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New book about Thomas Cook - Pulling Wings from Butterflies

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New book about Thomas Cook - Pulling Wings from Butterflies

Old 14th Dec 2020, 16:00
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New book about Thomas Cook - Pulling Wings from Butterflies

Just finished reading the book Pulling Wings From Butterflies about the Thomas Cook pilot who was threatened with the sack for refusing to fly when fatigued…. Rather shocking if that's what we are up against in the industry and little wonder they went bust! Anyone here ex TC with inside knowledge?
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Old 14th Dec 2020, 18:01
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Three books in the series? Really?

I seem to remember that even Mandela only needed to write one!
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Old 14th Dec 2020, 18:03
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Just remember that Thomas Cook was one of the more reputable players in that space.
Afaik, Spantax was among the lesser lights in Europe, no idea of who was the equivalent in Asia or Africa.
Aircraft are really pretty well made machines, they tolerate a lot of abuse.
In unrestrained capitalism, that abuse will come...
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Old 14th Dec 2020, 19:12
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Having spent a few years flying charter, I took the opportunity to work for a scheduled operator as soon as it came up.
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Old 14th Dec 2020, 19:22
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40KTSOFFOG

Ah yes, but Mandela had a sympathetic audience, who cares about flight crew?
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Old 14th Dec 2020, 20:24
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Strange and unpleasant title. Who would pull wings from butterflies? And why?
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Old 14th Dec 2020, 21:17
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https://www.balpa.org/About/Files/M-...-Judgment.aspx
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Old 15th Dec 2020, 08:56
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Pretty shocking really.
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Old 15th Dec 2020, 09:35
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Thank you Beazlebub for the link.

I have just read this report.
May I just say, this report is truly shocking! I have read accident reports less shocking than this.

TCX will forever hang their head in shame at the treatment of this man.
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Old 15th Dec 2020, 10:35
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Thanks Bealzebub, makes for interesting reading basically verifying the content of the book. I'm certainly looking forward to the release of volume two! To me (being of a certain age) I thoroughly enjoyed the dipping in and out of the author's music career. The eighties was a great decade for me both musically and my fondness for motorcycles.

Are there any ex TCX crew on here who experienced similar treatment or was Mike the only one to stand up? It's always a move that bears great risk and lord knows I suffered whenever I "pushed back" against a certain loco I worked for. In the words of that great Dad's Army episode - "They don't like it up 'em Captain Mainwaring!"
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Old 15th Dec 2020, 10:39
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Originally Posted by MissChief
Strange and unpleasant title. Who would pull wings from butterflies? And why?
Yes I assume that was exactly the author's point! Who indeed would choose to do such a thing? I guess it's referencing the management of TCX rhetorically doing exactly that! If you haven't yet I would highly recommend grabbing a copy and reading it.
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Old 15th Dec 2020, 10:45
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Well yes they should! Question is will they? The book implies they simply ARE the "types" to hang but NOT their own heads and certainly not in shame. Truly immoral types. Hopefully, books like this will show these people for what they are - scum! The industry is in a spiral dive and it began long before another disease appeared over the horizon this year.......
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Old 15th Dec 2020, 12:32
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So it's true... there is a thread about the book!.

I have refrained from posting anything on public forums about my case (BALPA the exception, you will see why in books two and three.) until now.
Hi, I'm Mike, the guy involved in the case.

Just a couple of points. Those of you who read the BALPA 'version' of the press release above might come to a particular conclusion as to the level of support I received for my £80 odd pound monthly BALPA membership fee. Indeed I am reliably informed that members of the BALPA NEC are already challenging the facts of the matter.

Please rest assured that every single point in the book unless I have specifically said 'in my opinion' is backed up by documents presented to a judge and emails and documents presented directly to BALPA and the CAA. The book has also been rigorously legally checked to ensure it's an authentic record of the case.

The reason the book has been split into three volumes is that the first one lays the foundations of the reason this appalling situation occurred. The second one shows clearly it was not just the airline I was confronting and fighting. I was also fighting those that 'claim' they are working on your behalf.

A recent review says everything about the case.
"It’s a wake-up call and therefore, in my mind, every pilot should read this book to fully realize what is really going on in the industry…and what nobody wants to publicly talk about.'

You have as professional pilots a choice. You either swallow the red pill that the establishment gives you about the state of the industry and 'pretend' you are a professional or you take the blue pill and get the truth. Totally your decision.

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Old 16th Dec 2020, 07:37
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Ohhhhh how interesting!

I have just ordered the book and look forward to putting my feet up with a wee dram and enjoying this.

