Cathay Pilots honoured

[Speedbird]

Cathay Pacific Pilots Receive IFALPA?s Polaris Award | Business Wire (http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140330005079/en/Cathay-Pacific-Pilots-Receive-IFALPA%E2%80%99s-Polaris-Award#.Uzkzda2SyAF)

Cathay Pacific Pilots Receive IFALPA?s Polaris Award | Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/31/ifalpa-hkalpa-idUSnBw305079a+100+BSW20140331)

[LongTimeInCX]

Well I hope our Company came to the party also, in order to provide them with days off, at least firm business class travel, and decent hotel accommodation for both themselves and their respective partners.

The award is a well deserved accolade for the significant feat they achieved against great odds, not least of all saving many lives in the process.
Very well done gentlemen.

[SOPS]

Very well done guys. Well deserved.

[mr Q]

Did Cathay give them any recognition or commendation for their exceptional airmanship ????

[donpizmeov]

Well deserved fellas.

The don.

[superfrozo]

Mr Q, they effectively got nothing from the Company. It's an utter disgrace.

I know one of the guys well. Let's just say that if it wasn't for certain organisation many pay dues to, both pilots would have been unable to attend the awards ceremony... No transport OR time off was granted them by their employer.

Can you imagine if after the 'Miracle on the Hudson' ditching, 'Sully' was told by his Airline "sorry, we don't have the time or money to send you to any awards presentation. There's nothing really in it for us anyway."

People. They make an airline.

(Except when dealing with left field, un-precedented, extreme emergencies in a highly skilled manner that brings a whole new level of "professional" into professional pilot.)

[luvmuhud]

Congratulations Malcolm and Dave…fantastic you have both been honored in this way.

I am ashamed and dismayed that Cathay management did absolutely nothing to assist these guys and their respective spouses to attend the IFALPA presentation.

This stoops below the normal nonexistent level of good will.

[Night Watch]

Congratulations.... you deserve it!

[prairiedriver]

Congratulations gentlemen on a job well done! Your professionalism and decision making are very deserving of the commendations received. Thank you.

[I'mbatman]

Make no mistake, the AOA is 100% responsible for sending and providing accommodations for these guys. The company was made aware of the award well in advance and gave NOTHING.

[Sqwak7700]

Congratulations, you guys earned it.

But I must say that I'm surprised you guys are surprised by Cathay's way of dealing with this.

Until you start treating your employer the same way they treat you things will not improve around here.

:ugh:

[Arfur Dent]

But 'Safety is our number one priority'
Time off and free hotels for two genuine heroes - and, Heaven Forbid - their wives?? How does that sit with contempt and zero respect for the entire Aircrew group?
Well it doesn't sit at all so why are we surprised that nobody in charge had the guts to help these guys.
Just enjoy your profit share and keep showing up on G Days to 'help out'.
A lot of us should be writing letters and getting pretty angry about this.

[moosp]

The accident report reads like an impossible task. Only superb airmanship saved the aircraft and the lives of the crew and passengers.

It is appalling but very predictable that CX senior management decided to ignore this award. The board appear to do everything they can to denigrate the skills and competence of the pilot (and engineering) workforce in an ever increasing attempt to destroy pilot and professional self esteem. I assume it is based on the notion that if you can convince the pilots and line staff that they are worthless, they can be paid and treated as such.

As was mentioned above with respect to Capt. Sulley, the management of American squeezed the maximum public relations advantage out of that incident, leaving the American public to assume that the entire pilot workforce of American Airlines was like him. A brilliant, if slightly dubious, PR recovery.

Knowing most of the fleet management of CX I am sure that most of them tried to push it upstairs to get at least some support for this. This would have been stopped at either DFO or Board level. Yes, I know it is IFALPA and they are, God forbid, a UNION organisation but they do more research, development and implementation of flight safety and the improvement of aviation structures than any other organisation outside of NASA and the NTSB. CX then goes on to take the free benefit from this research.

Many people are alive today because these pilots had superior skills, knowledge and training, and not just that gained from their CX experience. As we see with MH370, the cost of a hull loss in human, logistics and public relations costs is massive, and may break an airline.

That senior management of CX do not see the advantage of a skilled line workforce is one of the fundamental aspects as to why CX is now losing market share to airlines who do.

