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The SHOW: Airlines still a "good gig"??

HAL Pilot

Well-Known Member
None
Contributor
That’s rediculous... He’ll probably be the first one to vote yes to Kirby’s scope relief contract also...

He knows what side his bread is buttered on!
Chuck - this is what bothers me the most about your post. The UA Captain is obviously a douche but you're totally naïve if you think this Captain is doing a good thing.

There is only so much time to preflight with the turn around of aircraft between flights. This Captain is either rushing his preflight or depending on his FO to do it, which means the FO is rushing his. The Captain should be in the cockpit getting ready for the flight. Rushing leads to shortcuts and missed items. The Captain owes it to his passengers to conduct the flight in the most safe manner which means staying in the cockpit and doing his job, not socializing with first class passengers.

If the Captain showed up early and the plane was available at the gate for him to preflight early so he did not rush his preflight, then he is working for free. This undermines the entire pilot group and their contract. Professionals are compensated fairly for their time. When pilots work for free the company tries to lever this in contract negotiations as a precedence. Now it becomes an additional duty..."prior to leaving the gate, the Captain will..." which leads to adding time to the preflight. An early report with a longer crew day for which the pilot is not compensated.

If the company felt it was necessary for this to happen to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, then the company should either hire additional people to do it or pay the existing people to do it.

The pilot's job is to fly the aircraft in the most safe, efficient and cost effective manner possible. Period.

You seem to find a lot of these articles and post them here with glowing comments. This scares me since you seem to be considering getting into the airline game. Having a good attitude about your job and company is fine. Applauding this type of thing will alienate you from the other pilots due to it's undermining the contract and profession. Zippy's comment is absolutely justified. The type of pilot that does this or praised this will be the first to give the company unwarranted concessions or concessions that are not needed/justified by the company's economics. They are also the type that are more willing to cross a picket line. We don't need or want them in the profession.

Leave this shit to the flight attendants, customer service agents and PR employees. They get hired and paid to do it.
 

Treetop Flyer

Well-Known Member
pilot
Leave this shit to the flight attendants, customer service agents and PR employees. They get hired and paid to do it.

Exactly. 99% of the performances or long/unfunny PA’s are absolutely cringeworthy. Just fly the plane. And be nice to customers, help them when they ask with directions, wheelchairs, strollers, etc. More than that is almost always painful to experience. The FO is in the cockpit with his face in his hands during that “safety brief”.
 

ChuckMK23

FERS and TSP contributor!
pilot
Chuck - this is what bothers me the most about your post. The UA Captain is obviously a douche but you're totally naïve if you think this Captain is doing a good thing.

There is only so much time to preflight with the turn around of aircraft between flights. This Captain is either rushing his preflight or depending on his FO to do it, which means the FO is rushing his. The Captain should be in the cockpit getting ready for the flight. Rushing leads to shortcuts and missed items. The Captain owes it to his passengers to conduct the flight in the most safe manner which means staying in the cockpit and doing his job, not socializing with first class passengers.

If the Captain showed up early and the plane was available at the gate for him to preflight early so he did not rush his preflight, then he is working for free. This undermines the entire pilot group and their contract. Professionals are compensated fairly for their time. When pilots work for free the company tries to lever this in contract negotiations as a precedence. Now it becomes an additional duty..."prior to leaving the gate, the Captain will..." which leads to adding time to the preflight. An early report with a longer crew day for which the pilot is not compensated.

If the company felt it was necessary for this to happen to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, then the company should either hire additional people to do it or pay the existing people to do it.

The pilot's job is to fly the aircraft in the most safe, efficient and cost effective manner possible. Period.

You seem to find a lot of these articles and post them here with glowing comments. This scares me since you seem to be considering getting into the airline game. Having a good attitude about your job and company is fine. Applauding this type of thing will alienate you from the other pilots due to it's undermining the contract and profession. Zippy's comment is absolutely justified. The type of pilot that does this or praised this will be the first to give the company unwarranted concessions or concessions that are not needed/justified by the company's economics. They are also the type that are more willing to cross a picket line. We don't need or want them in the profession.

Leave this shit to the flight attendants, customer service agents and PR employees. They get hired and paid to do it.

Peace out. @HAL Pilot I agree. I should have included some "begin sarcasm" emoji when I posted "he knew what side is bread is buttered on" - The whole incident was surreal on a domestic flight - which is why I shared the pic.

Earler in year we had an aviation symposium at the office on industry trends concering GE's major customers - and in one session there was a graphic on revenue per flight by cabin class and a breakdown on seat mile profit. The trend presented was the industry favors the high profit margin premium seat cabins. I was surprised because I thought the opposite given that Allegiant and others are so profitable. Clearly the Capt in the picture was sucking up to his premium passengers. Hence my sarcastic comment about knowing where the profits come from.

Carry out the Plan of The Day everyone!
 

HAL Pilot

Well-Known Member
None
Contributor
Peace out. @HAL Pilot I agree. I should have included some "begin sarcasm" emoji when I posted "he knew what side is bread is buttered on" - The whole incident was surreal on a domestic flight - which is why I shared the pic.

