Pilot sticks it to mgmt!!!!

[FutureTEDpilot]

I have flown with Randy Ott numerous times. He is a fine person and a fine pilot. He did the right thing in not only sticking up for himself but sticking up for all of us who may have not had, at one time or another, the guts to say "enough - I won't fly an unsafe aircraft."

He had no problem getting hired by TransMeridian in the B757 and when they folded in October, he had no problem getting on with Evergreen in the B747.

The lawsuit has pretty much consumed all his time and attention the last few years. He was fortunate enough to be represented by some very experienced lawyers who believed in him and the merits of his case. The list of expert witnesses who testified on his behalf is truly impressive. No doubt the readers of this board would recognize most of the names on the list.

The amount of the award is immaterial. The value is in the message to operators who are willing to compromise the safety of passengers and crew to save a few bucks.

Appeal of the award is a given. It will be reduced and attorneys fees and expert witness fees will eat most of the rest.

Randy Ott is a fine person/all around GREAT guy but not to be confused with the much OLDER Randy OTTO.

 

[canyonblue737]

IF........IF the guy's career is truly over....then MAYBE he may deserve (I am going to say the word that makes me seriously want to vomit) COMPENSATION. I am just so disgusted by the many frivolous lawsuits that I just hear the word "sue", "lawyer", "compensation", etc. and my blood pressure goes up. Everything I have I have worked my a$$ off for. I was not given anything nor do I have the desire to be just given something. I am truly sickened by people's sense of entitlement these days and lack of accountability. It also extremely disturbs me that someone would become a millionaire because unfortunately something $hitty happened to them. I do feel that a lot of juries award amounts of money that are excessive. Of course, every situation is different and I am not necessarily talking about this case in particular.....just overall, I find it all truly sad, out of control and disturbing. In the end, thanks to these people that get rich (lawyers, plaintiffs, etc), all of us pay (increased insurance rates, etc, etc.). Now, after all of that jibber jabber, if you all don't understand my outlook on this, I am not explaining myself further because you just won't understand no matter what I say.

the fact that you have worked so hard for what you have means you should be able to defend those gains in a court of law if some foolish company tries to ruin your career for making proper, correct, and safe decisions.

i think this example is far different from the ambulance chasing, hot coffee spilling, i may have bad dreams forever type lawsuits.

 

[capt. megadeth]

She may be a tool.....but at least she's OUR tool. What would Flt Info be without our dear beloved "Captain's" thought provoking and witty insights...

Seriously, though..... Happy New Year Megadeth!!


PHXFLYR

Awwww, shucks.......you're such a sweet stallion.

Happy New Year!

 

[FL420]

The gentleman in question is named Otto, not Ott.

Randy Ott is a fine person/all around GREAT guy but not to be confused with the much OLDER Randy OTTO.

My apologies to both Randy Ott and to Randy Otto. I guess I was tired and steamed when I wrote that. Besides, what are the chances of two guys with almost exactly the same name being in the same company at the same time?

 

[bigboeings]

Dont forget that things arent always as they seem. I do know that this guy at one time continued a flight to Hawaii with engine trouble, prior to his ETP.

 

[Spooky 1]

Dont forget that things arent always as they seem. I do know that this guy at one time continued a flight to Hawaii with engine trouble, prior to his ETP.

Well now that you have called this pilot's reputation into question maybe you could share some of the details, like what kind of airplane and how you have defined "engine trouble" in this case? Was there an investigation after the fact and did the other crewmembers complain regarding his actions?

Just wondering.

 

[737 Pylt]

Final point--Chuck Yogurt--do you EVER post anything positve? Lots of folks here looking for good info...don't know where you work but suspect you have something positive to contribute. Try it--you may like it....

Albie:
He can't... But he's real good at hiding behind a couple of screen names...You can check him out at chuck yogurt,lawman, and now sky fly!
737

 

[Publishers]

I have not read all the comments but a jury award like this is likely diminished in appeal as being excessive. Juries are always told to send a message to the world that this is wrong and they give these huge awards. The fact is that most of the time they are reduced or not paid.

 

[Purpledog]

Let go back to bashing the French.......

For sale- French military rifles, great condition, never fired, dropped once.

 

[pilotyip]

yea, how dare those French: if they had not messed with our revolution we would be speaking English instead of American.

 

[Andy]

yea, how dare those French: if they had not messed with our revolution we would be speaking English instead of American.

Good point, but you've got to give Purpledog credit; that was damned funny!

 

[Big Beer Belly]

Let go back to bashing the French.......

