Prospector: You stated:
"You say the UK is probably the most etc etc etc
Do you know the hiring policy of the rest of the worlds airlines?
Then you state it is a fact what you think of UK hiring policy
How could one person in one life time know everything about all the airlines in the UK and their hiring procedures. Can you state your opinions are fact?? Would everybody in the UK agree with your statement?? If not how could it be a fact???"
First of all, I think nearly everybody in aviation would agree with me with the old saying - "its not what you know but who you know" that can open up doors for one in aviation. It is very well known and accepted here in the UK (and most places) - I cannot comment about NZ as I have no information or experience of. But then, I wonder who you are to question me about my comments on my own country's aviation history. You hardly seem qualified being in another hemisphere. I think I know more about hiring in the UK than you and I presume you know more about hiring in NZ than I do. I also stated the nepotism exists everywhere - it's just the degree of it that differs. You did not seem to have a problem when lone falcon stated (in good faith I believe) that the AI F/O got his job via influence.
Secondly, I never claimed to know the rest of the worlds airlines hiring policies - I never even mentioned them, so why you made the comment bemuses me. I just made factual statements about the UK pilot hiring history and philosophy. (I wish you would read what was written.) For your information, the very basis of UK civilian pilot hiring was based on a traditional model of hiring from the military, That is historical and fact. The airlines operated like this HERE for decades. As such, such cultures permeated their way through the entire industry for a long time. If you weren't from a military background - you did not get in. Fact. Civilians had a very tough time, as did women. As did coloured people. As did white people who were simply "not the right stock" or spoke with "that funny northern accent." Yes, things have progressed greatly and are moving in the right direction, but the fact (not what I think, but what I & most HERE know, is that the issue of nepotism, exists here, always has existed and always will exist. What you do not understand as a foreigner that WE do as a BRITS is that is part of our culture. Virtually everyone here knows this and of the very many pilots I know here, most know at least someone who got a job through nepotism. If they can do the job - fine, but I only have issue if they just get in because of contacts, cannot fly and displace a truly deserving person who can. I have no problems with networking.
When you have lived here a lifetime and been part of the process then please pass comments as to my sincerity - if you haven't, don't try to twist things or at least try to understand hat was being read. I stated 'probably' as I do not know which country in Western World (not the rest of the world as you improperly stated) is worst but FACT in the case that the UK is a prime contender. I never stated I knew all the UK airlines hiring policies, but I believe, living over here, humbly put, I have a greater understanding (as do most who live here) than you do, so I am far more factual in my comments than you are.
Let me try a give you a simple example: it is FACT here that the Head of the UK Police and after several official enquiries have declared the UK Police system is "INSTITUTIONALLY RACIST" This is a matter of public record. Does it mean that all UK Police officers are racist? Of course not. What it means is that the very controlling foundation/system in which they OPERATE is racist. Most people in the UK knew this for decades, but as most things, it was covered up or denied by the system. We brits are used to a duality of systems and are wellm aware of it. you it seems are not. It is now, because of changes in society and the outlook of the majority of modern police officers who brought this out into the open as they were being seen to be racist when they were not. The same principle applies to the UK pilot hiring market - everyone knows that nepotism plays a big part as it is a large part of the hiring culture - it's just that it is not made official. The reason is I believe, due to an imbalance of power and a lack of transparency & accountability (and that is my opinion).
Having trained over 200 military pilots from around the world for military to civilian transition training in addition over cadets from airlines ranging from Europe, USA, Middle East, Far East & South America and being involved with the hiring /selection teams for many of these, I have learnt a LITTLE bit about what goes on within certain airlines from certain countries and certain cultures. It is by no means all knowing but just my learning, experience of. I am however allowed to state FACT about my own country which what I did. Please do try try to twist things around and be a little more circumspect before making personal comments. I will tell you one thing though, I do believe that a person or entity exists that does know everything about everything and it is a FACT that it is not me, and IMHO, PROBABLY NOT YOU either.