A Pinnacle captain with some balls

[sf3boy]

Hoover, Hoover, Hoover

I believe you need to realize what the meaning of union labor is and why most airline pilots where forced into organization.

Labor is not paid to think. That has been made very clear by the airline managements over the last 30 years. Thinking is for the smart Ivy League types that do such a good job of making the tough decisions that lead their airline to successful returns.

 

[Thedude]

A professional does what is necessary to get the job done, consistent with safety and legality. A spoiled brat sits and and pouts "Not my job" when things don't go his/her way.

We would all do well to remember that there will come a day for each of us when, in order to get something we want or need, we will have to rely on the kindness, generosity, and the "can do" attitude of another person.

If there is justice in the world, one day that Captain is going to need something from one of those 50 passengers that were on his plane.

Sometimes you have to draw the line that you won't cross, as a professional.

 

[Shobra]

Trap is right on the money (or minutes). No one should Have to use their cell for company usage, unless it is provided by the company or comp'ed by the company!!!

 

[iflyabeech]

I use mine all of the time for company business because I did not prostitute myself out to a company that doesn't take care of me.

 

[k_EAT=ho_ME]

I use mine all of the time for company business because I did not prostitute myself out to a company that doesn't take care of me.

Your pimp...er, I mean boss must be pleased.

 

[arthompson]

I don't know if anyone here has thought about this but the use of the cell phone is a non issue. The incident in question happened after 2100 Central time. Most PCL crew members make there homes in the Central or Eastern time zones. With this in mind, the cell phone call would have been free. As for calling from the flight deck, crew members have called SOC from the aircraft so thats not really an issue either.

 

[ss9e]

i was also one of the dispatchers on duty that night. the captain sat at DCA for so long because he can't add. the numbers that the DCA station gave CLC were right. the captain wasn't counting 1 of the pax, a child, as a half weight. the batphone doesn't work at DCA but AIRINC does. the captain had the means to contact dispatch at company expense. he was just to hard headed to use it. the captain is the reason that the pax sat on that plane for so long. dispatch and CLC were all over that flight. the captain may have big balls, but he also has a small brain.

 

[Mesabi Miner]

There are a number of factors here; all have been discussed.

1. Understaffing
2. Re-imbursement of cell charges
3. The CA's view of management.
4. 9E's contract status.
5. The list goes on...

Now, ask yourself how you would feel if you were a DCA passenger with tickets for your honeymoon cruise down in FLA. Or, perhaps you're just trying to spend one more hour with your critically-ill mother in Kalamazoo or... This thread is bad. I can't believe there are people that even think of applauding, "Kudos! Block or better, right?" It comes down to making an ethical decision, something that many people today can't seem to accomplish. I agree that 9E needs some real help in their infrastructure. I agree that cell phone charges should get re-imbursed. I agree that regional pilots don't make what they should on their W2s. I don't agree with inconveniencing 50 pax in the back. All that CA accomplished was giving our companies and our profession more of a bad rap. For God sakes, suck it up, make the call and grow up. If that $1.00 you spend on airtime charges literally takes food out of your baby's mouth... Well, then perhaps you do need to look into a more financially feesible profession. Or, maybe get rid of the digital cable. It's all about doing what is ethically sound. Does 9E management? Nope. But, that does not let YOU off the hook.

MM

 

[iflyabeech]

There are a number of factors here; all have been discussed.

1. Understaffing
2. Re-imbursement of cell charges
3. The CA's view of management.
4. 9E's contract status.
5. The list goes on...

