Duane Worth Cashes in on B6

[colorado418]

Lets just jump right on the coat tails....


JetBlue Flt. 292 Landing Incident Illustrates Need to Maintain Highest Standards of the Piloting Profession
WASHINGTON, D.C.---The following statement was issued by Capt. Duane Woerth, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l. after the safe landing of JetBlue Flt. 292 on Wednesday at Los Angeles International Airport:

“The millions of Americans who watched the suspenseful landing of JetBlue Flt. 292 in Los Angeles saw, in living color, a real-life example of what it means to be an airline pilot. The flawless landing and safe outcome that had viewers on the edge of their seats did not happen by chance. It was the result of thousands of hours of training, experience, and preparation by the crew.​

​

“ALPA congratulates the JetBlue pilots and flight attendants for their outstanding performance. However, I’m sure that they would be the first to tell you that they are hardly unique in that respect. Every day, thousands of airline pilots transport millions of passengers safely despite the hazards of equipment failures, weather, and random encounters with unexpected events or conditions.* This commitment to the highest standards is exactly what we, and our customers, expect from those who choose our profession.


“Unfortunately, the high standards of our profession are under attack. Fiscal pressures from our industry’s economic crisis have resulted in enormous losses in pilot compensation and jobs. Every year, thousands of pilots leave our field either voluntarily, or by pursuing other occupations after being furloughed.

“The exemplary safety record of U.S. airlines was built on the practice of allowing only the most competent and accomplished professionals in the cockpit. By mindlessly pursuing a ‘race to the bottom’ to slash labor costs, airlines are driving away the best and the brightest of our profession. For now, the levee is holding, but we cannot forever withstand these assaults on our proud and dedicated pilot workforce.

“Airline management must learn the meaning of the adages ‘penny wise and pound foolish’ and ‘be careful what you wish for’. Government must recognize that it has a role and an obligation to assist, rather than exploit, this vital cornerstone of our economic infrastructure. We can fix a flawed aircraft part or procedure after an accident; but we cannot afford this traditional ‘tombstone’ approach to safety when it comes to the quality of our cockpit crews. Fixing a broken pilot profession will not be easy, quick, or cheap. We must act now to reverse the talent drain before it becomes an irreversible flood.”


​

ALPA is the union that represents 64,000 airline pilots at 41 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Its website is www.alpa.org.


* For further examples, see information on ALPA’s annual Superior Airmanship Award recipients and other air safety awards.

# # #​

ALPA CONTACTS: John Mazor, Linda Shotwell, (703) 481-4440, [email protected]

 

[mdf]

I have to say that I agree with most of that. I wouldn't say it is coat tail riding. Infact The UAL DC-10 accident would make a better illustration.

 

[JT8D]

I have to say that I agree with most of that. I wouldn't say it is coat tail riding. Infact The UAL DC-10 accident would make a better illustration.

I think what he meant by "Lets just jump right on the coat tails...." is the fact that Jet Blue is not ALPA nor do they want to be.

 

[dash8driver]

I think what he meant by "Lets just jump right on the coat tails...." is the fact that Jet Blue is not ALPA nor do they want to be.

i dont see anywhere that DW is giving credit to alpa or alpa pilots for this. he's merely giving kudos to the good work of those pilots and illustrating that high standards need to be kept...including compensation.

it looks to me like an industry wide support (across union borders) of the pilots as a whole. lets not forget that regardless of what company/union we're at, or even if the company doesnt have a union...we're all on the same side on this issue... all our wages and bennies are being eroded. that is unless you dont think we're worth more than we're being paid.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

This is the problem.... you guys can't see the goal. The fight is out there not here. Are you so short sighted that you have to turn this into a union/non union issue?

Look at it this way? If ALPA didn't say this, who would? The Jetblue Pilots Club? This isn't a slam on jB. They deserve thier due, and to be heard in Wash DC, where the rules are made.

This isn't just read by people. Policy makers read this too. It is an effort for the piloting profession to point and say... Look, this is why safety and professionalism is paramount.

The ALPA staffers that run the Gov't affairs office will re-enforce this message of pilot professionalism when they interact with the lobbyist and the legislators. Now, think about how much more effective we can be if we had a bigger gov't affairs office. If we had our own crack team of lobbyist... pushing the cause of the professional Air Line Pilot on Capital Hill.

Q. Why do the UAL pilots have thier own Political Action Committee?

 

[8vATE]

i dont see anywhere that DW is giving credit to alpa or alpa pilots for this. he's merely giving kudos to the good work of those pilots and illustrating that high standards need to be kept...including compensation.

I disagree..

I think Duane saw a nice opportunity for some media exposure.

He pats the nonunion JB pilots on the back (surprising how he fails to mention that they are not a part of ALPA).

Then he backhandedly slaps the JB pilots with his comments about the "race to the bottom with compensation."

Pilots are leaving the profession all the time... well.. SWA, AirTran and JetBlue are hiring... where's the disconnect?

