Kit Darby - Is he back yet?

[Big Slick]

Kit Darby - Is he back yet?

The pilot hiring boom will be on like Donkey-Kong when he shows up again.

Get your "Airline Pilot Career" reference materials before they sell out!

Break, break.

12 year old "Airline Pilot Career" reference materials for sell cheap!! Mint condition!

 

[NuGuy]

Kit Darby - Is he back yet?

The pilot hiring boom will be on like Donkey-Kong when he shows up again.

Get your "Airline Pilot Career" reference materials before they sell out!

Break, break.

12 year old "Airline Pilot Career" reference materials for sell cheap!! Mint condition!

I'll see your 12 year old APC mats, and raise you 25 year old FAPA reference materials. To their credit, back in those pre-intrawebz days, that was pretty much the only way word got around...at least in the civilian world. Unless you were juiced in somewhere, that's how you got your info. Mil guys had their "gouge books" at the squadron.

Some of those numbers would make you cry: AMR 100/mo, UAL 100/mo, DAL 100/mo, NWA 80/mo, USAir 80/mo, CAL 80/mo and so on...for years on end. Scores and scores of cargo outfits, commuters, air taxi, whatever...there was plenty of room for everyone, and the rooms were pretty nice (full retirement, paid healthcare, lots of $$ and time off to enjoy it).

Now, not so much.:crying:


Nu

 

[nimtz]

Kit sure did a fine job of ensuring himself an early 'retirement' from United.

 

[pilotyip]

I wish there had been a Kit FAPA back in 1977 when I left the Navy, a lot of guys got jobs from contacts made at those shows. I remember DAL in 1998 when SWA had a short line, the one you went to after standing in line a UAL for four hours. I remember LA in 2001, USA Jet had a longer line than Jet Blue. I remember 2000 at ATL where NJ was trying to get pilots to come by their booth.

 

[Big Slick]

I went to two Air Inc pilot conventions in Dallas back in 1999 and 2000.

Once the presentations were completed, you could wander to different airline booths. The lines for United, Delta and American were a mile long. I walked up to the Southwest table and there was no line at all.

To their credit, the Southwest people were nicer than the others. The lady working there was handicapped. This is back when Herb ran "a small little people company in good ol' Texas."

The guys from the "Big Three" carried themselves like they were ancient Pan Am Sky Gods. Oh how the great have fallen. Hubris.

The only constant is change.

Kit Darby, or someone like him, we be around shortly. Economics 101. When there is a demand, someone will create a supply.

 

[Flybywire44]

Kit Darby is helping run www.FAPA.aero these days

 

[densoo]

Can't complain. In the 80s I made my decision to not leave the service due to info in his publications. First, the monthly hiring updates showed 1 in maybe 100 or more getting hired with less than uncorrected 20/20 vision* greatly reducing my chances. Second, his long-range data showed a huge peak of retirements from 1997-1999 which would create a hiring boom so stayed in the service until then. The projected boom turned into reality as predicted (even more so with the 1990s economy). To top it off I got a major's interview at a FAPA job fair.

* this ended with lawsuits and then rulings coming out of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990)

DISCLAIMER: This has been a paid advertisement for FAPA and it's associated products by a non-professional driver on a closed course. Side effects may include slow seniority list integration, increased frequency of low bank balance, and early onset of alternate career. Seek immediate professional help for furloughs lasting more than four years.

 

[pilotyip]

Can't complain. In the 80s I made my decision to not leave the service due to info in his publications. First, the monthly hiring updates showed 1 in maybe 100 or more getting hired with less than uncorrected 20/20 vision* greatly reducing my chances. Second, his long-range data showed a huge peak of retirements from 1997-1999 which would create a hiring boom so stayed in the service until then. The projected boom turned into reality as predicted (even more so with the 1990s economy). To top it off I got a major's interview at a FAPA job fair.

* this ended with lawsuits and then rulings coming out of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990)

DISCLAIMER: This has been a paid advertisement for FAPA and it's associated products by a non-professional driver on a closed course. Side effects may include slow seniority list integration, increased frequency of low bank balance, and early onset of alternate career. Seek immediate professional help for furloughs lasting more than four years.

You realize this post may get you banned from the "Pilot Brotherhood", because real pilots all post what a disservice Kit did to the brotherhood.

 

[densoo]

You realize this post may get you banned from the "Pilot Brotherhood", because real pilots all post what a disservice Kit did to the brotherhood.

Yes, I know it's a carnival act and he makes a lot of cash off of people seeking hopes and dreams, but as long as you pick and choose it can help. Stay away from the books and videos.

 

[FLYLOW22]

Kit Darby - Is he back yet?

The pilot hiring boom will be on like Donkey-Kong when he shows up again.

Get your "Airline Pilot Career" reference materials before they sell out!

Break, break.

12 year old "Airline Pilot Career" reference materials for sell cheap!! Mint condition!