For sale- French military rifles, great condition, never fired, dropped once.

Ah ... a subject I truly enjoy!


Q. How many speeds does a French tank have?

A. 5! 4 reverse gears and one forward (in case they're being attacked from the rear!)


I love doggin' the smelly frogs. It really ought to be raised to a national holiday!

BBB

 

[FL420]

Dont forget that things arent always as they seem. I do know that this guy at one time continued a flight to Hawaii with engine trouble, prior to his ETP.

Interesting....but irrelevant.

Do you have first-hand knowledge or are you just engaging in gossip?

 

[-9Capt]

French Jokes Q: What are they calling the Germans, French and Belgians, at the Pentagon?
A: "The Axis of Weasels."

Q. Why do we need France on our side against Saddam and Osama?
A. So the French can show them how to surrender.

Q: How many Frenchmen does it take to defend Paris?
A: Nobody knows, it's never been tried.

Q. Why don't they have fireworks at Euro Disney?
A. Because every time they shoot them off, the French try to surrender.

Q. Why did the French plant trees along the Champs Elysees?
A. So the Germans could march in the shade.

Q: How many gears does a French tank have?
A: 4 reverse and 1 forward, in case the enemy attacks from the rear.

Q: How can you identify a French Infantryman?
A: Sunburned armpits.

Q. What's the difference between Frenchmen and toast?
A. You can make soldiers out of toast.

Q. What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up?
A. The Army.

Anyone see the French Military Rifle on eBay? It's never been shot and only dropped once!

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

Randy Ott is a fine person/all around GREAT guy but not to be confused with the much OLDER Randy OTTO.

Not too sure about your assessment of the younger Randy Ott.....Scotch may need to have a word with you about him................LOL

 

[Wiskey Driver]

Capt Megadeath : As other have pointed out, this captain will never get hired by another airline. His career is most likely over due to his termination. NAA screwed him out of his livelyhood and retirement. And any airline that fires captains for refusing to fly unairworthy aircraft deserves to be raked over the coals. A monkey can push buttons and pull levers and fly an airplane. That is not what we as airline pilots are paid for. We are paid to use our experience and judgement to operate the aircraft in a safe manner. NAA fired the captain for doing his job correctly. No way do I see this as excessive.

Cmon man, get another avtar Sam died this year.

WD.

 

[Wiskey Driver]

While he is certainly entitled to something, for wrongful termination, loss of income and likely loss of his flying career, he will not likely get all that the jury awarded. The jury verdict will be appealed and the appellate judge will likely order a remittur of the award, substantially reducing both amounts.

Compensatory yes maybe but punitive no way that one sticks.

WD.

 

[bigboeings]

It was a 757 and had a loss of oil pressure.

 

[Capt1124]

Now, someone please tell me why someone deserves to become a millionaire because the wrongfully terminated him. I can see court, attorney costs, back pay for the time you were not employed and benefit money but $12 million? That is excessive, just like the mentality in America these days. Truly sad. Furthermore, the pilot did not stick it to management....they will be ok regardless. In truth, now the company will have less cash and stick it back to the pilots in the end. Meanwhile, the one dude that got screwed never has to work again. Bogus.

Because this and many other airlines did the same thing 10,000 other times with absolutely *no consequences*!

Maybe- not very freaking likely, but just maybe- the next time an airline wants to fire somebody for pointing out something unsafe, or writing up a serious squawk- they will think "We'll almost certainly get away with it, but there's a small chance we won't, and it we don't it will cost us a bunch of money, so let's not."

Don't comment on things you haven't experienced, and don't know anything about.

 

[capt. megadeth]

.....

 

[capt. megadeth]

Don't comment on things you haven't experienced, and don't know anything about.

Do you know me? How the $!?* would you know what my life experiences have been?

 

[Spooky 1]

It was a 757 and had a loss of oil pressure.

Thanks. I guess what you are saying is they shut the engine down prior to the ETP and continued on? Or, did they ever shut the engine down at anytime prior or after the ETP?

 

[maru657]

The British army that surrendered at Yorktown did not surrender to an American army, They surrendered to the French army. The U.S. congressmen who coined the term "freedom fries" never served in the military ie; chickenhawks. The resting place of the U.S. servicemen intered in France is maintained by French citizens, well maintained. The resting places of the thousands of French sailors and soldiers who died defending the U.S. Colonies against the most powerfull army in the world are unknown.
Patton was not well liked by many American servicemen ie; the men of the 1st infantry division. Many figured that he would get as many of them killed as necessary for a good headline. The term used was his guts but our blood.
If you get your history lessons from hollywood your ill educated.