Well Duane... if the airlines that YOUR union members work for could make money and stay out of bankruptcy... maybe we wouldn't be having this discussion.

 

[800Dog]

I disagree..

I think Duane saw a nice opportunity for some media exposure.

He pats the nonunion JB pilots on the back (surprising how he fails to mention that they are not a part of ALPA).

Then he backhandedly slaps the JB pilots with his comments about the "race to the bottom with compensation."

Pilots are leaving the profession all the time... well.. SWA, AirTran and JetBlue are hiring... where's the disconnect?

Well Duane... if the airlines that YOUR union members work for could make money and stay out of bankruptcy... maybe we wouldn't be having this discussion.

Actually, there are pilots leaving the industry. I will do the same before I work for Airtran or Jetblue wages. It is not a knock on them, rather different expectations for some. I worked too hard in college, unlike the lone Airtran pilot I know without a degree, to work for their pay. You cannot deny that one of the reasons the legacy carriers are in their precarious position is due to the fact that pilots at the jetblues/airtrans have been willing, not imposed upon them by a judge, to do the job for much less. What a shame, they will never know what great pay, benefits and work rules are like. Looking forward to all the replies that will follow.

 

[CUZ]

If banking 150 a year, and having 16 days off a month is working for pennies and eroding the profession, I'm dying to know what other ALPA boys were making as 4th year airbus Captains? As well, what are the ALPA boys making now and how many days off are they getting?

 

[CapnVegetto]

Looks to me like Duane Woerthless has finally done at least something a little bit right. For the last few years, ALPA has been whining, bitching, pi$$ing and moaning to everyone that doesn't matter about the profession. Now, finally he gets off his rear end and releases a public statement. Why has he not been all over the news and TV telling it like it is? Labor has been financing pi$$ poor management and business plans. I still can't believe that UAL is in bankruptcy and losing umpteen f-ing million dollars a quarter and their brilliant management decides to spend umpteen f-ing more million dollars to REPAINT THE STUPID PLANES. What a complete waste of resources!!! How STUPID!!! I mean, I'm no Harvard MBA or anything but use some GD common sense people!!!! Use that f-ing money for something USEFUL.

I don't care what any slimy-a$$ CEO says about labor costs. SWA pays the highest 737 wages in the world and makes money. Yeah, yeah I know, they have fuel hedging. But they also have really smart managment that has built up a huge cash reserve, didn't grow too big for their britches, has an incredilbly profitable route structure, incredibly efficient use of employees, and a smart business plan. They had the cash on hand, gambled on the fuel hedges, and won. That's SMART management. They saw the writing on the wall, bought the hedges, and are now kicking everybody's a$$. Meanwhile, every other stupid managment team out there spent all their cash reserves on RJ's. 9/11 hit, and the industry has never recovered. SWA was smart enough to know that you don't put all your eggs in one basket. You'll never see an RJ at SWA. Smart as hell.

It's time to start blaming pi$$ poor management on industry problems. Not labor, not fuel, MANAGEMENT. Managers are paid those huge salaries and bonuses to figure out ways through these problems. "Rape your labor" is NOT a valid business plan. You CANNOT, EVER, EVER, run a successful service business with pi$$ed off labor. Right now pilots are pi$$ed off. Eventually something's gotta give.

OK, rant over.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

CaptnVeggo,

Rant over.....nap time!

 

[CapnVegetto]

CaptnVeggo,

Rant over.....nap time!

nap time was earlier. it's beer time......5 o'clock

 

[jetblue320]

What a shame, they will never know what great pay, benefits and work rules are like. Looking forward to all the replies that will follow.

It's all a matter of perception........

I happen to be one of those non-college graduate, didn't fit the "airline profile" types and just found a break in the ice.

What's wrong with that? I paid my dues in the military, flying, and it too has it's merit..........

Some of us (and we are a big club) think that OUR benefits, work rules, and (albeit not industry standard?) pay is OK and substancial for what we do on a day to day basis.

Like I said at first, it's all perception.

C yaaaa

 

[800Dog]

It's all a matter of perception........

I happen to be one of those non-college graduate, didn't fit the "airline profile" types and just found a break in the ice.

What's wrong with that? I paid my dues in the military, flying, and it too has it's merit..........

Some of us (and we are a big club) think that OUR benefits, work rules, and (albeit not industry standard?) pay is OK and substancial for what we do on a day to day basis.

Like I said at first, it's all perception.

C yaaaa

Could not agree more. Best of luck to you and your co-workers. I am looking forward to another career. I feel as if I have greater things to accomplish professionally. Flying was fun while it lasted.

 

[800Dog]

If banking 150 a year, and having 16 days off a month is working for pennies and eroding the profession, I'm dying to know what other ALPA boys were making as 4th year airbus Captains? As well, what are the ALPA boys making now and how many days off are they getting?

