Air Atlanta Icelandic
Join Date: Feb 2004
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You are not THAT fat 
Just don't stop smoking. The tightening the belts, yes, I guess it must be done to an extent. How this is done is another matter.
Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant!
Just don't stop smoking. The tightening the belts, yes, I guess it must be done to an extent. How this is done is another matter.Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Jakarta
Age: 71
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I love that site !Amicule, deliciae, num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
I may HAVE to quit smoking at this rate !
Animadvertistine, ubicumque stes, fumum recta in faciem ferri?
BTW - Thanks for having a "butt" with me on that flight with Robbo ! That was priceless !
Last edited by Kato747; 20th Dec 2008 at 10:04.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Hey guys & gals, you're not alone. We expats at the established carriers are getting our heads dragged through the mud too. The feast is over. Now it's famine time again. And without a strong, organized pilots association that could stop the wheels from turning, the cut throat managers will squeeze you dry; and the more you bend over, the more you get screwed. It's like that everywhere in a non union envirnonment. 
Good luck to all of you.
Good luck to all of you.
Join Date: Nov 2004
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FLASH MESSAGE from Direct Personnel -
AAI world-wide contract as of 1 Feb 09 will be offered to "SELECT" ex-pats at a flat 10% pay-cut, including 10% cut in perdiems from $50/day to $45/day. My buds with Airborne have not commented (maybe not yet notified).
No word as to when all the guys on unpaid leave will be called back to work. Still, I can't fathom the reason for "anyone" to sign an INTERIM contract - just to keep for your place in the queue - while on unpaid leave. Hmmmm - "Do I have a contract.... or a job .... or a promise.......?"
One consolation is that AAI management and office staff in Iceland have also gratiously accepted an "interim" 10% cut as well......let me cogitate that one for a moment.
Nope.... still sounds like the ex-pat contractors are getting rooted without the post-coital "Kiss".
FIA (aka FFF) still NOT happy with results .... but are much safer from the Icelandic tax man, now that their immediate nuclear families have all departed to the out-bases. I guess you can't tax someone you can't get back into the country to put in jail.
Well done, Boge! a veritable coup ! (Is Helgi even talking to you these days?)
AAI world-wide contract as of 1 Feb 09 will be offered to "SELECT" ex-pats at a flat 10% pay-cut, including 10% cut in perdiems from $50/day to $45/day. My buds with Airborne have not commented (maybe not yet notified).
No word as to when all the guys on unpaid leave will be called back to work. Still, I can't fathom the reason for "anyone" to sign an INTERIM contract - just to keep for your place in the queue - while on unpaid leave. Hmmmm - "Do I have a contract.... or a job .... or a promise.......?"
One consolation is that AAI management and office staff in Iceland have also gratiously accepted an "interim" 10% cut as well......let me cogitate that one for a moment.
Nope.... still sounds like the ex-pat contractors are getting rooted without the post-coital "Kiss".
FIA (aka FFF) still NOT happy with results .... but are much safer from the Icelandic tax man, now that their immediate nuclear families have all departed to the out-bases. I guess you can't tax someone you can't get back into the country to put in jail.
Well done, Boge! a veritable coup ! (Is Helgi even talking to you these days?)
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: UK & points middle east
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Just saw an interesting thread on Terms & Endearment regarding an EU Commission studying Rules for Pilots within the EU.
Need some help from an EU Legal Eagle, here....
Q1: As Iceland is NOT a member state of the EU, but AAI wholly owns the crewing agency Airborne Personnel HQd in Guernsey. Would this commission be interested in hearing from ex-AAI ex-pats recently shafted. Guernsey is also not a MEMBER, but has a 'special relationship'. WTF does THAT mean?
Q2: If you are contracted by a wholly owned subsidiary of an Icelandic Company, but your crew agency HQs are in the Channel Islands..... is your contract worth ANYTHING?
Need some help from an EU Legal Eagle, here....
Q1: As Iceland is NOT a member state of the EU, but AAI wholly owns the crewing agency Airborne Personnel HQd in Guernsey. Would this commission be interested in hearing from ex-AAI ex-pats recently shafted. Guernsey is also not a MEMBER, but has a 'special relationship'. WTF does THAT mean?
Q2: If you are contracted by a wholly owned subsidiary of an Icelandic Company, but your crew agency HQs are in the Channel Islands..... is your contract worth ANYTHING?
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Paladini
FYI Guernsey is NOT in EU and has no employment laws whatsoever, not even a maternity/paternity policy for example as the place is not in EU, many other rights are not avail in this island, this place is just seen as a flag of convenience and tax dodge haven by some people it seems.
FYI Guernsey is NOT in EU and has no employment laws whatsoever, not even a maternity/paternity policy for example as the place is not in EU, many other rights are not avail in this island, this place is just seen as a flag of convenience and tax dodge haven by some people it seems.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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The "contract" is not worth the paper it's written on.
