Royal Brunei
Join Date: Jan 1999
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Unless the Boeing Fleet Office has improved out of all proportion since I left it is largely responsible for line pilots flying while fatigued. Interfering with the flying roster to suit your own (and your microlight flying instructor's) personal lifestyles not only pi$$ed people off and increased fatigue unnecessarily; it meant that you lost what little respect you once had. Come back Trolley - Oh you can't can you. You are off to SIA Cargo as well.
A disgraceful state of affairs.
A disgraceful state of affairs.
Join Date: Dec 2004
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It's sad...
There has been such a sharp decline in respect and tolerance to the Fleet Office since the "micro light instructor" Joined the Team.
Come on R#####, you have the power and respect to get rid of him..Do us all a favour, he's not even a Brune!!!Put Z@@ in there, at least he won't favour the chosen few expats
There has been such a sharp decline in respect and tolerance to the Fleet Office since the "micro light instructor" Joined the Team.
Come on R#####, you have the power and respect to get rid of him..Do us all a favour, he's not even a Brune!!!Put Z@@ in there, at least he won't favour the chosen few expats
Join Date: Jan 1999
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Good idea
Anyone would be better than CC in the fleet office but I agree that Z*l would be a good choice.
Then its just a matter of getting Pinky, Perky and Platypus out of Cuddly Dudley's "I look after my cronies" training department and things might start to improve.
Or you could just do what alot of us have already done and vote with your feet. I hear that several more are about to do that very thing.
Then its just a matter of getting Pinky, Perky and Platypus out of Cuddly Dudley's "I look after my cronies" training department and things might start to improve.
Or you could just do what alot of us have already done and vote with your feet. I hear that several more are about to do that very thing.
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I find this very hard to believe but the sand pit is hearing that one of RBAs 767 aircraft had no fewer than 3 engine shutdowns in one month. Is that true? V8RBK? Diversions into KHI, BKK and back to the abode.
Join Date: Oct 1998
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Thin Albert.
In answer to your question "Why aren't Airbus Pilots resigning?"
Several reasons.
1. Some of the ex Ansett guys have got their retirement schemes sorted and are happy to have a job they enjoy and are not too upset about terms and conditions at the moment.
2. Some of the ex Ansett guys were unemployed for a couple of years and are happy to be in a secure job.
3. The rest of us have bonds to serve out - three years - for most of us that means just over 12 months to go.
4. The rest of us are new on type and have only acquired about 1000 hrs on type - not really enough to make you a particularly attractive commodity in the A 320 employment market.
5. Others have applications pending with other companies and they haven't borne fruit yet.
On a different subject altogether.......
When we first got the A 319s there was talk that RBA was going to get 2x A340 -500s that suddenly were available due to Air Canada having problems.
Then when I was on my way to DXB for sim our CEO told me (and an F.O. and a DFM - we were all there) that we were looking at
A 340 - 300s - ex EK - ex SQ I forget which.
Then when the same man came on my Flight Deck a few months ago he was full of us getting A 330s becoming A 350s.
A few days ago I was told that an F.O. had a chat with the same man and was told that once the B 757 goes we would be looking to get another 2 A 320s to operate to Ho Chi Minh.
So in accordance with our Strategic Plan we are getting
A 340 - 500s.
No sorry, I meant A 340 - 300s.
Ooops ! What I meant was A 330s.
Make that A 350s.
Disregard all previous, I meant A 320s.
Watch his space.........
All those in favour of electing Private Baldrick of Blackadder fame to the position of 'Head of Strategic Planning' say "Aye".
P.S. I have a cunning plan.
In answer to your question "Why aren't Airbus Pilots resigning?"
Several reasons.
1. Some of the ex Ansett guys have got their retirement schemes sorted and are happy to have a job they enjoy and are not too upset about terms and conditions at the moment.
2. Some of the ex Ansett guys were unemployed for a couple of years and are happy to be in a secure job.
3. The rest of us have bonds to serve out - three years - for most of us that means just over 12 months to go.
4. The rest of us are new on type and have only acquired about 1000 hrs on type - not really enough to make you a particularly attractive commodity in the A 320 employment market.
