SLF's and Growbags
 

It is my understanding, too, that the term SLF was initially coined by the military. But no-one in the armed forces is immune from such nick-names. One such monicker for pilot in the RAF was "Growbag". Why ? Well apparently they come in green and are full of sh*t !

GenY, or is it GenZ now?
 

Apparently, Virgin Blue are encouraged to refer to passengers as Guests. Personally, when I fly on Virgin as one of their Guests I feel as if I should be a little under some obligation to behave nicely as a guest should. Perhaps this is part of the strategy, to avoid the "customer is always right" issues.
I think SLF is fine in industry circles and most would take it in good humour in public circles.
Having recently flown Qantas and being warmly welcomed and farewelled by the customer service manager, actually referred to as the CSM by other crew, I would be happy to be a passenger or a customer. As I paid for the flight, I am not perfectly comfortable with being referred to as a guest!

I do not know what happened to the FPP - the fare paying passanger.
I thought the SLF was FOB and referred to staff travellers.

4 pages of debate on "the term SLF"...... :D

Only on pprune.....

Disliking the term "SLF" has nothing whatsoever to do with a sense of humour failure.
I dislike the term for reasons about what it says about Aviation's culture.

Industry sectors can be classified in many ways. One simple classification is "Producer" focus versus "Customer" focus.

Aviation, from its birth amongst the Civil Servants and Armed Forces in many countries, has always had a Producer focus. It is concerned about itself, rather than its customers. I moved in to Aviation from the Customer-focussed Service sector, and the changes in attitudes were a shock to me.

It was a mini-revolution in the Aviation sector when South West came along. They had a clear Customer focus. Virgin Atlantic tries to emulate them.

Like it or not, any sector that has a culture that allows phrases such as SLF to survive is a Producer focussed sector. Those that adopt fully a Consumer focus are far more likely to survive.

Legacy carriers with a "Producer" culture will not survive in an increasingly competitive world.

The mods and I do not agree about this. That's fine, as PPRuNe has always tolerated different opinions.

Once lowcostdolly replies to my post the circle will have been closed.

:}

Passengers are also customers. On Ships, aircraft, busses, taxis and trains they are traditionally and correctly referred to as passengers. Let's cut the PC nonsense.

I would not refer to a passenger to their face as SLF but have no objection to the use of the term in jest amongst staff. Those of you who take offence at the use of such a term should perhaps ask medical operating theatre staff what references to the anaesthetised patient they have heard :)

I first came across SLF decades ago in Roger Bacon's Straight and Level column in Flight International.

I always assumed he'd invented it, along with Reginald S. Potter (Reggie Spotter), Rollo Freelunch the aviation PR man and Monty Orangeball the sensationalist aviation journalist.

Ahhh De Havilland !

Given some of the responses in above posts, could I just try and adjust the thrust of my original post.

There was no failure of humour, I too found the phrase SLF funny, as others have said its an 'industry in-joke' - my thought/question however was two fold -

Firstly was it good for an industry to have no clear/respected? target/market for its wares and services apart from this acronym -

Secondly with the current rampaging union problem with its lies/spin machine and the rifts they have tried/succeeded in creating between CC's internally, management and apparently in some cases with flight crews, SLF could also become a target for vitrol to the detriment of the operation.

Last weekend we took my father in law to Walter Sisulu park for the day.
As he painfully hauled himself out of the jeep and we helped him in to his old and battered wheel chair, I made some comment or other about self loading freight bloody well hurrying up - in native dialect you understand. I do not seem to remember being quite so unpopular since the day I actually married his daughter.

All for that.

From now on, all Airbus pilots will be known as 'Sysops.'

As has been stated earlier the term SLF probably originated in the military where people are nothing more than freight that needs to be delivered from A to B. Its use in the civilian sector by CC and others is simply a way to make themselves feel superior and belittle the passengers. Personally I do not care, if it keeps them amused so what.

Much more likely, I would suggest, that it had something to do with that terrible abomination which is forever hung as an albatross around the necks of the European descendant of man with an occasional dash of the Oriental thrown in by the original inhabitants of that great and totally abused theatre of culture Africa.
I refer, of course, to the slave trade.

Duffus
 

You start well but fade in the straight. Unless you're into self flagellation, why would you spend hard earned money to be belittled? Seems to be de rigueur with former state owned carriers - see Choice airline consumer survey | Australians name worst airline

Argus
 

Thanks for the reply, but you can be sure that I am not into any form of self harm or have any masochistic tendancies. I am simply saying (in my own way) that SLF is not a phrase I can get worked up about.
Having been SLF on many a C130 Its use in the private sector is misleading and untrue and therefore in my eyes can be ignored.

lowcostdolly..

er..it was my *cough* attempt at humour:sad:

But thats the point, Duffus. As others have tried to say, it's not generally used in the civilian sector by CC. If you were to say SLF or even the full term of Self Loading Freight to most, they would look at you blankly without having a clue what you are talking about. Outside of the forums, it's not a well known or indeed well used expression. The majority of cabin crew know the people that board the aircraft collectively as passengers, or pax when in the written form.

Very important question:
Do Sysops get paid more than pilots? :)

SLFguy

Apologies for my complete sense of humour failure :O

Guess I was having one of those "terrier with their tail cuaght in the door days".

They can happen after a run of 4 sector days/long duty's as JSL will confirm I'm sure ;)

I've deleted my post in contrition!

SLF? You can call me anything you want. Just don't get me to my destination too late!!!!! :E:ok: