From the antipodes it was an oversupply, junior instructors training the next generation of instructors, a landmass well suited to the aircraft. Regular Air
Force pilots finished their tour led to a ready supply.
Then there was a splintering strike in 1989, most pilots today were however not flying, yet the stories would resonate as the new guy heard from the old guy, be careful.
Pilots there lacked the stomach for a fight with references even today of 'that year'. The growth of the accountant driven Low Fare Airline, drove more of the Cost of business at pilots, who were still in abundant supply.
In 2011 the Qantas International pilots were involved with a protracted and what in hindsight was a manufactured and acrimonious campaign (by the company). The pilots had begun to forget 'that year' as the next generation began to inhabit cockpits and as the stories began to slip into the rear vision mirror, the pilots though it was time to redress terms and conditions. Maybe management knew this.
Pilot actions amounted to approved Industrial action which included;
- Wearing a red rather than black uniform tie
- Making an inflight announcement about Qantas pilots, tradition and the proud history
They and domestic Qantas pilots (separate contract) who were not involved in any industrial action were grounded and locked out.
The problem fundamentally is a denigration of operational jobs, be they gold miners or oil rig workers. For friends there (at QF) the last remnants of a career vapourised. To this day it is simply a job.
As the global shortage bites and airline management scramble for solutions that fail to address the vast power imbalance as it exists in most airlines, it is time, ever so gently for pilots as Ryan air pilots ably demonstrated to push back.
The good news is that the balance will be restored, not from a bitter and divisive fight, rather simple demographics. For once, pilots are on the right side. They need do very little other than watch in slight amusement as weasel words, then idle threats the appeals to 'professionalism' consume the working day of the MBA management class. This management class is going to understand that without pilots it grows increasingly difficult to secure Operating Revenue.
Maybe the glamour has gone, the holiday once started when one conceived of the destination, the hotel and went to the travel agent. The mind could be on 'holiday' imagining the fun weeks before one traveled. These days with the onerous Orwellian overreach of airport security, privacy invasion and that extra row of seats, one has to wait until the hotel or resort before actually relaxing!
The glamour has gone from almost everything, but there’s still fun to be had. In aviation and medicine we are no longer little tin gods, but there is still some respect, status and the prospect of a decent life.
If one had worked in the MBA management 'administrative side' of airlines, one would notice that many love aviation. They just don't like pilots.
Having asked will get an honest answer on occasion that they 'wanted to be a pilot but..' It mustn't be nice to go to work every day with envy for others a constant companion.
