Headset gone astray

[Irish Steve]

Hi Folks,

Given the number of people from Ryanair and Ireland that frequent this forum, a simple plea from the heart, in the hope that maybe some good will come from it.

At the end of February, a pilot flying Seneca G-DAZY borrowed a headset from me in Dublin, to get him home to Bristol, (I was working for Servisair at the time) and it was (supposedly) returned to Dublin on an FR flight a few days later.

The problem is that it never got back to me, I'm not even sure if it got to Dublin, and due to another set of (very unpleasant) circumstances related to the same flight, I can't get airside at Dublin any more to try and track it down.

It's very identifiable, as there's not many in Europe. It's a brown/Gold colour ground handling headset, (Pro Mod) with bright yellow lead and a white press to talk mounted on the cable.

If anyone saw it, or has seen it since, could you let me know, as I'd like to get it back, and it's no longer possible for me to get to the places it might be.

Many thanks

Steve

Yes, I'm sorry, R & N may not be the best place for this thread, but I can't find a better place for it, and at least here it might get seen by someone that knows something that will help.

[LTNman]

The problem is that it never got back to me, I'm not even sure if it got to Dublin, and due to another set of (very unpleasant) circumstances related to the same flight, I can't get airside at Dublin any more to try and track it down.

Do tell us more

[Daysleeper]

the CAA website G-INFO will tell you who the owner is.

http://www.caa.co.uk/srg/aircraft_register/ginfo/search.asp

As its a commercial op a quick letter should sort things out.

[BEagle]

Or ring them on +441275 474357

[Irish Steve]

Tell you more.

OK. It's not funny, not at all!!!!!

At the time, I was working for Servisair, a ramp agent, fully trained up to Lead Agent level, and some, I'm one of the few in Dublin that was cleared for towing using R/T from the tug, and was the first to be doing that job without escort, as I have a ground to air licence.

Anyway, to the issue of the day.

The Duty manager asked me to "see if I could get yer man out of trouble". He'd had a headset fail, and for whatever reason, there was no spare headset or handmike in the aircraft.

I took my headset over to him (and yes, I do know exactly who the operator is, and they've been contacted, but I still don't have my headset), and we discussed the problems. My headset is a ground handling one, so slightly different connections to a GA headset, but I also have an adapter to make it work with things like a SAAB 340.

So, we went to the aircraft, and tested it to make sure it was going to work, and be acceptable quality to ATC, and with a couple of slight differences, it was usable, so the next problem had to be resolved, the battery was now sufficiently discharged from all the testing that had been done before I got involved, there wasn't enough power to start the aircraft (a Seneca)

The captain had already been talking to his engineering manager at base, and been told how to use external power via jump lead ( the aircraft didn't have an external power socket, the battery can be got to without tools), so that was what was done, I got leads, and assisted with the start.

It wasn't an issue as far as I was concerned, in that I hold a ME CPL/IR, and have a good few hours on the Seneca, and had been previously trained (not by Servisair) on the correct procedure for external power starts, to make sure that I wouldn't get stuck in some out of the way place in the States when I went away from the training base for 4 days with a Seneca once I'd completed the training (I had a lot more multi time before I did the CPL.)

So, Engine 2 started, leads disconnected, and I head off the my next flight having secured the forward hold, and about 15 miutes later, once the battery has charged enough for the second start, I see the aircraft departing.

Everyone happy, problem solved, no hassles. WRONG.

Internal war starts in Servisair, partly because Duty manager hadn't told ramp controller he's asked me to get Seneca out of trouble, and ramp controller throws a wobbly.

Ramp controller puts in Rant of a complaint to station manager. Nothing said for over a week, then I get asked about it, and tell Station manager, yes, I assisted.

Suspended on full pay pending inquiry.

Outcome of inquiry, some weeks later, after inquiry, meetings, and all sorts of other aggravation, I get dismissed for "reckless disregard of safety rules, and putting others at risk", or words to that effect, as I'd performed a procedure for which I wasn't trained.

Can't see how I put anyone else at risk, I was the only one from SA at the aircraft, I knew exactly what I was doing, so did the captain, as we'd discussed exactly how we were going to do it, etc. etc. Equally, SA's training covers a lot about equipment, and very little about specific types, GA or commercial, and there's no discussion in any of their procedures about things to be careful of on types that are known problems.

Anyway, Internal politics now kick in big time.

