (as stubborn as the IAM was, they did in the end make an agreement only to be stonewalled by Boreman). Even if the IAM had given in on day one, the writing was on the wall...