I am an Army of One
 

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I am an Army of One (or 2, or 300, ...)

I am an army of One - A Captain in the Continental Airlines army.
For years I was a loyal soldier in Gordon's army. Now I fight my own war.
I used to feel valued and respected. Now I know I am mere fodder.
They (CAL) used to exhibit labor leadership. Now they exploit legal loopholes.
They used to enjoy my maximum. Now they will suffer my minimum.
I am an army of One.

I used to save CAL a thousand pounds of fuel per leg; finding the best FL, getting direct routing, throttling back when on-time was made, skimping during ground ops, adjusting for winds, being smart and giving the company every effort I could conjure. Now, it's "burn baby, burn".
I used to call maintenance while airborne, so the part would be ready at the gate. Now, they'll find the write-up when they look in the book.
I used to try to fix problems in the system, now I sit and watch as the miscues pile up.
I used to fly sick. Now I use my sick days, on short notice, on the worst day of the month.
I am an army of One.

I used to start the APU at the last possible moment. Now my customers enjoy extreme comfort.
I used to let the price of fuel at out-stations affect my fuel orders. I still do.
I used to cover mistakes by operations. Now I watch them unfold.
I used to hustle to ensure an on-time arrival, to make us the best. Now I do it for the rampers and agents who need the bonus money….but this too may change.
I used to call dispatch for rerouting, to head off ground delays for bad weather. Now I collect overs, number 35 in line for takeoff.

I am on a new mission - to demonstrate that misguided leadership of indifference and disrespect has a cost. It's about character, not contracts. It's about leading by taking care of your people instead of leadership by bean counters (an oxymoron). With acts of omission, not commission, I am a one-man wrecking crew - an army of One. My mission used to be to make CAL rich. Now it's to make CAL pay.

When they furlough more pilots than the rest, pilots that cost them 60 cents on the dollar - I will make them pay.
When they under-staff bases and over-work reserves to keep pilots downgraded, down-flowed, or downtrodden - I will make them pay.
When over-booked customers are denied boarding system wide, while jets are parked in the desert - I will make them pay.
When they force pilots, who have waited 12 years to become captains, to be FOs again - I will make them pay.
When they ask CAL pilots to show leadership at Express, and then deny them longevity - I will make them pay.
When they recall F/As for the summer, just to furlough them again in the fall like migrant workers - I will make them pay.
When they constantly violate the letter and spirit of our contract - a contract that's a bargain by any measure, and force us to fight lengthy grievances - I will make them pay.

My negotiating committee speaks for me, but I act on my own. I am a walking nightmare to the bean counters that made me. Are you listening? This mercenary has a lot of years left with this company; how long can you afford to keep me bitter? I'm not looking for clauses in a contract, I'm looking for a culture of commitment and caring. When I see it, I'll be a soldier for CAL again. Until then, I am an Army of One…And I'm not alone!

Army of one ... plus!
 

Brilliant stuff mate. Death to the bean counters.

Ol.

Does anyone know to which Intensive Care Unit 411A has been taken?

Go for it! Now that's clear logical thinking. You will probably lead a battallion by this week-end. The W.W.P.U. is born

"WORLD WIDE PILOT UNION"

MANY SOLDIERS ARE IN THE DARK AND WAITING FOR THE CHANCE TO JOIN FORCES AND FINALLY BE FREED FROM THE BEAN-COUNTERS!

What a very interesting and creative list. I still had the impression that Bethune was the saviour over there, the airline "Jean d'Arc" (Joan of Arc-please excuse my terrible French). Maybe anybody is, compared to the airline cannibals, Lorenzo and Icahn.

Did Continental lay-off a much higher percentage of pilots than the other majors? Were many able to go to Express?

Did the Board of Dirctors increase management pay or stock options after Sept 11?

Good luck to your new Special Force commandos.

WOW...
 

This Guy has got his priorities damn straight.:eek:

AAL_Silverbird

You're not alone. I've been thinking like this for a very long time too. My colleagues know that. I hope/know there's more of us out there.

Was gonna try and join. I like small, friendly outfits. Looks like this one is going to be huge but I'll probably risk it anyway.

Good luck.

Doc C.

Hello Boys and Girls and fellow citizens of Wibble,

AAL_Silverbird

Well said, Well written and a big WELL DONE. I only hope that the majority of people agree with you.

lets look forward to a long and successful era with the ONE MAN ARMY at the helm.

A bit extreme? What else has any effect - nothing!

Soddit - excellent.

Not in intensive care, Soddit----just watching with bemusement.
Recall that CX had incentives for their pilots in the 70's-80's to operate efficiently. Really smart aircarriers will adopt these practices today...notice that US Air has reached an agreement with their pilots already.

Well, apart from the furloughs, this smacks of BA.

Anyone for joining me in a BA regiment?

Absolutely excellent work,
How did he know that's exactly what's happening here,
I thought we in our company were all alone with this,
The penny still hasn't dropped upstairs.
Great stuff,
Cheers:mad:

As an Aer Lingus pilot who has just gone through the same epiphany as you Silverbird, I say.....RIGHT ON!

As one who gave the company my best at all times, out of habit as much as out of intent , I say....I'M RIGHT WITH YOU BRO'!

As one who has been spat on and shat on in return, I say...NEVERMORE! NEVERMORE! NEVERMORE!

My allegiance now lies SOLELY with my brother officers. WORLDWIDE!

And I want to especially thank the pilots of the US who gave more than lip service to our cause in our time of need.

IT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN BY ME OR MY COLLEAGUES.

!HOLD THE LINE!

A man on a mission, I like it. Perhaps this is the sort of stand we should take in our company, and the sooner the better !:eek: :eek:

Far OUT! Solid! And Right ON!

The beancounters are just not able to quantify the effects of the attitude they have induced in so many ex-dedicated colleagues, thus they are unable to effectively deal with the "problem" - us!.

If only they new, that the attitude of so many less senior colleagues was even less - if at all - loyal to "the company".
But maybe the whole concept of loyalty and accountability is outdated?..

People flying desks will - unfortunately - only learn the hard way.

Do you know what's scary? This is being acted out in just about every industry across the world at the moment. Don't think that the airlines are alone in being afflicted by beancounters.

The pendulum will swing. The beancounters can't keep on treating people like just so many numbers in an accounting column. The worm(s) will turn. I just hope I'm around to witness it.

Good luck to all one-man armies across the world!!

Sorry, can't seem to find the same enthusiasm for sticking it to the company. In the long run, your only hurting yourself. As long as you remain an army of one, no worries. If you enlist some help well, you may just slay the dragon that provides you with a good living. Find another path.

Sorry mates but I should have made it more clear, I'm not the author just saw it on the web and brought it over here. Click on the "Click Here" and it will take you to the orginial URL. Right attitude, wrong carrier!