No longer a rumor - United will hire..

[CaptSeth]

I'm sure they will have PLENTY of resumes from highly-qualified pilots who want the long-term payoff of a legacy job despite its short-term issues.

Long term WHAT?

 

[GuppyPuppy]

5. How many passed up recall - why?

Reasons I passed on the recall...

1. United has no aircraft orders (the only legacy who doesn't)

2. Pay cut. Would be making about 20k less at United (on 3rd yr pay) than current gig

3. Commute. Would be worse for me at UA. Would be commuting on days off (rather than now where I commute on days I work)

4. Age 65. Currently seniority advancement at United is fueled by retirements. There is very little growth and I felt that with the new rule (it will happen, IMO) I would be kept in the lowest paying position for much longer

5. Possible merger. Tilton is he11 bent on a merger. I felt that if that were to happen I could wind up on the street again

6. Foreign ownership. Again, Tilton is he11 bent on this issue. He would like nothing more than to give United flying away to Lufthansa or some other EU carrier (IMO)

7. Days off. Right now I'm getting 15-17 days off per month. Would be at 12-13 at United

8. Competition. United has been hit hard in recent years and it will continue. In the past few years Southwest has moved into IAD, DEN and will get into SFO. They have also built up their Chicago presence. Virgin America has deep pockets and I expect them to start up operations in SFO soon. Not to mention JB, Skybus and Airtran, while not generally competing head to head with UA will continue to put pressure on domestic yields.

9. Open skies. It is coming with the EU and will probably come to China which will further put pressure on United's most lucrative routes.

10. Hats. United still requires them. They make my head sweat which creates a cheese-like fungus on my forehead. Sure, it's good with wine and crackers, but with the paycut I wouldn't be able to afford the wine.

Granted, I don't have a crystal ball. I really don't know what it will be like to be at United in the future. I looked at the next 3-5 years, which looked better at my current job. For those who say they look at the long term prospects (ie; pay) at United to be OK to good and can take the pay hit for 3 or more years...think about this... I thought the same thing when I was hired in year 2000. The reality is that I would be better off financially had I just stayed with the regional carrier I worked for since I was originally hired there in 1996. Many of you can take that leap of faith. Everyone's situation is different though. Personally, I couldn't make the leap of faith and hope that things would get better at United. I have a family, a mortgage and other bills that cannot be ignored.

I am certain that United will have no problem finding enough people to apply and anxious to work there. The first new-hire class will be filled with giddy newbies just as they were 7-10 years ago. Some may go on to have a great career with United. Others may not. It all depends on your personal situation.

Good luck to all those who wish to work there.

GP

 

[dojetdriver]

Like a good friend told me when I considered being a journalist before I rediscovered my passion for flying:
You have to go hungry for a while before you get where you are going.

Good point! Sure, starve, go hungry for the sake of going where you want to. Because it will be your first and only time had to suck up a crappy wage in this job. Lord knows, most of the applicants have NEVER had to do anything like that before.

Sarcasm off.

 

[UALX727]

Excellent post, Guppy.

 

[Boz]

UAL looking for Interview Captains and the latest on UAL Hiring.

Good morning. This is Sean Donohue with a Hotline on Tuesday, June 19.
I'm very pleased to announce that starting this summer, United will
begin interviewing and hiring new pilots for the first time since 2001.



This is good news - for our pilots, our customers, and for United
Airlines. These new pilots will enable us to ensure the highest level of
service for our customers, while maintaining an efficient, flexible
schedule.



We anticipate that by the end of the June we will have offered recall
to all furloughed pilots and those who plan to return to United will do
so by September, except for those on active military status or an
approved leave of absence. Driven in part by increases in international
flying - we anticipate hiring and training up to 100 new pilots in 2007.
The exact number depends on changes to the mandatory pilot retirement
age currently being considered by Congress. We expect the first new
hire pilots will head into training at DENTK in September and be out
flying the line as early as December.



To help ensure that this moves forward efficiently, we have selected a
veteran B737 captain from the line who will help administer the
application and hiring process. With feedback from ALPA, United is developing
a new online hiring process which includes an online application
screening followed by in-person interviews with line pilots. Prospective
flight officer candidates should visit United's website - www.united.com
<http://www.united.com/> -for further details on the hiring process.



New pilot hiring is an important step for our division and our company
- and this development underscores the growing competitive position of
United overall. We are looking for great pilots, but also for good
people who will be with United for a long time. If you know any good
candidates, I hope you will let them know and direct them to United's
website. We'll keep you posted as we move forward in this process. In the
meantime, thanks for listening and fly safe.



Each recipient of this email voluntarily enrolled to receive these
communications via SkyNet. To be removed from this distribution list or to
change your email address, log into SkyNet, select the "Personal Email
Update" link located in "Business Tools" and follow the prompts.
Please note that this link can only be accessed from a United computer and
not via the Internet. Please forward all questions regarding this
service to [email protected]. United's address is P.O. Box 66100,
Chicago, IL 60666.