Heard he needs body guards now... He uses Lorenzo's.

 

[freightdogfred]

I wish there had been a Kit FAPA back in 1977 when I left the Navy, a lot of guys got jobs from contacts made at those shows. I remember DAL in 1998 when SWA had a short line, the one you went to after standing in line a UAL for four hours. I remember LA in 2001, USA Jet had a longer line than Jet Blue. I remember 2000 at ATL where NJ was trying to get pilots to come by their booth.

Ya shoulda got the degree first

 

[LearLove]

Prior to Al Gore giving us the internet (and free porn) Air Inc companies were important to getting hired for the fact they had all the contact info and such. While the internet was around for the last "boom" (pre 9-11) most airlines hadn't gone online with the pilot hiring process and boards like this one and WFFF came about in 99-2000ish we still were in the "get your info from vendors" mode.

12 years later it is a diff story. The gouge is on the internet and when you apply you go right to the company site. Most of the KD info he sold is available for free these days. The only thing left of value is the job fair where you can go and meet face to face with pilot hiring people. However the first thing they will ask is "did you fill out an app online"

As for the job fair lines - that is how my buddy got on with AK back in late 1999. He was at the IAD job fair in the Delta or AA or UAL line which was out the door and he saw the lone AK recruiter sitting alone at her booth. He figured he would come back to the Delta line at the end when it died down and went and talked to the AK girl. He had about 3000TT and maybe 3 months as a J32 CA and had never been further west then the Miss River. 2 weeks later he was in SEA for the interview and a month after was in class at AK at age 25.

I'll take luck any day in this bizz.

Also WRT the Air Inc fairs - I may or may not know several pilots that went to job fairs for free by walking in at 4pm after the seminars when the "face to face" recruiter time started.

 

[pilotyip]

Ya shoulda got the degree first

Ha Ha your funny, you know I got that degree in 66 a BS from Mich State Univ, didn't make any difference. I knew it had nothing to do with flying an airplane because of the Navy guys I flew with in Vietnam who did not have degrees, fantastic pilots, great guys, many hired a DAL in the late 60's without their degrees.

As for the job fair lines - that is how my buddy got on with AK back in late 1999. He was at the IAD job fair in the Delta or AA or UAL line which was out the door and he saw the lone AK recruiter sitting alone at her booth. He figured he would come back to the Delta line at the end when it died down and went and talked to the AK girl. He had about 3000TT and maybe 3 months as a J32 CA and had never been further west then the Miss River. 2 weeks later he was in SEA for the interview and a month after was in class at AK at age 25.

I'll take luck any day in this bizz.

ah! yes the element of luck and timing. Like the Jet Blue booth next ours at the LAX Job Fair in 2001, no line, everyone hired made CA one year later top of seniority list.

 

[Wesb737fo]

I ran into him at a mall in ATL a few months ago. He took a job with a legacy carrier in their training dept.

 

[Ty Webb]

While the internet was around for the last "boom" (pre 9-11) most airlines hadn't gone online with the pilot hiring process and boards like this one and WFFF came about in 99-2000ish we still were in the "get your info from vendors" mode.

Actually, this board was one of the very first, I joined it in 1996 (a database change reset all of us to 2001).

It was started by a guy named Mark, great guy, a Lear 35 pilot. He was killed in a G.A. accident. I still have a few PM's from him in my my inbox.

 

[LearLove]

Actually, this board was one of the very first, I joined it in 1996 (a database change reset all of us to 2001).

It was started by a guy named Mark, great guy, a Lear 35 pilot. He was killed in a G.A. accident. I still have a few PM's from him in my my inbox.

Thanks. I do remember marks passing. And thanks for the startup clarification. I found the site in late 99 or early 2000ish. I do remember the data base reset but didn't sign back up until 2002. The days before the reset people would post under multiple screen names or just reinvent themselves after a thread gone downhill.

 

[Ty Webb]

Thanks. I do remember marks passing. And thanks for the startup clarification. I found the site in late 99 or early 2000ish. I do remember the data base reset but didn't sign back up until 2002. The days before the reset people would post under multiple screen names or just reinvent themselves after a thread gone downhill.

Remember the "Flight Instructor Message Board" or whatever it was called? Talk about flingin' poo. . . . That place was a riot.

Of course, we were much younger then . . . . We're waaaay above that now.

 

[jmreii]

Those were the days, how soon we miss them!

 

[Andy]

Actually, this board was one of the very first, I joined it in 1996 (a database change reset all of us to 2001).

1996? What did you use - a Commodore 64 or Apple II?
I bet things were blazing fast once you upgraded to a 14.4 modem. :laugh:

I bought my first home computer when Win95 was released; a state of the art P75 with a 28K modem. Back when AOL dialup was the bomb.

 

[Ty Webb]

1996? What did you use - a Commodore 64 or Apple II?
I bet things were blazing fast once you upgraded to a 14.4 modem. :laugh:

I bought my first home computer when Win95 was released; a state of the art P75 with a 28K modem. Back when AOL dialup was the bomb.

