NWA CEO Steenland letter to employees

[Lear70]

The NWA July parings actually have 7 leg days on some schedules.

I think the answer to that is KISS MY DUMB A*S!

7 leg days. Not even Mesa does that... WTF?

 

[xjhawk]

oh well, we do at XJ

I think the answer to that is KISS MY DUMB A*S!

7 leg days. Not even Mesa does that... WTF?

just yesterday I did seven legs, i think our longest break was 48 minutes in a 13-14 hour day. It was day four so having a box lunch to grab and eat was impossible, so I just went to grab food and shove it down my throat. I do not like to take my food in the Saab since we stay low and have short legs, its not pleasant to eat in those situations. I hate it, yes I do, what can i do about it? Nothing. When it happens again, I might just take my time to eat then go to the plane, and not care about the on time departure. and about sick calls, its not always just disgruntaled pilots that call in sick when their schedule is poor. Its being fatigued all the time that makes your immune system break down......and are we suppose to go to work sick to cover their shortage of pilots?

 

[XJohXJ]

I have a trip with 9 legs on day 3 after a 10 hr. overnight. The first 2 days are 6 and 7 legs.

Needless to say, there aren't sufficient meal breaks.

7 leg days for 8 hours of block over 14 hours of duty (and typically after short rest) are common at XJ.

9 legs is just absurd.

 

[BoilerUP]

I have 7 legs this coming week on the last day. 12 hours duty, 7:25 scheduled block, longest break is 46 minutes.

Ugh...

 

[doh]

What exactly does "pilot absenteeism" mean? Is it a combination of sick calls, timing out and refusing to pick up high time? Or just sick calls? The term seems vague to me. NWA guys, do you know?

 

[skybert]

I feel for the pilots,flight attendants and mechs but I've given up on NW until they get a real leader

 

[densoo]

These absenteeism increases primarily involved a minority of NWA narrow-body pilots.

Are junior pilots leading the way in this?

 

[big_al]

the WSJ jumped all over the "pilot absenteeism" and I assume all other pro-management media outlets will as well

 

[big_al]

just noticed this in the WSJ: "A spokesman said he couldn't comment on the absentee numbers the chief executive cited."

what does that mean?? are they fabricated?

 

[Oh-ryan]

PS.

Please continue to do more of your shopping at thrift stores, dumpsters and in your neighbor's trash. Thanks for your help.

Regards,
Doug

 

[Napoleon TNT]

If pilot absenteeism is a huge part of the problem, why doesn't Steenland address a solution in his letter?

He is.

Compass will receive their first aircraft in a few months, and Mesaba is already receiving the largest airplane that any NWA AIRLINK has ever flown.

If one group doesn't want to fly, then they'll just find another group that will fly it cheaper.

 

[Redmeat]

The NWA July parings actually have 7 leg days on some schedules.

Suck it up man!!!

The Red book guys are all counting on you!!!

(Hopefully the sarcasm is obviouse).

 

[PHXFLYR]

The NWA July parings actually have 7 leg days on some schedules.

YIKES!!! I didn't even do that during my Pt 135 commuter days!!
PHXFLYR

 

[pilotdiscretion]

Vote Blue Book!

 

[castle bravo]

How about- let the furloughees vote?

 

[Vikedog64]

I have a feeling the ONLY way moral will ever get better at Northwest is if Steenland is booted out.

Crappy morale is a corporate culture. Nothing will change the morale at Northwest.

 

[Ace McCoy]

I feel for the pilots,flight attendants and mechs but I've given up on NW until they get a real leader

Don't worry about the mechs they are all scabs.

 

[vtwo]

I feel for the pilots,flight attendants and mechs but I've given up on NW until they get a real leader

Pilots yes, Fa's Yes, SCAB MECHANICS HELL NO,

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

I hate it, yes I do, what can i do about it? Nothing. When it happens again, I might just take my time to eat then go to the plane, and not care about the on time departure.

This is what I did last time something like that happened. I was on reserve at the time.

Hey, scheduling - you guys didn't give me any time to eat today. I'm gonna take a break at some point, and it won't be when it's convenient for you. What can we do?

They pulled a turn off a crappy schedule.

Or call SOC/DX and tell them you're taking a break for some food. Don't go get lobster off-airport like the NWA guy, but sit down and eat something!

I've done this multiple times and have never been called to defend myself by anyone.

Try it, you'll like it.

 

[Lear70]

Used to do this pretty regularly at PCL. Never once got anything more than a phone call.

We were on 4- and 5-day trips, no way you can bring enough food for that, nor should you have to.

Scheduling pilots right to the very edge of fatigue and nutrition issues has gotten WAY out of hand, and it has to stop.

Kudos to you guys who stop the show to do what needs to be done. If enough people did this, they'd simply reschedule in a livable way...