[bigbeerbelly]

I watched an interview where Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger discussed the PR campaign following the crash of US Airways Flight 1549. The FO and him came up with the strategy. The aim of which was to educate the world how important it is to have the best of the best in the cockpit and that means paying top wages. I am suspect US Airway management is no better than Cathay management. Probably far from it.

My sincere respect then and now to the amazing skill and CRM that the crew of CPA780 displayed.

[LGB]

Arfur Dent:

But 'Safety is our number one priority'


Not any more, Arfur. Check posters inside elevators in CX City, they took out 'number one' so now it's just

"Safety is our priority"

No announcements, just sliding priorities down hoping no-one would notice.

Considering the nature of the emergency I wind the captains last name most appropriate.

Well done, guys!

[Captain Dart]

Another 'missed opportunity' for Cathay Pacific; they are Hong Kong's very own 'Sully' and Skiles.

Well deserved, gentlemen.

P.S. Why don't you write a book?

[NoseGear]

Remember the "Worlds Best Cabin Crew" award and the crawling, over the top dog and pony show that went along with that?:yuk::yuk: And what do they do, I mean, really.....? Now here we have two genuine heroes, in the same vein as Sully and his FO, and CX does nothing....it beggars belief but does show us what they truly think of us and where the 'power' lies here. I'm personally appalled but I really can't say I'm surprised.:mad::ugh:

[Oasis]

The pilots are an afterthought.
There would be a smoking hole in Hong Kong somewhere if it wasn't for the skill and airmanship of these two fine professionals.

Public relations missed a huge opportunity showcasing this back then and have now made it even worse by what I am reading above.

People make an airline, indeed.

[CYRILJGROOVE]

You are an IDIOT

[Frogman1484]

NKAND you cannot say that! :mad:

[allthecoolnamesarego]

If anyone has a link to the final report, it would be appreciated if they could post it.

Well done to both pilots!

[rick.shaw]

Moosp said:


The accident report reads like an impossible task. Only superb airmanship saved the aircraft and the lives of the crew and passengers.

It is appalling but very predictable that CX senior management decided to ignore this award. The board appear to do everything they can to denigrate the skills and competence of the pilot (and engineering) workforce in an ever increasing attempt to destroy pilot and professional self esteem. I assume it is based on the notion that if you can convince the pilots and line staff that they are worthless, they can be paid and treated as such.

As was mentioned above with respect to Capt. Sulley, the management of American squeezed the maximum public relations advantage out of that incident, leaving the American public to assume that the entire pilot workforce of American Airlines was like him. A brilliant, if slightly dubious, PR recovery.

Knowing most of the fleet management of CX I am sure that most of them tried to push it upstairs to get at least some support for this. This would have been stopped at either DFO or Board level. Yes, I know it is IFALPA and they are, God forbid, a UNION organisation but they do more research, development and implementation of flight safety and the improvement of aviation structures than any other organisation outside of NASA and the NTSB. CX then goes on to take the free benefit from this research.

Many people are alive today because these pilots had superior skills, knowledge and training, and not just that gained from their CX experience. As we see with MH370, the cost of a hull loss in human, logistics and public relations costs is massive, and may break an airline.

That senior management of CX do not see the advantage of a skilled line workforce is one of the fundamental aspects as to why CX is now losing market share to airlines who do.

Reprinted here as not a truer word said in recent times!

Nosegear said:

Remember the "Worlds Best Cabin Crew" award and the crawling, over the top dog and pony show that went along with that? And what do they do, I mean, really.....? Now here we have two genuine heroes, in the same vein as Sully and his FO, and CX does nothing....it beggars belief but does show us what they truly think of us and where the 'power' lies here. I'm personally appalled but I really can't say I'm surprised.

To the both of you, hear hear. Sorry not adding much to the discussion but I really wanted to express my support for your comments.

[Geepers Eprs]

Cx 780 Pilots - Well done, you are a credit to the profession and to the company. CX management's apparent lack of appreciation beyond belief .

[Bill Smith]

http://www.cad.gov.hk/reports/2%20Final%20Report%20-%20CX%20780%202013%2007%20web%20access%20compliant.pdf

[broadband circuit]

Well done those 2 chaps!

Thank god it was you and not a certain miserable little git STC who likes to wear 4-BARS.

After the event where the crew saved the day, he was heard to say that he thought they'd done the wrong thing by pushing the envelope so far and just got lucky, and if he'd been there he would have ditched.

