The way things have gone in the industry in terms of continually recruiting Cheap labour over experienced guys is complete madness and I agree with all what has been said above. But it is only going to get worse as more management cotton on to the O'leary methods.
So what can we do about it and tackle the problem as individuals?
I read the BALPA Log article but I am not convinced that BALPA is strong enough or willing to save the day.
Further more I do not feel that Joe public are fully aware of what is really going on in the industry. Everybody who I tell, are shocked, and I do wander if they would feel slightly differently when they are getting on to the aircaft with this knowledge. (I am not saying cadets are unsafe, but I do feel the impact of fatigue of captains continually flying with inexperience FO's may have some affect on flight safety, please correct me if I'm wrong those captains who do not feel this way I will be more than happy to stand corrected).
I was dissappointed that the Panarama program about FR did not Highlight in detail the way pilots and crew are treated. Only to finish with a numpty saying he wants to fly for FR
. Im sure O'leary loved that.
So in the long term how will it end up
a) all the decent people leaving the industry and let the flow of Cheap labour fly for nothing.
b) Eventually all the pilots will be fed up with the lowered T&C's and then strike when things are really bad.
I don't know but currently I can't see any positive moves by anyone to stop the situation getting worse.
mint