What do pilots when asked for a favour by ATC
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What do pilots when asked for a favour by ATC
Hi guys/girls
Just wondering really but just happens that i've pased a few of these requests recently.
When ATC ask you for a favour such as "a controller is flying on your aircraft today anything you can do for him/her is much appreciated" what do you do?
I know in the past we often got upgrades but with the current economic climate is it now a case that there is nothing you can do in case the bean counters get upset?
Cheers
Just wondering really but just happens that i've pased a few of these requests recently.
When ATC ask you for a favour such as "a controller is flying on your aircraft today anything you can do for him/her is much appreciated" what do you do?
I know in the past we often got upgrades but with the current economic climate is it now a case that there is nothing you can do in case the bean counters get upset?
Cheers
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These are our colleagues in the industry, and as with any favour we would always try and oblige. It is a pleasure to share the operating environment whenever possible, although security restrictions seem to have made that less common. Similarly we would always acknowledge an industry colleague on board and do whatever we reasonably could to assist. Favours cut both ways, and it always nice to be able to improve somebody elses day.
On the other hand, if it is a request for a free upgrade or something that goes beyond what is in the reasonable gift of the pilot, then that might put the individual in a slightly embarassing or invidious position. It is likely to be a request that cannot be satisfied for all the usual reasons.
On the other hand, if it is a request for a free upgrade or something that goes beyond what is in the reasonable gift of the pilot, then that might put the individual in a slightly embarassing or invidious position. It is likely to be a request that cannot be satisfied for all the usual reasons.
Last edited by Bealzebub; 23rd Oct 2009 at 11:53.
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When an air traffic comntroller is on my flight, and had either made himself known (or the ATC unit has done so, for him), they are invited to the FD, assigned the number one observers seat (if they so desire) and are allowed to remain....for as long as they like, takeoff and landing included.
And yes, I have full and complete authority to do so at my airline, as I am the Commander....and what I say, goes.
And no, we don't have some government official telling us what we can (or cannot) do...in fact, if we do have said government official on board, they are offered the same privileges as might be extended to ATC folks....including a seat in the business class section, if we have one available.
This is called....common courtesy.... something I otherwise find lacking in many airline operations, today.
Yes, we are old, and yes we fly an old (but superb) widebody airplane, however we have not forgotten how to treat folks with the respect they deserve.
And yes, I have full and complete authority to do so at my airline, as I am the Commander....and what I say, goes.
And no, we don't have some government official telling us what we can (or cannot) do...in fact, if we do have said government official on board, they are offered the same privileges as might be extended to ATC folks....including a seat in the business class section, if we have one available.
This is called....common courtesy.... something I otherwise find lacking in many airline operations, today.
Yes, we are old, and yes we fly an old (but superb) widebody airplane, however we have not forgotten how to treat folks with the respect they deserve.
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Sadly a lot of that is lost with the rules. We still can do the same (home country ATCOs only though), however on flights to the, well, lets say not really free countries (USA and UK), we are not allowed to anymore to comply with their rules.
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Denti
...we are not allowed to anymore to comply with their rules.
What pressures are these unfree otherwise likely civilized folks suffering from that renders them so draconian about how you run your ship?
Prithee tell.
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(Just passing through this thread, but I like your sense of elegance when it comes to plain hospitality.)
We extend courtesy to those that deserve same, ATC/other flight crews/etc...included.
What goes around comes around...as they say.
And yes, again...we say goodbye personally to EVERY passenger disebarking.
These folks have paid the price for our services...they are entitled to courtesy...in every respect.
IE: treat the customer well, they WILL come back.
Positively.
Airline courtesy..., a lost art it seems.
NOT at our company, and I see to it that the folks are treated well.
HOT meals on every sector, just as one example.
These hot meals ain't bad, either.
In todays economic environment, the airline that SERVES...survives.
A simple concept to understand.
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411A,
Couldn't agree with you more, i've ran a business for the past 5 years and a little courtesy and manners is greatly appreciated and goes a long way to keep hard earned customers loyal.
I am in the process of selling the business at the minute to get the ball rolling with pilot training and i intend to take that respect and manners with me.
Couldn't agree with you more, i've ran a business for the past 5 years and a little courtesy and manners is greatly appreciated and goes a long way to keep hard earned customers loyal.
I am in the process of selling the business at the minute to get the ball rolling with pilot training and i intend to take that respect and manners with me.
Buttonpusher
In todays economic environment, the airline that SERVES...survives.
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In 1990 when TWA was struggling to keep head above water, my father & I were SLF on an MD80 STL-PDX, and noted that the cabin service was better than we were used to.
And then this marvelous vapor from the galley told us steak was on the menu. Not a big steak, but prepared in great style. We were salivating 15 minutes before our turn came. Return flight was similar.
With that, my loyalty to TWA tripled - until the Tulsa gang pulled the plug on their underlings.
And then this marvelous vapor from the galley told us steak was on the menu. Not a big steak, but prepared in great style. We were salivating 15 minutes before our turn came. Return flight was similar.
With that, my loyalty to TWA tripled - until the Tulsa gang pulled the plug on their underlings.
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411a - that's the right idea
Sadly the ME outfit I fly for would give me a one way ticket home if I gave one of my ATCO colleagues a jumpseat or upgrade - aircraft commander notwithstanding.... I think it's down to jealousy from the management point of view personally as this was never a perk they had to dole out in the first place
Sadly the ME outfit I fly for would give me a one way ticket home if I gave one of my ATCO colleagues a jumpseat or upgrade - aircraft commander notwithstanding.... I think it's down to jealousy from the management point of view personally as this was never a perk they had to dole out in the first place
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Hi I am due to start ATCO training for eurocontrol in january, and since i have passed the selection phase I have been on a number of flights, all within mainland europe. I have explained my situation on all these flights to the pilot and asked if it would be possible to sit on the flight deck, and listen into radio coms, just to get a feel for it and to experience things like, speed of radio talk, tone of voice and just the general interaction between pilot and ACT. However on all occassions I was told that it wasn't possible. (airlines were BMI and Easyjet). But i have friends that i met during ACTO selection that have done the same thing and were allowed. (Finair and Airfrance).
So is the decision down to the pilot to allow me to sit on the FD, or is it down to airline policy?
Any info would be welcomed.
So is the decision down to the pilot to allow me to sit on the FD, or is it down to airline policy?
Any info would be welcomed.
I understand DFT regulations forbid anybody other than operational crew on the flight deck in UK airspace. Even positioning crew from same airline are not allowed on the flight deck if seats are available in the cabin! A sad state of affairs!
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Irs33
You need to follow the correct procedures to avail yourself of this facility. That would mean a request through your own management, that in turn is passed on to the flight operations management, and then back to the Captain. Long winded I know, but that is the way of this part of the world these days.
You need to follow the correct procedures to avail yourself of this facility. That would mean a request through your own management, that in turn is passed on to the flight operations management, and then back to the Captain. Long winded I know, but that is the way of this part of the world these days.
