GO diverts from STN - Shock Horror!
Join Date: Dec 1999
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Agree with 'Exiled Tyke': words on the PA should be chosen carefully. Also agree with 'ACM's' comments. In my opinion the captain could have just said that STN was fogged in and that they had to divert? Would have saved face with the PAX.. .Maybe CRM+PR would help! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
In an opposing vein to the Go story, I was SLF on a QANTAS flight where the Captain introduced the 1st Officer as "newly qualified. But don't worry Folks as I'm here to look after things!". This was probably added in an effort to reassure the Punters as, just maybe, he suddenly realised he had "opened mouth before engaging brain" when he had said "newly qualified". However, everyone was far from concerned about the rookie 1st Officer - they all commented on just how rude a Captain could possibly be. . .. .Anyway, the arrival was flown by said 1st Officer and the landing never actually seemed to take place - one minute in the air, next, rolling out along 27L at LHR with not even a chirp from the tyres. The Captain makes another PA announcement "Ladies and Gentlemen, you probably have not noticed but we have actually arrived in London. I would like to congratulate our new 1st Officer on what I can safely say is the best landing I have ever seen". . .. .The Skipper must have had flack all the way down the route - from everyone!!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .H 'n' H
Just a numbered other
Bit of an 'own goal', really.. .. .PAs must be carefully constructed so that they provide no ammunition to these so-called journalists.. .. .There was another case where the captain said that he was 'afraid that the weather conditions dictate a diversion to blah'. .. .Papers next headline 'PILOT AFRAID'. .. .It would seem that the only factual publication to hale from Geordie land is VIZ <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" />
For sure it was the Captain's honest P/A that kicked this whole sad episode off. There are just too many moron pax flying these days. Just a simple "we have to divert due to adverse weather conditions" will suffice. Those with knowhow will deduce anyway why the crew is not making a CAT III approach. Honesty is a fine thing only if all the recipients have a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Moral of this story is: KEEP IT SIMPLE!
Join Date: May 1999
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Devils Advocate. I understand your point. The airline for which I work do 13 (4 hour) sim details as part of the conversion, mininimum 40 sectors of line training. Indeed for the first 50 hours on line a new Capt is not approved for CAT III ops. I do believe that this is significantly more training than many other airlines give their pilots.. .. .Whilst I do not wish to criticize the merits of any particular training system, all pilots should be released to the line with the tools for the job. This includes a knowledge of the aircraft systems including Autoland.. .. .Basic training in content and quality of PA's is also given during line training. The PA is a valuable tool. Used incorrectly however, they can open a can of worms. ( as seen here in this topic)
Controversial, moi?
It would appear for all this huffing and puffing and criticism of the messenger the point is being missed that an inappropriate PA caused panic and confusion amongst passengers. .. .Passengers generally have many misconceptions and fears about flying. Understandable really. I know nothing about management consultants except they do nothing and charge lots! At least in my ignorance that is what I assume. Why should passengers knowledge about aviation be any different?. .. .I am sure much will be learned from this episode by all but panic and confusion there was and that is what has been reported.
Basic Airways PAs:. .. .1. Pre-departure:. .. ."Sit down, strap in, shut up. You will arrive at our destination .001 seconds after I do. Now stop reading or fiddling with electronic toys and LISTEN to the safety brief you're about to be given by the cabin staff.". .. .2. Pre-meal:. .. ."Get back to your seats. You will shortly be fed.". .. .3. Pre-landing:. .. ."Sit down, strap in, shut up. We're about to land". .. .4. Approaching the gate:. .. ."SIT B£OODY DOWN and do NOT get up again until the seat belt signs have been switched off!". .. .5. Disembarkation:. .. ."We've arrived. Unstrap, get up, go away and don't leave anything behind". .. ....no, of course I'm not being serious!!
Join Date: Jan 1999
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I,m sure the Captain involved was crying over his cornflakes this morning when the newspapers arrived.....Complete PR disaster on behalf of Go and one I,m sure that BMI and Easyjet will get lots of mileage out of in there next advertising campaign.... .. .Keep it simple Skipper..... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />
Reminds me of the story of the PA on a 10 hour flight from LHR to LAX.. .. .After 5 hours a voice was heard on the PA which just said "HALFWAY!". .. .Nothing further was heard from the flightdeck for the rest of the flight - perhaps there is a lesson for us all here.. .. .As far as the newspapers are concerned I have not read one for over 2 months now - they are all full of negative garbage and I feel a lot better without them! I just shield my eyes when I walk into the newsagents for my packet of midget gems! Remember we do have a choice as to whether we buy or read the papers. If we all stopped buying the papers they would soon start changing the message!. .. .Likewise I have stopped watching the news on the TV and listening to the radio - what we hear is all carefully controlled anyway! Don't worry though you will get to know what's going on out there that's important because folks will tell you!
