clansinclair
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2004
- Posts
- 53
Tail Rotorhead & Those Who Would Really Like To Know,
Since Pilotyip won't defend himself, I will speak up for him.
Pilotyip is most definitely NOT "sneaky, phony, nor is he a backstabbing scab". He IS however very skilled at diplomacy, an ardent practicioner of the art and skill of Positive Mental Attitude (almost to a fault at times), and will ordinarily remain silent towards you if he can't say anything "good". Unlike myself, the proverbial "bull in the china shop, tell it like it is" (which has cost me dearly many times), pilotyip is pretty careful what he says and to whom he's saying it.
When USA Jet lays off pilots, they don't "furlough" them. Rather they "terminate" them. Thus, USA Jet is NOT bound in anyway to call anyone back by seniority or anyother reason. This way the company can call back anyone they desire to, for whatever reason they choose. Frankly, strictly from the company's point of view, this is a strategic benefit because it enables them to weed out those whose "performance" leaves much to be desired.
Pilotyip will, in fact, encourage those he feels have a good chance of being called back when the company's needs require it. Those that he feels probably won't be called back for whatever reason ( It has nothing to do with whether he likes you or not. Over time, he gets a lot of feedback from co-workers, flight following, customer service, check airmen, pilot meetings, etc. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who the performers are and who they are not.), he will do his best to refer them to who IS hiring, and I've personally observed him trying to help them get re-employed somewhere else. It is not strictly his decision as to who gets called back and who doesn't, although he may be inclined either to highly recommend one or not recommend one. This is not only human nature, but in a way, fulfilling a responsibility to the company to "advise" to the best of his ability.
It has been my experience and observation that it's not the "select few" who get called back, but rather the "select few" who DO NOT get called back. Believe it or not, it can come down to something as simple as choosing a guy because he lives in the area, as opposed to one who doesn't. (The company makes it very clear that they prefer "non-commmuters". You'd be amazed at how many will proclaim in their initial interview," Oh yea! I'll move to the Detroit area, but then never do! They'll be the very ones to moan and groan about how the schedule is preferential to those who live in the area! Irrespective of the fact that the company would reimburse them up to $3000.00 for their moving expenses, and put them up in a hotel at company expense for the first 2 weeks!)
I was one who got laid off back in 2001, I never "kissed his butt (infact, he'd probably say I could be a real pain in the ass at times), nor have I ever bought him a single beer, let alone a pitcher!" I got called back. Why? Because I made it a point to do my very best while I WAS working there, I was reliable, I had good pilot skills, I let them know that I was a "long term empoyee", whenever they needed me I said "YES!" with enthusiasm, and while I was laid off, I called every Friday and let them know that I wanted "MY" job back!
Many people, including myself at times, give pilotyip way to much credit for "power and influence" in the company. Certainly, due to his position, he has some, but not to the extent many think. However, he'll be the first to remind us that his influence only goes so far. That many things are "above his paygrade and out of his hands".
No doubt in my mind that the company felt the pain of laying off pilots the last time, and had a hard time getting them back when they needed them. No doubt in my mind that that's why they cut pay this time, and are trying to avoid laying pilots off. Again, from the company's point of view, it's the logical thing to do. Did I like it? Hell no! I'm just as pissed at the pay cut as the rest of the senior pilots! It doesn't keep me from understanding WHY they did it though! I DON'T like it, but I DO understand it.
USA Jets is not the only airline in the business that lays off people when the work slows down. The only companies that don't do that usually end up out of business! When I was laid off, I interviewed with Reliant. The interviewer took great pride in jabbing USA Jet by saying that his company had never laid off a single pilot since he'd been there. Where is Reliant now? Yes, USA Jet has laid off pilots, they may yet have to lay off pilots, but hey, they're still in business so far!
The management at USA Jet are not "rotten". Believe me, I've worked where the management was "rotten", and this management team is far from it! Are they perfect? NO! Have they made mistakes? YES! Are they immune from trying to anticipate business trends, plan accordingly, and end up being wrong or not anticipating all eventualities? NO! Honestly, look at all the "great" airlines that have "gone away". Was it because every single one of their respective management teams were "rotten". Of course not! In Fact, South West seems to be the proof that the UNIONS of those by-gone airlines was the "rotten" element that ultimately led to their demise! I wish I had a nickle for every pilot that I know who aspired and aspires to go to work for South West! Amazingly, the empoyees of South West are incredibly motivated and excited to be working there, without a union!
Let's face the facts, the aviation business is one of the most competitive industries going. (too **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**ed competitive as far as I'm concerned) In this business environment, it takes a real bone fide genius with a whole lot of money to survive. The fact is there just aren't that many of those around who are "crazy" enough to get involved in this industry! It kind of reminds me of rodeos. Cowboys coming from all over with their "entry fees" just hoping against hope that they got what it takes to last the full 8 seconds! Put that with an aviation business that relies "heavily" on another industry that's equally or greater "swamped" in competition, and it's boggles my mind how they survive at all!
Call me a "mental patient" if you want. In some ways, I would even agree with you. Sometimes I say to myself, "I must have been nuts to choose this career field!" Would I do it again, knowing what I do now?
Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes no. Ultimately, I probably would. Why? You know the answer! It's the very thing that makes being a pilot so competitive, we're all "addicted" to flight!
Finally, pilotyip is one of the good guys, and I know that he has taken the "heat" from both sides for his efforts to keep the ball rolling, doing his best to contribute to the growth of the company and the well being of his fellow pilots. Sometimes he can indeed "go over-the-top" with his optimism, but I, for one, am glad he's there. He reminds me of just how import things like a cheerful smile, being motivated and excited regardless of the current circumstances, and seeing the glass half full is! If and when the day comes that he retires and leaves, the whole company will regretfully feel the loss!
