Should pax know pilot experience ?

[jetflier]

This statement was made by our communications chairman on national television: http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/BusinessTravel/story?id=4232878&page=1
http://kstp.com/article/stories/S331920.shtml?cat=1&v=1
"I think when people buy their airline ticket they don't even consider the experience level of the pilots that are going to fly that airplane. In bad weather or in a congested airport or in low visibility, this is something the traveling public needs to start thinking about more," said Wade Blaufus of the Minnesota Pilot's Union.
"If somebody went to the doctor or wanted to have needed to have a surgery, would they want the most experienced surgeon, or would they want somebody fresh out of med school?" said Blaufus.



IMHO this may begin the long road to restoring our profession by making experience count. By putting a price on experience, we may begin to drive up pay and benefits, but it will be a long road....

 

[goodgig]

I doubt it matters much to John Q. Public.
They sit at their computer with 3 screens open comparing prices.

 

[zkmayo]

If they want to know our experience level, we deserve how much their ticket was. Every pax should have a post-it note on his forehead stating how much he paid to ride.

 

[ExAF]

Doubt It

Either nobody saw it or nobody cares. Even the guys that always call me the instant they hear or see anything airplane related haven't made a peep. If it doesn't effect the price of their ticket, they have their head in the ground. I was expecting my phone to ring off of the hook after that story. Nothing but crickets.

 

[FLYLOW22]

What's a pax to do when Capt. Johnny Airline Pilot announces that he has 3,000 hours TT, 1,000 ME and he's working on 1,000 PIC Turbine and he's flying with F/O Phil McKrackin who has 250TT and is still trying to find out what makes a jet engine go? Get up and leave?

Fix the problem by paying professional wages and providing QOL... that will attract quality applicants.

Providing a resume of pilots is pointless... The average passenger won't know what the numbers mean and just becasue a pilot has high TT doesn't mean they aren't just getting back off of LTD, going through a divorce, got some bad sleep last night, etc...

Professional Pay and QOL will fix this... or we can continue down this path of awesomeness and entertainment.

Flying as a pax is not a right, it's a privliage for those who can afford it. Time to raise the ticket prices.

 

[jke406]

True. I can just hear Mr. Know-it-all pax now:

"Hey, the last flight's captain had 15,000 hours, and this one only has 10,000 hours. I demand an experienced guy!"

 

[flatspin7]

I can see the PAs now...


Ladies and Gentlemen... Welcome aboard FlybyNite Airlines flight 123 nonstop service to Cleveland...Flight time today will be 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Your Captain has been with the company 23 years and has over 12000 hours of flight experiance. With 10000 in Jet Aircraft. His turn ons include long walks on the beach and beer! His turn offs include Cleveland Layovers and flight attendants that keep calling the cockpit whining about the temp in the first 3 rows of coach.

Your FO is a graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and has been with the company for about a week and a half. He thinks he is better than the Captain becuase he has 1000 hours and 25 of them in a Jet. As you can see he is sporting up his pilot uniform with the addition of the new Ipod touch and a stylish frosted hair-do!


-------------
In all reality all the pax only need to know that the pilots have complete all FAA and Company training and evaluations.

 

[Lear70]

Flying as a pax is not a right, it's a privliage for those who can afford it. Time to raise the ticket prices.

The American Consumer disagrees with you, as did the Federal Government (i.e. Deregulation).

This is why anytime there is a threat to their cheap travel, even lengthy delays due to weather, there are hours of screaming, ranting, and gnashing of teeth on CNN or Fox News about a "passenger bill of rights" or government intervention in an upcoming strike.

The flying public outnumbers us about 1,000 to 1. It's simple numbers. They make more noise, they represent more votes, they win.

I'm not saying I disagree with you, on the contrary, I believe wholeheartedly that ticket prices should increase.

HOWEVER...

You wouldn't see ANY of it unless you negotiated for it. Management would pocket it and keep on chuckling.

Whether pilots like it or not, WE are going to have to fight for it. Personally. As in willingness to strike. As in willingness to see your company go into bankruptcy and possibly liquidate if they won't meet the wage needs of the employees.

It's a risk. But nothing good in life comes without some risk. Question is, how many of the SJS, ipod-in-the-airport, backpack-toting, spike-frosted-haired, sunglasses-in-the-airport-wearing kids are going to stand up with you and fight alongside you for it?

The answer, I fear is none, and they are starting to outnumber the rest of us who will fight as well.

Which is why I'm beginning to think that all this work I've done trying to help raise the bar is all for naught; that it's a lost cause, and I'm one of the only ones left still fighting, waiting for the backup to come charging over the hill that's never going to come.

Without the willingness to fight to the bloody END and elected government officials (NOT McCain) who will let the RLA take its course and appoint NMB members who are TRULY neutral, you're just spinning your wheels...

 

[Captain Overs]

I can see the PAs now...


Ladies and Gentlemen... Welcome aboard FlybyNite Airlines flight 123 nonstop service to Cleveland...Flight time today will be 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Your Captain has been with the company 23 years and has over 12000 hours of flight experiance. With 10000 in Jet Aircraft. His turn ons include long walks on the beach and beer! His turn offs include Cleveland Layovers and flight attendants that keep calling the cockpit whining about the temp in the first 3 rows of coach.

Your FO is a graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and has been with the company for about a week and a half. He thinks he is better than the Captain becuase he has 1000 hours and 25 of them in a Jet. As you can see he is sporting up his pilot uniform with the addition of the new Ipod touch and a stylish frosted hair-do!


-------------
In all reality all the pax only need to know that the pilots have complete all FAA and Company training and evaluations.

Stop bashing Continental!

 

[AC560]

"If somebody went to the doctor or wanted to have needed to have a surgery, would they want the most experienced surgeon, or would they want somebody fresh out of med school?" said Blaufus.

A Doctor advances based on his continual training and performance. An airline pilot advances based solely upon seniority. The analogy of comparing the two only works if you are advocating that all pilot pay and advancement should be on merit/performance and not based upon seniority.

 

[flatspin7]

Stop bashing Continental!

Ummmmm... I work at Continental... and I dont like Cleveland Layovers!!!

Would you feel better if I changed it to Tulsa layovers so everybody can feel the pain?

 

[ATR-DRIVR]

You know....if you make it LBB, the general and his SWA antagonists will make this go 5 pages....

 

[Draginass]

The public doesn't care about crappy maintenance or pilot experience/quality unless something happens to them personally. Then they'll raise hell with the all the ambulance-chasers they can get.

All the public cares about is PRICE.

 

[macdu]

It's all about smokin' holes in the ground my friends. No smokin' holes, nobody cares.

 

[Mike man]

...would they want the most experienced surgeon, or would they want somebody fresh out of med school?

That is a poor comparison...a qualified surgeon right out of medical school usually has better and new procedures and techniques that an older "more" qualified surgeon.

But anyway...