I guess back in the day when pilot input meant something for the hiring process, one could obtain this silver bullet which was basically of a letter of Rec. However, being the great Alaska Airline, someone had to re-invent the letter of recommendation, hence the term "Silver Bullet". (we like re-inventing things)
Rumor has it a person could only write one a year, so if the crusty old gummer Capt (insert your favorite 60+ year old capt name here) had two kids he wanted to get hired, he had to pick his favorite kid this year, then do the other a year later! Or simply take both kids stuff into the chief pilots office!
Now a days, HR has their hands all over the hiring process, so I think a letter of rec from a pencil pusher would carry just as much weight if not more then an actual pilot recommendation!!!!
From what I've heard if you had one of these golden "Silver Bullets" you were put on the top of the pile for interviews.
One good thing about HR being involved as much as they are, it may cut down on some of the inbreeding, I mean nepotism going on. Did I really say that out loud?!?!