Since Pilotyip won't defend himself, I will speak up for him.
Pilotyip is most definitely NOT "sneaky, phony, nor is he a backstabbing scab". He IS however very skilled at diplomacy, an ardent practicioner of the art and skill of Positive Mental Attitude (almost to a fault at times), and will ordinarily remain silent towards you if he can't say anything "good". Unlike myself, the proverbial "bull in the china shop, tell it like it is" (which has cost me dearly many times), pilotyip is pretty careful what he says and to whom he's saying it.
When USA Jet lays off pilots, they don't "furlough" them. Rather they "terminate" them. Thus, USA Jet is NOT bound in anyway to call anyone back by seniority or anyother reason. This way the company can call back anyone they desire to, for whatever reason they choose. Frankly, strictly from the company's point of view, this is a strategic benefit because it enables them to weed out those whose "performance" leaves much to be desired.
Pilotyip will, in fact, encourage those he feels have a good chance of being called back when the company's needs require it. Those that he feels probably won't be called back for whatever reason ( It has nothing to do with whether he likes you or not. Over time, he gets a lot of feedback from co-workers, flight following, customer service, check airmen, pilot meetings, etc. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who the performers are and who they are not.), he will do his best to refer them to who IS hiring, and I've personally observed him trying to help them get re-employed somewhere else. It is not strictly his decision as to who gets called back and who doesn't, although he may be inclined either to highly recommend one or not recommend one. This is not only human nature, but in a way, fulfilling a responsibility to the company to "advise" to the best of his ability.
It has been my experience and observation that it's not the "select few" who get called back, but rather the "select few" who DO NOT get called back. Believe it or not, it can come down to something as simple as choosing a guy because he lives in the area, as opposed to one who doesn't. (The company makes it very clear that they prefer "non-commmuters". You'd be amazed at how many will proclaim in their initial interview," Oh yea! I'll move to the Detroit area, but then never do! They'll be the very ones to moan and groan about how the schedule is preferential to those who live in the area! Irrespective of the fact that the company would reimburse them up to $3000.00 for their moving expenses, and put them up in a hotel at company expense for the first 2 weeks!)
I was one who got laid off back in 2001, I never "kissed his butt (infact, he'd probably say I could be a real pain in the ass at times), nor have I ever bought him a single beer, let alone a pitcher!" I got called back. Why? Because I made it a point to do my very best while I WAS working there, I was reliable, I had good pilot skills, I let them know that I was a "long term empoyee", whenever they needed me I said "YES!" with enthusiasm, and while I was laid off, I called every Friday and let them know that I wanted "MY" job back!
Many people, including myself at times, give pilotyip way to much credit for "power and influence" in the company. Certainly, due to his position, he has some, but not to the extent many think. However, he'll be the first to remind us that his influence only goes so far. That many things are "above his paygrade and out of his hands".
No doubt in my mind that the company felt the pain of laying off pilots the last time, and had a hard time getting them back when they needed them. No doubt in my mind that that's why they cut pay this time, and are trying to avoid laying pilots off. Again, from the company's point of view, it's the logical thing to do. Did I like it? Hell no! I'm just as pissed at the pay cut as the rest of the senior pilots! It doesn't keep me from understanding WHY they did it though! I DON'T like it, but I DO understand it.
USA Jets is not the only airline in the business that lays off people when the work slows down. The only companies that don't do that usually end up out of business! When I was laid off, I interviewed with Reliant. The interviewer took great pride in jabbing USA Jet by saying that his company had never laid off a single pilot since he'd been there. Where is Reliant now? Yes, USA Jet has laid off pilots, they may yet have to lay off pilots, but hey, they're still in business so far!
The management at USA Jet are not "rotten". Believe me, I've worked where the management was "rotten", and this management team is far from it! Are they perfect? NO! Have they made mistakes? YES! Are they immune from trying to anticipate business trends, plan accordingly, and end up being wrong or not anticipating all eventualities? NO! Honestly, look at all the "great" airlines that have "gone away". Was it because every single one of their respective management teams were "rotten". Of course not! In Fact, South West seems to be the proof that the UNIONS of those by-gone airlines was the "rotten" element that ultimately led to their demise! I wish I had a nickle for every pilot that I know who aspired and aspires to go to work for South West! Amazingly, the empoyees of South West are incredibly motivated and excited to be working there, without a union!
Let's face the facts, the aviation business is one of the most competitive industries going. (too **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**ed competitive as far as I'm concerned) In this business environment, it takes a real bone fide genius with a whole lot of money to survive. The fact is there just aren't that many of those around who are "crazy" enough to get involved in this industry! It kind of reminds me of rodeos. Cowboys coming from all over with their "entry fees" just hoping against hope that they got what it takes to last the full 8 seconds! Put that with an aviation business that relies "heavily" on another industry that's equally or greater "swamped" in competition, and it's boggles my mind how they survive at all!
Call me a "mental patient" if you want. In some ways, I would even agree with you. Sometimes I say to myself, "I must have been nuts to choose this career field!" Would I do it again, knowing what I do now?
Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes no. Ultimately, I probably would. Why? You know the answer! It's the very thing that makes being a pilot so competitive, we're all "addicted" to flight!
Finally, pilotyip is one of the good guys, and I know that he has taken the "heat" from both sides for his efforts to keep the ball rolling, doing his best to contribute to the growth of the company and the well being of his fellow pilots. Sometimes he can indeed "go over-the-top" with his optimism, but I, for one, am glad he's there. He reminds me of just how import things like a cheerful smile, being motivated and excited regardless of the current circumstances, and seeing the glass half full is! If and when the day comes that he retires and leaves, the whole company will regretfully feel the loss!
