So now we are not professional...

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Try saying this during an airline interview to an HR rep or a fellow pilot. You'll quickly be show the door.

The airlines I interviewed at including the one that hired me never asked that kind of question. They were hiring someone to take responsibility for flight safety. I never had the pleasure of interviewing at jetblue.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

This principle exists and because I'm aware of it, and point it out here, doesn't mean I think the end result is the correct one. It's basic human nature - people respond to how they are treated.

If you alter the perceived quality in a particular environment, the population in that environment will respond.

understood and agreed...

 

[Chest Rockwell]

I read an article a long time ago that basically said, if you want to be perceived a certain way, first you need to behave that certain way. Regardless of whether you (or anybody else) buys it, or not. This will slowly, but surely shift the perception that you ARE the way you have been acting.

Okay, what?

If you (as an airline pilot) want to be perceived as a professional, then the first step is to behave like a professional. Then others will see how you are behaving and perceive you as a professional.

I say this because, time and time again I read on this board (among other places), "if management wanted me to act like a professional, then they should treat me like a professional." I believe this is reverse logic. If you want to be perceived and ultimately treated like a pro, the first step is to behave like one.

Okay, How?

Know your airplane.
Know the procedures.
Stay current at ALL levels of automation.
Treat your crew with respect.
Treat the gate agents and other employee groups with respect.
Show up on time.
Use sick time for when you're sick.
Wear the uniform correctly.
Put away the laptop, ipod, USA Today and paperbacks while you're flying.

Just a thought...

Bravo!

 

[mamba20]

It seems like the FAA Admin., Randy Babbitt has gone from pilot to politician.

Those who can't do become feds. F#ck him.

 

[rudder]

The public takes a safe flight as a given

The public want the safest pilot and the cheapest ticket. Perhaps Babbitt could take the time to explain that these two are mutually exclusive. Why? Because a qualified and experienced pilot will not allow himself or herself to be used as a pawn to subsidise low air fares. He should use his current position to provide regulation that mandates higher qualifications and experience in Part 121 operations. Pilot unions can take care of the rest at the bargaining table. Hard to run an airline when you do not have enough pilots.

 

[densoo]

Because a qualified and experienced pilot will not allow himself or herself to be used as a pawn to subsidise low air fares.

That cow has been out of the barn for a long time.

 

[jonjuan]

That cow has been out of the barn for a long time.

But I thought the cow's nose was in the tent. Or was the camel out of the barn?

 

[waveflyer]

It's interesting- passengers seem to not want to think Theresa human element in aviation. I've seen them implore "well airplanes pretty much fly themselves right? .....right?" as if the physical act of lying hasn't always been a small part of the job- and they'd be more comfortable if there were no humans at the controls.

Bottom line - our stats speak for themselves. 1000s of flights happen safely in all kinds of weather and situations bc everyone involved - is very good at their job. Remind your passengers.

Rez- the best cultures to work at will ask that question. Pilots are leaders and we can set the service tone, team attitude- or not.

 

[Fubijaakr]

You guys really don't understand the Lufthansa model, do you?

Do you know the most dangerous airline in the Western World (Aeroflot excluded!)?

 

[Sandhawk]

You guys really don't understand the Lufthansa model, do you?

Do you know the most dangerous airline in the Western World (Aeroflot excluded!)?

Probably the old USAirways............

 

[JoeMerchant]

You guys really don't understand the Lufthansa model, do you?

This model?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyw2vgJffqU

 

[TheInsider]

Wow... coming from the head of the FAA, a former pilot, and a former union president... Maybe if everyone treated us like professionals instead of Greyhound bus drivers things would be different... Thanks Randy!

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=827862&catid=14

Pilots must "refocus" on professionalism...

WASHINGTON -- The nation's top aviation official says the Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot Minneapolis are part of a larger problem of professionalism among commercial airline pilots.
Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Randy Babbitt told an international aviation club on Wednesday that aviation is facing an "extreme need to refocus on professionalism."
He pointed to Northwest Flight 188, which overshot Minneapolis by 150 miles because the pilots were working on their laptops. He also noted the regional airliner that crashed earlier this year near Buffalo, N.Y., killing 50 people.
A former airline pilot and pilot union president, Babbitt says that in both cases the pilots forgot their first job was to focus on flying the plane.

Do you feel like a professional?

Then act like one. Your professionalism is not tied to your pay, the public's opinion of you, or the way "everyone" treats you.

 

[Flopgut]

Nice to hear this from a guy like Babbitt who treated the profession and the union like an his own personal ATM.

Is it not possible that flying is as safe as it is because we are in fact all professionals? What human endeavor compares to flying? Has anything grown more safe, and less expensive over the last 100 years? Medicine comes to mind. Lots of breakthoughs there but it certainly has not gotten cheaper!? The food supply has grown less expesive and production has evolved. But even then, when it became fasionable to be critical of farmers, there were bumper stickers that read: "If you're going to complain about farmers, don't talk with your mouth full". You would think if anyone would come to our defense it would be Babbitt. But no. Just another baby-boomer.

 

[propdog]

Well.....is he wrong? NO! Although it may sting a little to us as pilots, the man is correct.

In one case you have a crew who was either:

A. asleep and f%^&d up
B. engaged in a discussion on company policy and f%^&d up
C. having a scheduling extra help session and f%^&d up
D. engaged in some other weird/sexual crap and f%^&d up

In the other case you had two pilots who seemed to have no idea what was going on at all with:

A. winter ops
B. icing
C. SIC/PM responsibility to speak up
B. stall/spin and tailplane stall scenarios


Now we are ALL susceptible to errors in the cockpit, but these crew really messed upbad. What is wrong with pointing that out? No matter how you look at it, there is a glaring lack of professionalism in both cases. Good for him for trying to make us avoid situations like this. Shame can be a powerful motivator.....

Please elaborate 'D'. Curious minds wants to know....

 

[Mike man]

just because you, asayankee, enjoy D...does not mean anyone else does, just keep your gag bal...mouth shut.