From: MEC Membership Committee Chairman Captain Jeff Cramer

Today, the Company announced plans to hire new pilots in the August-September 2007 timeframe. Part of this new hire process will be the recruitment of Interview Captains. Information about these Interview Captain positions will be posted on SkyNet.

Qualifications for Interview Captains are as follows:

• You must be a current line pilot
• You must have 2,000 minimum hours as a UAL Captain
• You must have a minimum three years UAL Captain experience
• Evaluation experience is preferred, but not required.

Please note that Standards Captains, FODMs, management pilots or pilots on sick leave are not eligible to be Interview Captains.

The Interview Captain selection process will be modeled on the Line Check Airman process. Apply via SkyNet, and initial screenings will be made through your Flight Office. Finalists will interview with Human Resources and Flight Operations by mid-July.

For more information regarding the Interview Captain positions, contact me at [email protected].

 

[Going2Baja]

I sure hope they will put an end to the way they interviewed in the past. Perfect logbooks, lunar orbits, and games of stump the dummy should be over. When any carrier turns down Blue Angels or Shuttle Pilots it makes you wonder how they can hire quota pilots and feel good about themselves.

Baja.

 

[capt. megadeth]

I sure hope they will put an end to the way they interviewed in the past. Perfect logbooks, lunar orbits, and games of stump the dummy should be over. When any carrier turns down Blue Angels or Shuttle Pilots it makes you wonder how they can hire quota pilots and feel good about themselves.

Baja.

Yes, I hope they change the way they hire too.

Years back, when they had the written application, I heard (even though the application said PRINT or TYPE) that if you printed it, you wouldn't get a call. Well then put TYPE on there! I hate mind games like that.

Also, this year, when I was at Women in Aviation, I stopped by the UAL booth in my uniform just to ask (out of curiosity) if they were going to hire anytime soon. The HR lady says "yes, are you going to apply?" I had to hold back the laughter but I was polite believe it or not. The female captain working their booth looked like she was holding back a chuckle as well.

 

[AlbieF15]

I don't think folks will put up with the crap of United circa 1999. Its a different airline now. Most folks would rather work at UPS, FDX, SWA, or even CAL or DAL. UAL will be competing for the best of the crop now, instead of getting them automatically. I think its a different game...

 

[Lear70]

Guppy, excellent post, except you left out one crucial detail that will keep the highly-experienced pilots away:

Profitability and a working business plan. United doesn't have either, and they work together to ensure long-term viability.

As far as I know, they're the only post-bankruptcy Legacy that has consistently posted losses since they exited. Given the HUGE concessions given by the work group, the restructured leases, and paring back their operation to just the basics, you'd *think* they'd be making money...

If they can't make money in this environment with all those concessions, what person in their right mind would consider going there as a "long-term career move"?

Something's just not right over there, and there doesn't seem to be a plan to turn it around except "merger mania"... Even Dougie isn't interested, and that's a BIG sign.

 

[Lear70]

Also, this year, when I was at Women in Aviation, I stopped by the UAL booth in my uniform just to ask (out of curiosity) if they were going to hire anytime soon. The HR lady says "yes, are you going to apply?" I had to hold back the laughter but I was polite believe it or not. The female captain working their booth looked like she was holding back a chuckle as well.

*snicker*

Did you defer politely and change the subject, or did you explain it to them?

 

[AutoBus]

...later this year:

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,51564,00.html

"United is preparing to commence pilot hiring later this year. If you are interested in becoming a United pilot, please continue to check this page for more information."

NICE!!

Oh, let me run out and buy a new #2 pencil for the scan-tron, NOT!!

 

[Devil Dawg]

yes folks i will be involved in the process again. you can pm me for a private 'flight info' practice game of stump the dummy. good luck to all. scantrons for all my friends and lets up the app fee to 500. to offset those fuel costs.

nancy

 

[52560]

According to Reuters, United announced this morning that they will hire 100 pilots before year end.

 

[W8N4UAL]

As far as I know, they're the only post-bankruptcy Legacy that has consistently posted losses since they exited. Given the HUGE concessions given by the work group, the restructured leases, and paring back their operation to just the basics, you'd *think* they'd be making money...

I should know more of the details than I do, but I believe if you factor in the debt paydown we made quite a lot of money. Much can be debated regarding the goal of strengthening the balance sheet, but I don't think the argument can still be maintained that UAL is losing money. I'm sure someone will be motivated to show some numbers that probably prove me wrong.

I took the paycut and left a regional to come back to UAL. I'm in the midst of the worst of it (brutal pay cut, reserve on the LCO, etc) but I'm still very happy I came back. Only time will tell if I made a foolish decision. Here's hoping that Age 65 takes long enough for plenty of new hires to make it on the property. (c:

W8N

 

[BoilerUP]

Hey W8N you still out east or back at ORD?