EK Pilots beware - a trap is being set
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EK Pilots beware - a trap is being set
Colleagues I have received some disturbing info from a well connected friend about a trap that is being set for us. AAR has learnt of talk of work to rule by many in the pilot group. There has also apparently been an increase of instances of crew refusing to exercise their commanders discretion on night-time India returns and crew refusing to come in on rostered days off.
Now here is the trap. AAR has declared to certain managers that the pilot group are going to sincerely regret these actions. Crew who refuse to come in on their days off will be monitored brought in for meetings and have their days off reduced to the minimum allowed. Further disciplinary will follow if ways are not changed.
So DO NOT fall into their trap by following these simple steps.
. The easiest of them all, dont ever answer the phone when crewing call and youre not meant to be on call
. If you do answer by mistake, dont "refuse" say you just had a drink and cannot, had zero sleep and cannot, have sick dog and cannot
. Dont say youre sick as your day off will be converted to sick
. Dont ever make any political statements on the phone as its recorded and will be used against you
. Same goes for VHF, no political statements as anyone could hear this
. If you dont want to go into discretion say that the rest you had was appropriate for the duty as rostered but inappropriate for the extended duty. Dont use fatigue as that will be used against you
The above are the items that AAR is hoping to make an example of some pilots with. Also had it confirmed these a55holes do read this site to see whats going down. AAR is solely responsible for the terrible state of the morale, and this is his way of fixing it. Finally be nice to the crewing staff. I hear they are being seriously intimidated by there managers, who incidentally also report to AAR.
'An Emirates spokesman denied there is a punitive culture at the airline' *
*Sun-Herald news paper
Now here is the trap. AAR has declared to certain managers that the pilot group are going to sincerely regret these actions. Crew who refuse to come in on their days off will be monitored brought in for meetings and have their days off reduced to the minimum allowed. Further disciplinary will follow if ways are not changed.
So DO NOT fall into their trap by following these simple steps.
. The easiest of them all, dont ever answer the phone when crewing call and youre not meant to be on call
. If you do answer by mistake, dont "refuse" say you just had a drink and cannot, had zero sleep and cannot, have sick dog and cannot
. Dont say youre sick as your day off will be converted to sick
. Dont ever make any political statements on the phone as its recorded and will be used against you
. Same goes for VHF, no political statements as anyone could hear this
. If you dont want to go into discretion say that the rest you had was appropriate for the duty as rostered but inappropriate for the extended duty. Dont use fatigue as that will be used against you
The above are the items that AAR is hoping to make an example of some pilots with. Also had it confirmed these a55holes do read this site to see whats going down. AAR is solely responsible for the terrible state of the morale, and this is his way of fixing it. Finally be nice to the crewing staff. I hear they are being seriously intimidated by there managers, who incidentally also report to AAR.
'An Emirates spokesman denied there is a punitive culture at the airline' *
*Sun-Herald news paper
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Ripley's Believe it or not!
Truely pathetic if it's true!!
AAR will eventually pay the ultimate price himself when the wheels fall off! Can't wait to see that and it's bound to eventually happen. You can't buy a fight with your employees and expect to have a winning situation. Eventually something will give.
Truely hope it's not another accident but unfortunately believe that it will be the eventual result of the continuous pressure being applied to an already hard working pilot group.
AAR will eventually pay the ultimate price himself when the wheels fall off! Can't wait to see that and it's bound to eventually happen. You can't buy a fight with your employees and expect to have a winning situation. Eventually something will give.
Truely hope it's not another accident but unfortunately believe that it will be the eventual result of the continuous pressure being applied to an already hard working pilot group.
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Those are good tips, British Bulldog. Thats exactly the way its done in the third world aviation business.
Managers, crew scheduling departments and airline bureaucrats are the same around the world: They hate pilots.
I wonder(just a thought), since its no news these guys have access to this forum, how some heavy declarations stated around here are or are not spilling gasoline over the fire.
Actually, even if the company sinks(worst case), we are those who will suffer the most. Managers and owners always get over...
Managers, crew scheduling departments and airline bureaucrats are the same around the world: They hate pilots.
I wonder(just a thought), since its no news these guys have access to this forum, how some heavy declarations stated around here are or are not spilling gasoline over the fire.
You can't buy a fight with your employees and expect to have a winning situation.
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Managers, crew scheduling departments and airline bureaucrats are the same around the world: They hate pilots.
In my present company, where I have a management position, pilots (and Commanders especially) are the backbone of the operation, are truly appreciated...and paid accordingly.