Nett result of helping an important aircraft ( it's an air ambulance, that had just done a transplant organ ferry, and was needed back at base) to get away after being already delayed by over 2 hours is that I've now lost $300+ worth of headset, my personal property, and been fired on what seems to me is totally unreasonable grounds, so I'm less than impressed!!!

So, now you know why I'm looking for help here, I can't get back airside to try and track it down, as I don't have a pass to get there any more.

As to my feelings about being fired by a ramp manager with a lot less experience than me, and with no understading at all of general Aviation, the best thing I can say is that they're ************:mad: :mad: :mad:
Cheers


"Irish" Steve

Edited to correct a couple of typo's

[Steve76]

Welcome to the bull**** of modern day aviation Steve.
Genuinely hope you get you headset back.

Good on ya for using your commonsence. Seems that there is a lack of that in Aviation these days.

Maybe you should look at helo's? :)

[Boss Raptor]

A sad story and inditement of our industry...

1. will the operator who borrowed this headset made available at the courtesy of Steve pls do him the courtesy of returning it or at least compensating him for its' loss

2. will someone with a suitable job position to fill consider our Steve here on the grounds that he clearly has initiative and goes above and beyond the call of duty to resolve a problem!!

As for Circusair and that sort of internal bullsh!t you are better of well away from it... :*

[Global Pilot]

Steve,
check your pvt msgs!

[Irish Steve]

As for Circusair and that sort of internal bullsh!t you are better of well away from it...

Probably very true, especially from some of the people there, but having to leave a job that I thought I was good at, in the way it happened, and with all the other aggravations that go with it, like hassle about references etc was not what I was looking for.

The strange thing is that all the people I was working with on a day to day basis on the ramp were a great bunch, and I never had any problems getting 110% from them. The hassles were with certain people a little further up the food chain that I guess could not cope with seeing the job done professionally, and yes, I did take serious pride in doing it that way.

One of these days I guess I should talk to other people in higher places about a couple of other incidents that happened, like a 737 I refused to allow to allow to go one morning after a nightstop till the engineers had sorted out why the alternate static ports were speedtaped.

It's a great pity we don't have a confidential reporting system here in Ireland, and if things are not done confidentially, it can be a problem, the industry is just too small here.

[Avman]

What a sad reflection of life at the workplace today. It is these type of moronic and totally ignorant managers which are directly responsible for the rapid erosion of personal service and intiative in all service industries. How often do we now see employees, even high ranking employees, refuse to take any initiative in solving a relatively simple matter in fear of their job security? "SERVICE", as such, is diminishing by the day. Believe me even in ATC these days we can be severely reprimanded for taking intiatives which benefit our customers! And it gets worse all the time.

[Omark44]

The sad facts are that, as you were good at your job, you were seen as a direct threat to the rice bowl of those less competent but slightly higher up the chain than you. You had to go and they had, I think, just been waiting for you to provide an opportunity. Otherwise you might have seen them out of a job they didn't do very well.

Hope you get your head-set back and a better job very soon. The operator owes it to you anyway, you saved them a lot more than its replacement cost. You didn't just lend it to the pilot, as I see it, but the company who owned the aircraft so they have a moral responsibility. No doubt 'm'learned friends' wouldn't see it quite so clearly!;)

[Phixer]

What has happened is absolutely disgraceful. This chap helps a clot who
a. doesn't have a spare headset or handmike (ANOs??),
b. nearly flattens the battery
and
c. appears not to have tried to help when informed of Steve's plight.

[B727]

:( I Know of Steve & can confirm he's one of general aviation's real gents. If put in the same position like most of us involved in general or commercial aviation would do the same thing as Steve & would help our fellow pilots/engineers. I have on plenty of occasions saw somebody in trouble be it an engineer trying to do the impossible 6 armed trick (alone) or a pilot trying to start that hot Continental that just won't go (or any defect I can throw my hammer at) I will always go & try assist day or night because like Steve I thrive on it. Bottom line is Steve you acted as a gent/professional, but these day's aviators don't run airlines or handling companies, bean counters & ******** do !! Good luck Steve I hope your not idle too long.:ok:

[Irish Steve]

Thanks for the complimentary feedback guys, it's appreciated:O .

Now all I can hope for is that the operator has seen this thread, and maybe will do something about finding the headset. So far, I've heard nothing from them. Here's hoping that will change soon.

Thanks