How can it be that in the last 2 months I have flown with 4 FO's that have all been here around 10-11 months and I am hearing the following from them all:
1. I have never once been through the fatigue process. We have had some long days but my captains (intentionally not capitalized) say that the company is keeping track of grievance calls.
2. I did not know that you could order more than 3 meals in a day.
3. I have had to stay in plenty of smoking rooms. My captains said that if we moved to another hotel we would not get our rest adjusted.
4. I never heard of getting the 10 hours rest adjusted upon arrival at the hotel.
5. No idea what FRDA or RAATS stand for.
6. My other captains have never told me what is MEL'd on the plane, I don't even know where to look.
There are others. I know, I know, they should know their contract, etc. But they are still looking up to the Captain in many cases for guidance as they try to adjust to the NJA way.
Number 1 simply blows me away. How the hell can someone be here for nearly a year and not have had their captain call in fatigued for the crew? This is nuts as we all know what an average tour is like. A note from GH comes out nearly every month telling you to use your fatigue policy the way it was intended to be used and you still can't muster up the courage? Should I assume that I am just working that much harder and that is why I have legitimately fatigued nearly once per tour?
And don't attempt to justify it by saying you are saving the FO's job because he/she is on probation. If you are fatigued and you don't get some rest the outcome could be much worse. This company isn't going to terminate a probationary pilot for a legitimate fatigue call or moving from unsat/unsafe accommodations.
Ok. Your turn to be CAPTAIN.
1. I have never once been through the fatigue process. We have had some long days but my captains (intentionally not capitalized) say that the company is keeping track of grievance calls.
2. I did not know that you could order more than 3 meals in a day.
3. I have had to stay in plenty of smoking rooms. My captains said that if we moved to another hotel we would not get our rest adjusted.
4. I never heard of getting the 10 hours rest adjusted upon arrival at the hotel.
5. No idea what FRDA or RAATS stand for.
6. My other captains have never told me what is MEL'd on the plane, I don't even know where to look.
There are others. I know, I know, they should know their contract, etc. But they are still looking up to the Captain in many cases for guidance as they try to adjust to the NJA way.
Number 1 simply blows me away. How the hell can someone be here for nearly a year and not have had their captain call in fatigued for the crew? This is nuts as we all know what an average tour is like. A note from GH comes out nearly every month telling you to use your fatigue policy the way it was intended to be used and you still can't muster up the courage? Should I assume that I am just working that much harder and that is why I have legitimately fatigued nearly once per tour?
And don't attempt to justify it by saying you are saving the FO's job because he/she is on probation. If you are fatigued and you don't get some rest the outcome could be much worse. This company isn't going to terminate a probationary pilot for a legitimate fatigue call or moving from unsat/unsafe accommodations.
Ok. Your turn to be CAPTAIN.
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