PBRstreetgang,
No matter how much you try to make yourself out to look like the good-guy, everyone on FI.com can clearly see that you are the biggest tool on here. By my estimation, out of 2,500 pilots, having only one complete ******* out of the whole group is not that bad of a percentage. I no longer feel the need to keep proving to the rest of the members just how much of a tool you are. You have done quite nicely all on your own. And I thank you for saving me the trouble.
Furthermore, Mr. PBRstreetgang, I am fully aware that you fly one aircraft one leg at a time. Maybe one to six segments in one day. Perhaps, even three or four different aircraft in one day. I am also fully aware that you have someone backing you up on every flight sitting in the right seat and that both of you, along with your dispatcher, are fully responsible for the safety of each flight you so diligently take on.
However, you are not in the least bit aware of what dispatch does, not just on a daily basis, but as a never ending cycle. Currently, I am in charge of 43 different aircraft. Out of those 43 aircraft, 11 need to get to maintenance bases this evening. Luckily, none of those aircraft have any major MELs that restrict where that aircraft can go, except for one that has a 'Day Only VMC' restriction. I would love to undo all of your aircraft swaps and get you out of those APU-deferred aircraft, but I have a schedule to keep. The fact that dispatch gets all of those aircraft to maintenance bases everyday is the main reason those 43 aircraft have no major issues. Amazing, isn't it?
Oh, but it doesn't stop there. Everyday, ATC decides we need a flow program somewhere. Aircraft break at the hubs, sometimes they break at the outstations. Crews start pushing into duty/rest issues. Flights become delayed more and more. The intricate, but fragile, airline schedule starts to fall apart. Whether you like it or not, my fellow colleagues and I, are licensed professionals. My job as a licensed professional is to constantly put that puzzle back together, be it delaying or canceling flights, repositioning aircraft or reflowing crews. It is my *** on the line at this point, not yours. I am the one solely responsible for maintaining a constant flow of airline operations with minimal impact to the company's bottom line. But arguing over our respective job responsibilities is not what's important.
What is important is that I do understand the duties of the Pilot In-Command. Annually, I have the opportunity to spend 5 block hours in each the CRJ and the EMB. Furthermore, I have those same opportunities during my frequent travels across the US. What also is important is the fact that you have no understanding of the duties of the dispatch office personnel. You, sir, have too many misconceptions of the OCC for me to even bother listing. Instead, I offer you the following:
I challenge you, PBRstreetgang, to spend one shift with me personally on any day and time of your choosing. I offer to gladly pay your lodging and meal expenses as a sign of good faith on my part. If, after one day observing the functionality of the dispatch office, you still believe all of your misconceptions about dispatch, I will personally and humbly apologize for wasting your time and concede to your superiority.
Do you, sir, have the professionalism to show the rest of FI.com, your fellow pilots, dispatchers and employees, that you are not afraid to accept my challenge? Or, sir, would you like to go ahead and admit that your professionalism shall be based solely on your childish rants of degradation and name-calling? The choice is yours.
Sincerely,
XP/OO