Gulf Air Developments
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: neverland
FYI this was the first actual shutdown on the EMB fleet. THAT IS A FACT. there has been some high vib issues which required some air turn back. The fact we have these aircraft and if they are suitable is one thing but constant slandering of an aircraft that flys all over the world with many legacy carriers is getting comical. From memory I can remember 2 320 shutdowns in the past year and no one wants to complain about that. Facts is when u fly aircraft sometimes things happen. Thats why we are there. I think.
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaa
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 5,552
Likes: 25
From: ME
As long as the money is passed under the table, well then, lets live in deni
Mutt
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: somewhere in the sky
if the goal was to get a nice envelope, then it would make more sense to order expensive aircraft
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 0
From: "como todo buen piloto... mujeriego y borracho"
There is nothing wrong with trying to get employee input to help solve the Company's problems. In fact, it is commendable and the way to go, IMHO.
However, I hope that there were some lessons learned from the deficiencies of the "My Idea" program.
1) While some individuals were probably only motivated by the chance of winning a substantial cash reward, it did not recognize the motivation of other employees who simply wanted to help the company get on track. Unless an idea was selected for the grand prize, there was not even a simple "thank you" letter, something which anybody having dedicated time and energy to submit an idea, regardless of merit, should have received.
2) The "My Idea" program required a "well developed" plan with data (in other words, a Business Case). I am sure that some decent "spark" ideas never got submitted, because of a lack of ability to meet the requirements to do the work that would have benefitted the Company. Let’s face it, many ideas will be binned in any case, but some "cave drawing" concept may actually be taken by people with the expertise to save millions.
3) The "My Idea" program was well advertised, but complicated to submit the ideas. Had to be on paper, but there were no easily-accessible drop boxes or clear instructions on how to submit them. Even Björn Näf' secretary did not know. At least they have improved by providing an e-mail for this one.
4) There remains a cultural problem of indifference and resignation. Resignation ("What's the use?") is as much of a hazardous attitude in a work place as it is in the cockpit. Here, mid-level management faces the challenge to demonstrate that this is not true.
I certainly hope that this cost-cutting exercise is not going to turn into a hatchet job, or as Gordon Bethune muses in his book, From Worst to First:
However, I hope that there were some lessons learned from the deficiencies of the "My Idea" program.
1) While some individuals were probably only motivated by the chance of winning a substantial cash reward, it did not recognize the motivation of other employees who simply wanted to help the company get on track. Unless an idea was selected for the grand prize, there was not even a simple "thank you" letter, something which anybody having dedicated time and energy to submit an idea, regardless of merit, should have received.
2) The "My Idea" program required a "well developed" plan with data (in other words, a Business Case). I am sure that some decent "spark" ideas never got submitted, because of a lack of ability to meet the requirements to do the work that would have benefitted the Company. Let’s face it, many ideas will be binned in any case, but some "cave drawing" concept may actually be taken by people with the expertise to save millions.
3) The "My Idea" program was well advertised, but complicated to submit the ideas. Had to be on paper, but there were no easily-accessible drop boxes or clear instructions on how to submit them. Even Björn Näf' secretary did not know. At least they have improved by providing an e-mail for this one.
4) There remains a cultural problem of indifference and resignation. Resignation ("What's the use?") is as much of a hazardous attitude in a work place as it is in the cockpit. Here, mid-level management faces the challenge to demonstrate that this is not true.
I certainly hope that this cost-cutting exercise is not going to turn into a hatchet job, or as Gordon Bethune muses in his book, From Worst to First:
How Running an Airline Is Like Making a Pizza
Say you’re running a pizza place, and your boss says, “The only way we’re going to be a successful pizza place and get customers and make money and win is to make a cheaper pizza.” What are you going to do?
If you want to win, if you want to be rewarded by your boss, you’re going to keep trying to make a cheaper pizza. You’re going to make thinner and thinner crusts to save on flour. You’re going to use less and less sauce to save on tomatoes. You’ll buy canned rather than fresh vegetables, frozen rather than fresh meat. Sooner or later somebody’s going to get the bright idea to take half the cheese off, or all the cheese off, or make the pizza out of cardboard.
Well, you can make a pizza so cheap nobody wants to eat it.
