Turning to the sound, I saw an older man that took me a moment to recognize; it was Dick Grider. I’d flown as his copilot on DC-4s in the Congo in’62, Dick Grider, what “Dick? are you doing here?” as you, I’m flying the Vietnam shuttle; who are you with?” “Same National.” “Overseas I’m with T.I.A. flying the stretch-63 out there, which model are you on?” “Really? on a thirty series; we have to pit stop in Wake. How long have you been with “I’m T.I.A.?” five years; I got on right after InterOcean folded.” left seat of the is a lot more fun than the huh?” “The ‘8 ‘4, don’t know, with T.I.A. it’s all about whether-or-not the chief pilot likes you and “I – I guess he doesn’t like me, I’m still a copilot.” that’s awful, with O.N.A. it’s all about seniority, we’re ALPA (Air Line Pilots “Jeez, Association). Why don’t you come over with us?” like to, but I’ve got a lot of seniority with T.I.A. Our union sucks my only hope “I’d – is that the chief pilot will retire and maybe the next one will like me.” We had another drink and Dick brought me up to speed on some of the others I’d flown with in the Congo; Jack Loughran was flying with Dick’s brother, Bob on out of ‘3s the Virgin Islands, Mal Thompson was painting pictures in Paris, Jess Meade and Augie had bought the farm on approach on a dark night in Biafra. It was a bittersweet meeting that only lasted about an hour. I went away thinking how very lucky I was flying captain for a outfit like Overseas National Airways. LESSON There were many benefits with the Air Line Pilots Association, (ALPA): contract negotiation, protection from dismissal without cause, and of course, fair upgrading practices.
Turning to the sound, I saw an older man that took me a moment to recognize; it was Dick Grider. I’d flown as his copilot on DC-4s in the Congo in’62, “Dick? Dick Grider, what are you doing here?” “Same as you, I’m flying the Vietnam shuttle; who are you with?” “Overseas National.” “Really? I’m with T.I.A. flying the stretch-63 out there, which model are you on?” “I’m on a thirty series; we have to pit stop in Wake. How long have you been with T.I.A.?” five years; I got on right after InterOcean folded.” “The left seat of the ‘8 is a lot more fun than the ‘4, huh?” “I don’t know, with T.I.A. it’s all about whether-or-not the chief pilot likes you – and I guess he doesn’t like me, I’m still a copilot.” “Jeez, that’s awful, with O.N.A. it’s all about seniority, we’re ALPA (Air Line Pilots Association). Why don’t you come over with us?” “I’d like to, but I’ve got a lot of seniority with T.I.A. Our union sucks – my only hope is that the chief pilot will retire and maybe the next one will like me.” We had another drink and Dick brought me up to speed on some of the others I’d flown with in the Congo; Jack Loughran was flying with Dick’s brother, Bob on ‘3s out of the Virgin Islands, Mal Thompson was painting pictures in Paris, Jess Meade and Augie had bought the farm on approach on a dark night in Biafra. It was a bittersweet meeting that only lasted about an hour. I went away thinking how very lucky I was flying captain for a outfit like Overseas National Airways. LESSON There were many benefits with the Air Line Pilots Association, (ALPA): contract negotiation, protection from dismissal without cause, and of course, fair upgrading practices.
ONADaveCaseMAVERICKPILOT1.docx