SilkAir In Full Flight? I Think Not...
Recently, a Professor in Psychology from the US was invited to Singapore to present his groups findings of an anonymous pilot survey conducted on SilkAir pilots.
The results were frightening. The Professor indicated that morale was at rock bottom and that the vast majority of pilots believed that management were completely ineffective.
Why is this? The airline has many well trained and very professional pilots amongst it's ranks yet the vast majority of them despise management intensely.
The answer I think is relatively simple.TRUST....or should I say the lack of it. How can the pilots believe and trust the management when they do the following;
1) They say openly in court that despite Tsu Way Ming scaring co-pilots, the incidents referred to were at most errors in Judgement and were not safety concerns.
2) They say in court that the incidents referred to were no more than administrative oversights and were of no safety consequence.
3) They do not heed the numerous complaints and recommendations from other pilots regarding Tsu Way Ming and another pilot (HL).
4) They continue to employ newly recruited, substandard staff on top contracts, whilst many long serving, local guys get nothing more than empty promises and even more emptier pockets.
5) They 'enlist' spies amongst the pilot ranks to try and keep track of pilot sentiment. JL, PL and HS are perfect examples of this.
6) They focus too much on reports, memos, circulars other administrative detail to the detriment of the training department and good old common sense.
7) They are quick to chastise the pilots for administrative oversights yet they never acknowledge their own failings when they do the same. Not acknowledging or failing to act on pilot voyage report entries is a perfect example.
The list goes on and on.
HERE's what I think...
***Scaring copilots is a safety concern.What happened to human factors?
***All 3 incidents with Tsu Way Ming were safety concerns. S-Bend manoeuvres, pulling CB's, not getting T/O thrust and continuing are all safety concerns!!
***Numerous complaints about TWM and the other pilot (HL) should have promted the management to act earlier.
***Give the local terms guys more of a chance at moving to SIA without the LearJet hanging over their shoulders.Reduce the pay gap between expat and local terms to more equitable terms.
***Be upfront and honest. The necessity to acquire information via the 'spies' would soon become obsolete.
***Get the management instructors out on the line more often. These guys do not inspire confidence in the copilots when they only fly once a month. How proficient do you think they would be in an emergency?
***Cut out the pettiness of the 'Be more mindful in future' letters and other admin correspondence. Of course, feedback to crew is important if something is not right, but remember this...the pilots are not school children and should not be treated like such.
Whew...I feel better already.
[ 19 July 2001: Message edited by: PPRuNe Towers ]
[ 20 July 2001: Message edited by: Moral High Ground ]