5. Others have applications pending with other companies and they haven't borne fruit yet.
On a different subject altogether.......
When we first got the A 319s there was talk that RBA was going to get 2x A340 -500s that suddenly were available due to Air Canada having problems.
Then when I was on my way to DXB for sim our CEO told me (and an F.O. and a DFM - we were all there) that we were looking at
A 340 - 300s - ex EK - ex SQ I forget which.
Then when the same man came on my Flight Deck a few months ago he was full of us getting A 330s becoming A 350s.
A few days ago I was told that an F.O. had a chat with the same man and was told that once the B 757 goes we would be looking to get another 2 A 320s to operate to Ho Chi Minh.
So in accordance with our Strategic Plan we are getting
A 340 - 500s.
No sorry, I meant A 340 - 300s.
Ooops ! What I meant was A 330s.
Make that A 350s.
Disregard all previous, I meant A 320s.
Watch his space.........
All those in favour of electing Private Baldrick of Blackadder fame to the position of 'Head of Strategic Planning' say "Aye".
P.S. I have a cunning plan.
Join Date: Jan 1999
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Is it really that bad? What about the in flight shut downs? Is that correct? Rumours are just flying out of the abode. The latest is that one of the Boeing Deputy Fleet Managers is no longer a Deputy Fleet Manager. True?
Maybe R@s%id reads Pprune.
Maybe R@s%id reads Pprune.
With all that's being written about RBA, is it now time to put it on the list of airlines to avoid flying on ? I'm sure we can think of one or two Asian carriers we wouldn't fly with, has Royal Brunei now sunk to that level.
I've travelled on RBA a few times, attracted by good ticket prices. For my next holiday should I pay a bit more and go with QF or SIA, are things really that bad ?
I've travelled on RBA a few times, attracted by good ticket prices. For my next holiday should I pay a bit more and go with QF or SIA, are things really that bad ?
Join Date: Jan 1999
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I have received confirmation that V8RBK did have 3 inflight shutdowns in a few days, 2 of them occuring in 3 sectors with the same pax on board for both shutdowns and diversions.
The flight should have been BI084 SHJ/BWN but it diverted into KHI with one shut down for an oil filter message. The engineers looked at it and released the aeroplane for further service. Despite the warning reappearing in the cruise the crew continued to BKK which was as far as they could go due flight time limitations. In BKK another crew took the aeroplane and pax on the BKK/BWN sector, only to shut the engine down again on departure from BKK and return to BKK.
Well handled by the tech crews on both occasions I understand but what will it do to the RBA ETOPS approvals?
The flight should have been BI084 SHJ/BWN but it diverted into KHI with one shut down for an oil filter message. The engineers looked at it and released the aeroplane for further service. Despite the warning reappearing in the cruise the crew continued to BKK which was as far as they could go due flight time limitations. In BKK another crew took the aeroplane and pax on the BKK/BWN sector, only to shut the engine down again on departure from BKK and return to BKK.
Well handled by the tech crews on both occasions I understand but what will it do to the RBA ETOPS approvals?
Join Date: Apr 2001
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So having shut the engine down and landed in KHI and had it cleared by an Engineer, who would not have then departed to BKK?
The next event - we don't know enough - what had been said or found in KHI - at what point in the flight to BKK did the message reappear-was it an intermittant indication?
What engineering input was there in BKK? The crew departing BKK seem to have done the right thing when the message reappeared.
Whilst acknowledging how unpleasant this must have been, every airline I've been in has at some point had a nasty reoccuring and embarrassing snag of something like this to deal with.
Theres a lot of vitriol about RBA but I know a number of good professional guys who have been there for many years and do not plan to leave.
The next event - we don't know enough - what had been said or found in KHI - at what point in the flight to BKK did the message reappear-was it an intermittant indication?
What engineering input was there in BKK? The crew departing BKK seem to have done the right thing when the message reappeared.
Whilst acknowledging how unpleasant this must have been, every airline I've been in has at some point had a nasty reoccuring and embarrassing snag of something like this to deal with.