[allthecoolnamesarego]

Thanks for the link Bill.

[Arfur Dent]

Thanks for the report Bill. Just read the whole thing. Great CRM and very interesting crew discussions throughout. We are a team - well done chaps! Surprising that a MAYDAY doesn't necessarily shift the ATC status to FULL EMERGENCY. I think that may have changed.
Finally, it does emphasise the need for SOP behaviour as much as possible because the investigation looks at, and critiques everything.:ok:

[404 Titan]

Arfur Dent
Surprising that a MAYDAY doesn't necessarily shift the ATC status to FULL EMERGENCY.
From a very reliable source, HK ATC phoned CX IOC to ask about the nature of CX780’s engine problems. From IOC’s data at the time, 780’s engines were running and this was conveyed to ATC who subsequently without telling CX or the crew, downgraded the emergency. If this is true, who gives ATC the right to downgrade a Mayday call?

[Arfur Dent]

Thanks Titan. In the report, the CAD seemed to agree with the downgrade because, if FULL EMERGENCY is declared, firefighting equipment is deployed from outside the airfield (which I thought was a good idea). This aircraft stopped 390M from the end of the runway so one more bounce, a few pounds less pressure on the ( manual) brakes etc etc and it would have been over the fence and in the Highway! Then all the firefighting assets in the area would've been required. As you say, who has the authority to downgrade a MAYDAY. It's either a MAYDAY or it isn't - or so I thought.
"Cathay 780 are you declaring a Full Mayday or just a normal one?"
Mindboggling!!

[Barnyarddog]

Not surprised at the way the company have dealt with this. Disgraceful, as expected.
But I really hope that Malcolm and Dave know that his peers (us) hold them both in total respect for saving the day. Congratulations on a well deserved award guys. My hat's off.

[clunckdriver]

Ah, the difference between "managing" and "leading" is totally lost on todays drones at the "top" of many companies, well done guys, and thank heavens it was you two at the pointy end and not some products of the training systems we are seeing these days!

[muddweller]

Congratulations to both of you on an exceptionally we'll handled emergency for which no checklist existed.
I loved that it took months of Airbus test pilot sim time to come up with a checklist almost identical to what you two put together in the heat of the moment!
We'll done again.
Muddy.

[CokeZero]

Have to say what everyone else has said. A sticky situation where the manual didn't help so they relied on their knowledge and experience to guide a crippled plane back to HK.

Well done guys :)

On a side note, they report in only out now! Wow - CAD are pretty efficient because the actual event only happened back in April 2010 :ugh:

[004wercras]

Why the aggression towards CX management? The Swires Group appreciate the valiant efforts of the talented crew, that's why they have been rewarded by not being nominated to attend any Star Chamber for a period of 12 months (valid from date of issue and non transferrable between other staff members). It is not in CX charter to reward Pilots with additional niceties for coming to work and performing tasks such as saving an aircraft from certain catastrophe. These are things that are expected from the professional pilot ranks at all times.

With responsibility comes accountability

[cockney steve]

^^^^^^^ like what he said!
They're only Pilots,fer crissakes. Paid far more than a bowl of rice and a rush-mat under the bench,all they did is what they're paid so well for.

Next you'll be wanting to treat them as Company saviours...that's what the Management do in their shiny suits and well-polished chairs.
They are the ones who should get the huge bonuses, they are the ones who chose the correct minions to serve.

Without their management skills, the airline would be swamped with claims from dependants of deceased pax. - not to mention the cost of SAR...AND there's a big pile of spares to salvage as well.
You peasants really should bow in gratitude to the mighty Cathay Management.

Meanwhile, I'll pass the word to all my contacts.

[alldaysushi]

With the advent in recent history of the bastardization of airline pilots, it's only normal that CX management downplay these heroes.

Not only indigenous to CX, but corporate global mentality. We are unecesary to safe flight, especially on the Bus. Any acknowledgement of prowess, skill, and positive outcome is buried by the silk suit ivory tower mentality, hoping for the day that they can have their drones flying the happy public A-B.

On the other side of the coin, let us not forget another group of unsung heroes in the Asiana SFO T7 accident, those being the FA's who while expecting a normal day at work, up to the point of short final, managed to get pax off the plane, no help from the flightdeck.

Again Gents, thank you for shining the light of true Aviators and, their true worth, on less than mediocre managerial technocrats.

Bravo...Sushi