Now, ask yourself how you would feel if you were a DCA passenger with tickets for your honeymoon cruise down in FLA. Or, perhaps you're just trying to spend one more hour with your critically-ill mother in Kalamazoo or... This thread is bad. I can't believe there are people that even think of applauding, "Kudos! Block or better, right?" It comes down to making an ethical decision, something that many people today can't seem to accomplish. I agree that 9E needs some real help in their infrastructure. I agree that cell phone charges should get re-imbursed. I agree that regional pilots don't make what they should on their W2s. I don't agree with inconveniencing 50 pax in the back. All that CA accomplished was giving our companies and our profession more of a bad rap. For God sakes, suck it up, make the call and grow up. If that $1.00 you spend on airtime charges literally takes food out of your baby's mouth... Well, then perhaps you do need to look into a more financially feesible profession. Or, maybe get rid of the digital cable. It's all about doing what is ethically sound. Does 9E management? Nope. But, that does not let YOU off the hook.

MM

Amen, brother!

 

[theo]

No, I want the company to fix the root cause of the problem. The problem here is that the company is not answering messages that are being sent by approved means. The dispatchers are so overworked and understaffed that they can't handle all the flights that are thrown at them each hour. Our computer systems used in SOC are so old that they sometimes crash several times an hour. The cell phone minutes isn't the issue, the issue is an entire support structure that is practically nonexistent. The only way to fix that is by taking delays because of it. Without that, management will just turn their back on the problem and gladly accept the "help" from the pilot force. The pilots have to do more than our fair share at this company to keep things running smoothly. It's time for managment to shift the burdens where they actually belong.

Hey man start an airline and become management. You always seem to have the answer. Let us know where you do it because I am sure everyone on this board would want to work there. For as long as it lasts.

 

[Morning Wood]

I have some dumb questions.... what did airlines do before pilots had cell phones? What happens if the pilots don't happen to have cell phones or are out of signal range?

Here's another dumb question.... why did this airplane not go back to the gate and get whatever was needed instead of sitting somewhere on the airport?

There's something missing in this story somewhere. Does this CA really have big balls or is it a small brain?

I'm not sure that balls is the genitalia involved in this case. So don't use
your phone. Sit there and run late...get home late..miss your commute home,
or get to your overnight late. Unless someone from mgt was on that
flight, they aren't going to really notice what you did nor will they care.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

BOO HOO!!! You have a responsibility to the people in your care. Like I said, take it up with the company but don't punish the passengers. Am I the only who thinks this is an outrage?

If I don't have a cell phone do you expect me to get one? An extra $30 a month just to make a 5 minute phone call once a month?

Stick the issue and the principal of it...

 

[Ty Webb]

It's not a matter of cell phone minutes, or a few cents. The point that is being missed here is that management has obviously cut things so close to the bone that the crew is drawing a line, and making their point in one of the few ways available to them.

I remember one time I had an aircraft change and a 25 minute turn. The CA was pushing to get the flight out on time. I told him, "Look, you do what you want, but I am not going to make up for the operational inefficiencies by taking any shortcuts to make this work. Someone scheduled this thing way too tight, and if we take any shortcuts to get it out on time, nothing will change . . . I'm not going to do it".

Did he like it? No. But I made my point, and it was a point well worth making. You might think you are doing those pax a favor, but in the long run, you are doing ALL the Pax a disservice by trying to cover up for shoddy infrastructure.

 

[theo]

It's not a matter of cell phone minutes, or a few cents. The point that is being missed here is that management has obviously cut things so close to the bone that the crew is drawing a line, and making their point in one of the few ways available to them.

I remember one time I had an aircraft change and a 25 minute turn. The CA was pushing to get the flight out on time. I told him, "Look, you do what you want, but I am not going to make up for the operational inefficiencies by taking any shortcuts to make this work. Someone scheduled this thing way too tight, and if we take any shortcuts to get it out on time, nothing will change . . . I'm not going to do it".

Did he like it? No. But I made my point, and it was a point well worth making. You might think you are doing those pax a favor, but in the long run, you are doing ALL the Pax a disservice by trying to cover up for shoddy infrastructure.

No...you just screwed your passengers and had no effect on the infrastructure. But hopefully you felt good about it and your family and friends were not on the flight.