Theres a lot of vitriol about RBA but I know a number of good professional guys who have been there for many years and do not plan to leave.
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There is no criticism of the tech crews at all. In fact I believe if you reread my last post you will see that they were complimented. I think the point that I and many others have made in the past is that RBA is totally dependent on the goodwill of its crews to keep the show on the road, yet it treats them terribly. This particular situation could have been avoided if there had been a spare aeroplane available to enable in depth engineering trouble shooting to be carried out at main base (history of high eng vib) prior to despatching on this unfortunate series of flights. But there wasn't and there never was. The engineers are rightly bitching cos they never have the airframes on the ground long enough to fix them properly, downroute maintenance are not happy at the number of "ADDs" they get lumbered with due "no time to fix" at BWN and the crews (who are less and less experienced) end up carrying more and more snags in older and older aeroplanes whilst the fleet office roster themselves for another long AKL trip, or 5 weeks summer holiday.
And, if you were a pax on the flight that had 2 eng shut downs and 2 diversions, would you fly RBA again?
And, if you were a pax on the flight that had 2 eng shut downs and 2 diversions, would you fly RBA again?
Join Date: Apr 2001
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ThinA - wasn't criticisng your post specifically or indeed trying to criticise anything - just offering another point of view - just aiming at the general anti feeling at RBA - I'm just not sure it is as bad as many say. With regard to the spare a/c idea it would be great but how many small size airlines have a spare airframe sitting around - especially wide bodies - not many I think. It would be great to be in an airline where the a/c sat on the ground for 8 hrs every night for the engineers to work on but such an animal is a rare beasty
Join Date: Aug 2000
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Metro Man,engage brain before posting.......do you forget SQs recent incident at AKL and the TPE loss of life,and QF...yeah great if you like being delivered to the golf course.So go spend that extra money then!
Thin........the troops(including your mates) are getting tired of your constant character assinations
Thin........the troops(including your mates) are getting tired of your constant character assinations
Last edited by Borneo Wild Man; 13th Jul 2005 at 23:56.
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Right Message BWM. But wrong guy. I will pass it on though. I think the person you are referring to is a bit too busy organising his own life at the moment to be particularly bothered about yours or anyone elses. You've got very keen since you passed your command course haven't you?
Are you there Bananas?
Are you there Bananas?
BMW brain is firmly in gear that's why I'm asking. Reading through this thread little good seems to be coming out. The impression is of less and less experienced crews flying more and more fatigued, in older aircraft with maintenance under strain, and under company pressure to get the job done.
Brunei DCA and the airline appear to enjoy a cosy relationship. Would things be the way they are if the airline was based in OZ or NZ ?
Is what's written in this thread just the general whinging that goes on in all companies or do you guys really have a problem ?
I've been happy with my RBA travels so far and even joined Royal Sky. Knowing what they do, would your pilots be happy to fly on Brunei if they didn't work for them or would they use other airlines ? If they're happy enough I'll continue .
Brunei DCA and the airline appear to enjoy a cosy relationship. Would things be the way they are if the airline was based in OZ or NZ ?
Is what's written in this thread just the general whinging that goes on in all companies or do you guys really have a problem ?
I've been happy with my RBA travels so far and even joined Royal Sky. Knowing what they do, would your pilots be happy to fly on Brunei if they didn't work for them or would they use other airlines ? If they're happy enough I'll continue .
Join Date: Jun 2001
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All a bit disappointing really
Where to start?
Well, TA, You have one thing right. I dont have time for a willy waving contest with BWM or anyone else. I thought people knew me well enough by now to know that if I have something to say I say it to their face or through a properly addressed and signed letter - please refer to my last post. I have warmed the seats of every office in flight ops giving my views on various matters over the past few years and couldn't add anything on Pprune to what I have already said face to face to the individuals concerned.
My views are well enough known within RBA to make anonymous postings from me on Pprune a pointless exercise and I will not be responding to any more "willy waving" jibes.
MetroMan: RBA's 767 Fleet is getting older and the airframes are carrying more snags. It would also be fair to say that we don't enjoy the same high levels of experience that were here when I joined in '96. That said, if the operation wasn't safe neither I nor any other self respecting crew member would get airborne and I am happy to be booked as pax on BI421 BWN/SIN 25/07/05.