There is no Chief pilot to try and look after your interests, apart from his own of course. Need someone that knows right from wrong and act accordingly, as a Chief Pilot IMHO is there to help look after the interests of his pilots and not a management cronie.
Most of the contract crews at AA are being screwed. Most of the ex contractors at AA have been screwed. This sad state of affairs will continue as most crew members only think of themselves and will not stand together. From what I can see, the opportunity was there for the taking in the not too distant past to take some form of action over T & C's but it never really materialised did it? Too late now though I am afraid. Guess it is easy from this angle to say people are selling their souls to the system, as most of us need employment of some description.
There are some exceptions to the above. There was one person who drew 12 months salary (such as it was) and never did any work for AA and freelanced for another company. Hid in the system (chaos), submitted his/her invoice every month....
Good luck guys as I think you are going to need it.Don't throw that jar of vaseline away just yet
There is no Chief pilot to try and look after your interests, apart from his own of course. Need someone that knows right from wrong and act accordingly, as a Chief Pilot IMHO is there to help look after the interests of his pilots and not a management cronie.
Most of the contract crews at AA are being screwed. Most of the ex contractors at AA have been screwed. This sad state of affairs will continue as most crew members only think of themselves and will not stand together. From what I can see, the opportunity was there for the taking in the not too distant past to take some form of action over T & C's but it never really materialised did it? Too late now though I am afraid. Guess it is easy from this angle to say people are selling their souls to the system, as most of us need employment of some description.
There are some exceptions to the above. There was one person who drew 12 months salary (such as it was) and never did any work for AA and freelanced for another company. Hid in the system (chaos), submitted his/her invoice every month....
Good luck guys as I think you are going to need it.Don't throw that jar of vaseline away just yet
Join Date: Feb 2005
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The point to remember here is that although Airborne is registered in Guernsey,its office is in the UK. All contracts are dispatched from there and all coms. are with this office.
I am taking legal action at this time against Airborne and AAI for unfair dismissal and I have been assured by my lawyers that the British legal system covers UK and the Channel Islands so they have accepted my case on a no win no fee basis and are confident of a resounding victory.
I am suing them for unfair dismissal over the incident where an Icelandic mechanic placed a wheel chock in the intake of #4 eng to prevent windmilling during servicing and forgot to remove it. There was no entry in the Tech Log nor was there any warning flag to indicate the presence of the chock which was not visible from the ground during pre-flight due to the height of #4 eng above grond.
The next day we started the eng with resulting damage. There was no enquiry or investigation of the incident, and as the mechanic was a union member the Captain and Flight Engineer where terminated immediately as contractors.
Since then the Chief Pilot, the Maintenance Dept and Flight Safety dept have said that the crew were not to blame and shoud be reinstated but the co-owner refuses to do so.
I am taking legal action at this time against Airborne and AAI for unfair dismissal and I have been assured by my lawyers that the British legal system covers UK and the Channel Islands so they have accepted my case on a no win no fee basis and are confident of a resounding victory.
I am suing them for unfair dismissal over the incident where an Icelandic mechanic placed a wheel chock in the intake of #4 eng to prevent windmilling during servicing and forgot to remove it. There was no entry in the Tech Log nor was there any warning flag to indicate the presence of the chock which was not visible from the ground during pre-flight due to the height of #4 eng above grond.
The next day we started the eng with resulting damage. There was no enquiry or investigation of the incident, and as the mechanic was a union member the Captain and Flight Engineer where terminated immediately as contractors.
Since then the Chief Pilot, the Maintenance Dept and Flight Safety dept have said that the crew were not to blame and shoud be reinstated but the co-owner refuses to do so.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Hi Nippon1
Oh dear, there but for the grace of God go some of us. Good luck with your battle. If I may enquire, who signed the preflight inspection on the flight in question, presuming you were embarking on an attempt to get airborne?
Stand corrected on the contract. Never thought it was worth anything and still don't.
Rgds JLT
Oh dear, there but for the grace of God go some of us. Good luck with your battle. If I may enquire, who signed the preflight inspection on the flight in question, presuming you were embarking on an attempt to get airborne?
Stand corrected on the contract. Never thought it was worth anything and still don't.
Rgds JLT
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Just looking TKS
It is impossible to see into the exhaust of CF6 engine from the ground without having a ladder of some sort. Also it is extremely difficult to see anything put in the front of the fan and resting at the bottom of the intake. During the day time perhaps but night time very very hard.
I would be more inclined to ask the question as to the use of a wheel chock in the first place? An approved tool for the task that was performed? How does a wheel chock fit in the tool count? Remember all tools should be counted when starting to perform maintenance and then counted again to make sure that no equipment is left in the aircraft causing such incidents.
Apparently it was the Ice-engineers assistant who left the chock in the engine and the failure of the engineer to make sure that all work was properly completed and all tools accounted for.
