Ramp Dog: "It wasn't just about business and shareholders, it had a soul and was a living, breathing family affair. I grew up in an era when you could come to work with your Dad and walk out on the tarmac no ASICs, no AFP or SNP security to hassle you, just smell the kero and avgas and talk to the people who flew and maintained the aircraft. It must have had an effect on me (my wife reckons "scarred for life"
) because I'm still out there airside sniffing the fumes)"
How well written, couldn't have put it better myself!
And then along came the super-businessmen. They changed the name to
Australian, they masterminded the pilot dispute and the nepotistic politicians decimated TAA completely by having it taken over by Qantas and making it a non-entity.
Have a look at the Qantas website and see how much of their history page is (or more accurately, isn't) dedicated to TAA. An insignificant sideshow in their eyes one suspects.
It may be quaintly old-fashioned but I for one miss the days of working
with folks with attitudes like your dad and working
for people who deserved and got respect. Airline CEO's now are purely fixated on the bonuses, egos and decimating the employment conditions of the enemy - their staff.
Sound like an old codger don't I, but I'm not even that old!