Just when you thought there was no good news in aviation...
Man breaks paper airplane work record
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Family Medical Leave Act
From Wikipedia:
President Obama recently signed into law, an amendment to the FMLA to include airline crews. That's fantastic, however, I must say, it's really damn sad that it's taken this long. (FMLA was first signed into law back in 1993.) You know damn well everyone up the management chain at an airline has had the FMLA apply to them. But according to these management figures, the people actually making the airline run can't be treated like human beings. All that matters is "schedule integrity."
Let's hope this is one of many steps to start having airline pilots and flight attendants treated more like actual human beings with families of their own rather than just pawns pushed around by overpaid and under performing airline upper management.
The FMLA is a labor law allowing an employee to take job-protected unpaid leave due to a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform his or her job, to care for a sick family member, or to care for a new child (including by birth, adoption or foster care). The FMLA is administered by the Employment Standards Administration's Wage and Hour Division within the U.S. Department of Labor.
President Obama recently signed into law, an amendment to the FMLA to include airline crews. That's fantastic, however, I must say, it's really damn sad that it's taken this long. (FMLA was first signed into law back in 1993.) You know damn well everyone up the management chain at an airline has had the FMLA apply to them. But according to these management figures, the people actually making the airline run can't be treated like human beings. All that matters is "schedule integrity."
Let's hope this is one of many steps to start having airline pilots and flight attendants treated more like actual human beings with families of their own rather than just pawns pushed around by overpaid and under performing airline upper management.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Happy Holidays
Let's take a moment to remember that by getting you home and back safely this holiday season, your airline crews didn't spend the holidays with their own families nor were they paid any extra to do so.
Best wishes to everyone out there and thanks for reading.
Best wishes to everyone out there and thanks for reading.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Thought
Is it wrong to surf porn when talking to Crew Scheduling on the phone? I mean really. Most of the time you're just sitting there on hold, listening to music that sounds like a 70s porn flick anyways. And, when you do finally speak with them you just know, deep in your soul, this time is draining out of your life, and you'll never get it back.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Modern High Flight Poem
I found this on the web. I wish I knew who put it together. It's fantastic.
High Flight (with FAA supplement)
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth(1),
And danced(2) the skies on laughter silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed(3) and joined the tumbling mirth(4)
Of sun-split clouds(5) and done a hundred things(6)
You have not dreamed of — Wheeled and soared and swung(7)
High in the sunlit silence(8). Hov'ring there(9)
I've chased the shouting wind(10) along and flung(11)
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious(12), burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights(13) with easy grace,
Where never lark, or even eagle(14) flew;
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space(15),
Put out my hand(16), and touched the face of God.
NOTE:
1. Pilots must insure that all surly bonds have been slipped entirely before aircraft taxi or flight is attempted.
2. During periods of severe sky dancing, crew and passengers must keep seat belts fastened. Crew should wear shoulder belts as provided.
3. Sunward climbs must not exceed the maximum permitted aircraft ceiling.
4. Passenger aircraft are prohibited from joining the tumbling mirth.
5. Pilots flying through sun-split clouds under VFR conditions must comply with all applicable VFR minimum cloud clearances.
6. Do not perform these hundred things in front of Federal Aviation Administration inspectors.
7. Wheeling, soaring, and swinging will not be attempted except in aircraft rated for such activities and within utility class c.g. and weight limits.
8. Be advised that sunlit silence will occur only when a major engine malfunction has occurred.
9. "Hov'ring there" will constitute a highly reliable signal that a flight emergency is imminent.
10. Forecasts of shouting winds are available from the local FSS. Encounters with unexpected shouting winds should be reported to ATC as soon as practicable.
11. Pilots flinging eager craft through footless halls of air are reminded that they alone are responsible for maintaining separation from other eager craft.
12. Should any crew member experience delirium while in the burning blue, submit an report to the NTSB upon flight termination.
13. Windswept heights will be topped by a minimum of 1,000 feet to maintain VFR minimum separations.
14. Aircraft engine ingestion of, or impact with, larks or eagles should be reported to the FAA, NTSB and the appropriate aircraft maintenance facility.
15. Aircraft operating in the high untresspassed sanctity of space must remain on an IFR flight plan regardless of meteorological conditions and visibility.
16. Pilots and passengers are reminded that opening doors or windows in order to touch the face of God may result in loss of cabin pressure.
High Flight (with FAA supplement)
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth(1),
And danced(2) the skies on laughter silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed(3) and joined the tumbling mirth(4)
Of sun-split clouds(5) and done a hundred things(6)
You have not dreamed of — Wheeled and soared and swung(7)
High in the sunlit silence(8). Hov'ring there(9)
I've chased the shouting wind(10) along and flung(11)
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious(12), burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights(13) with easy grace,
Where never lark, or even eagle(14) flew;
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space(15),
Put out my hand(16), and touched the face of God.