Must admit....am now tempted to try and publish my own words. Though mine come from the Operations Room where I spent 33 years. The land of the "big picture".
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Old 16th Dec 2020, 11:47
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Ah the "big picture" lol! I've often thought Ops should get the window cleaner in more regularly. Enjoy the book - I did!
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Old 23rd Dec 2020, 17:21
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Delta pilot wins largest ever whistleblowing award!

Interesting News Story:

Judge stating Head of FAA Steve Dickson “The Tribunal finds less than credible Captain Dickson’s deposition testimony as it found many of his responses evasive “

This will be the very same Steve Dickson who heads out the FAA will it? A serving of regulatory capture with your turkey dinner sir?

Pilot Karlene Petitt wins largest ever whistleblowing award
More here
https://pullingwingsfrombutterflies....&PageSpeed=off
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Old 23rd Dec 2020, 17:38
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Another Captain W.O.W. case at Delta.

Grounded Delta Pilot Wins Back Pay Following Dispute Over Mental Fitness By Martha Brannigan
Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal
Nov. 19, 1999 2:20 am ET

ATLANTA -- A Delta Air Lines captain who was grounded by the carrier five years ago over concerns about his mental fitness has been awarded partial back pay in an arbitration proceeding.

Wayne O. Witter, known by his initials as "Captain WOW," has been waging a legal battle against Delta since 1994, seeking reinstatement in his job and back pay. The Atlanta-based carrier had removed him from duty and questioned his mental fitness to fly after he got into an argument with his co-pilot and flight engineer in the cockpit. That incident followed his arrest and commitment to a psychiatric hospital after he was accused of threatening his wife.

Capt. Witter, of Dunwoody, Ga., declined to comment on the award, which was granted Nov. 5 by a private arbitrator appointed under the pilots' union contract. A Delta spokesman also declined to comment.

Capt. Witter, a Boeing 727 captain, had flown for Delta for more than 20 years at the time of the cockpit incident. His case was the subject of a page-one article in The Wall Street Journal in 1996, highlighting the difficulties airlines and regulators face in determining when a pilot's mental state is grounds for removing him from duty.

Capt. Rick Columbia, an official with the Air Lines Pilot Association at Delta, said the union supported the captain because it believes that Delta was using the medical-certification process for disciplinary purposes. "Wayne was a very strong personality, which is one of the things that most irritated the corporation," he said.
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Old 23rd Dec 2020, 18:17
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Originally Posted by Airbubba
Another Captain W.O.W. case at Delta.
Developing quite a reputation then
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Old 23rd Dec 2020, 20:33
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Karlene Petitt may well have a case against Delta's expert psychiatrist Dr Altman?
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Old 23rd Dec 2020, 21:45
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She will not be the only one. I have a copy of the documents that prove this character was up to the same tricks before... and the union knew about it!

When my case hit the press Karlene was one of many who contacted me. She stated 'You give the industry hope.' 'Seriously!!! The world needs more people like you!!! and 'I am facing a bit of a battle myself, but I can't talk about it.' It was at this point I went digging..The similarities between my case and Karlene's are startling.

In both, our respective unions turned their backs on us (BALPA in my case). Just how bad is it when one individual like myself, and now Karlene have to make a stand, alone, to protect our passengers and crews safety from airlines who, it appears, break the law designed to protect passengers and crew safety with apparent impunity? In effect, Karlene and I have had to do the job of not only the CAA and FAA but also the unions!!. In my case, when the CAA was shown documented proof of the falsification of flight duty periods and fatigue legislation abuse, their response (I have a copy of the email) was .. 'get over it'.

The real issue, I am sad to say is, this state of affairs is 100% the pilot's fault. They have, by inaction, allowed the industry to sink to the depths it is today. Along with swallowing the blue pill, many have swallowed the industry mantra that 'safety is our number one priority''.
Many will claim, with the collapse of the aviation industry, there are bigger issues to deal with. I'm not alone in suspecting the issues exposed in Karlene's and my case will become even more prevalent with many pilots scrambling for the very few jobs that are currently available. However, I would propose, the current situation makes it the ideal time to deal with the elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about. It is also a perfect time to get rid of the deadwood that is apparent at both the unions and regulators.

I defy any rational, reasonably intelligent individual to look at the details of my and Karlene's case and not come to the conclusion that the PR safety is our number one priority''. mantra is nothing more than waffle designed to soothe the fevered brow of the gullible and uninformed. Most pilots like the idea of the uniform...the responsibility that comes with it...err not too much if it affects their salary. The red pill? that's why I made the decision to stop flying and write the book series. Blue pill and pretend to be a professional or red pill, ignorant or informed? your choice.
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