Unprofessional? How about UNSAFE if they were REALLY taxing in with newspapers covering the windows. I doubt it happened, no one is THAT stupid.
Okay - insult mode switching on:
Windows (windscreens) - the clear things that keep the pressurized air in the airplane and the wind/bugs/geese out.
Glareshield - the (usually) black thing covering the flight instruments fore and aft of the instrument panel. Usually providing some amount of protection from the instruments reflecting off of the windows at night/in low light conditions.
If you read very carefully, you will note that I said the newspapers were laying on the GLARESHIELD, as they taxied in - NOT covering the WINDOWS!!!
If you are going to try and nitpick me, at least bother to re-read the original post. I described exactly what happened, if that bothers you then perhaps you need to examine why.
I could very easily have identified the aircraft number, flight number, originating city, and arrival time. All that would have served to do was get two pilots in the hotseat in front of management and/or the FAA. That's not what I'm about. If I wanted to do that a couple of quick calls on the cell phone could have accomplished the task - but what would that have really accomplished? A couple of pilots with letters in their files and/or time off. I really want everyone here (again, self included) to think seriously about how we present ourselves. I guaran-damn-tee you will not be treated as and respected as a professional if you do not conduct yourself in a manner which demands that respect.
To be perfectly clear - Shuttle America is certainly not the only offender, there are major airline crews who discredit the profession, there are corporate crews who are an embarassment, ect.
As I said before - I'm a very laid back person, but I just could not let this one lie. This is the symptom, it's not the disease (again, if it were, I could have simply called the CP or FAA). I truly want everyone to think about how they are presenting themselves (again, self included).
The reality is "regional airlines" are operating routes and equipment which the "legacies" were only a few years ago. You (we) deserve to be compensated and treated accordingly - that isn't going to happen when pilots are simply regarded as buttom pushing chimps, and you aren't going to move beyond that unless you present yourself as, and demand to be treated as a professional.
Taxiing into the gate with newpapers strewn over the glareshield does not cry out "professional."
