United CEO chastises pilots
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United chastises pilots
United airlines has sent a letter to all crew following a number of near misses recently
Part of the letter refers
" Recent events in our operation have dictated that we communicate with all of you immediately. Over the past few weeks, our airline has experienced what we would categorize as major safety events and near-misses.
In Flight Operations we have seen two events in close proximity to terrain (one resulting in a GPWS pull-up maneuver), an Undesired Aircraft State on departure and a low fuel state on arrival after a deviation from a Sabre Flight Plan routing.
We are currently seeing a lot of movement in the pilot group, such as retirements, seat movements and new hires, that -- while welcome -- introduces significant risk to the operation. While no one ever shows up to work with the goal of intentionally making a mistake, we are human and mistakes happen. What we can control is how we conduct ourselves on each and every flight. If you have ever used the term “Standard Brief” before departure, you have not complied with an SOP. If you have ever exceeded Stabilized Approach Criteria intentionally and not executed a go-around, you are not in compliance "
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This situation seems to be the result of a race to the bottom by airlines worldwide . Grueling rosters, shortage of crew , poor salaries resulting in a lack of interest in becoming a pilot , lack of experience in the flight deck . This is not the fault of the up and coming generation . But a lot of the new pilots have never flown anything other than a big shiny jet since they got their licence . This is not where you gain necessary experience, the generation that cut their teeth in the military or bush flying Have started to retire and those numbers are increasing rapidly .
Part of the letter refers
" Recent events in our operation have dictated that we communicate with all of you immediately. Over the past few weeks, our airline has experienced what we would categorize as major safety events and near-misses.
In Flight Operations we have seen two events in close proximity to terrain (one resulting in a GPWS pull-up maneuver), an Undesired Aircraft State on departure and a low fuel state on arrival after a deviation from a Sabre Flight Plan routing.
We are currently seeing a lot of movement in the pilot group, such as retirements, seat movements and new hires, that -- while welcome -- introduces significant risk to the operation. While no one ever shows up to work with the goal of intentionally making a mistake, we are human and mistakes happen. What we can control is how we conduct ourselves on each and every flight. If you have ever used the term “Standard Brief” before departure, you have not complied with an SOP. If you have ever exceeded Stabilized Approach Criteria intentionally and not executed a go-around, you are not in compliance "
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This situation seems to be the result of a race to the bottom by airlines worldwide . Grueling rosters, shortage of crew , poor salaries resulting in a lack of interest in becoming a pilot , lack of experience in the flight deck . This is not the fault of the up and coming generation . But a lot of the new pilots have never flown anything other than a big shiny jet since they got their licence . This is not where you gain necessary experience, the generation that cut their teeth in the military or bush flying Have started to retire and those numbers are increasing rapidly .
Last edited by joblow; 27th Feb 2015 at 16:22. Reason: Remove my thoughts from CEOs actual words
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Isn't this more likely to be the result of better flight monitoring & safety management systems? 20-30 years ago unstable approaches etc. just wouldn't be visible to management. Now they are
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Is the industry pushing older more experience pilots harder now ? Flying longer patterns , operating with lower experienced crew ? Even well trained experienced operators have a breaking point .
PART of the problem is the extent to which the US industry is wedded to pay differences depending on type, and strict adherence to seniority.
It means in times of movement due to retirement, new types and expansion, as is
the case now, the actual amount of training going on, and subsequent number of pilots in new (to them) types/seats is multiplied as, for example, one retirement of a Captain on a senior type means a Captain from a smaller (but not the smallest) type, another Captain prompted to replace HIM, a senior FO promoted to take HIS place and so on, till finally we hire a newbe FO onto one of the smallest types at the least popular base.
I wonder if anyone has actually done the math on how much US airlines would save in training costs if they paid the same to all pilots regardless of type, as is the case in most European airlines for example, thus dis-incentivising frequent movements between types and bases.
Never going to happen as it is a wholly entrenched system, but it is interesting to contrast what has grown up there compared to other parts of the world.
It means in times of movement due to retirement, new types and expansion, as is
the case now, the actual amount of training going on, and subsequent number of pilots in new (to them) types/seats is multiplied as, for example, one retirement of a Captain on a senior type means a Captain from a smaller (but not the smallest) type, another Captain prompted to replace HIM, a senior FO promoted to take HIS place and so on, till finally we hire a newbe FO onto one of the smallest types at the least popular base.
I wonder if anyone has actually done the math on how much US airlines would save in training costs if they paid the same to all pilots regardless of type, as is the case in most European airlines for example, thus dis-incentivising frequent movements between types and bases.
Never going to happen as it is a wholly entrenched system, but it is interesting to contrast what has grown up there compared to other parts of the world.
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"This is the result of a race to the bottom by airlines worldwide. Gruelling rosters, shortage of crew, poor salaries resulting in a lack of interest in becoming a pilot, lack of experience in the flight deck."
This is a direct quote from the CEO's letter and it puts into perspective how out of touch those in the top floor corner offices actually are.
Who exactly, Mr CEO, is responsible for the gruelling rosters, poor salaries an unattractive working conditions?
This is a direct quote from the CEO's letter and it puts into perspective how out of touch those in the top floor corner offices actually are.
Who exactly, Mr CEO, is responsible for the gruelling rosters, poor salaries an unattractive working conditions?
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For the past ten years+, stagnation has kept most pilots in their seats. As a result, the major airlines have had the most experienced pilots ever in history in every seat, and have steadily cut practical training without tragic consequence. They may have reached the point where they are giving pilots so little training and stick time, that tragedy is becoming likely, at the same time they are bringing in inexperienced pilots, and seeing a lot of seat movement.
This combination of bad moves by management will of course be the fault of pilots, we will see a lot of new programs to beat up pilots to fix this.
This combination of bad moves by management will of course be the fault of pilots, we will see a lot of new programs to beat up pilots to fix this.
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Jefferson Airplane ,
Much that I like your music you made an incorrect assumption relating to my original post
The race to the bottom segment was not in the CEO's original letter those are my thoughts I have adjusted my original post to highlight this
Much that I like your music you made an incorrect assumption relating to my original post
The race to the bottom segment was not in the CEO's original letter those are my thoughts I have adjusted my original post to highlight this
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My apologies.
It appeared that the paragraph I quoted was a part of the letter but I realize I was mistaken.
It does not however, alter the disconnect between those managing the industry and the reality of what is happening at the front line.
It appeared that the paragraph I quoted was a part of the letter but I realize I was mistaken.
It does not however, alter the disconnect between those managing the industry and the reality of what is happening at the front line.
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Don't think letter was from the CEO not that it matters that much. UAL runs a good operation and I'm confident they will do what's necessary to correct any anomalies. Mergers always bring a degree of stress to an operations and I seriously doubt that strike breakers be they UAL or CAL have anything to do with this issue.
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Spooky you are absolutely correct, my bad
The letter was sent by Snr Vice President flight ops and Vice President corporate safety
If you want to read it , it can be found here
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2015/im...chmentview.pdf
The letter was sent by Snr Vice President flight ops and Vice President corporate safety
If you want to read it , it can be found here
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2015/im...chmentview.pdf
