Some memorabilia found in an old box...

[derg]

My crew card from my first IOE flight as a 727 second officer. My 'check second officer' was a soon to retire former National Airlines mechanic turned National Airlines flight engineer and then Delta:

My last rotation as a Beech 1900 captain before I quit Skyway to go to Delta (look familiar, FlyChicaga?

)

And old letter of reccomendation I got from a captain unexpectedly when he left Skyway. Kind of heartwarming because I never asked for nor expected one:

Kind of a "class picture" from my old CFI days at Wings Over California:

I've got more stuff, but Kristie packed my box back away!

 

[JGriffis]

Doug or any other airline pilot for that matter. What kind of things are in your contracts other than pay when you become say a first officer. For example, do you know when you'll be eligible for a Capt position, or are these things pre-set in your contract. Like after so many years you get promoted to Capt? Thanks a lot, just curious!

 

[derg]

Skyway was just in seniority order. I really didn't have (or need!) a choice, I was just next in line for upgrade.

At Delta, and most other airlines, you're able to put in a 'bid' for captain on specific aircraft. And if you're senior enough, you'll go to training.

But my last captain said it best during his preflight brief: "Don't be afraid to speak up if you see something wrong, Doug. I'm captain not because I'm better than you, I'm captain because I'm an old man and I've been here a long time and no one else wanted the job!"

 

[JGriffis]

Thanks I know it was kind of a stupid question for your level, but hey I didn't know. Thanks for the info! That's kind of how I thought it all worked though.

 

[Malko]

Hearing about the old box of stuff takes me back to a recent (1-2months) thread. Doug, did you ever get the shelves up for the Mrs. so she could unpack her stuff and put it on display?

 

[derg]

And those people are, from left to right:

David S: Mechanic
Daryl V: Asst. Chief Pilot/co-owner
Darrel K: CFI (later went to Trans States)
Billy ?: CFI (later? I have no idea)
Anita L: CFI (went to Mesa then ???)
Nobu H: CFI (went to JAL)
Doug T: Some compugeek dork.
Hermann K: CFI (then Continental Express, then Continental Mainline, then Continental Express, then Continental)
Dominic S: CFI (then LifeFlight, then ASA)
Derek B: CFI (then WestAir, then Skywest, then Delta, then the big furlough

)
Dan H: CFI (got hired at UAL at 24 years old, then a 747 FO at 25 and a 737 captain at 26 WOW!)
Kevin K: CFI & chief pilot (owned 12 aircraft at 24 years old, holey moley!)

 

[Malko]

[ QUOTE ]
But my last captain said it best during his preflight brief: "Don't be afraid to speak up if you see something wrong, Doug. I'm captain not because I'm better than you, I'm captain because I'm an old man and I've been here a long time and no one else wanted the job!"

[/ QUOTE ]

Classic !!! You'll have to put that one in the book.

 

[derg]

[ QUOTE ]
Hearing about the old box of stuff takes me back to a recent (1-2months) thread. Doug, did you ever get the shelves up for the Mrs. so she could unpack her stuff and put it on display?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup!

That's a -88, a 737, a tiny 767-300ER (off-scale) and a whopping 777 on the right. So I cheated with purchasing the 777...

 

[derg]

[ QUOTE ]
Classic !!! You'll have to put that one in the book.

[/ QUOTE ]

This guy got humbled early in his career when he got shot down in an O-2 in Vietnam... Talk about a true 'good sh*t'/big picture/carpe diem great guy to fly with!

 

[FlyChicaga]

Ah yes! I know the CrewTrac printouts well!

 

[Malko]

from the looks of it Kristie got at least the top two shelves. I hope there are some computer books or flying stuff on the bottom ones. Did you get more than just the top shelf?

 

[derg]

Funny thing is, since we were 'pre ALPA contract' they'd change your bases at the drop of a hat. I was based in Marquette, MI but finally got awarded Milwaukee, but before they transferred me, they out-of-the-blue, sent me to be based in Dayton saying that my award for Milwaukee wasn't actually effective. Ahh, the 'pleasure' of flying for a non-union carrier.

 

[derg]

[ QUOTE ]
from the looks of it Kristie got at least the top two shelves. I hope there are some computer books or flying stuff on the bottom ones. Did you get more than just the top shelf?

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, I have half of the middle shelf. Mostly some commuter-books I've read (mostly old WW2 history), some old 727 and 737 PRM's and a bunch of autographed copies of "Captain".

 

[tonyw]

Hey, Doug, kind of funny how they put you, the Japanese dude, and the woman next to each other in a sea of white men!

Relax, folks, I'm not screaming racism, just amused at that.

 

[derg]

Actually, some interesting trivia. The guy on my left is also Japanese, but he's Japanese/German (from their respective countries) and both his parents were in their late 50's...

 

[Wm226]

[ QUOTE ]
Dan H: CFI (got hired at UAL at 24 years old, then a 747 FO at 25 and a 737 captain at 26 WOW!)

[/ QUOTE ]

Yikes! I didn't know being a 747 FO was possible at such young age!

 

[I_Money]

[ QUOTE ]

Yikes! I didn't know being a 747 FO was possible at such young age!

[/ QUOTE ]

Virgin and UPS had 747 captains who were in their mid-late twenties - it is certainly very rare but with lots of luck and some damn good timing it can happen.

[ QUOTE ]
but he's Japanese/German (from their respective countries) and both his parents were in their late 50's...

[/ QUOTE ]

There is a joke somewhere in there i just can not put my finger on it.

 

[derg]

Nope, no joke!

In fact, the Continental Express job he had was one I helped arrange. I had just got hired by Skyway when they called me for an interview. I told them that I had accepted a position at a regional but knew another equally qualified CFI that might be interested.

 

[A300Capt]

[ QUOTE ]
Virgin and UPS had 747 captains who were in their mid-late twenties - it is certainly very rare but with lots of luck and some damn good timing it can happen.



[/ QUOTE ]

Yep...UPS had, at one time, the youngest 747 Capt in the world. I believe he was a DC8 Capt at 25 and 747 skipper at 26 and remaining there for about 12-14 years. Timing and luck are HUGE factors in this game. I know the person and he is a very sharp pilot, great personality and well respected within our group. He's currently flying the "light twin"...A300-600. Actually, the B757 is considered the "light twin" around here but after flying the B747, everything is considered light!

One of my best friends at UPS is taking his checkride this afternoon to become one of our B747 Capts. He had previously flown the B75/76 and A300. He said the whale was like flying a mall around and he never thought a 10,000ft rwy could look sooooo small!!

 

[A300Capt]

[ QUOTE ]
Yep...UPS had, at one time, the youngest 747 Capt in the world

[/ QUOTE ]

And BTW, out of 2500 UPS pilots, this person (age 39) is currently #6 on our overall seniority list with the top 3 people (post age 60)having already retired to the FE seat. In effect, he is bidding #3 in a flying seat at UPS with 20 years to go until retirement. He's been in the single digit seniority position for probably the last 10-12 years. Not bad!!