Merged:Happy (sic) Birthday Qantas...

[OneDotLow]

Well today is the day we celebrate 90 years of safe, efficient operations through technical excellence.

It is just a shame it is shadowed by 10 years of mismanagement by fly-by-night "leaders" resulting in a tarnished reputation and a subdued share price (within cooee of the float price back in 1995.

(somewhat) Happy Birthday Qantas. Your lifeblood (read employees) sincerely hope that there is a shift in the focus of "management" (term used very loosely) and you can return to your former glory.

[blow.n.gasket]

I wonder if the Rats in charge will eventually work out what the words,
"Pigeon", "Home" and "Roost" mean???:sad:

[framer]

Your lifeblood (read employees) sincerely hope that there is a shift in the focus of "management" (term used very loosely) and you can return to your former glory.
Thats the biggest reason for hope right there. Most of the employees are still passionate about the company, highly frustrated, but passionate. They're gutted that the remnants of decades of high training standards, (in all fields) are now the only thing holding the show together and gutted that they know that that will only work for so long. never the less, they know it could still be turned around with a few years of hard work and some ballsy management decisions. Where are you exec management? This is your moment to shine, to earn those big bucks. Aim for some high standards again (it'l cost money) and market it to the Ausi public as a turning point if you have to, but for f#cks sake turn the boat around.

[Normasars]

ODL,

While QF is a publicly listed co on the ASX, you are dreaming. They can't/won't even pay a dividend to their shareholders mate, so next to zero chance of anything for the coal face workers.

We must not overlook the fact that this narcisistic management type is not confined to aviation. All big corporations now ie banks, telcos, airlines etc etc are managed by itinerent, greedy meglomaniacs(?) that have zero compassion for the human collatoral damage that they inflict while mercilessly raiding the company coffers.

[WoodenEye]

Agreed Normasars, significant amounts of patient capital is not normally found in publically traded companies - especially airlines.

Nevertheless, assuming it could be delivered in a format that didn't constitute a 'lethal injection', Qantas could no doubt benefit significantly from a private equity buy in.

Unfortunately typical P.E. behaviour isn't conducive to long term investment in products where safety costs. To get around this probably requires a big dollop of Government Intervention and Employee Ownership and wouldn't expect this to happen unless Management/Shareholders deem it necessary.

Is chicken & egg stuff, which regretfully means, it will probably get worse before it gets better?

Think United!

[moremj2]

The same conversation was had at their 75th Birthday..

We Go Further was the catch phrase then !! :ugh:

[Vorsicht]

Well today is the day we celebrate 90 years of safe, efficient operations through technical excellence.

You're kidding aren't you. Not trying to take anything away from what is a fine safety record, but seriously, QF have crashed a truckload of aircraft, just none since they started flying jets, and that's only if you don't count BKK.

http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Qantas_fatal_accidents (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Qantas_fatal_accidents)

[AerocatS2A]

"Sic". I don't think it means what you think it means ;).

[OneDotLow]

You're kidding aren't you

Yes.

"Sic". I don't think it means what you think it means

It most certainly was "intentionally so written".


But perhaps the sarcasm escaped both of you like a heavy 747 departing over the upwind threshold.:ok:

It's a shame that a great company has been misguided down the garden path. Paul McGuiness, Hudson Fysh, Fergus McMaster and Arthur Baird would all be very disappointed with the current state of affairs.

[mustafagander]

Especially Arthur Baird.

[4Greens]

The recent rash of incident/accidents have been well handled by the crews. There is something to celebrate.

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

It is just a shame it is shadowed by 10 years of mismanagement by fly-by-night "leaders" resulting in a tarnished reputation and a subdued share price (within cooee of the float price back in 1995.

:*:hmm:

I would say the last 10 years have been MORE overshadowed by the bleating by former job-for-life psuedo public servants who refuse to face up the reality of having to actually be productive employees in what is now a publicly listed commercial organisation! :ugh:

[What The]

Spoken like a true Qantas small "m" manager.

If you are incapable of changing an organisation AND taking the employees along with you, then don't blame the employees. YOU are the problem, not the solution.

Alan and Leigh, it is time to start listening to the front line staff and stop getting filtered information or the future for Qantas is very bleak indeed.

[AerocatS2A]

It most certainly was "intentionally so written".
Ok. So who are you quoting and what is the error?

[rudderless1]

FoxtrotAlpha18
I would say the last 10 years have been MORE overshadowed by the bleating by former job-for-life psuedo public servants who refuse to face up the reality of having to actually be productive employees in what is now a publicly listed commercial organisation!

Are you in the RAAF?!:ok::}

[dragon man]

I was at this function. There were many company reps there including the head of Cabin Crew, but guess what , no Chief Pilot. Below is Leigh Cliffords speech. It makes interesting reading in light of what management really think about their pilots.


CLIFFORD (CHAIRMAN)
QANTAS 90TH ANNIVERSARY GALA DINNER
FRIDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2010
Check against delivery
Thank you Adam
Premier Anna Bligh of Queensland
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese
Shadow Treasurer, Joe Hockey
Federal and State Parliamentarians
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentleman
Good evening

Two weeks ago in Adelaide for our AGM

We were talking of our hopes and looking forward

Talking of the pioneers in aviation

Harry Butler who in the 20s delivered the first air mail

from Adelaide to Minlaton

Of Keith and Ross Smith

and Charles Kingsford Smith

And the founders of Qantas in Queensland



Fysh and McGinness surveying the route from Longreach to Darwin

A chance meeting with McMaster

And the beginning of a great global airline.

2 weeks ago Qantas was rocked

However Qantas showed its best

The pilots and other crew

by their performance on QF32

showed why you, our customers,

should have confidence in Qantas.

When we had another incident on QF6

That skill and composure was called up again …

And again the flight and cabin crew showed complete professionalism.

Your safety always comes first.

It isn’t by chance that Qantas celebrates 90 years

Flying every year for those 90 years.

We thought about the appropriateness of this event

given what we’re going through.

Whilst most events during our 90th birthday celebrations have been about

recognising our staff and their families,

Tonight’s about you, our key customers and suppliers.

I don’t know what the real difference is between an aviator and a pilot

or when a pilot becomes an aviator?

The dictionary wasn’t much help.

But I suspect it’s how they handle the unexpected.

It was put to the test a week ago and Richard DeCrespigny and John Hodgkinsonand their colleagues stepped up.

The pilots and crew showed why you fly Qantas.

They showed the best of Australia.

We are very proud of Qantas – all Australia should be.

It’s been a very difficult 10 days but a great 90 years.
Thank you for your support and enjoy tonight.

[rodchucker]

OK so if there are any journo's out there trawling (and presumably not looking for an upgrade) why dont you ask Messrs Clifford and Joyce if the Chief Pilot was at the function and if not why not.

If he wasnt their, it is an appalling hypocrisy by the people who seem to drag out the tech crew skill and contribution to the company whenever it suits their PR purpose.

Not sure the individual would actually want to go, but that is a completely separate issue.

Seems an obvious question but I dont profess to be as smart as these guys.