Originally Posted by
RexBanner
If we’re talking Short Haul, my experience of it is that I had far more great days out at easyJet in my year there than I’ve had in 3 years at BA. The severe lack of pragmatism of many in the LHS at BA and minutiae driven briefings and stress levels in that seat are noticeably higher than any other airline I’ve worked for. They aren’t deliberately awkward or difficult individuals by nature outside of the flightdeck but boy do they make it hard work in the flightdeck. I don’t know if it’s something that you can blame those guys for as such I’ve got a feeling that it’s being driven by the training department here.
Absolutely spot on. I never knew how difficult a single sector could be made until I joined BA - I regularly find myself in total disbelief as the guy next to me conducts a 30 minute brief on a straight forward approach in CAVOK conditions. Even returning to LHR can be turned into a long drawn out affair. As you say, an astonishing lack of pragmatism.
Some places on the network obviously warrant proper discussion, and I appreciate many people have also come from long haul where briefings presumably become a novelty. But we're flying 6 day blocks, comprising anything up to 20 sectors, and you have to adjust accordingly. Quizzing me about the rad alt or MSA on our 5th approach into Heathrow will a) totally disengage me and b) make me want to punch you.
It's definitely something I think ought to be addressed in the training department as I’ve found it makes for an altogether more tiring day - especially if you’re with one of these people for 4 or 5 days in a row.