Well Cuz,
Airbus Captains at the legacy carriers were making well over $200hr before the eroding began! What they are making now and there days off can be attributed to your eroding of the profession. Enjoy your career or, should I say, job! You should be making much more and the truly sad part is, you do not even know any better. I cannot decide who is the enemy her. Pilots such as yourself or greedy management. By the way, 150k a year was good money in the 80s. Not much today to raise a family, fund your own retirement and be forced to retire at the young age of 60. You guys Blow!

 

[Midnight Mike]

Look at it this way? If ALPA didn't say this, who would? The Jetblue Pilots Club? This isn't a slam on jB. They deserve thier due, and to be heard in Wash DC, where the rules are made.

That is not for Duane to say as Jetblue is a Non-ALPA carrier, Duane is not the official or unoffical spokesman for Jetblue, unless the Jetblue pilots want him to be.

The Jetblue crew did their job & did it well, that's it, Duane is simply riding the coat-tails of Jetblue....

In the press release he could have simply said said "Good job", & left it at that... Anything more than that & he is grandstanding......

Oh yeah, maybe next time in the press release you can make mention of Jetblue & include the link to the Jetblue website, since, Duane does care about Jetblue, hmmmm???!?

 

[Chronic Jetlag]

reality check

Well Cuz,
Airbus Captains at the legacy carriers were making well over $200hr before the eroding began! What they are making now and there days off can be attributed to your eroding of the profession. Enjoy your career or, should I say, job! You should be making much more and the truly sad part is, you do not even know any better. I cannot decide who is the enemy her. Pilots such as yourself or greedy management. By the way, 150k a year was good money in the 80s. Not much today to raise a family, fund your own retirement and be forced to retire at the young age of 60. You guys Blow!

If if was up to me we would all the skygods and make $300K/year and have 21 days off per month. Too bad for all of us we live in a free market economy and we don't get paid what we're worth, but rather what the free market will bear and only if you have the ability to negotiate it. It's impossible to quantify what an airline pilot is worth. Is a ball player worth $3 million per year...it's what the market will bear. Blaming the industry and your own plight on your fellow pilots is the easiest thing to do but wrong.

The airline landscape is changing before our eyes. Pricing power once on the side of the airlines have shifted to the consumer after the advent of the internet. The shift towards efficiency in the market place is a natural progression for any business; and airlines are no exception while rising oil prices have only accelerated that evolution. We all know the complexity of the old pricing structure: over charge your best, repeat last minute customer where they are in the minority in numbers but provide the majority of your profit. It's taken almost 30 years since deregulation for this business model to fail. The majority of your profit better come from the majority of your customers.

Most JB guys Do know better and DO know what it was like to make the real $$ with the old legacy carriers. If you were making $200K plus in the old days, it's not because you were worth that much; it's what the market will bear at that time and only because your union got you that pay. Don't confuse or validate your self worth with your pay. JB only has 80 planes. Do you really believe if JB wasn't around the industry wouldn't be where it's at today? To insinuate we don't know what a good contract is or what good pay is is really just an ignorant statement... and to mock those w/o a college degree is beneath you!

If you are unable or unwilling to work under the present condition or pay and choose a different profession then that's a personal choice. You really need to wake up and smell the coffee. Pilots didn't "Erode" the profession.

 

[CUZ]

Hey 800 guy. I respectfully disagree with you, unlike the hatred and contempt that you convey in your response. I have spent 25 years in a Piedmont/UsAir family, and watched my father go from a 300,000 Airbus salary to now making 120 yanking 76 gear, and his retirement raped from him. I distincly remember him saying his pay stub was nice to show his buddies, however he feared the repercussions it would repricate on his company. The results are now public record. I remember all to well the "parity plus contracts" that all the Alpa carriers drafted because we were all to selfish to accept the fact another carriers pilots made more money. Take a look around you. If you really think that a dozen companies are in bankruptcy because of a couple of 80 airplane startups, your knowledge is as shallow as your professionalism. For now, I am very happy with my salary and my days off. When the industry rebounds, I'll support a pay raise commensurate with how my company is doing. Its a shame someone with your contempt cannot channel your enery to the positive and help guide the profession to a respectable level again.

 

[CUZ]

Chronic, Thats about the most well thought out and best post I have seen in quite some time. Thanks for taking time to reiterate that which should be quite obvious.

 

[Chuck Yogourt]

Hey 800 Dog, I have a college degree, make $150 an hour, have 17 days or more a month off and I am doing just fine. You need to go stay in a Motel 6 sometime and come back to reality.

 

[conman]

If banking 150 a year, and having 16 days off a month is working for pennies and eroding the profession, I'm dying to know what other ALPA boys were making as 4th year airbus Captains? As well, what are the ALPA boys making now and how many days off are they getting?

Okay Cuz I'm calling you out!!

A5th year JB CA makes $121 per hour. Above 70 you get time and a half. If the FAA allows you to fly 1000 hours per year, how do you bank 150k??? 70 hrs @ $ 121= $8470. 13 hours per month @ $180=$2340. That gives you a monthly total of $10,810. If you fly 83hrs for 12 months that gives you an annual paycheck before taxes, 401K, medical, etc. of $129,720. Where is the extra 20K coming from?