Joe Merchant and John Pennekamp

[FUZZO]

JM and JP,

honest question just to know where both of you are coming from, but did either of you ever want or have aspirations to go to another airline in your career? Thanks just curious.

 

[mcjohn]

Who are those guys?

 

[JoeMerchant]

JM and JP,

honest question just to know where both of you are coming from, but did either of you ever want or have aspirations to go to another airline in your career? Thanks just curious.

At one time.....Yes for me. Times have changed, and I am adapting to the new reality.

Regardless of whether I or JP wanted to go to another carrier, the fact that half of the domestic legacy flying is done by "stepping stone" airlines is now part of the problem. You can't raise the bar if these jobs are just "stepping stone" jobs.

ASA is being flooded by 300 hour pilots who just want to fly a jet, and then go to the majors where they can fly a really big jet around the world.... we are creating our own problem....

I am now doing what is best for ME.... as are most people in this profession....

All things being even, I would just as soon fly the aircraft in my avatar to St. Somewhere..... the lure of the "major international widebody" pilot doesn't really interest me..... I actually enjoy my ATR...... 12+years now.....

Why do you ask?

 

[FUZZO]

JM,

Both you and JP have very strong opinions and views and for me I just wanted to know about the messengers in the course of evaluating some of the things you guys point out.

Thanks

 

[acarpe3448]

At one time.....Yes for me. Times have changed, and I am adapting to the new reality.

Regardless of whether I or JP wanted to go to another carrier, the fact that half of the domestic legacy flying is done by "stepping stone" airlines is now part of the problem. You can't raise the bar if these jobs are just "stepping stone" jobs.

ASA is being flooded by 300 hour pilots who just want to fly a jet, and then go to the majors where they can fly a really big jet around the world.... we are creating our own problem....

I am now doing what is best for ME.... as are most people in this profession....

All things being even, I would just as soon fly the aircraft in my avatar to St. Somewhere..... the lure of the "major international widebody" pilot doesn't really interest me..... I actually enjoy my ATR...... 12+years now.....

Why do you ask?

And the best thing for him is that he does not want to start over at the bottom of a major's senority list, so just change the rules get rid of scope and lets get the bigger iron on their property! That is the problem!

 

[Blucher]

I too am on pins and needles, anxiously awaiting JP's answer to that question. Even though deep down, I know it's irrelevant. A bit like asking a news anchor who he/she's voting for, even if they tell you, they're probably full of shiite.

-Blucher

 

[JoeMerchant]

And the best thing for him is that he does not want to start over at the bottom of a major's senority list, so just change the rules get rid of scope and lets get the bigger iron on their property! That is the problem!

The problem acarpe, is that this profession is full of people who do what is best for themselves, as you have done. The idea that ALPA is some kind of "brotherhood" is utterly ubsurd.... Airline pilots will do what is best for them, and they don't really think very long term... It isn't the best thing for the profession, but it is what it is....

If you can't beat'em, join'em.......

At Delta, it would be 8-10 years before I broke even..... I plan on being retired by then.....

 

[JoeMerchant]

I too am on pins and needles, anxiously awaiting JP's answer to that question. Even though deep down, I know it's irrelevant. A bit like asking a news anchor who he/she's voting for, even if they tell you, they're probably full of shiite.

-Blucher

So Blucher, do you think my answer was "full of shiite"? I am more honest about these issues than most...

 

[JoeMerchant]

JM,

Both you and JP have very strong opinions and views and for me I just wanted to know about the messengers in the course of evaluating some of the things you guys point out.

Thanks

Your welcome FUZZO, what are your thoughts on the issues that JP and I have raised? For the record, JP and I don't think a like..... we are still very different on certain issues. However, we are both former ALPA "radicals", and we both understand the realities of the current situation. I can't speak for JP, but I don't like our situation, I just accept it....

 

[ASARJMan]

Maybe, just maybe, Joey & JP are one and the same.

 

[Blucher]

So Blucher, do you think my answer was "full of shiite"? I am more honest about these issues than most...

