Capt Groper
I'm not so sure it's as much of a forum transgression as you might think....even if I'm considered 'some twatt'!
'First Wave' is an initiative set up to improve the on time departure of our morning flights in the hope that if these are on time, we're less likely to incur reactive delays throughout the day. Whilst the principle is fine, the execution is not.
Firstly, with so many flights departing around the same time there is simply not enough space at DXB to allow multiple pushes. DXB, I hate to say, is hardly the best designed airport around, despite the glossy media images. Most of these morning delays are due to ATC congestion, either airport or route and it will only get worse! Secondly, no flight crew or cabin crew wants to make their day longer than it needs to be so our incentive for an early departure is a given. Rarely is the delay due to flight or cabin crew anyway. The problem arises when other departments such as Engineering, dispatchers, gate agents, check in staff etc want to push for on time, mainly to ensure that a delay code is not attributable to them. This harassment, subtle or otherwise, impacts on us. Cabin crew rush their checks, accept excess hand luggage or perhaps a drunk passenger all because others are rushing them and don't want to take ownership of the problem. Once that door is closed, the problem becomes ours to deal with. Do the majority of our cabin crew have the experience, maturity and confidence to say stop or slow down? Are they confident that their 'approachable' manager will support them in that decision? Twice recently I've had pursers tell me that a request has come through on KIS to explain why they left the briefing room 1 minute late or why the bus left 1 minute late. I'm not making this up. Next time you fly, ask the crew and see what pressure these guys are under. We've all seen the standard and experience levels of the new cabin crew and how it compares to the majors out there so you decide if these policies impact on our operation. Finally, how many times has a tech log item been prematurely signed off by the engineer only for the delegated technician fail to complete. At least 3 times in my last year alone. Two were insignificant, but the process is flawed. The holes are there and next time the outcome may be more serious. ASR's may help but guess who gets the direct blame! I don't need the engineer to change, I need the system to.
As pilots we're trained and constantly reminded on recurrent courses about the threat of distractions and how to manage them. Yet you only need to see how hung up most guys are about briefing the crew on time. Sod the important stuff or something new you might miss in the 5 pages of Mumbai Notams, just make sure we start the cabin crew brief at STD-83.
This incentive is not designed for us. It's designed for the people who get the 'customers' to us. If the Company was that concerned, I'm sure we'd be given the legally correct reporting time for the time we're expecting to start work. As
they don't deem it necessary, then neither do I. As STD -83 approaches (23 minutes
before official report time), who cares? I go when
we're ready, not when an unofficial piece of paper tells me too. I just wish more of us did the same. The choice is still there to brief either the cabin crew or your colleague on the bus just so long as you remember to check your docs before you leave EGHQ.
'First Wave' will not be an acceptable excuse stood in front of the safety review board after missing that vital but well hidden notam, MEL or suspicious package regardless that the aircraft
departed on time. It needs to
arrive on time too....and in one piece!
Hurry up and fly safe guys and gals!
