Posted on 04/12/2021 2:35:07 PM PDT by Starman417
In a bold move, United Airlines declared that “diversity is at the forefront” of its pilot program and pledged that 50% of their new 5,000 pilots will either be women or people of color. You have to admire the insanity of that plan because it is so incredibly stupid that you know a liberal was involved in its conception. I can just imagine the meeting at United that birthed the concept of making flight deck diversity Job #1. Scotty woke up one morning and wanted to make some changes.
Scotty: “Does anyone have an idea of how to destroy United? I mean really tarnish our image? Come on guys and gals, lets think out of the box.” Voice #1 from the back of the room: “Why don’t we drag a 69-year-old man off of a flight after we break his nose, knock out some of his teeth and give him a concussion?” Scotty, throws Voice #1 a small pack of peanuts. “I like the cut of your jib but that was done in 2017. Remember? We overbooked the flight and needed to accommodate 4 United crew members flying to another city? We had to drag that dude down the aisle and his belly was handing out!” Voice #2 from the back of the room: “Hey lets kill some of their beloved pets!” Scotty: “Done and doner. Remember when we forced that passenger to stuff her puppy Kokito in an overhead bin and the dog suffocated? That dog had a stupid name anyway!” Scotty: “Come on folks, put your backs into it. Give me something. Voice #3 from the back of the room: “Hey, can we force a female to hold her two-year-old on her lap for 4 hours because we sold the kids seat to a standby passenger?” Scotty: “You’re killing me here folks. We already did that. Come up with something new that will really get peoples attention.” Voice #4 from the back of the room: “We could require that 50% of the next 5,000 pilots we hire must be either women or people of color.” Scotty was now excited. He was really tired of putting safety first and now, finally, diversity could play a major role in determining what pilots were qualified to set foot on the flight deck. Woke Scotty finally realized that the pilots appearance was much more important than his/her flight skills. Hallelujah!
As a passenger I think that United made a great decision. Just think of the possibilities. Denzel Washington could be the next United pilot welcoming you on the plane. It doesn’t matter if he lacks the skill set to fly a plane. What matters is the fact that he played an amazing but flawed airline pilot in a movie and really looked cool in his uniform. Okay, in the movie Denzel had a drinking problem, but so what. You know it would be trey cool to meet the dude and maybe share a pitcher of beer with him before the flight. Mindy Kaling would also be a great pilot. She is female, funny and United gets to check off two boxes on their wish list: woman and person of color. What a coup.
I do have one more suggestion for Scotty who salivates about achieving diversity on the flight deck. Why stop with females and minorities? If you want the flight deck to accurately reflect the diverse group of passengers sitting in coach, why not train old people to fly your jumbo jets? I’m 73, and I really want to be a high paid United pilot because I can use the cash to buy a new grill and I’m tired of sitting in my living room watching reruns of Firefly and eating Cheetos.
(Excerpt) Read more at floppingaces.net...
I have always found that relying on the software and systems engineers that write the requirements and code for these aircraft to understand every possible situation that might arise (ignoring basic hardware failures that prevent brilliant software from functioning correctly) was very dangerous. For the record, I’m a software DER - I approve software on behalf of the FAA.
I also maintain status on United - but that will probably end very soon.
Any of you all that have seen “Soul Plane” with Snoop Dog?
Here we go
.
If you are on a flight with snakes, this could be a very big problem.
Given the current level of sophistication of unmanned aircraft, pilotless commercial flights are a near reality. Initially, a human copilot may monitor the “autopilot”, but even his job will go the way of the elevator attendant.
As development of so-called flying cars nears reality, pilotless aircraft will be required to avoid the thousands of aircraft speeding around. Only high tech radar coupled with powerful computers will be able to safely navigate while dodging other aircraft. These aircraft will need to have an “internet of the air” to cooperate in automatic collision avoidance while providing a smooth ride for passengers.
The idea of thousands of commuters manually controlling their drone like aircraft in their dash to their job or shopping over populated areas is a terrifying thought.
Rush hour in 3 dimensions - like a swarm of bees - no roads, no lanes, no traffic lights.
“I’m a software DER - I approve software on behalf of the FAA.”
That’s very cool. I am a DO-178/200/254 expert. Chaired several safety critical committees. I’ve always liked the DERs I’ve worked with.
Just one of the problems with diversity or whatever it is. The best are not selected. Only those who meet the race or sex criteria are selected and then pushed through to “success”. They pass but they are not excellent, not the best available. They water down standards and lower both the bar for entry and the standard of performance and competence.
The only thing diversity accomplishes is mediocrity.
And then they turned them lose on the 737 max.
long time gone
I like Southwest due to the free checked bags policy, but never was a fan of the lack of assigned seats.
Jet Blue recently made a change that if you book the low tier “Blue Basic” fair, you only get the backpack/purse personal item, no carryon in the overhead bin unless you pay for “Blue” or higher. So that means a higher fair and a $35 checked bag fee if i read their new rule right.
Of the legacy carriers, I have used American and had a good experience both times.
I used to like Delta, however severl years ago I had a connection in ATL. The flight in was delayed due to weather by 45 mins. I still had a 1 hr and 15 mins for the connecting flight, both in the same concourse. Well, at some point they changed the gate and never made a PA announcement, text updates, or updated the monitor at the original gate in T concourse. About 20 mins before boarding and no plane or crew and about 60 pax waiting we got concerned. After tracking down a gate agent at a nearby gate, it had moved to the end of the E concourse. The T concourse supervisor told the E concourse sup about half your flight is at the gate still showing flight 1234 to TPA. We were told to hurry, but they wold hold the plane. They didn’t. Half the flight missed the connection, during the Xmas rush, I got stuck in ATL for 4 more hours until I got on a flight to TPA. They offered me a whopping $5 food voucher. Someone else got put on a flight to Houston than to ATL same plane. They got stuck for 5 hours and got a $10 voucher for future travel. Needless to say, no more Delta for me.
Depending on where in the country you work and live, we may well know each other. I’m based outside of Kansas City, and am listed in Appendix B in DO-178c under the company TBV Associates.
Let me know if you think you know me, FRiend.
I’m out of Denver, so maybe we crossed paths. I checked my DER records of prior programs and no TBV listed. I worked on nav data programs and flight deck systems if that helps.
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