NOTE:
1. Pilots must insure that all surly bonds have been slipped entirely before aircraft taxi or flight is attempted.
2. During periods of severe sky dancing, crew and passengers must keep seat belts fastened. Crew should wear shoulder belts as provided.
3. Sunward climbs must not exceed the maximum permitted aircraft ceiling.
4. Passenger aircraft are prohibited from joining the tumbling mirth.
5. Pilots flying through sun-split clouds under VFR conditions must comply with all applicable VFR minimum cloud clearances.
6. Do not perform these hundred things in front of Federal Aviation Administration inspectors.
7. Wheeling, soaring, and swinging will not be attempted except in aircraft rated for such activities and within utility class c.g. and weight limits.
8. Be advised that sunlit silence will occur only when a major engine malfunction has occurred.
9. "Hov'ring there" will constitute a highly reliable signal that a flight emergency is imminent.
10. Forecasts of shouting winds are available from the local FSS. Encounters with unexpected shouting winds should be reported to ATC as soon as practicable.
11. Pilots flinging eager craft through footless halls of air are reminded that they alone are responsible for maintaining separation from other eager craft.
12. Should any crew member experience delirium while in the burning blue, submit an report to the NTSB upon flight termination.
13. Windswept heights will be topped by a minimum of 1,000 feet to maintain VFR minimum separations.
14. Aircraft engine ingestion of, or impact with, larks or eagles should be reported to the FAA, NTSB and the appropriate aircraft maintenance facility.
15. Aircraft operating in the high untresspassed sanctity of space must remain on an IFR flight plan regardless of meteorological conditions and visibility.
16. Pilots and passengers are reminded that opening doors or windows in order to touch the face of God may result in loss of cabin pressure.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
So, what's it like?
A few weeks ago, someone came up to me and asked "Are you a pilot?" Part of me wanted to look at the uniform I was wearing and say, "No... Damn it! This is the last time I get dressed in the dark!" Instead, I kept my childish humor to myself and simply said "That's what they tell me!" I was then asked in a very genuine and unexpected manner, "What's it like... to fly for a living?" I took a deep breath and went to answer. However, every time I went to say something, my mind jumped to something else. After a few seconds, I realized that I didn't have a simple answer.
"It's a lot of things, actually..." I began. "It's frustrating, challenging, boring, hectic, exhausting, satisfying, deplorable and enjoyable." I have a feeling the person who asked, was looking for more of a glorious answer. After all, most of the public only sees the glamorous part of the job. We walk through the terminal, looking sharp in uniforms with stripes on the shoulders, stripes on the sleeves, and maybe even a hat. Then, we head down the jetway, before everyone else, climb up front office and grab the reigns of a multi-million dollar aircraft and commandeer it into the sky with all those passengers' lives in our hands. We appear fully in control and command of our world. One must admit, it does appear to be quite the life when viewed in such light. Also, most people still think ALL airline pilots are paid $100k or more each year. After all, that uniform, those planes, all those lives in their hands... surely that kind of responsibility has to command a mighty paycheck!
I didn't want to let the sour side of the job taint my answer, because I could see and feel that this person was looking up to me. Even though, they were my age, perhaps a touch older, I could see the kid inside them coming out when they asked the question. They seemed to be reflecting back on their lives and how things might have been different if they would have make different choices or followed a dream rather than listen to others. Truth be told, I don't think they were really looking up to me personally, even though I am quite a handsome chap. Rather, they were more looking up to the career, the position, the title of Airline Pilot. Someone who doesn't sit at a desk all day. Someone who doesn't live in the 9-to-5 world. Someone that commands an aircraft. Someone who lives in a world where big mistakes don't mean the office loses the account or they don't make the sale. It means that people might not return to their families ever again. That is what they were looking up to.
Now it's never fun when your dreams get crapped on, so I wanted to make sure I answered the question in both a factual and considerate manner. Since then, I have spent a little more time reflecting on just what it has been like. It's not quite the dream I had in mind, but it's not a complete nightmare either. Sure, there are those days, but that's not the norm. It's certainly not like every other job, but it's more like every other job out there that I imagined. There are good times and really frustrating times. But, if you figure that any job is going to have its days from hell, then that kind of all equals out. What you are left with is what you experience most of the time, i.e. what your average day is like.
I don't sit in boardroom meetings for hours on end. I don't sit in rush hour traffic everyday to and from the office. I'm not on the phone all day calling people trying them to buy something. I don't occupy a cubical. I do have a fantastic view from my office window. I do get to see some really neat places. I don't get paid very much. I don't get to be home every night, either. I don't get holidays. Some people I work for are complete and utter douche nozzles. But at least I don't have to see them face to face every day. I'd likely smack the crap out of them if I did for some of the things they pull when it's my certificates on the line, not to mention my own life and the lives of all my passengers and fellow crew. I think they completely and totally lose sight of that when they sit at their desks all day getting bitched at by their bosses. They attempt to rule pilots with threats and intimidation as most of them lack any other management or interpersonal skills whatsoever.
