Question: How the role as flight crew contributes to the success of an airline"?

[gwizzaviatior]

Hi guys,

So i'm doing an online application for flight crew and one questions is:

"Describe how you, in the role as flight crew, can contribute to the overall success of our business".

I am banging my head against a wall with this. I have run my own business before and have also worked in several good jobs. I know the value that I can bring "into a role", and how my skills would be applied within a cockpit environment. However when I ask myself the question, how a pilot can contribute to the overall success, I am dry on answers.
As pilots, we fulfil a function, a role which is to conduct a safe air transport operation. However we follow rules, SOPs and processes. We follow a duty from the seat we fly from, and when we are finished, that is our main role done. We are replaceable in this role by other pilots. Therefore, can any of you out there help enlighten me to see where a flight deck crew will contribute to the overall success of an airline business, because I am not seeing it at the moment. I see the major successes coming from management structures, the hierarchy steering the direction of the company, the people involved in sales, selecting the aircraft, flight planning and so forth. But for the pilot role I am not sure.

Please let me know.

[captain.weird]

As an overall success for an airliner the crashes count a lot! If an airliner didn't have any crashes in the past 30 years, you can call them a safe airline (in my opinion!). If you can do this, you can contribute to the overall success!

Just my 0,00000001$.

[The SSK]

Well, if the business of an airline is to provide safe, reliable, convenient, comfortable and affordable transportation ...

You check the box marked ‘safe’. You might have some input to 'reliable' as well
The company would also like you to check ‘affordable’ no doubt.

Hopefully, everyone in the company contributes in their own way, you are not expected to check all these boxes but it helps to have an understanding of how the different functions interact. If the company scores poorly in any one of those parameters, it will not last long, but 'safe' is the most important one.

[Bird-dog]

Ensuring efficient and ontime departures...I remember when I was working for Qantas out of Heathrow - every minute we were delayed at an Aerobridge used to cost us thousands......

[one post only!]

There are lots of ways. Fly the aircraft safely and efficiently (cruise at optimum levels, carry fuel wisely and all the other ways already mentioned).

Make good PA's. Keep passengers informed and updated. Make them feel like valued customers to ensure repeat business. Basically help provide a good customer experience. Motivate the rest of the crew to do the same.

There are lots of ways we can contribute!

[Capetonian]

Announcements from the cockpit are very important in the relationship between an airline and its passengers. Those made with some warmth, originality, and a little humour (with the caveat that humour does not always translate) whilst keeping passengers informed, especially in the event of a delay, can really defuse a lot of the tension.

It is also often appreciated when the Captain/FO tries to make the announcements in a language relevant to the flight, however bad the accent might be and however little he says.

I remember years ago being on a LH 747 at Dallas when there was a huge delay caused by insufficient de-icing equipment (yes, I did say Dallas!) and the announcements from the cockpit, delivered in a strong German accent, which I think he was hamming up a bit, had everyone laughing and created such a good atmosphere on board.

Similarly, on an SAA flight from LHR to CPT, after a 14 hour delay which meant the evening departure became a morning departure, the banter from the cockpit was so witty and informative that what could have been unpleasant became memorable for all the right reasons.

I think a lot of people like to see the Captain as they disembark and to thank him or her personally. Perhaps that's just me but I even thank the bus driver when I get off a bus!

Pax will not always be aware of saving fuel and so on, important though those matters may be, they will mostly only hear the announcements.

[mad_jock]

I don't think thats what they are looking for.

I think they are looking for flexiblity and being to take it up the bum with out complaint when ever someone else cocks the operation up due to poor planning and or pish descion making. Then leave it to the crew to make it work while they are tucked up in bed or down the pub with thier mates.

Which is what most ground managers care about. The other stuff mentioned will just be classed as part of your job. The sorting out of cluster :mad: with no thought of your own quality of life is what they want.