Do not paint all airlines with the same broad brush, as a very few actually do it right.
short flights long nights
i am going to reserve my comments until the morning...I have to decide if Cosmo drifts or Drifts with the cosmos, and after a 17 hour flight..its not the time to do it
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If you think AAR will be stepping down any time soon you are dreaming. You guys need to wake up, things are going to get worst and there is really nothing we can do. Just be SAFE thats it.Hopefully in 2 years things are better, lots of jobs for all of us to go to if we like or the TC's here get better. 2300 pilots now only a few new hires this year and none next so you can see upgrades being a long time 5-8 years or more. You want extra gas take it, you want extra time befor push take it , be a captain.
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Agree with your last post 100% fatbus.
It is wishful thinking that things will change for the better for pilots around the world. This is the first time in my career when it appears things will never improve in this profession. This career is a dead-end choice for young wannabe pilots, IMHO.
At least I had about 10 years of relatively good times, things should work out fine in the end. I truly fear for the future of young and eager pilots because the writing is on the wall.
Most airlines are led by managers who could not succeed in other businesses, something which has been difficult for me to accept until now, partly due to the nature of our job. But there is no question it is true. ****ty management is NOT a phenomena reserved for ExPat airlines.
Imagine Ed in a position of authority in a company that demanded knowledge, intelligence and ability? It just wouldn't happen. Unfortunately, an expat airline such as EK also has to deal with the pervasive and critical misjudgements of the likes of some LOCALS put in positions of power and authority as well. It is a recipe for disaster, which should be quite clear to even the stupidest person on the planet.
Do your best, enjoy the good aspects of Dubai and get on with your life. When your chance comes to upgrade or leave, then take it! If you are still planning on EK as a long term career move, then you will be immensely disappointed. AAR, TCAS and ED will not be leaving this place soon, and once you accept that disgusting reality, it should become clear that things will only get worse.
When these realities hit me (like a ton of bricks), my stress level lowered and I became one of the many who didn't give a rat's ass about things other than flight safety and my progression as a professional pilot. The day most pilots leave this place, I suspect will be one of their happiest moments. Considering I am relatively secure and happy in life, this is a strange viewpoint isn't it?
My final rant: if you are a decent human being, or even not so decent but a good pilot, then you will forever regret your decision to come here. It is sad but true!
ps. not emotional, just factual
It is wishful thinking that things will change for the better for pilots around the world. This is the first time in my career when it appears things will never improve in this profession. This career is a dead-end choice for young wannabe pilots, IMHO.
At least I had about 10 years of relatively good times, things should work out fine in the end. I truly fear for the future of young and eager pilots because the writing is on the wall.
Most airlines are led by managers who could not succeed in other businesses, something which has been difficult for me to accept until now, partly due to the nature of our job. But there is no question it is true. ****ty management is NOT a phenomena reserved for ExPat airlines.
Imagine Ed in a position of authority in a company that demanded knowledge, intelligence and ability? It just wouldn't happen. Unfortunately, an expat airline such as EK also has to deal with the pervasive and critical misjudgements of the likes of some LOCALS put in positions of power and authority as well. It is a recipe for disaster, which should be quite clear to even the stupidest person on the planet.
Do your best, enjoy the good aspects of Dubai and get on with your life. When your chance comes to upgrade or leave, then take it! If you are still planning on EK as a long term career move, then you will be immensely disappointed. AAR, TCAS and ED will not be leaving this place soon, and once you accept that disgusting reality, it should become clear that things will only get worse.
When these realities hit me (like a ton of bricks), my stress level lowered and I became one of the many who didn't give a rat's ass about things other than flight safety and my progression as a professional pilot. The day most pilots leave this place, I suspect will be one of their happiest moments. Considering I am relatively secure and happy in life, this is a strange viewpoint isn't it?
My final rant: if you are a decent human being, or even not so decent but a good pilot, then you will forever regret your decision to come here. It is sad but true!
ps. not emotional, just factual
Last edited by mensaboy; 26th Jun 2009 at 06:25. Reason: imbibed too much
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Mensaboy
And I agree 99% with you, Mensaboy. That is what I aways defended. To live each day and get the best of it, since we have no other option for now. Still good things around to think only about the bad ones.
The only thing I disagree with, is to predict so vehemently all people will regret coming here no matter what. Even not so green experiences will generate knowledge for the future. New joiners can find happiness. You said yourself: we change the focus, we can live better, as I understood.
411A
Sorry. I did generalize when I should not. What I meant is that these events are a very common thing.
SOPS, when you wake up, go back to sleep.
