WeAAsles questions why we so vehemently banded to protect our seniority?
These are just a few of those who attacked east pilots at every turn...
Under the heading of "You can't make up this stuff," we read the below on a popular blog entitled
flightinfo.com. It is reposted in its entirety, without edit. As we have often posted, U-Turn will not get into the Addington DFR debate. That will be solved by the courts. But attempting to turn Captain Sullenberger's appointment to US Airways' management safety team into a political issue? All we can say is consider the source.
U-Turn will accept letters expressing differing opinions, but we also reserve the right not to post them. U-Turn believes that safety is not and should never be turned into a political issue.
Posts: 61
Civ/Mil: Civilian
A/C Flown: Jetz and props
Ratings: ATP, MEI, FE B-727, B-737 type
Curr Position: Flying for the aquiring airline
Total Time: 11,000
Sully, welcome to Phoenix
Open letter to Doug Parker.
September 28, 2009
Mr. Douglas Parker
CEO & Chairman of the Board
US Airways, Inc.
111 W. Rio Salado Parkway
Tempe, Arizona 85281
VIA EMAIL
Dear Doug:
I'm writing to express my complete and utter disappointment with
today's announcement that Captain Sullenberger will be appointed to a
management position within the company. In fact, as a result of Capt.
Sullenberger's decision to use his new found fame as a weapon against
1800 former America West pilots in a recent federal court case over
pilot seniority, I find the company's announcement particularly
insulting. Not only does this decision now forever discredit the
company's purported "neutrality" in the pilot seniority issue, but it
also calls in to question the credibility of the entire safety
management team. As I hope you'll agree, it is in everybody's best
interests to keep flight safety an issue that is far removed from
politics.
I can respect that Capt. Sullenberger has his own personal opinions
regarding the seniority situation, however, I believe that his
decision to testify in court raises reasonable question as to his
ability to adequately perform his new duties without bias. Capt.
Sullenberger did not provide any relevant testimony in the case, and
was only called to testify by USAPA in the hopes that his celebrity
status would unfairly influence a jury. Instead of limiting the use
his celebrity status in support of productive goals such as promoting
aviation safety and the image of US Airways, he blatantly abused that
status by unnecessarily inserting himself on the losing side of an
issue that he played no prior role in. I cannot be reasonably assured
that he would not similarly misuse his position in management.
While I'm certain that this letter will fall on deaf ears, I can
assure you that this letter by no means an end to this issue, and that
you will be in need of much more than a well polished statement at a
crew news session to address it.
Sincerely,
/s/
Mitch Vasin
PHX 320 FO