Well, TA, You have one thing right. I dont have time for a willy waving contest with BWM or anyone else. I thought people knew me well enough by now to know that if I have something to say I say it to their face or through a properly addressed and signed letter - please refer to my last post. I have warmed the seats of every office in flight ops giving my views on various matters over the past few years and couldn't add anything on Pprune to what I have already said face to face to the individuals concerned.
My views are well enough known within RBA to make anonymous postings from me on Pprune a pointless exercise and I will not be responding to any more "willy waving" jibes.
MetroMan: RBA's 767 Fleet is getting older and the airframes are carrying more snags. It would also be fair to say that we don't enjoy the same high levels of experience that were here when I joined in '96. That said, if the operation wasn't safe neither I nor any other self respecting crew member would get airborne and I am happy to be booked as pax on BI421 BWN/SIN 25/07/05.
Last edited by BANANASBANANAS; 14th Jul 2005 at 01:43.
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Keen,yeah right!
Too busy with my new venture
BORNEO GAME FISHING
100% Strike Rate
(Hook,line,sinker-not always returned)
Bananas,sorry ol mate-please feel free to flog me!Maybe if you can wait till Im wearing the Cat Woman Outfit.
Too busy with my new venture
BORNEO GAME FISHING
100% Strike Rate
(Hook,line,sinker-not always returned)
Bananas,sorry ol mate-please feel free to flog me!Maybe if you can wait till Im wearing the Cat Woman Outfit.
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Leave-Well The Lack Of It
OK so Im not so senior, but I find that the fleet manager has summer leave. Nothing wrong with that but now it seems he has it every year. I am beginning to find that what is generally written on these pages is turning out to be an unpleasent fact.
Ever since arriving I have found a take it or leave it attitude, very disappointing.
Ever since arriving I have found a take it or leave it attitude, very disappointing.
Join Date: Oct 1998
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Thai Foon,
Our previous DFO was quite specific regarding the take it or leave it mentality.
To quote him,
"all those who disagree, please indicate so by standing up and saying "I resign""
Many years ago we used to have Flt Ops Beach BBQs down on Croc Beach ( now called Pantai Merangan) or Seven Up Beach.Pity we don't have them nowdays - they were good fun.
At one of those BBQs I was told that with regard to RBA you had to draw your own line in the sand. If or when RBA crossed that line it was time for you to leave.
For your own well being, decide now where your own line in the sand is and be prepared to leave when it is violated.
If you don't, you will just become a bitter, grumbling, miserable old man. I don't think anyone really wants that.
On a different topic, our CAA Engineering Inspector is soon on his way home. I would like to wish Mike well and all the best for the future.
Cheers
Our previous DFO was quite specific regarding the take it or leave it mentality.
To quote him,
"all those who disagree, please indicate so by standing up and saying "I resign""
Many years ago we used to have Flt Ops Beach BBQs down on Croc Beach ( now called Pantai Merangan) or Seven Up Beach.Pity we don't have them nowdays - they were good fun.
At one of those BBQs I was told that with regard to RBA you had to draw your own line in the sand. If or when RBA crossed that line it was time for you to leave.
For your own well being, decide now where your own line in the sand is and be prepared to leave when it is violated.
If you don't, you will just become a bitter, grumbling, miserable old man. I don't think anyone really wants that.
On a different topic, our CAA Engineering Inspector is soon on his way home. I would like to wish Mike well and all the best for the future.
Cheers
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The beach barbecues still happen you know Wings! Its just that they are no longer on Croc Beach, they have been moved to Auckland Beach and only the chosen few get to go.
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The CAA & RBA
The CAA Engineering Inspector has indeed played his part in Brunei and will be sadly missed. At least he is being replaced.
My fear is that the person who signed the DFM needed letter will be promoted, in which case the return of a CAA Flight Ops Inspector will be a necessity.
My fear is that the person who signed the DFM needed letter will be promoted, in which case the return of a CAA Flight Ops Inspector will be a necessity.