AOL is still a bomb . . . just ask Time Warner shareholders . . . . :erm:

 

[satpak77]

Some of those numbers would make you cry: AMR 100/mo, UAL 100/mo, DAL 100/mo, NWA 80/mo, USAir 80/mo, CAL 80/mo and so on...for years on end. Scores and scores of cargo outfits, commuters, air taxi, whatever...there was plenty of room for everyone, and the rooms were pretty nice (full retirement, paid healthcare, lots of $$ and time off to enjoy it).

Now, not so much.:crying:Nu

As you know, Fedex is in "hiring mode"

....at 8 a month

 

[densoo]

UAL (LCAL side) is going to 60/mo by May.

 

[xjhawk]

Seriously? 60 a month? Why is it I have only heard of "scholarship winners" were the only ones going to class then? It would be nice to hear Delta revising their plans-2014 is not doing anyone any good when it comes to them not hiring.

 

[Stinkbug]

Remember the "Flight Instructor Message Board" or whatever it was called? Talk about flingin' poo. . . . That place was a riot.

Of course, we were much younger then . . . . We're waaaay above that now.

In 1996 I discovered this board and that was the year I got my private pilot license. Mark was the sole moderator and a nearly daily presence due to all the "poo flinging". He kept this message board alive by the sweat of his brow and his own pocketbook.

Anyone recall when he abandoned the old message board format in favor of the current one? There were a few who pitched a hissy fit because it was so different but it seems to have become the gold standard among large internet forums. Guess he was wise beyond his years.

 

[Andy]

Seriously? 60 a month? Why is it I have only heard of "scholarship winners" were the only ones going to class then? It would be nice to hear Delta revising their plans-2014 is not doing anyone any good when it comes to them not hiring.

I read that 300 off the street people will be interviewed starting next week at TK (Denver training center). My understanding is that UAL has completed hiring those 'that have a previous relationship' with UAL. This pool would start training on the LCAL side, although they could also be sent to the LUAL side once they start hiring off the street.

The logic behind interviewing at TK is that
1) the IAH training center is small and there is not a spare room to be used for 300 interviews.
2) the interview includes a 737 sim evaluation, and again, the 737 sims in IAH are operating around the clock. DENTK has a L-UAL 737-300 sim not doing a whole lot, so that is being used for the eval.

There are recalls on the LUAL side and I would expect newhire training to begin in Denver sometime this summer. For those going to Den, it would likely only be for the Airbus.
I have no idea how much hiring they would do for training in Denver.

 

[Andy]

AOL is still a bomb . . . just ask Time Warner shareholders . . . . :erm:

LOL! My mom hung onto her AOL shares way too long; had a cost basis of around 10 cents per share. Got in shortly after IPO. I begged her to sell at $130, $110, $90, etc. I think she finally dumped her holdings at ~$50/share.
She wasn't very computer savvy and didn't understand why I insisted that AOL was a dying business. Not to mention the cost of the billion or so floppies/CDs that AOL had sent out to everyone including my dog as they were losing customers. Of course the legal problems didn't help either.

 

[acaTerry]

Actually, this board was one of the very first, I joined it in 1996 (a database change reset all of us to 2001).

It was started by a guy named Mark, great guy, a Lear 35 pilot. He was killed in a G.A. accident. I still have a few PM's from him in my my inbox.

Mark was a great guy, and us FI "old timers" miss him.

 

[dojetdriver]

1996? What did you use - a Commodore 64 or Apple II?
I bet things were blazing fast once you upgraded to a 14.4 modem. :laugh:

I bought my first home computer when Win95 was released; a state of the art P75 with a 28K modem. Back when AOL dialup was the bomb.

Pfffft, real playa's used a 56.6.

Good grief, I remember when a DUATs WX brief would take 5 minutes using a 2800.

 

[Andy]

Pfffft, real playa's used a 56.6.

Those came out after 28K . Which came out after the 14.4K.
I remember cracking open my tower and replacing my modem with a 'state of the art' 56K modem. Shortly thereafter, I ordered individual parts and built my own computer.
With a brand new 3Dfx graphics board (I didn't go SLI). They were bleeding edge graphics back in the day, prior to nVidia. 3Dfx ended up having production problems on their new chipsets (poor yields at TMSC's foundary) and that killed them; they ran out of money while nVidia came out with better graphics boards.
Today I could care less what's inside my computer; Moore's law stopped being important years ago.

 

[NuGuy]

FI from 1999:
http://web.archive.org/web/19980529113205/http://www.flightinfo.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.html

Flight Instructor's Message Board from 2000

http://web.archive.org/web/20010124041800/http://www.ilsapproach.com/pilotsmessageb/disc3_toc.htm

That's as far as IA goes back for both sites, but they've been around since 96 or so.

Nu