Looking at most of the threads I can see that most people are not statisfied with their situation, irrespective of where they are in this part of the world. I started wondering are we being too negative. Don't get me wrong, I know there is plenty that needs improvement and one of the frustrating things in many of the countries here is that with the way things are structured here, there are no formal channels of feedback that can help ease this steam. Unlike some other parts of the world where a decent feedback might be appreciated and actually raised as flags with the respective management, things here are almost always somehow more complicated than that, even though they should not be. With the amount of growth going on in the whole region, my point of view is that these companies have no choice but be "learning companies" in the sense that they need to encourage the kind of attitude that gives constructive feedback from all the people involved for the sake of all. The company would benefit in a huge way if it does that because the expertise and the involvment of the people can actually make things better not just of the staff and the crew but for the company itself. Actually, I do not see any other way to go about this huge growth.
Back to the main point, we are all in one place or the other for a reason, being in some kind of committment, being financial or otherwise; lack of alternatives, even if it is for a period of time; we like the sunny weather and dont mind the mishaps that we have to go through; or getting a type rating for a step somewhere else, whatever it is, what are the actual things that we can do, if any, to improve our situation for the duration that we decide to stay? if any. The stress of the nature of our jobs in terms of the responsibility and the irregular hours and lifestyle makes have a decent life outside the aircraft a very important one, if we are to do it for the best parts of our lives. Do we tend to get too much into a negative loop of thinking that we stopped trying positively doing anything about it? or is it really a hopeless situation? And if we decide to move to a totally different part of the world, say the far east for an example, is going to be ultimately better and we'd stop complaining or is just a shift to a different negative loop?
All this is compounded of course by the multi cultural environment that we are in, because unless we are flying in our respective countries or the related region, chances are that we are dealing with a whole bunch of challenges inside and outside the aircraft that don't make the stress any less, but this is part of the expat life that we have decided to lead, again for one reason or the other.
With the huge shortages in the crew now and for the coming years, logic suggests that things have to shape up to a better equilibrium to sustain this growth, so I guess things will get better. At what pace or rate is beyong me but its a logical deduction. Shall we hold on, or can we hold on? or just move on? or just complain?
Any thoughts to be raised?