Yes, to a point that is correct. However, you refuse to admit that it all stems from one massive case of sour grapes. The big boys wouldn't let you into the treehouse to play, so you got your magnifying glass out and have been attempting to burn down that tree ever since. The problem is that you claim to be doing it because the treehouse is a hazard to the community and you are purely concerned with looking out for the welfare of any who may get hurt by playing in said treehouse. What's really scary is that over the years you've managed to convince yourself of your own righteousness, while simultaneously doing wrong.
You do have a large new crop of people to spread your gossiple onto, but your recent performance in an elected position did your message a tremendous disservice. Many now simply disregard what you are saying (and I'll freely admit, sometimes I agree with you and believe you are correct) just because it's coming from you. Actions do, in fact, speak louder than words. And actions speak exponentially louder than repetitive postings on multiple webboards.

-Blucher

 

[FUZZO]

JM,


My opinion will be different than yours, of course. I understand where you sit you have a different "sight" picture than mine(you are at ASA, I am at Delta), but i was at ASA many moons ago.

 

[FmrFreightDog]

All things being even, I would just as soon fly the aircraft in my avatar to St. Somewhere..... the lure of the "major international widebody" pilot doesn't really interest me..... I actually enjoy my ATR...... 12+years now.....

Just to interject something totally irrelevant to the discussion...... I would much rather be flying the aircraft in your avatar to St. Somewhere.... I flew a little freight down in the islands before coming here and it was the most enjoyable flying I've done to date. Unfortunately, it barely paid the rent....

 

[FmrFreightDog]

Maybe, just maybe, Joey & JP are one and the same.

They're not. I'm 99% sure on that one.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Maybe, just maybe, Joey & JP are one and the same.

Trust me RJMan, we are not the same..... he is a pinko left winger...... I am more of a Neal Boortz/Rush Limbaugh type...

 

[JoeMerchant]

Yes, to a point that is correct. However, you refuse to admit that it all stems from one massive case of sour grapes. The big boys wouldn't let you into the treehouse to play, so you got your magnifying glass out and have been attempting to burn down that tree ever since. The problem is that you claim to be doing it because the treehouse is a hazard to the community and you are purely concerned with looking out for the welfare of any who may get hurt by playing in said treehouse. What's really scary is that over the years you've managed to convince yourself of your own righteousness, while simultaneously doing wrong.
You do have a large new crop of people to spread your gossiple onto, but your recent performance in an elected position did your message a tremendous disservice. Many now simply disregard what you are saying (and I'll freely admit, sometimes I agree with you and believe you are correct) just because it's coming from you. Actions do, in fact, speak louder than words. And actions speak exponentially louder than repetitive postings on multiple webboards.

-Blucher

That is partly because the ALPA establishment has lied about my beliefs to make my position look less credible. The fact is, if you disagree with ALPA in public (especially if you support a lawsuit against it), you are shunned and excluded from the process. The number one cardinal sin in ALPA is to publically speak ill of it... that is the kiss of death...

At one time, I was the ASA and CMR MECs number one advocate during the PID..... I believed it was the way to return ALPA to true collective bargaining.. sadly, even the ASA and CMR MECs succumbed to political pressure and disavowed their beliefs....

Politics doesn't usually solve problems, and I am not a politician.......

 

[JoeMerchant]

JM,


My opinion will be different than yours, of course. I understand where you sit you have a different "sight" picture than mine(you are at ASA, I am at Delta), but i was at ASA many moons ago.

FUZZO,

You are absolutely correct that "sight" pictures are different, and thus form ones opinions. The average Delta pilot doesn't really care what happens to me, and to be perfectly honest, I don't care what happens to them... We are looking out for number one, and that is ALPA's number one problem.....

For the record, I understand your "sight" picture as I once had it myself.... I made some of the same arguments that my opponents once made.....

 

[JoeMerchant]

Just to interject something totally irrelevant to the discussion...... I would much rather be flying the aircraft in your avatar to St. Somewhere.... I flew a little freight down in the islands before coming here and it was the most enjoyable flying I've done to date. Unfortunately, it barely paid the rent....

I agree, but I just wanted to point out that I don't have "SJS"..... Schedule and time off are more important to me, and I actually prefer "low and slow".....

 

[JoeMerchant]

They're not. I'm 99% sure on that one.

See we agree on some things....:>)

 

[FmrFreightDog]

So... the big question....

Certainly Fuzzo isn't actually Fuzzo.... right???