Michael O'Leary: 'Air stewardesses should be allowed to land planes in an emergency.'
 

Today's PR Stunt by Ryanair

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has called for co-pilots to be removed from the flight deck to save money and suggested that air stewardesses could land planes in an emergency. Whilst just another PR stunt...is there any possibilty this could work in practice?

Within the private jet sector, Captains and First Officers are often treated more like butlers than pilots. Meeting passengers at the front of the airport, carrying bags, preparing the cabin, serving drinks and food during the cruise etc. So if this can be achieved, whilst not compromising safety in the private jet sector, could it work in the airlines?

Why do the media allow themselves to be manipulated so overtly for free publicity?

he's great isnt he

I wish I worked for O'Leary

I think his master plan is to recruit a few hundred newbies with a nice fresh ticket, get them to pay for a type rating and stick a percentage on for the Michael O'Leary pension fund, and then tell them they have to work as cabin crew for a bit.

wait a moment

maybe his comment isn't as random as it sounds! the way he's going he will have a plane full of staff that could land the plane in an emergency. What is this emergency he's planning?

If its all about saving quids and improving company profit, shorty Michael should be happy to employ some bloke to accomplish his conjugal duties at home thus sparing him more time to work

This should fit his policy shouldn't it?

I have no objection provided that the cabin crew hold an ATPL, pass a selection process, are subjected to biannual simulator checks and an annual line check, hold a class 1 medical, are type rated and in current practice with 3 landings in 90 days as a minimum. Oh yes and are remunerated as pilots. Which would probably mean a pay cut.

On the other hand maybe he should be encouraged. Nothing would cause passengers to desert Ryanair faster than the idea of one overworked candidate for a coronary up the front with a 19 year old standing by to land them in filthy weather and with multiple failures when he keels over.

Never happen.

Would you like some ice with that approach stall? :D

I would love to know if the accountable postholder of Ryanair shares his views. If he does then surely he's not suitable and if he doesn't then surely he should resign from a company that holds passenger and employee safety in such low regard.

I love most of O'leary's antics but sometimes he's just a tit.

Wacked - relax!

It's as likely as standing room and a quid to use the toilet - pure fantasy to get in-front of the great unwashed over breakfast.

Can I be Galley monitor
 

It will only work, if FD can be in charge of the galley.

Or perhaps the Priority boarding, calls for all domestic staff to board first, to put the kettle on.

glf

Why is O'Leary so disappointingly old fashioned ? I would of expected him to at least suggest that there is nobody on the flightdeck at all and that he will let all his planes be flown and controlled from a laptop in somebody's bedroom and only if the connection is lost, will the lady from the cabin be permitted to touch any controls in case autoland fails... :D

Jokes aside - I think its the biggest slap in the face to the professionals presently making his business work on a day to day basis - maybe the FO's should just stay at home and leave the operation grounded. He should be ashamed of himself for making such premature comments in public - it clearly shows even though his business model is functioning, he does not have any clue or sense what aviation is all about and what authorities and regulations require and it will take a long time before any of this can legally be done and certified in the near future.

Meanwhile during the emergency the passenger seated in row 1A takes over as the flight attendant. :}

Maybe Mr. O'Leary can be asked to try doing a few landings himself...

Just need a CFI with parachuting experience....take the guy up in a C172 and then jump out........

Leave him to land the thing on his own..........


Of course you'd make sure the thing was outta trim before jumping.........just to make sure

:confused:
I don't get it....
Doesn't Ryanair actually make money with co-pilots?

HyFlyer, I love your response. My I contribute the petrol or maybe the
two way radio so we can record his message on the way down. :O

Why dont Ryanair buy a big, big super computer to replace the CEO, over the years, thats going to be cheaper! They only have to train one of the companys secretary to leed ryanair in the unprobable case of a short power outage!:ok:

One pound door
 

How about a pound to get into the cockpit. you can see it now as the Pilot is locked out after a quick break. Searching through his pockets. Anybody got change for two 50's :confused:

MOL is known for his comments, even by his own assistants. I do not blame him, that's the way he is. I only blame medias and fellow pilots for giving him free publicity and thus alloing hime more time under the spotlight.

Allowed to land the plane in an emergency... why not ? that means there is no more pilots in the flightdeck... Therefore...Cabin crew or else what is the difference ?

What should really be implemented is an emergency FPL, leading to a suitable runway, all automated, speed managed, only thing to do would be to lower the gear and flaps, nothing else and noone sitting in the pilot seats. Than after landing emergency shutdown drill and evac.. Who else could do that besides a cabin crew ?
By the way, if the Commander and the first officer are dead/unavailable/etc... the new commander is the purser, so what ?:ugh:

My experience of cabin crew is that most of them can't read the checklist, and unless you can land an aeroplane by text message they would be stuffed.

we are taking start up clearances by text messages, we are crossing the atlantic by text message, why not landing by text ? :hmm: