Pinnacle Pilots - FLY SAFE

[Blue Moon]

Time for action...

Fellow Pinnacle pilots,

At this time of great frustration, let us focus our energy on something positive. I suggest that we all recommit ourselves to being the safest pilots we can be. I believe that if we can demonstrate to our management that we can be the safest airline in the country, that they will reward us with the contract we deserve. Below are some examples that I believe will serve our passengers and company with maximum safety.

Do not fly sick. Our FOM says that you can not accept a flight assignment if you would be a detriment to the safety of flight. The company DOES NOT want you to fly sick. That is why they give you sick time. If you are sick, they want you use your sick time and get well. That is also why pinnacle does not pay out your sick bank when you leave the company. They expect you to use it up when you are sick and avoid taking any chances of getting your fellow crew members sick. It is right there in the FOM. That is why they have reserve pilots.

Taxi at a very safe speed. Remember, the speed of a brisk walk. This is especially important right now because of the ice and snow that can be on taxiways. Also, with the start up of Delta operations, the company would not want any embarrassing taxi mishaps that put our new contract in jeopardy. So taxi at a very safe speed. Don't allow yourself to become distracted in the busy terminal environment. If you have to do something that will distract you from your primary taxi duties, such as a complicated checklist, maintenance issue or numbers problem, SET THE BRAKE. You owe it to your paying passengers that expect your full attention when moving the aircraft.

Dropping the parking brake before the cargo door is closed or a push crew is in place is a safety hazard. That is why the FOM says not to. If the cargo door is open and they are still loading bags, someone could get injured if the chocks were not perfectly installed. The airplane could roll. Also, if you don't have a push crew in place, don't drop the brake. They need to be their to supervise the aircraft if the brake is released, just in case a chock popped out. Personal injury or aircraft damage could result. Follow the FOM. The company places more value on being SAFE, then being on time. They would rather you send a delay report than an injury/damage report. Remember our guiding principle, "Never compromise Safety".

Right up any maintenance issues regardless of where and when they are discovered. You are not doing your fellow pilot or your paying passengers any favors by putting up with a broken airplane. Plus, the FOM says you MUST document all maintenance problems. The company wants you to do this. It is in the book. That is why they have Maintenance technicians. Also, avoid the temptation to just reset a circuit breaker. This is not what pinnacle wants you to do. It is in the CFM/FOM. Stop, put the brake on, and call maintenance. Just like the companies has trained us. They want to document these problems so they fix reoccurring issues. But they won't know if you just reset the circuit breaker. Follow the CFM/FOM.

Do not allow yourself to be distracted from your primary duties of passenger safety and comfort. Your responsibility is to move the aircraft per the CFM/FOM, ensure that it is always in the proper configuration, that all the appropriate check lists have been completed correctly and that no limitations are exceeded. This takes all your concentration and professionalism. Your job is hard enough. Don't be distracted and allow your focus to be derailed be doing someone Else's job. Calling for numbers, calling for a push crew or a park crew distracts you from YOUR job. Operations, dispatch and load control have not forgotten about you. They have a job to do, and calling them just distracts them from their job. They are working on it. Do not bother them. Your focus should remain on your tasks and duties. Your passengers do not want you to be distracted.

I believe that if can demonstrate that we can be the safest airline in the country, that our management will see how valuable we are and reward us with a fair contract.

I hope you will all join me in my re-commitment to safety.

 

[prtyprtyprncss]

Ok, so what are you saying? (big grin)

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Ok, so what are you saying? (big grin)

Don't shirk your duties when it comes to safety. imp:

Thaaaaats all.

 

[SpauldingSmails]

Yeah, be sure to "right up" any "reoccurring" maintenance issues.

 

[John Pennekamp]

A-frickin-men! After 5 years of inaction, we at ASA flew very safe for a month and had a TA a month later.

If you want to make an omelet, you gotta break a few eggs.

 

[COOPERVANE]

I am all for being safe. Hell, I learned alot about the aircraft while being extra safe. Some items had been neglected for awhile. Here are a few I payed extra attention to. They got FIXED

• Shoulder harnesses were getting a little frayed
• My god the seats were uncomfortable and needed to be re-padded
• All inside and outside placards must be in place and legible ie nose gear steering placard, ADG etc...
• All grounding straps should be checked, deploy GLD and look under all spoilers, nose gear door strap breaks alot, pax door strap, etc
• Anti-slip decal on the pilot seat step to access emergency hatch
• pitot tube deformation (must be round, not D-shaped)
• Lav flush button illuminates when door is shut
• Aileron gap seals, leading edge gap seals
• ANY undocumented scratches, smears around cargo door, underbelly fluid leaks

All I can think of right now. Fly safe

 

[EdAtTheAirport]

I like that avatar, Cooper.

 

[ILLINI]

Just curious... who wrote this letter??? Is this from Pinnacle's Union?

 

[Airboss]

Pinnacle pilots, please fly safe. Once ASA pilots started to fly 'extra' safe, they had a contract in 40 days! Give or take a few, yes 40 DAYS!

One favor, in ATL if it can be safely done, plase take one of the high speed turnoffs. Don't act like Skywest and roll to the end of the runway.

 

[suupah]

I heard pinnacle is suing the pilot group

 

[machaf]

No more calling ops or messaging dispatch for the numbers. Sit in the penalty box and wait... and wait....