The only thing I disagree with, is to predict so vehemently all people will regret coming here no matter what. Even not so green experiences will generate knowledge for the future. New joiners can find happiness. You said yourself: we change the focus, we can live better, as I understood.
411A
Do not paint all airlines with the same broad brush, as a very few actually do it right.
SOPS, when you wake up, go back to sleep.
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Well I have to say Bulldog - if you're making political statements on a VHF radio (and I use 'you' generally - not personally to you) then you're a bit of a cretin anyway
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Is it L10? or do you have other types also?
However, B737 types are planned in the very near future (one on the certificate now)...and, 767 just following.
The 'ole L10 is still valuable in the ad-hoc charter market, due to the low cost of the airframe...-500's especially.
Make no mistake, this airplane is still a valuable asset, in certain markets.
We have a very nice program planned for the coming winter season...profitable for all...pilots and the company.
11 hour sectors planned, and the contracts are being proposed now.
PS: Our marketing guy is former Laker...the original Laker, and worked for Sir Freddie for over twenty years.
Details in due course.
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mensaboy
Hello everybody,
Come and fly a real airplane sometime,
Yeah an Airbus and a Boeing may suffice for a while-but if you really need to achieve something-then come and join us in our C-130 L-382G.
Good fun and nice old round dials
Best regards,
Arend III.
Come and fly a real airplane sometime,
Yeah an Airbus and a Boeing may suffice for a while-but if you really need to achieve something-then come and join us in our C-130 L-382G.
Good fun and nice old round dials
Best regards,
Arend III.
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Management and Pilots aren't gods on their own right. There are many other players in the Company who are also important for the operation.
There has to be a middle ground and grown ups do it right despite having many heated discussions about it. There can be no stubbornness.
The operation has to be safe, but it needs to make commercial/financial sense.
There is one thing we cannot claim to be just our own. And that's CRM. It doesn't stand only for Crew R.... M..... How about Company R.... M.....? You can call it anything else as long as it involves other staff you deal with at work, flying or not.
Don't have pre-conceptions about it. CRMs sit down guys you deal daily at work and get people involved finding what they also do
or don't do and could do better.
There has to be a middle ground and grown ups do it right despite having many heated discussions about it. There can be no stubbornness.
The operation has to be safe, but it needs to make commercial/financial sense.
There is one thing we cannot claim to be just our own. And that's CRM. It doesn't stand only for Crew R.... M..... How about Company R.... M.....? You can call it anything else as long as it involves other staff you deal with at work, flying or not.
Don't have pre-conceptions about it. CRMs sit down guys you deal daily at work and get people involved finding what they also do
or don't do and could do better.
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There has to be a middle ground and grown ups do it right despite having many heated discussions about it. There can be no stubbornness.
The recent captain's conferences are a case in point. Conference:
a formal meeting that typically takes place over a number of days and involves people with a shared interest, esp. one held regularly by an association or organization
We need middle ground, but such is the mistrust and distain held on both sides of the management verses pilot workforce divide that fundamentally we're doomed to fail. There is patently no respect or trust.
It is going to get worse. As TCAS runs roughshod over any perceptions of terms and conditions, unilaterally opening the doors to DECs by engineering it to be harder for our own pilots to make the transition, the cheap short term options will arrive in due course.
You can't lead anyone else further than you have gone yourself.
You do not lead by hitting people over the head. That's assault, not leadership. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower
Last edited by Marooned; 27th Jun 2009 at 18:23.
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As we are in for quotes, two of the more recent ones by a very successful guy. Sergio Marchione (CEO FIAT and now Chrysler):
Leadership is not a given right, it's a privilege, but you have to earn it over and over again, every day.
Emirates fails miserably on the first, but excells on the second!
Leadership is not a given right, it's a privilege, but you have to earn it over and over again, every day.
If you start believing your own propaganda, you are doomed.
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TCAS is loving EK - he has power that he could never enjoy in BA .
When we had training days at Cranebank ( Sim / SEP / whatever ) it was mandatory for crew to attend Forums over lunch and discuss whatever with at least one manager . These were delightful in that anybody could have a full go at these 'Managers' , that was one of the joys about working for BA.
Now , TCAS and co know that nobody can do that in EK without having their number taken . Bloody little Hitlers - the industry is cursed with them .
Fly safe
KK
When we had training days at Cranebank ( Sim / SEP / whatever ) it was mandatory for crew to attend Forums over lunch and discuss whatever with at least one manager . These were delightful in that anybody could have a full go at these 'Managers' , that was one of the joys about working for BA.
Now , TCAS and co know that nobody can do that in EK without having their number taken . Bloody little Hitlers - the industry is cursed with them .
Fly safe
KK