 

[ss9e]

i said it before, i'll say it again. the captain had the means to contact dispatch at company expense. AIRINC works at DCA. the captain was just too hardheaded to use it.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

BOO HOO!!! You have a responsibility to the people in your care. Like I said, take it up with the company but don't punish the passengers. Am I the only who thinks this is an outrage?

Yes!
I will take care of the safety and comfort of the pax to the best of my ability. That being said, when I accepted the job there was(and isn't) a requirement to have or use a cell phone for company business. You say, "I have unlimited minutes, so what it doesn't cost me anything" Yes it does every plan that includes unlimited minutes costs more than a defined plan, at least with my provider. Punish the pax? The shortcomings of a particular companys communication policy is not my/our problem, in fact you are the cause of the problem every time you whip out that phone and solve the companys problem with your rescources and are not compensated for the cost.
PBR

 

[Rook]

i said it before, i'll say it again. the captain had the means to contact dispatch at company expense. AIRINC works at DCA. the captain was just too hardheaded to use it.

Before pointing your fingers and calling the CA a d1ck, how about these scenarios that happen on a daily basis at 9E...Loading up 50 pax, extra fuel for wx, too heavy for T.O. burn fuel to get legal after being told numerous times "you should be ok"

Or the service to YYG, that was a debacle with DX and CLC for the first couple of flights.

What I don't like doing is going out of my way by calling DX, asking if there might be an issue well before boarding pax, getting to the hold short line and finding out I'm not going anywhere for about an hour due to someone dropping the ball along the chain of communication that I started close to an hour before.

 

[J32driver]

Was in a crew van with a 9E crew the other day. He tells me one of your flights was going into DTW. The wx fell on its butt while enroute, so he sent an ACARS to dispatch and asked for an alternate airport. The ACARS message he got back was "You're the captain, you figure it out".

If I ever get a message like that from my company, me and my POI are going to have my dispatchers job!


In the situation in DCA... the captain absolutely should have used the radio to call ARINC. But the last thing he should have done is pick up the cell phone and call.

I'll use my phone for my company, but thats only because I've never had any problems making contact with them when I need it through the company provided system. Sometimes, my cell phone is simply easier for ME. When the company system stops working on a regular basis is when I stop using my cell phone and its time for the company to get their shiznit together.

 

[Morning Wood]

Was in a crew van with a 9E crew the other day. He tells me one of your flights was going into DTW. The wx fell on its butt while enroute, so he sent an ACARS to dispatch and asked for an alternate airport. The ACARS message he got back was "You're the captain, you figure it out".

If I ever get a message like that from my company, me and my POI are going to have my dispatchers job!


In the situation in DCA... the captain absolutely should have used the radio to call ARINC. But the last thing he should have done is pick up the cell phone and call.

I'll use my phone for my company, but thats only because I've never had any problems making contact with them when I need it through the company provided system. Sometimes, my cell phone is simply easier for ME. When the company system stops working on a regular basis is when I stop using my cell phone and its time for the company to get their shiznit together.

As many times as we've been thrown under the bus by crews that
heard from some guy in the crew room who was in line at Starbucks
who overheard a pilot talking to someone on his cell phone blah blah blah
I'd be willing to bet there's another side to this story and that is
not what was said. Unfortunately, facts aren't necessary before
people start urban myths or to start dog piling on dispatch or
crew scheduling.

The dispatcher in the original scenario gave you guys the facts
about what happened since it was obvious that what happenened
and what you heard happened were two different things.

Guilty until proven otherwise seems to be the MO for how
certain departments are treated in this industry.

 

[J32driver]

I'd be willing to bet there's another side to this story and that is
not what was said.

Came straight from the crew that it happened to. Incident was less than 24 hours old. Both Cpt and FO had same story. Both were were pretty livid but were still able to laugh about it. In short... I have no reason not to believe the story. Sorry.