US Airways Suspends Pilot

[flashpoint]

US Airways Suspends Pilot
By JOANN LOVIGLIO, Associated Press Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A US Airways pilot accused of making ``inappropriate'' comments at an airport security checkpoint has been suspended from his job, an airline official said Monday.

Elwood Menear, 46, will be suspended pending the outcome of an investigation, said airline spokesman David Castelveter, who declined to comment on whether that was standard company procedure. Castelveter also wouldn't say whether Menear was still receiving a paycheck.

Menear, 46, was released from jail Monday, the day after he was arrested for making what authorities said were ``inappropriate'' comments at Philadelphia International Airport. Police charged him with making terroristic threats and disorderly conduct.

Officials refused to give specifics about what he said. Sources familiar with the investigation, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, have said Menear suggested he could take down the plane without a weapon.

Menear did not return a message left Monday at his home seeking comment.

A preliminary court hearing has been scheduled for March 8.

The FBI (news - web sites) and U.S. attorney's office had not yet determined whether federal charges would be brought against Menear.

 

[ifly4food]

And now we shall see if ALPA has the cajones to step up to the plate.
Pay attention, those of you joining us from Herndon... your actions in the next several weeks may alter the course of ALPA for many years to come. I hope you do the right thing.

 

[flashpoint]

If you feel this is a complete disgrace you CAN do something about it:

USAir ALPA MEC Communications Chairman
[email protected]

USAir ALPA MEC Communications Specialist
[email protected]

http://www.usairwayspilots.org

USAir Corporate Headquarters
2345 Crystal Drive
Arlington, VA 22227
1-703-872-7000

 

[Beechnut]

Disgrace?

I find it a disgrace that a professional pilot in charge of a multimillion dollar aircraft, responsible for the safety and comfort of at least a 100 passengers, doesn't have the wherewithal to keep his mouth shut.

We have legitimate concerns and complaints about our 'for show' security We are taking action through appropriate steps to solve these problems. Voicing those concerns to those agents in front of your bread and butter was nothing short of foolish.

S.

 

[ifly4food]

Are you proposing that all of us, including our union should not defend this pilot because he got fed up, lost his temper, and made a flip remark?
Gee, I hope you never get fed up someday.

 

[Beechnut]

I'm sitting here starting sentences only to go back and erase them. I think the pilot really screwed up even if it was an insinuation rather than a direct threat.
I think the company has to suspend him for p.r. purposes. I think the union has to defend him to maintain credibility on this issue among the dues paying pilots. I think the guy at the center of this screwed up and should be fined or suspended for awhile.
I know how frustrating it is to go through security and I'm tired of them scanning my shoes and watching me take off my belt, only to questions me about the clips I keep in my flight bag to hold the Jepp plates to the side panel. But I am also INTENSELY aware of the line of passengers behind me that are watching the moves I make and my reaction to my inconvenience.


S.

 

[frenchy]

Disgrace?

I find it a disgrace that a professional pilot in charge of a multimillion dollar aircraft, responsible for the safety and comfort of at least a 100 passengers, doesn't have the wherewithal to keep his mouth shut.

We have legitimate concerns and complaints about our 'for show' security We are taking action through appropriate steps to solve these problems. Voicing those concerns to those agents in front of your bread and butter was nothing short of foolish.

S.

Some pilots are sick and tired to go thru "security" and having to remove shoes and belts etc,etc one is human and can be push so far before exploding. So don't be so hasty to judge.
I think the Faa is once again overreacting and it is the pilots that are paying the price as usual.

 

[ifly4food]

I am also INTENSELY aware of the line of passengers behind me that are watching the moves I make and my reaction to my inconvenience.

That's an excellent point.
However, I think we can all agree that this guy was just being a wise arse. They didn't need to throw the book at him. We need to show the FAA and the Justice Dept that we aren't going to be made examples of anymore.

 

[flashpoint]

I find it a disgrace that a professional pilot in charge of a multimillion dollar aircraft, responsible for the safety and comfort of at least a 100 passengers, doesn't have the wherewithal to keep his mouth shut.

Beechnut-

I find it a disgrace that a professional pilot in charge of a multimillion dollar aircraft, responsible for the safety and comfort of at least a 100 passengers, can't be treated with the respect and admiration HE DESERVES. When he opens his mouth people should shut up and listen... THAT MEANS YOU. It's obvious that a lot of people are offended by your remarks. Airline Captains do not attain their positions through the level of discipline it takes to get hired by Argenbright, but rather it is acquired by years of blood, sweet, and tears... Do you think Airline Pilot's would be where they're at today "if they kept their mouth's shut?" You obviously have no respect for a job that requires instantaneous decision making that at times that can decide the fate of hundreds of people in a single second. No wonder the term wash out exists. As former President Theodore Roosevelt said-

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or WHERE THE DOER OF DEEDS COULD HAVE DONE THEM BETTER. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweet and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and short coming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worse, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."

 

[flashpoint]

How is that security puke suppose to know you are a legit pilot?

Well, for starters because your're usually with your crew when you go through security, everybody's got their credentials, and when YOU SAY SOMETHING OUT OF COMMON SENCE LIKE CAPTAIN MENEAR DID HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WITH MORE THEN A JUNIOR HIGH EDUCATION CAN UNDERSTAND!@#!!!!



