FLIGHT OPS FLYER September 10, 1999 **************** ****************** Actions Planned to Meet Aggressive 2000 Growth ---------------------------------------------- Year 2000 will be an unprecedented year for United, both in terms of opportunity and challenge. Pilots are moving up at record rates. For example, in one of the recent rounds of bids, we had four new Captains with fewer than three years of seniority. This trend appears to continue into 2000, as transition training is projected to increase to 4,500-5,000 pilots next year compared to 3,000-3,500 this year. The increase is driven by 450 pilot retirements (including medicals), addition of 20 growth aircraft driving domestic expansion, and recovery of our B747-400 Pacific operations. We are planning new LAX-MEL service starting in December, new SFO-SHA service in the spring, and possibly a third Pacific operation also next year. Each of these routes results in roughly 20 B747-400 Captain and 35-55 First Officer positions, compared to six Captain and six First Officer positions for domestic flying. Our pilot work force is projected to grow by more than 500 pilots, as we plan to hire over 1,000 new pilots, which would put us over 10,500 pilots by year end 2000. To meet this aggressive plan for 2000 and due to the capacity constraints at DENTK, we needed to increase training in the September through January period. To meet our summer 2000 peak demands, we have been actively working with Aircraft Scheduling to prune some marginal off-peak flying in the November through January period. These are primarily low load factor, early morning or late night trips that do not connect to our banks. Many of the customers are expected to rebook on remaining flights in those city-pairs. We also expect to solicit a vacation deferral to help us grow. Expect a letter in early October with the details. With your help, we will be able to meet our aggressive flying plans for 2000. Richard Lung Director-Flight Crew Resources ALPA and UAL Host Air Safety Forum ---------------------------------- ALPA and United representatives gathered in suburban Chicago this week to attend the 1999 joint ALPA/UAL Air Safety Forum. The forum provides an opportunity for volunteers from ALPA Safety and employees from United Corporate Safety, Flight Operations, AFA Safety, and IAM Flight Safety to gather to discuss safety and operational issues. More than 120 people gathered for this year's two-day event that featured many speakers from both ALPA, United, AFA and IAM. ALPA featured chairman speakers from its Air Safety, Air Traffic Control, Security and Training committees, as well as other ALPA committee representatives. United speakers included officers and employees from many United departments and divisions, including: Corporate Safety and Security, Maintenance Operations, Cargo, Flight Dispatch, Air Traffic and Flight Systems, and Flight Standards and Training. Planning has already begun for the next forum. "This year's forum provided a refreshing venue for open communication between all parties for safety and operational issues," says Captain Ray Brice, who serves as the UAL-MEC Central Air Safety Committee Chairman. "A special thanks to ALPA and United for their excellent coordination to make this important and useful event happen." Two United Leaders Fly Into Retirement -------------------------------------- Former Vice President-Flight Standards and Training Captain J.D. Whitlatch completed his 35-year United career when he landed Flight 1227 from IAD to DEN on Sept. 7. That was the last leg of his final B777 ID, which he commanded through Paris and London before returning to the U.S. Hundreds of Flight Center and Denver employees greeted Captain Whitlatch's final flight when it arrived at DIA's Gate 36. Throughout his long and distinguished career, Captain Whitlatch flew the DC-6, B720, DC10, B737, B767 and B777. Prior to overseeing the Flight Center as its vice president, he served in other management positions including Check Airman, Flight Manager and DENFO Chief Pilot from 1989 to 1996. He also added insight to numerous committees and task teams on which he served over the years. Following a 36-year career with the last 11 years spent serving United's Seattle pilot domicile as Chief Pilot, Captain Jesse Marker retired on Sept. 1. Captain Marker flew his final B767 flight on Aug. 31, when he commanded Flight 1289 from Denver to Seattle. On board, employees and customers toasted Captain Marker's retirement with cake. From the Seattle tower, his daughter cleared his flight for landing. Upon arrival, more than 100 well wishers greeted Captain Marker's flight. Seattle's new Chief Pilot, Captain Randy DeAngelis, congratulated Captain Marker on his retirement, and SEA Administrative Representative Liz Weber presented him with his retirement pin. Since beginning his United career in 1963, Captain Marker spent time flying the DC6/7, B720, B727, DC10, B737 and B767. He served as a management pilot for many years in roles including Flight Manager, Manager of Standards, LCA Manager and Check Airman. Captain Marker was committed to safety and training and served on many committees promoting both. His hard work over the years earned him many awards. "I want to congratulate J.D. and Jesse and thank them for their more than three decades of service to United," says Senior Vice President-Flight Operations Captain Steve Forte. "Their dedication to safety, training and excellence came through in all their endeavors, and we wish them and their families all the best in retirement." Welcome Aboard -------------- Twenty-five new-hire pilots began training at the Flight Center this week, bringing United's total number of 1999 pilot new hires to 538. Their assignments are: 3 B727 F/O 3 to JFK 14 B727 S/O 11 to JFK, 3 to DCA 4 B737 F/O 4 to ORD 4 B300 F/O 4 to SFO Safety Issues ------------- There were no Flight Safety inquiries this week. ************************************************************ Flight Operations Communications, WHQVF 847/700-7288 Current and past issues of "Flight Ops Flyer" are available on Flite Site, the Flight Ops pages in Skynet, United's intranet, and in Library 13 in the UAL Employees Forum in CompuServe. Employees may access Skynet via the internet at http://united.intranet.ual.com ************************************************************