I posted this comment in response to an equally stupid cartoon from Steve Kelly a couple of days ago. So, with apologies, here it is again:
“I flew for an international airline for 32 years. During that time, I was a check pilot and instructor in both the aircraft and in the simulator for Airbus A320, Lockheed L-1011, Boeing B-767, and B-747 aircraft. After my retirement, compulsory at age 60, I became a contract instructor and government delegated check pilot in Boeing B-767 and B-787 simulators. At the age of 70, enough was enough, and with a push from Covid-19, I decided to fully retire.
Over my career, just over 20,000 flight hours and god knows how many 4 hour simulator training and checking sessions, I can assure you that race and gender play ABSOLUTELY NO ROLE in pilot competency.”
Unfortunately, you are correct which is why there is merit to United’s proposal. Despite the current pilot employment glut, due Covid, there is a pilot shortage. This is because most young people can’t afford to take out loans for $75,000+ to get the absolute minimum flying training and then, as has been pointed out here, work for $20,000 a year for 5 years, or so, to get the minimum experience level that United requires in it’s new hire pilots. In order to have a supply of pilots, United is proposing a cadet trying program that trains pilots from no experience to the skill level that United wants in it’s new hire pilots. These cadet programs are not new. Air France and Lufthansa have cadet programs. (FYI, nearly all of Lufthansa’s trading is done in the USA.)There will be no safety issues in such a program. It will be an improvement because these cadets will be trained from day one on how to be an airline pilot.
Airline pilots and the airlines have contracts which determine salary based on which seat, Captain or First Officer, is occupied and by aircraft type, ie Beech 1900 versus Boeing B-777. Race and gender aren’t in the contract.
I flew for an international airline for 32 years. During that time, I was a check pilot and instructor in both the aircraft and in the simulator for Airbus A320, Boeing B-767, and B-747 aircraft. After my retirement, compulsory at age 60, I became a contract instructor and government delegated check pilot in Boeing B-767 and B-787 simulators. At the age of 70, enough was enough, and with a push from Covid-19, I decided to fully retire.
Over my career, just over 20,000 flight hours and god knows how many 4 hour simulator training and checking sessions, I can assure you that race and gender play ABSOLUTELY NO ROLE in pilot competency.
Don’t worry. Unlike the employees, he has a million dollar plus golden parachute.