Earler in year we had an aviation symposium at the office on industry trends concering GE's major customers - and in one session there was a graphic on revenue per flight by cabinn calss and a breakdown on seat mile profit. The trend presented was the industry favors teh high profit margin premium seat cabins. I was surprised because I thought the opposite given that Allegiant and others are so profitable. Clearly the Capt in the picture was sucking up to his premium passengers. Hence my sarcastic comment about knowing where the profits come from.

Carry out the Plan of The Day everyone!
Fair enough. I did not pick up on the sarcasm so you can ignore my rant as applying to you personally.
 

zippy

Freedom!
pilot
Contributor
.

Earler in year we had an aviation symposium at the office on industry trends concering GE's major customers - and in one session there was a graphic on revenue per flight by cabin class and a breakdown on seat mile profit. The trend presented was the industry favors the high profit margin premium seat cabins. I was surprised because I thought the opposite given that Allegiant and others are so profitable. Clearly the Capt in the picture was sucking up to his premium passengers. Hence my sarcastic comment about knowing where the profits come from.

 

sevenhelmet

Low calorie attack from the Heartland
pilot
While there are stories of guys applying and getting snapped up right away, I'm seeing a few guys I know end up waiting in limbo what seems to be a long time. I'm curious: how do guys who have transitioned from military handled the "timing" piece to avoid a lapse in employment when the airline(s) wait a few months (or longer?) to call.
 

DanMa1156

Is it baseball season yet?
pilot
Contributor
While there are stories of guys applying and getting snapped up right away, I'm seeing a few guys I know end up waiting in limbo what seems to be a long time. I'm curious: how do guys who have transitioned from military handled the "timing" piece to avoid a lapse in employment when the airline(s) wait a few months (or longer?) to call.

Great question. One of my biggest concerns...
 

webmaster

The Grass is Greener!
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
There are lots of jobs out there ready to hire you. I broke it down into tiers. Dream job at
Majors. A flying job to keep current. And non flying jobs to pay bills. I also downsized and built up a savings warchest to cushion the transition. I retired and was waiting on the majors and elected to take one of my offers of a flying job. I had multiple job offers for non flying.
 

ChuckMK23

FERS and TSP contributor!
pilot
While there are stories of guys applying and getting snapped up right away, I'm seeing a few guys I know end up waiting in limbo what seems to be a long time. I'm curious: how do guys who have transitioned from military handled the "timing" piece to avoid a lapse in employment when the airline(s) wait a few months (or longer?) to call.


I don’t understand the concern over”lapse of employment “ aka taking a break from working... sounds like a fine idea to give yourself a break and enjoy family time or go travel or read a book. What am I missing?
 

zippy

Freedom!
pilot
Contributor
While there are stories of guys applying and getting snapped up right away, I'm seeing a few guys I know end up waiting in limbo what seems to be a long time. I'm curious: how do guys who have transitioned from military handled the "timing" piece to avoid a lapse in employment when the airline(s) wait a few months (or longer?) to call.

The most common answer is the on most fixed wing military plots groan at- going to the regionals...

The state of the industry today, you can have a regional lined up for you to start within in two weeks after starting terminal leave. Low fixed wing hours or rotary pilots? Most have RTP programs and at least one of the AA Wholly Owned regionals has a fixed wing topoff program for folks.

When applying to on the regionals you can interview within 6 months of getting out and defer your start date.

Yes regional pilot life is quite a pay cut and you’re treated rough by airline standards (but arguably better than a first tour JO working on level 3 quals), but it’s a good resume builder/place holder gig for folks who don’t Have a major worthy resume getting off actively duty or do but fucked around too long to get their completed apps out to everyone early and are stuck without a class date lined up.
 

HAL Pilot

Well-Known Member
None
Contributor
The most common answer is the on most fixed wing military plots groan at- going to the regionals...

The state of the industry today, you can have a regional lined up for you to start within in two weeks after starting terminal leave. Low fixed wing hours or rotary pilots? Most have RTP programs and at least one of the AA Wholly Owned regionals has a fixed wing topoff program for folks.

When applying to on the regionals you can interview within 6 months of getting out and defer your start date.

Yes regional pilot life is quite a pay cut and you’re treated rough by airline standards (but arguably better than a first tour JO working on level 3 quals), but it’s a good resume builder/place holder gig for folks who don’t Have a major worthy resume getting off actively duty or do but fucked around too long to get their completed apps out to everyone early and are stuck without a class date lined up.
Go To The Pre-Show.jpg
 

zippy

Freedom!
pilot
Contributor
I don’t understand the concern over”lapse of employment “ aka taking a break from working... sounds like a fine idea to give yourself a break and enjoy family time or go travel or read a book. What am I missing?

Can be perceived as a lack of commitment or lack of work ethic/ motivation by interviewers depending on how the “why?” Question is answered.

Awaiting start date at company X? Fine
Taking care of ill family member? Fine

Took the summer off to play video games? Not fine.

I know of several cases where folks were not given jobs due to the way they answered their unemployment period questions.
 
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