We all know that BA management leaves a lot to be desired. In fact, they seem to be pathetic. But BA pilots qualify for the same description on the basis of this thread.
Yes, there may be concerns, but if anyone is mad enough to re-read all that has been posted, you have to come to conclusion that BA pilots are a pretty disastrous bunch of people. I hope it is only a minority that are showing their immaturity.
As for always assuming that anyone who posts anything "against" the pilots is necessarily BA management, please stop deluding yourselves. Most of us neutral pilots are not saying much, because it seems to be a largely domestic issue, but you can't help getting frustrated and irritated by some of the juvenile postings. One wonders about the quality of BA pilots. Can they be that good, that professional, if they behave like they are doing? Many seem to be irrational and some delusional. Not what you want in the cockpit.
If BA top management had enough guts, they should tell BALPA to get stuffed and get ready for the strike. Many UK industries have been lost by weak management not fighting when it was appropriate, and whilst this isn't quite the same, the question of who is managing BA, management or the pilots, is a fundamental one.
411A - you usually write common sense, and you have done in this case.
Forkhandles- You use the expression "unprofessional twats". I wouldn't have used that expression to refer to many of the posters, but now you mention it, you are probably spot on. Except you also say that the "only arseholes are in management". This is clearly not the case. Your posting (#385) is an example of the irrationality that I refer to.
jshg - Fair point, but have faith! Market forces will prevent the sort of decimation you are alluding to.
merlinxx - The thing is, being a pilot IS somewhat like being a bus driver. I know; I am one! Trying to pretend that it is some elevated profession that only supermen and superwomen can cope with is just plain wrong. Most professions are actually a lot less glamorous than they used to be, or seem to be: just ask a doctor. What makes you think pilots are so special? Just read all 400 postings in this thread and you'll see that if BA pilots are special, it could be for the wrong reasons. (I'd like to point out that, in fact, the majority of BA pilots I know are first class people, and I am sure they are very good pilots. I doubt many of them have bothered to post anything here.)
Sounds as though I am against people in my own profession, doesn't it? Well, I am very definitely not. But I would like some dignity to remain in the profession, and all I see is a section of BA pilots behaving with no dignity at all.
So if BA management is poor (which we all agree, it is), and BA pilots are what they seem to be, and the various other sections of BA that always want to seem to want to go on strike (cabin staff, transport, loaders etc.) are equally struggling to be an asset to the airline, it looks like BA have had it! They always seem to be late, they cancel flights regularly due lack of crews etc., they fly empty aircraft around, they have unhappy staff, they have crap management. Why the heck haven't you guys jumped ship and gone to a REAL airline? One with a future.