And you can make an airline so cheap nobody wants to fly it. Trust me on this—we did it. So you’re going to be making these incredibly cheap pizzas, and the people in the cost department, the people in the supply department, are going to be happy and high-fiving each other: They’ll be saying, We’re winning back here! And meanwhile, up front, where the orders have dried up and the customers are complaining and no pizzas are selling, you’re not winning at all.
In the end it’s like a canoe—the back end can’t be winning while the front end is sinking. If any part of the canoe is sinking, nobody cares how good the rest of the canoe is doing, because the whole thing is going to sink.
Say you’re running a pizza place, and your boss says, “The only way we’re going to be a successful pizza place and get customers and make money and win is to make a cheaper pizza.” What are you going to do?
If you want to win, if you want to be rewarded by your boss, you’re going to keep trying to make a cheaper pizza. You’re going to make thinner and thinner crusts to save on flour. You’re going to use less and less sauce to save on tomatoes. You’ll buy canned rather than fresh vegetables, frozen rather than fresh meat. Sooner or later somebody’s going to get the bright idea to take half the cheese off, or all the cheese off, or make the pizza out of cardboard.
Well, you can make a pizza so cheap nobody wants to eat it.
And you can make an airline so cheap nobody wants to fly it. Trust me on this—we did it. So you’re going to be making these incredibly cheap pizzas, and the people in the cost department, the people in the supply department, are going to be happy and high-fiving each other: They’ll be saying, We’re winning back here! And meanwhile, up front, where the orders have dried up and the customers are complaining and no pizzas are selling, you’re not winning at all.
In the end it’s like a canoe—the back end can’t be winning while the front end is sinking. If any part of the canoe is sinking, nobody cares how good the rest of the canoe is doing, because the whole thing is going to sink.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
From: Singapore
In the end it’s like a canoe—the back end can’t be winning while the front end is sinking. If any part of the canoe is sinking, nobody cares how good the rest of the canoe is doing, because the whole thing is going to sink.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 0
From: Surrounded by aluminum, and the great outdoors
IFE, nobody in their right mind at any company in the whole world would say they are "paid enough"..however our pay here is extremely competetive, so I think your "campaign" might be a waste of effort...
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: L301 westbound
So what happened over a month ago at the pilots meeting that most of you guys were DEMANDING???? Did any of our ever-so-brave-pprune-big- mouths even go? I doubt it? Just content to whine & complain on pprune but guys remember "if you're not part of the solution then you ARE part of the problem."
Dear Mr Moderator how about changing the title of the thread to Gulf Air Disappoints from CEO down to Mr Joe Pilot?
Dear Mr Moderator how about changing the title of the thread to Gulf Air Disappoints from CEO down to Mr Joe Pilot?
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Dans ma bulle
Dear Mr Moderator how about changing the title of the thread to Gulf Air Disappoints from CEO down to Mr Joe Pilot?
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: L301 westbound
I wish the rest of the big mouths in the company would either put up or shut up. I am tired of flying with moaning idiots. Leave your baggage at home where it is supposed to be & do the job at hand. One word professionalism.
Most of the moaners are guys that joined within the last 4 years or so & lets face it they joined a dying company. So why did they join, maybe they didnt get accepted by EK/EY/QR or didnt have the required experience for somewhere better. So as far as I am concerned they knew they were joning a substandard airline but they had no other options. Just do your job then when you get the hours to move or can pass an interview somewhere else leave but dont make everyone arround you suffer.
Most of the moaners are guys that joined within the last 4 years or so & lets face it they joined a dying company. So why did they join, maybe they didnt get accepted by EK/EY/QR or didnt have the required experience for somewhere better. So as far as I am concerned they knew they were joning a substandard airline but they had no other options. Just do your job then when you get the hours to move or can pass an interview somewhere else leave but dont make everyone arround you suffer.
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Bahrain
why don't some of you guys here leave GF and let us who are currently doing Ab-initio training to come back home and take over within the next 8 months, please? if you have problems with pink palace, with Mr. CEO, with payment, thieves, or the imbecile brassplate! go home with whatever dignity you have left and let us work for our pink palace like slaves or whatever you may wish to call it!!
Thanks,
Thanks,