US Pilots Labor Discussion

[Black Swan]

I find it odd that the company would be putting all this pressure on taxi speed after all the wingtip rubs we have had here and in the industry over the last year. CLT for example, if you follow the yellow taxi lines around the b and c cons you will wingtip strike the guy on the next taxiway line over. The lines are jacked up and there is not enough clearance for a 757 and a bus to be on both those lines at the same time. Not to mention the bazillion rj's and everybody needing to taxi in the same place to enter and exit during a large push. CLT ramp is a mess and after our sereral wingtip rubs everybody is paranoid about clearance.

W

All coming up. There was and is a need to keep the focus on safety. You are exactly correct on the clearance issues. If anything the company needs to go after the speeders on the ramp, not the safe operators. This is so stupid of the company to harass safe operators yet encourage the RJ 500 speeders. What does this tell you about their real focus? Can you say BONUS? All of this will be brought out for the desk jockey Dr. lee.

 

[Res Judicata]

No not solely... however, what has been occurring is the company’s challenge to Captain's authority... which in turn can jeopardize safety… No pilot should feel intimidated into taking any equipment if he or she questions the condition and safety of same, particularly as in the Well’s incident What should be glaringly obvious is the safety and comfort of the passengers and crew are of utmost importance. Sorry if “safety first” (their own slogan) interferes with Doug’s perks when adhered to by the CIC.

OH YES!!! the poor "Friends of the Family"

GMAFB, This lady was dumb enough to carry USLAPPY's water for them and she got burned. The Sullyesque stunt didn't work in Wake's courtroom and it sure as hell won't matter here.

 

[Move2CLT]

That is the allegation of the company. Others see it differently. The Wells issue is just the tip of the underlying issue. This company slows down without the pilots. As I recall it really slowed in CLT when somebody failed to order de icing fluid. Nobody was taken to court for that. perhaps a focus on safety does require a slower pace in many circumstances. This summer has had many weather issues. CLT has had huge construction issues. Massive RJ flow in CLT has clogged the air and ramps. I have seen NO slowdown. Just a close look at safety with an acute awareness the company is looking for hostages. The Wells Incident is going to go larger very shortly now that she testified. She will most likely be the subject of major network coverage now. It will be very interesting when Sullenberger is doing some commentary on this. He was not exactly thrilled with the Tempe Operating style. It was said the company initially went on a witch hunt for him after his incident.
I will be very interested to see if outsiders actually believe a judge will tell pilots not to write up airplanes. Also taxi faster. He could easily issue USAPA and the company a warning to work this all out together, which is the best outcome for all parties. There will be no "smack down". Especially after the Wells testimony.

You've seen no slowdown? Do you fly with your eyes closed? And give it up on Wells. She's had her 15 minutes. Multiple starts to intentionally kill the batteries is not going to make her famous.

 

[Move2CLT]

This judge is learning a lot every day. I am sure the Wells situation was a real eye opener. I would imagine a lot of people , including the judge were wondering what could possibly been the outcome had Capt. Wells not stood her ground and that 330 had issues way out over the Atlantic.

This had nohing to do with Wells standing her ground. This is about a work action and that's what the judge is focusing on.

 

[luvthe9]

You've seen no slowdown? Do you fly with your eyes closed? And give it up on Wells. She's had her 15 minutes. Multiple starts to intentionally kill the batteries is not going to make her famous.

MUltiple starts, to try to get the APU started? What if there was a generator out halfway across you idiot? It is a good thing it was discovered the APU had problems when it did. When you kids start flying the Atlantic in about 20 yrs after our new hires finish up, you can go to Int'ls school and learn about such things.

 

[Move2CLT]

Can you MEL the APU ? Yes or no.

 

[luvthe9]

Can you MEL the APU ? Yes or no.

You will find out some day................. APUs fitted to extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) aircraft are a critical safety device, as they supply backup electricity and compressed air in place of the dead engine or failed main engine generator. While some APUs may not be startable in flight, ETOPS-compliant APUs must be flight-startable at altitudes up to the aircraft service ceiling. Recent applications have specified starting up to 43,000 ft (13,000 m) from a complete cold-soak condition such as the Hamilton Sundstrand APS5000 for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. If the APU or its electrical generator is not available, the aircraft cannot be released for ETOPS flight and is forced to take a longer non-ETOPS route.

 

[Move2CLT]

Didn't answer my question, but that's fine. I'll help you. It can go but it has to take a longer route - that's it. You guys get block or better don't you? Don't you? Oh no, no wonder you didn't want to take it. Under LOA 93, you won't get paid extra for over-blocking. And you get zero for MX cancellations too. That's horrible!

Another interesting note to point out that Bular was asked about the Wells incident at a Standards meeting they had in early August. He last comment was, "...and the 330 has a pretty good CVR." So I'm sure the company knows exactly what Ms. Wells was up to when she was pulling her stunt. She's just lucky they can't discipline her with that.

 

[Black Swan]

This had nohing to do with Wells standing her ground. This is about a work action and that's what the judge is focusing on.

I love how the West pilots are in tune to what judges are doing, and what they are focused on. That is , when they hang with their judge Wake, the one who got spanked for carrying the West water a little too far until the SF clerks teed him up like a golf ball. The bottom line is there is no job action. You can say it all you want. Just because a seasoned trans atlantic captain stood her ground and did exactly what she would in the simulator had the issue come up, is good enough for any of us. I would say if she were in a LOFT and the exact scenario presented itself, she would do the exact thing. Just following up what they say, TRAIN THE WAY YOU FLY, FLY THE WAY YOU TRAIN.... The judge, if anything, is smelling something rotten in Tempe.

 

[Black Swan]

Didn't answer my question, but that's fine.

Another interesting note to point out that Bular was asked about the Wells incident at a Standards meeting they had in early August. He last comment was, "...and the 330 has a pretty good CVR." So I'm sure the company knows exactly what Ms. Wells was up to when she was pulling her stunt. She's just lucky they can't discipline her with that.

Well, if Bular said that, he is going to be on the stand himself very shortly. I would highly doubt he said that anyway. We used to have our LOFT scenarios video taped. They had absolute instructions to erase even them, the data was that respected and regulated. If Bular accessed the CVR in this incident, then he has compromised a lot of things, and his job is one of them. Valerie will own this place if he did that.


s Bill to Allow Airlines to Listen to Cockpit Conversations
By David Parker Brown, on November 20th, 2009 at 1:34 pm

Cockpit of Virgin America Airbus A320
Senator Jim DeMint (R from South Carolina) is looking to change the rules about airlines being able to access recordings from the cockpit. He is currently working on a bill, called the “Pilot Professionalism Assurance Act,” that allows airlines to review the cockpit voice recorder when there are cases against the pilots for misbehavior or “to evaluate or monitor the judgment or performance of an individual pilot.”

Currently, labor contracts between pilots and airlines stop an airline from using the data stored in the flight-recorders against the pilots. Airlines can only listen to the voice recorder if there is an accident or major incident being investigated by the FAA or NTSB.

Today, there is an anonymous reporting system, where pilots can report safety lapses to the FAA. This allows the FAA to record statistics and help to fix future issues. There is a fear that there one files a report, then the airline or the FAA will want to listen to the conversations and pilots would be much less likely to report such safety issues.

I have some serious issues with this proposed legislation. I feel the bill (even the name) questions professionalism of the pilots. Yes, there have been some pilots who have been making poor decisions, but as I talked about the other day, a huge majority of pilots are extremely professional and do they do their jobs well. Should people that do their job well be punished? I think not.

What do you think about this proposed legislation? Is reducing the privacy of pilots worth the increased safety? Would you want a voice recorder at your work that your boss could listen to?

 

[Move2CLT]

Well, if Bular said that, he is going to be on the stand himself very shortly. I would highly doubt he said that anyway.

He said it. That is not in question. If you know a Check Airman that was at the meeting I suggest you give him a call.

 

[PullUp]

Another interesting note to point out that Bular was asked about the Wells incident at a Standards meeting they had in early August. He last comment was, "...and the 330 has a pretty good CVR." So I'm sure the company knows exactly what Ms. Wells was up to when she was pulling her stunt. She's just lucky they can't discipline her with that.

Maybe it is time to reconsider having the cvr recording cockpit communications.
The cvr has regularly been abused by having precrash cockpit recordings released to the media, and now it seems that management is using them for discipline.
maybe a post-flight flow of holding the erase button for 30 seconds would do the trick...
Cheers.

 

[Move2CLT]

Good luck with that. Our battle in not in removing the CVR but in keeping video out.

 

[Black Swan]

He said it. That is not in question. If you know a Check Airman that was at the meeting I suggest you give him a call.

I hear there is some nice stuff waiting for Dr. Lee today. Hope he is up on his statistics! Some nice and interesting stuff for the judge. If he lives in CLT he will already know this. You guys have a wonderful day!

 

[Move2CLT]

Airlines can listen all they want . They just can't use the recordings against pilots in a discipline case.

For now.