All in all, it's still a good gig, at least from where I sit. I do know of those in similar positions as me who got the crap end of the stick and are now furloughed because of events that transpired completely beyond their control. I might very well have a completely different outlook if my seniority number were different. Of course, it could always happen in the future. I don't think a pilot is ever truly safe in that regard. Still, I don't regret my choice to become a pilot.
When I was looking to make the jump, everyone said it was foolish and that I shouldn't do it. Most pilots even said not to do it. Only 2 people said I should go for it, if that's what I wanted. Financially, it's been harder than I thought, and I knew it wasn't going to be easy in that department. Then again, I never took this job to be rich, at least in a monetary sense. Things have not quite taken the path that I expected either. But, I still can't say that I should have stayed where I was, in the cube farm. I didn't belong there. So, I moved on. What I moved to isn't perfect, but it's certainly a whole lot better than where I was and what I was doing. I'm happier for it. And, I'm better at it, too. Which is a good thing!
"It's a lot of things, actually..." I began. "It's frustrating, challenging, boring, hectic, exhausting, satisfying, deplorable and enjoyable." I have a feeling the person who asked, was looking for more of a glorious answer. After all, most of the public only sees the glamorous part of the job. We walk through the terminal, looking sharp in uniforms with stripes on the shoulders, stripes on the sleeves, and maybe even a hat. Then, we head down the jetway, before everyone else, climb up front office and grab the reigns of a multi-million dollar aircraft and commandeer it into the sky with all those passengers' lives in our hands. We appear fully in control and command of our world. One must admit, it does appear to be quite the life when viewed in such light. Also, most people still think ALL airline pilots are paid $100k or more each year. After all, that uniform, those planes, all those lives in their hands... surely that kind of responsibility has to command a mighty paycheck!
I didn't want to let the sour side of the job taint my answer, because I could see and feel that this person was looking up to me. Even though, they were my age, perhaps a touch older, I could see the kid inside them coming out when they asked the question. They seemed to be reflecting back on their lives and how things might have been different if they would have make different choices or followed a dream rather than listen to others. Truth be told, I don't think they were really looking up to me personally, even though I am quite a handsome chap. Rather, they were more looking up to the career, the position, the title of Airline Pilot. Someone who doesn't sit at a desk all day. Someone who doesn't live in the 9-to-5 world. Someone that commands an aircraft. Someone who lives in a world where big mistakes don't mean the office loses the account or they don't make the sale. It means that people might not return to their families ever again. That is what they were looking up to.
Now it's never fun when your dreams get crapped on, so I wanted to make sure I answered the question in both a factual and considerate manner. Since then, I have spent a little more time reflecting on just what it has been like. It's not quite the dream I had in mind, but it's not a complete nightmare either. Sure, there are those days, but that's not the norm. It's certainly not like every other job, but it's more like every other job out there that I imagined. There are good times and really frustrating times. But, if you figure that any job is going to have its days from hell, then that kind of all equals out. What you are left with is what you experience most of the time, i.e. what your average day is like.
I don't sit in boardroom meetings for hours on end. I don't sit in rush hour traffic everyday to and from the office. I'm not on the phone all day calling people trying them to buy something. I don't occupy a cubical. I do have a fantastic view from my office window. I do get to see some really neat places. I don't get paid very much. I don't get to be home every night, either. I don't get holidays. Some people I work for are complete and utter douche nozzles. But at least I don't have to see them face to face every day. I'd likely smack the crap out of them if I did for some of the things they pull when it's my certificates on the line, not to mention my own life and the lives of all my passengers and fellow crew. I think they completely and totally lose sight of that when they sit at their desks all day getting bitched at by their bosses. They attempt to rule pilots with threats and intimidation as most of them lack any other management or interpersonal skills whatsoever.
All in all, it's still a good gig, at least from where I sit. I do know of those in similar positions as me who got the crap end of the stick and are now furloughed because of events that transpired completely beyond their control. I might very well have a completely different outlook if my seniority number were different. Of course, it could always happen in the future. I don't think a pilot is ever truly safe in that regard. Still, I don't regret my choice to become a pilot.
When I was looking to make the jump, everyone said it was foolish and that I shouldn't do it. Most pilots even said not to do it. Only 2 people said I should go for it, if that's what I wanted. Financially, it's been harder than I thought, and I knew it wasn't going to be easy in that department. Then again, I never took this job to be rich, at least in a monetary sense. Things have not quite taken the path that I expected either. But, I still can't say that I should have stayed where I was, in the cube farm. I didn't belong there. So, I moved on. What I moved to isn't perfect, but it's certainly a whole lot better than where I was and what I was doing. I'm happier for it. And, I'm better at it, too. Which is a good thing!
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