WHAT PART OF THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE MUSLIM FANATICS HAD FAKE PILOT CREDENTIALS DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?

Well, for a great picture of a muslim fanactic, click here.



THE GUY SHOULD HAVE BIT HIS FREAKIN TONGUE

Read the Roosevelt quote above.



But hey, he is senior to me so maybe I'll move up a number.

Better hope ALPA doesn't have yours.



If its a hot babe at the security check point, hope she strip searches me, it'll make her day.

Need I comment. Enough idiosy for one night, as I'm off to bed.

 

[avbug]

While we're reciting great quotes,

Discretion IS the better part of valor.

It's far better to keep one's trap shut and appear the fool, rather than open it, and remove all doubt.

Rather than concentrate on the educational level of the screener, why not allow the pilot to take responsibility for his actions? That is after all, what pilots do. We take rull responsibility for our actions, those of our crew, and that of our airplane.

Further, we represent the company to the passengers.

While these may have been a few mischosen words, let's not forget that wars have been fought over a few mischosen words. Ultimately, Christ wasn't crucified for being a political heritic and subversion as charged before pontias pilate; he was crucified by the Sanhedrin for stating that he is the Son of God. A few words, and those marked the turning point of time as we measure it today.

I doubt the words of one pilot in the terminal will change the world, but as professionals, let us not remember that a few words will make a great deal of difference. We all know the penalty for misreading a clearance; under the right circumstances, it can be rather serious.

One would not stand in court on a capitol charge, and state, "Guilty! I mean, seriously your honor, I meant innocent. I was just kidding. Guilty! HAAAAA! I'm not really guilty. If I wanted to, I could come up there and kick your ass right now, your honor, why would I need a weapon? Just kidding!" See how that goes over. A few misplaced words can and do make a difference.

Don't berate the security personnel. Don't cloud the issue by berating their apparel, or hair style, as some posters have done. Don't berate their education, or pay level. Security didn't make the comment, and doubtless there is more yet to be revealed. One comment isn't the entire storyhere; rest assured of that. No one has become a scape goat, the "government" hasn't chosen Elwood to be an example to the masses of pilots.

Elwood can take responsibility for his own actions. At over forty years old, he's old enough; he's a big boy. He made the comment, not the FAA, not security, not his company; just Elwood.

Don't cry about how an airline pilot deserves better. Are any of us better than our passengers? Hardly. Strip off the ego and simmer down. The passengers deserve better. Had a passenger made the comment, the passenger would have been denied boarding, and folks here would be clammering to crucify the passenger...fine him, jail him; the FAA isn't doing enough! What is good for the goose is good for the gander, so they say.

They're right, whom ever "they" are.

 

[flashpoint]

Fighterjock, looks like I pissed you off!


AvBug,

Ok, since no one else seems to be up at this hour I will respond again.


It's far better to keep one's trap shut and appear the fool, rather than open it, and remove all doubt.

Since you referred to him, it's a pretty good thing Christ opened his mouth.


Further, we represent the company to the passengers.

Yep, standing there with someone's hands between our legs with our shoes, jacket, and tie going through the treadmill because we exist in a system created this way by our company's.



We all know the penalty for misreading a clearance; under the right circumstances, it can be rather serious.

Right.



Don't cry about how an airline pilot deserves better. Are any of us better than our passengers? Hardly. Strip off the ego and simmer down. The passengers deserve better.

I'd like to see a passenger shoot a raw data ILS to mins on the first shot. And, if we're no better, then I look forward to not having to wear this uniform. The company seems to want me to wear it for some reason though. On that note, having been a ramper for over 5 years, I commonly get out to help the fueler when we're running late. The passengers see me doing that and usually stop by the flight deck to say thanks on the way out. Do it for the passengers, they deserve better, right?


I enjoyed reading your informative, intuitive posts, once again even if they are on the opposing side of the court. Thanks for the debate- Goodnight. Fighterjock, well.... Learn how to take it in the rear, you'll be doing it your whole career. Besides, if we bumped into one another at the bar I'd buy you a beer in good fun- Then I'd drink you under the table.

 

[Draginass]

A significant part of this problem is the BLATANT INCOMPETENCE OF THE FAA to provide a positive and electronically verifiable identification system for aircrew members (or all airport workers for that matter), and Law Enforcement Officers. ALPA pushed for this OVER 10 YEARS AGO. Action to date by the FAA??? NOTHING, NADA, as usual.

 

[~~~^~~~]

AVBUG:

I think many of us have a problem with the lack of respect the airport screeners show to pilots.

What the US Air pilot said is a statement that you and I know to be absolutely true. When has our Country thrown folks in jail for speaking the truth?

All of a sudden a bunch of under-achieving, under-educated, goons with a chip on their shoulder over their $8.25 an hour jobs have been given power over $200,000 a year sky gods - a few of the screeners can not help but turn into bullys. They have been waiting years to "teach these arrogant pilots a lesson." (School is now in session folks)

That is the reason why all pilots need to get a copy of and read the security directives - you will either be the teacher, or the student, you choose.

 

[Cornelius]

That proposal Draginass mentioned sounds like the best bet. A quick computer check can verify who that person is and what their security clearance is. It would have worked with that idiot USSS guy who got denied a couple weeks ago. A picture and fingerprints should be on it to. It sounds like it would be a difficult program to get started and maintain just because of all the different organizations with security clearance but it may be worth the effort.