Contact your local congressman

[nismo611]

I have noticed that on FI and other aviation forums there are many complaints about aviation overall but I wonder how many people are actually doing something about it so I decided recently to contact my local congressman and as many others as I could find and I complained about the sad state of aviation including debts incurred to become a pilot and how the student loan companies are having there way with all of us but are still being bailed out, low salaries across the board, and also the state of the regional airlines with low time pilots with even lower pay scales. Please take a minute to call your local congressmen and the congressmen where you have either lived in the past or where you did your flight training. This industry is going down the drain, and it will continue to do so until people stand up and attempt to do something about it.

 

[avbug]

You're not spamming the board enough. Try harder...

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=123570

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=123571

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=123572

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=123573

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=123574

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=123575

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=123576


http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=123573

 

[realityman]

I agree with the problems, but not the solution. Do we really want the government telling companies what they can and should pay us?

On the other hand, it'd be great to see the FAA actually makes some rules that truly address fatigue issues.

 

[QOL_is_great:)]

I did!!!

I get pissed when I hear many people whether here on FI, around an FBO or in the terminal complaining about state of the airline industry. I have said for many years that if you don't like it then do something about it.

Well, I did write to my Senator and he is on the Senate subcommittee that will be meeting this week. I passed my thoughts and ideas. I won't waste the time passing the details, but at least I can say I did write. It'll fall upon deaf ears I am sure.

I much money is at play in the industry to change duty day hours or other factors we deal with. It's easier to work crews max hours, on min rest and roll the dice if they'll crash and kill someone. Make lots of profit and if there is a crash then let the feds sort it out. If it goes to a civil trail then their still roll the dice with a settlement. In the end, it's cheaper to have an accident maybe once every ten years and deal with the payout. It's a term the military calls "exceptable losses" during an engagement.

 

[nismo611]

Thank you, the more people that write or call the better the chances of getting some improvement. Maybe I am way off base but I really feel that changes with the regionals will ripple throughout all aspects of aviation, if they have to pay more for experienced pilots so will everyone else. I am not trying to take a swing at the regionals but I would feel more comfortable if I knew there was a little more experience up front when I am locked in the back.

 

[nismo611]

I agree with the problems, but not the solution. Do we really want the government telling companies what they can and should pay us?

On the other hand, it'd be great to see the FAA actually makes some rules that truly address fatigue issues.

Honestly the government will most likely never tell the airlines what to pay the pilots, they may however push the FAA to require all 121 carriers to employ pilots with more experience. Many people have suggested an ATP for both and I think that is a great start it really ensures that they have at least 1500 tt and some actual instrument experience. Some people have suggested this would not help quality but as it is now commercial licenses require little more than a couple hundred hours and no actual instrument experience.

 

[QOL_is_great:)]

I am 100% for ALL Part 121 pilots having an ATP (AMEL) to be hired. I had mine, but I was also flying military fixed wing for a year when I got mine.
How would they want the 1,500 total minimum time required for an ATP to be broken down. i.e. I had 900+ in military rotors over six years then 700+ military fixed wing within 16 months (mustly in a VIP King Air overseas) when I earned my ATP. I was hired into a Dash 8-300 after military service with 900+ rotor and 1,700+ FW (King Air & 1900). Would those numbers work? Would the background and training received work? Should there be a minimum number of fixed wing hours within the 1,500? Yes! They should also look at the type of flying and training too. Acting as a crewmember in a 12,500 King Air, which one is rated, is much different then flying along as a "safety pilot" on a single pilot Part 91 flight. I believe the industry regs could use a real overall to make the paying public much more safe. Room for improvement and a need for it!!

Hey, would you see a doctor for an office visit, meds and even surgery with only one year of med school? I wouldn't!!

I also believe that there should be a industry standard regarding hours and experience. (i.e. some major carriers don't except turbine rotor, yet they'll expect ALL ASEL time one may have. So flying in a AH-1 along the DMZ in Korea doesn't count toward total time, but 100 hours in a 172 doing traffic watch or towing banners does.)

I did write my senator with the expectation I will not hear directly back from him. Maybe a hand-written letter carried into the local office besides the email. I understand they must respond to a written letter, but not an email.