 

[BOOZENEWS]

Capt Megadeath : As other have pointed out, this captain will never get hired by another airline. His career is most likely over due to his termination.

Why do you think no other airline will hire him? Because he stood up and did the right thing? C'mon!! Seems to me in an interview when asked why he was terminated and he told me the story of DOING THE RIGHT THING that I'd give him PREFERENTIAL treatment and move him to the top provoded he has been honest and has no major skeletons in his closet. I can't imagine SWA, JB, UPS, FDX, etc thinking "well, we don't want him on our team because he stood up and did the right thing when asked to do something dangerous and illegal by a scumbag operation." Certainly very few 121 carriers would blacklist him for being a HERO. That simply doesn't add up!



Capt Megadeth you need to quit stating with certainty that you KNOW this man was overcompensated. God Forbid if this was you and others treated you disrespectfully. With all do respect you need to take a good walk and get a nice breath of fresh air and cool off! You don't seem to think that others have a right to be compensated for wrongdoing. While I do agree that frivilous lawsuits are out of control however you can't lump this into that catagory. You seem to be making creative excuses as to why this pilot has it so easy now. A jury of his peers unanimously ruled that he is entitled to several million in compensation. I am very disturbed by everyone who has made excuses as to why the verdict was wrong. All professional pilots should be very happy that this company has been sent a message that this will not be tolerated. Plain and simple.

 

[Big Beer Belly]

Why do you think no other airline will hire him? Because he stood up and did the right thing? C'mon!! Seems to me in an interview when asked why he was terminated and he told me the story of DOING THE RIGHT THING that I'd give him PREFERENTIAL treatment and move him to the top provoded he has been honest and has no major skeletons in his closet. I can't imagine SWA, JB, UPS, FDX, etc thinking "well, we don't want him on our team because he stood up and did the right thing when asked to do something dangerous and illegal by a scumbag operation." Certainly very few 121 carriers would blacklist him for being a HERO. That simply doesn't add up!

I know of several pilots at one of the airlines you listed above (think of a large coffee stain) that have been fired/faced disciplinary hearings for legitimate mechanical/safety of flight write-ups. Of course all were vindicated and re-hired/letters of discipline "removed" from their files, especially after the union demanded the FAA be included in the "hearings".

Though I normally enjoy mega's posts ... I have to say she is in for one MIGHTY RUDE AWAKENING at her new place of employment.

BBB

 

[FL420]

It was a 757 and had a loss of oil pressure.

I will repeat my question in hopes of a non-evasive pertinent answer.

Do you have first-hand knowledge or are you just engaging in gossip?

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Now, someone please tell me why someone deserves to become a millionaire because the wrongfully terminated him. I can see court, attorney costs, back pay for the time you were not employed and benefit money but $12 million? That is excessive, just like the mentality in America these days. Truly sad. Furthermore, the pilot did not stick it to management....they will be ok regardless. In truth, now the company will have less cash and stick it back to the pilots in the end. Meanwhile, the one dude that got screwed never has to work again. Bogus.

Letssee,
A company was dispatching a 757 with FLIGHT CONTROL issues. Not once, but over and over. A pilot who has not only the legal obligation, but the moral one to be the last line of defense for the pax, was terminated for exercising these obligations as a whistleblower. It may sound trivial but we are that last line of defense, those of us who have flown the junk out there will attest to the owner/operators desire to keep these costs at a minimum. Yeah 12M is alot, how much is your mom and/or dad worth if they were in the back of that POS? The only thing that gets these bottom feeding execs is $.$$. I think 12M is not enough considering his career will be over. This company is just an example of the cost cutting bottom feeding that has become our industry. I would hope everyone of us would have the moral fortitude to do what this guy did.
PBR
P.S. I hope he would have a umbrella drink on the back of the houseboat for
me!

 

[capt. megadeth]

Capt Megadeth you need to quit stating with certainty that you KNOW this man was overcompensated. God Forbid if this was you and others treated you disrespectfully. With all do respect you need to take a good walk and get a nice breath of fresh air and cool off!.

With all due respect......Blah blah blah blah

I am not going to even bother....you all are reading into my posts waaaaaay too much and taking from them what you want to take from them, not necessarily what I am trying to say. In turn, you all are getting yourself all worked up. It seems to me some of you guys/gals need to take the good walk and cool off.

Breathe in.....breathe out.....

 

[bigboeings]

I wasnt there, but it is a known fact cause I spoke with the copilot, and no he did not shut it down, but when he arrived the engine was toast.