Safety is For Sale at CAL

[semperfido]

help me understand this, 8 hrs, RON, then 8 hrs back? If that is the case, I don't see the problem.

 

[CaptWidgeon]

I don't live in the all-nighter and "what'd he say" mindset.

Gup

you fly in the northeast much? or are you one of them??? boston and ny center, it's a whole other world.

:cartman:

 

[Xtremepilot]

help me understand this, 8 hrs, RON, then 8 hrs back? If that is the case, I don't see the problem.

Sometimes there is more thought about the flight than just the flight time. Other considerations include time of flight (night), challenges encountered during the flight (international, high terrain, fatigue), and standard practice in the industry.

I would put a lot of money on the fact that Continental Airlines flies more flights with a block time of 7:55-8:00 than any other carrier. they do this for ONE reason only: at 8 hrs or less, you don't need a third pilot (this saves both money and the fact that you can staff fewer pilots overall because you only have two pilots heading towards that 1000/year mark vs. 3)

The real point here is this: when the pairings (trips) were awarded to pilots last month, this flight down to Lima had three pilots scheduled to operate it, because either management thought we were overstaffed and didn't want a pilot sitting at home when he/she could fly, or they thought it would enhance the safety of the operation. then, suddenly a snow storm hits the northeast and a pilot would like to work the EWR-LIM trip vs. whatever he/she was scheduled to do. Scheduling made a conscious decision to go back on their initial decision to operate LIM as a three man crew (selling safety).

 

[bizicmo]

I don't understand how people can't pass the checkride on the 737 as single pilot thus eliminating the discussion about the third pilot and all.

 

[100/hour/5y]

Just checked my log book and the last 3 times going down and back to Lima I block over 8hrs each way while they were sch going down 8hrs and coming home 7:57 No IRO was need for the pairing under or= 8hrs blocked however the FA's got crew rest going down to Lima while the 2 pilots didn't...
I bet everyone was happy in the back knowing that the FA's were well rested for the breakfast, while the 2 pilots upfront are struggling to stay awake...

 

[semperfido]

I bet everyone was happy in the back know that the FA's were well rested for the breakfast, while the 2 pilots upfront are struggling to stay awake...

Now I know you are joking. :erm:

 

[b707guy]

help me understand this, 8 hrs, RON, then 8 hrs back? If that is the case, I don't see the problem.

Besides the other points made, sometimes the legal-length RON is hardly restful with hair-raising 45-minute cab-of-death shuttle to the hotel, lengthy check-in, key doesn't work when you get to the room, etc etc, you name it and before you know it, you have only 6 hours to the wake-up call. Not saying that's the case here, but all the other factors at play can sure make for a very exhausting trip.

 

[semperfido]

imp:If we had a third pilot for an 8 hr flight, I would feel spoiled.

 

[100/hour/5y]

Now I know you are joking. :erm:

I wish I was... The FA's get crew rest and pilots don't... Happens a lot at Cal... Mostly Lima, LHR, MAN, LIS...

CAL Sucks!

 

[Ben Franklin]

Just checked my log book and the last 3 times going down and back to Lima I block over 8hrs each way while they were sch going down 8hrs and coming home 7:57 No IRO was need for the pairing under or= 8hrs blocked however the FA's got crew rest going down to Lima while the 2 pilots didn't...

1. Of course you DID fill out 6 ASAP reports, one for each flight complaining about how fatigued you were, right?

2. Of course you DID call in fatigued before one/most/all of the legs (as you said you'd do in a previous post)?

3. How did you personally rest for these 6 legs vs. how do you personally rest for the same legs but with an IRO?

4. Of course, you HAVE bid the 737 or 777 since you think 2-pilot 7:57 red eyes are unsafe?

5. Of course, you HAVE alerted the media to this practice to seek some remedy or other public attention?

6. Of course, you've written all of your union/elected officials about this too?

7. Why didn't you stay at Express?

8. Why haven't you quit and gone somewhere else to fly?

9. Which airlines are better than CAL, in your opinion and why?

10. Out of the ones from #9 above, have any done anything recently to warrant a post like this on FI (safety for sale at xxx)?

TIA


Sincerely,

B. Franklin