Preferential Treatment?

[Rogue5]

Differences of Philosophy...

I will repost this from an earlier thread to explain:

"Ya know, I met an Eagle guy at a wedding and he hit me up with essentially the same question: "You guys are number one on time each month, I mean, you get paid by the hour... Why don't you pull the power levers back?"

It really hit me how totally screwed up labor relations are in this industry.

The way I look at it is:

1) we get paid the best of historic or actual, and historic (what with weather, Mx, whatever other delays figured in) tends to be significantly longer than what it takes to complete a flight on a normal day. To make any more would require me to significantly drag my ass.

2) I am essentially a lazy pilot: It's easy and it keeps me from killing myself by trying to get too fancy. The hard stuff is the up and down, the quick turn, etc. WAY too stressful. Cruise is easy livin'. If I can smoke the enroute to give me a little extra time to relax on the ground, go get that chili in MRY, talk to the cute little ramper girl in LAX (yes, they exist) then hell, my quality of life on an hour to hour basis is better, and thus my days, weeks and years.

3) Yes I know it sounds lame but everyone I've met takes pride in what they do. It is a sign of professionalism. Taking care of the customer. Thinking about 30 people with their lives and families and places to go and things to do. You said you would take them from here to here on time and safely. You do it. The company makes money and grows, you move up and are compensated accordingly (this last point needs to be addressed with the much anticipated upcoming TA. Every month we get kudos from management re: #1 on time, and almost all expect them to put their money where their mouth is or else tip the scales against themselves).

Not that life is perfect but there still is a lot of goodwill here between labor and managment. This is still a good company in the sense of people working diligently together to make something happen. I hope that vibe will continue..."

 

[English]

Hey Rogue,

How is making ill-will with Eagle pilots and suggesting they get out of your way "a sign of professionalism", as you call it?

I don't see how racing enhances safety. I also don't see how suggesting Eagle take 28R at MRY so that SkyWest can land one minute earlier enhances safety, or goodwill. The chili there is not THAT good.

 

[LAXSaabdude]

Re: Differences of Philosophy...

I am essentially a lazy pilot: It's easy and it keeps me from killing myself by trying to get too fancy.

I don't know how you fly personally, so if this doen't apply to you, my apologies.

The thing is, if the Brazilia was truly a blistering fast machine, it could blow right past the Saab, and we would never know the difference, nor care. The problem is, it really only has a very minimal speed advantage. I think I read somewhere it's only like 15 knots. So instead of just slowing down very slightly, I keep seeing your guys pull every cheesy stunt in the book to try to convince ATC to get us out of the way. To me, that sounds like a lot more work for minimal gain than it's worth.

I'm kinda lazy myself, I'd rather not spend all that energy trying to concoct ways to try to screw everyone else in the airspace.

The hard stuff is the up and down, the quick turn, etc. WAY too stressful. Cruise is easy livin'.

For some reason it seems that the wackiest stunts and most outrageous requests are usually in the terminal area.

LAXSaabdude

 

[Rogue5]

First off let me say I wish no ill will on any pilots of any airline out there: we are indeed all on the same team.

Second, it is absurd for one of our pilots to suggest you land on the little runway in MRY. 'Nuff said.

Third, it would be a severe lack of professionalism for any one to suggest to ATC for you to move out of our way. I know that the aerodynamics of the Brozilla allow us to get a bit of an edge. Usually we fly normally (read: company SOP climb profile with resprect to torque and airspeeds), and hopefully ATC will do the rest. Managing aircraft flow is their job. Climbing out of LAX on the Gorman4 I see ATC regularly turn you guys in early to rejoin the departure (saving you unnecessary off-course vectoring) while we take the long route outside and above. The Brasilia just gets us there faster.

Anything that any pilot has said or done that is not professional, I have no justification for, nor would I ever excuse or ever want to be a part of. That being said, I have never seen or heard such a thing. What we DO do is ride our planes like they can be ridden. Perhaps its only 15 knots in cruise but it is also a matter of rate of climb and ability to slow down. We watch all the time the blips on the TCAS and compare relative performance.

As far as the cheesy stunts in the terminal area, it may be more work but god it sure is fun. You ever hear Southwest on the radio as the Non-Flying Pilot keys the radio to acknowledge some unusual request that they would only ask Southwest to do, only to hear the other pilot in the background shout "Woo-ho!"? THAT is why I started flying airplanes: because I love it.

By the way, the chili on MRY is that good. Don't you guys rate your days by the quality of the food at the airports you fly into?

Above all, take it easy, - R5

 

[bogberto]

Re: Don't forget PIT

CCEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

Ahhh yeah Diamond Jim is THE ultimate controller. Two turns at the most to any final, always in a good mood. He should train controllers.

Are the Eagle folks in L.A. tired of we Air Shuttlers begging for the South side yet?

 

[English]

The chili there may be decent, but every pilot I ever flew with who ate it at MRY always had the worst intestinal problems (gas) on the flights back to LAX...I wouldn't eat it...hey but if it works for you and your captain, all the best.

I'd personally hold out for the food at the Spirit of St. Luis at SBP...great lemon cake there.

 

[IP076]

Sorry, but aren't intestinal problems (gas) and chili sort of a package deal???

MSP is really bad, during most times except around like 2 am. I get the run around alot going to STP early in the morning from the Southwest. A flight from South Dakota to Minnesota should not include overflying part of Wisconsin!!