Join Date: Dec 1999
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Apparently some airlines run public address courses for pilots which invariably exacerbate the problems and lead to excess and patronising verbiage. Cityflyer are among the worst, but Go used to be insufferable with their "As we're part of the British Airways Group we take your safety very seriously" .... no doubt now that they're not part of the BA empire, passengers' safety is not so much of an issue .... and now it looks like it's all coming down around their ears.
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica"> Complete PR disaster on behalf of Go and one I,m sure that BMI and Easyjet will get lots of mileage out of in there next advertising campaign... </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">We don't have an advertising campaign in BMI so no danger there!.. .. .As this skipper has just found out there are times when one has to be very "economical with the truth" during PA's. Hope the company are not going to string him up for it, I am sure that he never had anything other than best intentions to inform his pax. of the situation. A reminder to us all to engage brain well before keying the mike!.
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I wonder how the career of the trainee journalist will progress. After all, she penned the immortal line: 'we hovered over the airport for half an hour' - jolly clever in a 737!. .. .A question for other journalists - if you are under training (a bit like the hapless Go F/O), how long is it before you stop writing breathless drivel and are allowed to actually produce useful and informative articles?
Join Date: Aug 1999
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Guess what?. .. .The in-flight P.A. from the pilot under training did not mention any of the things reported in the papers. He simply, and might I add professionally, said the diversion was due to weather at STN.. .. .The training captain then, after landing in EMA (LEGALLY), went into the cabin to answer questions from passengers who were annoyed but not scared.. .. .This story is pure sensationalism. Spare a thought for the pilot who has just joined Go and who has done nothing wrong.
Join Date: Nov 1999
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Having spoken to the Training Captain involved, I am horrified at the pure fiction written by the NCL Jouralist who started all this. As standbyils just said, the Captain under training PA just said the diversion was due to fog. . .. .Then, while on the ground, the Training Captain offered, on the PA, directly to the passengers, to answer their questions and concerns... .. .The rest,as the say...is history. .. .No mention of the number of Ryanair diversions to Gatwick on the same day due to non Cat 3 capability eh?. .. .As Standbyils siad, I hope the company show some support for both these individuals who were nicely stitched up by the worst type of Tablois Journalism.
Join Date: Dec 1999
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ADC- "The Training Captain offered, on the PA, directly to the passengers, to answer their questions and concerns"......... .. .What was this, the Jimmy Young Request Show? Why do so many pilots feel they have to entertain the passengers? It's not even good public relations, most pilots who think they're doing wonderful pa's on short-haul flights are in fact producing vomit-inducing litanies of patronising rubbish. No wonder the passengers on this Go flight saw their chance to get a bit of their own back......
Max. During flight the PA simply informed a diversion due to weather. This being the case 90% of the newspaper articles were lies.. .. .When on the ground the Pax were given a more detailed explaination. We have all seen the result.. .. .Personally - there is no such thing as bad publicity. For every person vowing not to fly Go today there are ten who will remember the name in 6 months. Anyone think the journalist on board a C check a/c or the Mirage intercept story (a few months back) will deter someone from booking a Go ticket today..?. .. .Same reason Stelios agreed to the Airline programme. Everyone tuts at the time and then remembers the airline in 6 months when they are looking for a flight... .. .WWW. .. .ps A partisan post - check my profile ( Go F/O )
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We in the desert can only wonder at the superb skills required to autoland an aircraft. Now finding the gate ... THATS impressive.. .. .We are going Cat3 in the next year (paperwork awaiting the FAA's approval). It will be interesting because we are in contract negotiations (have been for 2 years) and we are boycotting autolands right now. Wait till we need currency for Cat 3.. .. .Best PA I've ever heard "Sit down, Shut up, Keep your feet off the seats, and the cofee is for the crew". (said to a load of nonrevs on a ferry flight)