We elected to abandon our approach in Hong Kong ... but in rapidly deteriorating visual conditions ... the controller cleared us for the approach,
So, a cruise diversion to a visual approach (ILS assisted) - about as simple as it gets, short of an actual visual arrival at your destination.
leaving us to guide ourselves to the localizer
Well, "Boo Hoo"!
with heavy rain and lightning the airport and ramp were shut down. ... the ramp ended up being closed for several hours.
Frustrating, but you give a PA, crank back the seat and close the eyes until it opens. Nice rest, no bother.
I am personally not motivated by money.
You turned your nose up at
five hours pay in order to insist on a "paid trip drop" - tens of hours worth of pay, for nothing, and a guaranteed stay at home!
I have (legally) extended duty several times to get the job done, without pay. Five hours extra for a 30 min hop to my original destination would be sufficient, I think.
It seemed a no brainer to us because a reserve would be paid to sit around anyway whether they fly or not
Not motivated by loyalty to your fellow crew either then?
Happy to sit at home on full pay, with no chance of a standby callout, and enjoy the time off by forcing the standby (who also have families) to fly, even though you're not sick or unable to operate?
Without the actions and knowledge of First Officer **** the aircraft would not have been fueled.
Don't know how to fuel your own aircraft, and have to rely on the FO? Sounds like the FO is a bit more competent!
they were going to bring pilots in from Hong Kong via ferry boat.
Sounds like a sufficient test to see if US citizens are murdered on Macau ferry boats then. Wonder if the incoming crew were complaining about not getting a chopper ride?
The hotel had only five rooms available which were all suites.
Didn't think of trying the hotel you used for the Cabin crew then? Save the company a few dollars?
I was forced to wake up early (after only five hours of sleep) and check my computer to see if an update was done because I had no idea what kind of rest requirements we needed
Forced to wake up early?? Really?? Perhaps the computer update wasn't done because they expected you to sleep for a decent period!
I could barely tell someone my age much less figure out a duty day and rest time.
What were you doing for the hours you were on the ramp while it was closed?? Didn't think to actively monitor the situation and possible forward requirements?
I told him that I was uncomfortable riding on a ferry in any case, and very concerned that United Airlines was forcing me to ride on public transportation with no security measures onboard. I told him that there were other options including a helicopter.
Tested by the inbound crew? But you used it anyway - so not "very concerned" after all eh?
Helicopter flight (
Heli Express Limited / Macau / Hong Kong ) $HK2200 per passenger, ferry "HK$142 in Economy class on weekdays for day service to HK$176 Economy class for night service. Tickets in Super class range from HK$240 to HK$275," - and you seriously thought that after refusing more than five hours pay, they were going to get the entire crew (or did you just mean yourself) an express heli ride?
All this, and so convinced you did a good job that you wrote up a couple of pages on it!!
