Why aren't Aviators running airlines

[shon7]

I'm surprised by the fact that majority of the Airline CEO's are Finance Guys - "number crunchers" most of whom overlook the "service aspect" of this industry. Why aren't more aviators running airlines. Is it just because we love flying so much that we want to leave the day to day operations headaches to someone else?

So for all of you who have been with the airlines - didn't you ever want to join the management ranks? What were your reasons for not doing so?

 

[46Driver]

I point you in the direction of Chapter 11 United which has employees on their BODs.

 

[SaabStory]

Read this board for awhile...most of us can't even spell let alone run an airline.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

So for all of you who have been with the airlines - didn't you ever want to join the management ranks? What were your reasons for not doing so?

Have you ever worked 9-5, M-F? I have and I hated it. There is no way in hell I would give up my schedule, and "office view" that I currently have to go back to that loathsome schedule. Somebody else can work 60+ hours per week.

Besides it would cut into my time on these boards. God help me get a life!!!!!!!!

 

[UpNDownGuy]

Well, you have Gordon Bethune of Continental and George Mikelsons of ATA to name a couple. I'm sure there are other pilot/CEOs out there.

 

[General Lee]

A TWA Capt named Compton ran TWA into the ground.

 

[dirkdigler]

As much as it is true to say that being a good pilot and being a good instructor are two completely different things, being a good pilot and being a good airline exec are two different things.

I'm working for a company in which a lot of their managers have backgrounds not much more than having being a pilot, and it is a disaster!

 

[man-down]

Saabstory -

"Read this board for awhile...most of us can't even spell let alone run an airline."


That is an xcelnt obsurvation and it made me laugh out loud!

mike

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Saabstory -

"Read this board for awhile...most of us can't even spell let alone run an airline."


That is an xcelnt obsurvation and it made me laugh out loud!

mike

Me to!

 

[Publishers]

flying

Because by its nature, an airline has little to do with flying. The best example that I can give is that passenger and cargo operations are both considered airlines even though they are in totally different industries doing different things and serving a different client base.

From a business perspective, these are two different things but to the pilots on these boards they are the same, an airline. If an aviator was to run the airline, he better be a number cruncher as well because the ability to understand the economics of the model you are working with is essential.

 

[jarhead]

I believe it was back in the 80's or early 90's, that an Astronaught by the name of Col. Frank Bohrman, was at the helm of Eastern Airlines......and look what happened to Eastern.

 

[flywithruss]

The record of pilots running airlines isn't all that good. Like the General said, Bill Compton was a line captain before he was top dog at TWA, and he presided over the end there. Frank Borman presided over what was possibly the most poisonous labor/management relationship in airline history, to the point that the board had to sell out to Lorenzo. Anybody remember Dick Ferris at United? He started out as the pilots' best buddy, but soon he was turned out too.

Unfortunately, running an airline has very little to do with aviation. Herb Kelleher is probably one of the most successful airline CEOs, and he is a lawyer by education. Bob Crandall (though there is plenty that people didn't like about him) brought a lot of innovations to the industry, and was a marketing guy. The financial and marketing types seem to do the best as CEOs, as opposed to guys from the operational side.

 

[yaks]

Bill Compton

I believe Bill Compton did quite a job of turning TWA around. If I remember correctly their on-time percentage went way up as did their passenger satisfaction polls. I think he had too much Icahn baggage to overcome though and that is why they ultimately failed. The right pilot with the right background could certainly do as well as some of the idiots running the industry now and probably better.

 

[Publishers]

Equating

Equating on time performance with the skills that it takes is a perfect example. To a pilot, operations are where they shine.
Unfortunately your shareholders only care if that leads to more customers and more return on their investment.

Think of it this way, if the shareholders saw a consistant 30% return year after year, do you think they would be checking out the on time performance numbers.

While Southwest used to shine on quick time turns etc, the fact is that they did not go to airports or cities where that was not possible. They made the numbers by not really challenging places where it might be difficult.

There are many ways an airline needs to make money. As example your fuel department may make hedges and do purchases that save you a fortune. Reservations, airport leases, ground equipment, a whole bunch of non flying areas that are important.

In the end, flying the aircraft from A to B may be the easiest part.

 

[swaforme]

TWA was well under before Compton got the helm.

 

[SWA GUY]

Gordon Bethune may have a 757/767 type, courtesy of Boeing where he worked, but he's never been an airline pilot.

 

[JerkyHerky]

How does a pilot end up with a small fortune? Start with a large fortune.

There are millions of jokes dealing with pilots' paucity of financial acumen.

"Many a true word is said in jest"