The mood and lack of empathy of domestic pilots is exacerbated by the Preferential Bidding System being disabled/degraded within a couple of rosters of the new EBA being voted up.
Years and years of shouldering the burden of fat inefficient factions has made them
numb and indifferent to others’ problems including the seriousness of the Corona virus and it’s effect on forward bookings. At work they’re exhausted at home they’re exhausted and on it goes.
They’re not heartless, naughty (sick leave) or vendicative just tired and stressed. I’m seeing a lot of guys starting to have serious relationship problems.
The “Game Change” program needs to be unwound and the company needs to get back to basics. Unfortunately restraint and seriousness isn’t visible to domestic pilots and this is just pissing them off even more. Throwing parties for Xmas and cutting cakes every week whilst being told of financial woes for a decade doesn’t incentivise or inspire those on at the pointy end of the money truck.
To make things worse, the job has never been harder. The rosters are gruelling and anything that goes near the triangle involves large amount of ATC/flow nonsense with INCESSANT frequency change/chatter, COBTs and Feeder Fix bull**** it absolutely never ends. Atis updates and runway changes particularly out of the “naughty base” Melbourne is incredible. 1 degree change new atis, fire fighters eating lunch new atis on and on it goes.
None of my previous employers (including office work) had this addiction to frivolity and happy faces. You just turned up, did your bit, got paid and went home. If you didn’t like it you moved on and we’re replaced in an instant. Maybe it’s a new era and all companies do it now.
In General Aviation the focus on cost control and attention to detail was second to none, if you put a foot wrong (waste) you would hear about it.
The waste isn’t all one sided, it includes Pilots where opportunities to safely save fuel on the ground are scoffed at. Imagine you ran your own home like that. Meanwhile up at the gate, staff are rolling eyes at unsuspecting passengers whilst looking at Strawberrynet and oncoming poorly presented crew hide to avoid helping get the airplane get back out on time (best mates until it involves lifting a finger on an ARDUOS 9:45 duty). Admittedly hiding from work seems to have become an art form unless you are at the pointy end of the 737 and based in either Syd or Mel.
Professionalism and pride in your work isn’t something you switch on and off you either have it or you don’t.
The ‘can do’ attitude I’ve noticed gradually eroding amongst domestic drivers over the years. No wonder.
Just watch the sobbing if this one can’t get turned around, it’ll be all to f late then won’t it?
Last edited by Berealgetreal; 20th Feb 2020 at 15:21.