It is impossible to see into the exhaust of CF6 engine from the ground without having a ladder of some sort. Also it is extremely difficult to see anything put in the front of the fan and resting at the bottom of the intake. During the day time perhaps but night time very very hard.
I would be more inclined to ask the question as to the use of a wheel chock in the first place? An approved tool for the task that was performed? How does a wheel chock fit in the tool count? Remember all tools should be counted when starting to perform maintenance and then counted again to make sure that no equipment is left in the aircraft causing such incidents.
Apparently it was the Ice-engineers assistant who left the chock in the engine and the failure of the engineer to make sure that all work was properly completed and all tools accounted for.
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Atlanta-Driver
Fair enough and point taken. It was just the first question that came to mind.
Hats off to the lawyer taking the case, on a no win no fee basis, as it is disgusting behaviour, even for a company that is morally bankrupt.
Don't worry guys/gals, every dog has it's day and what goes around comes around.
Fair enough and point taken. It was just the first question that came to mind.
Hats off to the lawyer taking the case, on a no win no fee basis, as it is disgusting behaviour, even for a company that is morally bankrupt.
Don't worry guys/gals, every dog has it's day and what goes around comes around.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Just looking TKs
It was the Ice mech who signed .....the sameone who placed the chock...he was present when we pushed back and witnessed the start up of the #4eng....whilst starting #3 he ran out onto the pan trying to stop the start, and when we shut down he immediately held his hand up and said he was responsible.....incidently all indications on the flight deck were completely normal nor was there any vibration felt at any time. The idea of using a chock was totally non standard and a similar incident happened a few years ago....so they never learn.
It was the Ice mech who signed .....the sameone who placed the chock...he was present when we pushed back and witnessed the start up of the #4eng....whilst starting #3 he ran out onto the pan trying to stop the start, and when we shut down he immediately held his hand up and said he was responsible.....incidently all indications on the flight deck were completely normal nor was there any vibration felt at any time. The idea of using a chock was totally non standard and a similar incident happened a few years ago....so they never learn.
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Dear Atlanta Driver, Joebananastreet and 18-Wheeler,
Just for the record would you please clarify who in JED OPS you class as **** heads??
18-Wheeler i thought whilst you were in JED earlier this year that you were a true gentlemen, i am sympathetic to all crew but you are not the only ones being shaffted.
The majority of us in ops are in the same boat contract wise as you guys are, AAI has taken a perfect opportunity to get rid of some moaning old dead wood in the company and its better for it if you ask me. Its just a shame that some of the best crew you could find in any airline have also been sent on unpaid leave to balance some numbers and to save some of the Rock crew.
As someone has said before if you don't like it and don't like the way things are done go somewhere else to moan!! sorry i mean work....
Nippon1 you are one of the best and a big misjustice was done to you and the PIC, i wish you all the best with your court case and i hope you get some kind of justice from it because if anyone deserves better you do.
Safe flying and happy moaning.
Just for the record would you please clarify who in JED OPS you class as **** heads??
18-Wheeler i thought whilst you were in JED earlier this year that you were a true gentlemen, i am sympathetic to all crew but you are not the only ones being shaffted.
The majority of us in ops are in the same boat contract wise as you guys are, AAI has taken a perfect opportunity to get rid of some moaning old dead wood in the company and its better for it if you ask me. Its just a shame that some of the best crew you could find in any airline have also been sent on unpaid leave to balance some numbers and to save some of the Rock crew.
As someone has said before if you don't like it and don't like the way things are done go somewhere else to moan!! sorry i mean work....
Nippon1 you are one of the best and a big misjustice was done to you and the PIC, i wish you all the best with your court case and i hope you get some kind of justice from it because if anyone deserves better you do.
Safe flying and happy moaning.
It wasn't me in Jeddah last year sorry mate - I quit AAI in late 2007 and spent the last few months with the company in KL.
I had very few problems with people face-to-face, only occasionally those some distance away who did not have the full picture.
However I could see even in late 2007 that the company was heading downhill rapidly and it was time to leave while I had control over it. I spent a few months with Qantas, training to be an A330 sim instructor but I could see that job was not for me and so at the moment I am flying small Metroliner turboprops on night freight out of Brisbane. A bit of a come-down but I am needed at home to look after things and it's working out very well in that regard.
I miss working with so many people in AAI, it was a great experience.
I had very few problems with people face-to-face, only occasionally those some distance away who did not have the full picture.
However I could see even in late 2007 that the company was heading downhill rapidly and it was time to leave while I had control over it. I spent a few months with Qantas, training to be an A330 sim instructor but I could see that job was not for me and so at the moment I am flying small Metroliner turboprops on night freight out of Brisbane. A bit of a come-down but I am needed at home to look after things and it's working out very well in that regard.
I miss working with so many people in AAI, it was a great experience.