Write up every issue that could be unsafe or get you violated...ie placards, sticky fms buttons, seats uncomfortable (very good one!!! grounds airplane).

 

[PCL_128]

Just curious... who wrote this letter??? Is this from Pinnacle's Union?

Of course not. Then it could be "misinterpreted" as encouraging a job action. I believe that was written by a line pilot not acting in any official union capacity.

 

[PCL_128]

And don't forget, proper nutrition is a must. You shouldn't go without your three daily meals at meal times. If the company only gives you a 45 minute turn, well that just isn't enough time for the crew to sit down and have a nutritious meal. The Captain will just have to delay the flight to ensure that his crew is properly nourished. Such a shame that Pinnacle never schedules enough breaks, so you'll just have to delay flights three times a day for your meals.

 

[FutureHeavyAC]

"Never Compromise Safety".....isnt that how it goes?? FLY VERY VERY SAFE!!!! and if I find myself in front of you, Ill help you fly a little safer. Good luck.

 

[goin' missed]

Fly safe and only safe. Get Tank Daddy to tell the story about the brown snake in Iraq when he's in the smoke hole.

Bankrupt PT!!!!

 

[Lazy8]

Believe it or not all the Memphis based crew members got a crew-message on crewtrac from the base manager stating we'd be called-in for a meeting if we called in fatigued. The messaged stated it was for... and I quote... "fatigue analiysis". note the spelling

If we're calling in fatigued I doubt you'll see us for this "meeting" in our free time.

Gee I wonder why people would be calling in fatigued blocking 100 hours/month with 10/off... I simply can't comprehend.

Did you folks know if we are sick for more than 3 days in a row the company will try to force us to use FMLA... even if we have all the sick time in the world built up...

Our inadequate and unqualified management comes up with all sorts of moronic intimidation tactics to force people into things unsafe. Just use your head folks.

 

[flyf15]

Believe it or not all the Memphis based crew members got a crew-message on crewtrac from the base manager stating we'd be called-in for a meeting if we called in fatigued. The messaged stated it was for... and I quote... "fatigue analiysis". note the spelling

Good luck that ops.

Gee I wonder why people would be calling in fatigued blocking 100 hours/month with 10/off... I simply can't comprehend.

Did you folks know if we are sick for more than 3 days in a row the company will try to force us to use FMLA... even if we have all the sick time in the world built up...

Fatigue at regionals is rampant.... but crews are so used to it that they think its "normal" to fly so tired/exhausted/fatigued. Guaranteed almost every regional pilot out there is genuinely and, by all definitions, fatigued at least once a month.

How many times have you looked back upon what you did yesterday and thought "man I was really tired, I'm glad everything turned out ok"?

It is our DUTY to ourselves, our passengers, and our families to not fly fatigued, and if you're a regional airline pilot that has never called in fatigued, you are doing no service to anyone.

Airlines shouldn't think 1 fatigue call a year, or a career, is the norm with these scheduling practices.


I've had my buddies at Pinnacle tell me that, with multiple schedule changes along the way, they've done weeks with 4 highspeeds in a row, and then the 5th night being a reduced rest overnight with a 13 hour duty day the next day. THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF FATIGUE. Nobody should be flying these schedules and I don't want myself or my family on your airplane that 6th day, not even the 4th or 5th.... I don't care who you are, guaranteed with a schedule like this, YOU ARE FATIGUED. Don't endanger yourself or your passengers.

 

[pipejockey]

If the company only gives you a 45 minute turn, well that just isn't enough time for the crew to sit down and have a nutritious meal. The Captain will just have to delay the flight to ensure that his crew is properly nourished. Such a shame that Pinnacle never schedules enough breaks, so you'll just have to delay flights three times a day for your meals.

Be extremely careful what you wish for or else you will get plenty of breaks. Would you prefer 14-16 hour duty days with multiple 2-4 hour sits? I'm sure most of us would prefer 40 minute turns which is MORE than enough time to eat. Now the "flying safe" thing is extremely effective. I am speaking from experience. The delaying of flights for meal breaks will backfire big time. You will end up with maximum duty days for very little flight time.

 

[FutureHeavyAC]

Has anyone else ever wondered if we could all pull off a nationwide ALPA "fly safe" movement one day....think that would grab some attention. Last time I checked, the plane aint going anwhere without us.

 

[Flybywire44]

Believe it or not all the Memphis based crew members got a crew-message on crewtrac from the base manager stating we'd be called-in for a meeting if we called in fatigued. The messaged stated it was for... and I quote... "fatigue analiysis". note the spelling

If we're calling in fatigued I doubt you'll see us for this "meeting" in our free time.

Gee I wonder why people would be calling in fatigued blocking 100 hours/month with 10/off... I simply can't comprehend.

Did you folks know if we are sick for more than 3 days in a row the company will try to force us to use FMLA... even if we have all the sick time in the world built up...

Our inadequate and unqualified management comes up with all sorts of moronic intimidation tactics to force people into things unsafe. Just use your head folks.

I flew 980 hours with minimal days off in 2007. I'm in my mid 20s and fatigue really exists! Its insidious, you feel fine and then the next thing you know consecutive days of 10 hours of sleep is not enough.

I can only help but wonder what ran through managment's heads when they saw 63% ontime performance for '07.