Brinkmanship
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Zanzi's Bar
Age: 59
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Brinkmanship
I fly for a third world airline. The company is just about staying afloat. Cost cutting is the order of the day. Expat contracts are not being renewed. I am not in the line of fire, but just behind...
But how far can we go!?
Brinkmanship is a death trap.
Since the beginning of 2008 I have been 4 times in discretion, 2 of them to the maximum allowable FDP of 18 h.
On one occasion I managed to get my flight on top of an 18 departures queue, just to make it with 3 min to spare before going criminal.
Else - 306 pax in d hotel for 14 h and a farewell letter from the Boss.
I was with a brand new F/O on a 3 sector 11h sched duty that day. After we leveled off on the last sector I felt totally sick with the stress, pressure and fatigue...
What would have happened had I gone down?!
There is no Regulator as such. They feed off the palm of the National Carrier.
So common for a developing country...
And I lost 36% of my savings over the last six months. So can't just show them the finger and bugger off.
I am stuck. Like most of us. Life sucks! Until you go down in flames
But how far can we go!?
Brinkmanship is a death trap.
Since the beginning of 2008 I have been 4 times in discretion, 2 of them to the maximum allowable FDP of 18 h.
On one occasion I managed to get my flight on top of an 18 departures queue, just to make it with 3 min to spare before going criminal.
Else - 306 pax in d hotel for 14 h and a farewell letter from the Boss.
I was with a brand new F/O on a 3 sector 11h sched duty that day. After we leveled off on the last sector I felt totally sick with the stress, pressure and fatigue...
What would have happened had I gone down?!
There is no Regulator as such. They feed off the palm of the National Carrier.
So common for a developing country...
And I lost 36% of my savings over the last six months. So can't just show them the finger and bugger off.
I am stuck. Like most of us. Life sucks! Until you go down in flames
the lunatic fringe
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Everywhere
Age: 67
Posts: 618
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
After we leveled off on the last sector I felt totally sick with the stress, pressure and fatigue...
Time to be brave.
It is time to take control of your life - we only get one shot at it so if it is making you miserable you need to change it.
Get yourself a job with a carrier that takes its pilots' welfare a bit more seriously and don't look back.
Get yourself a job with a carrier that takes its pilots' welfare a bit more seriously and don't look back.
Warning Toxic!
Disgusted of Tunbridge
Disgusted of Tunbridge
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 4,011
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
These are the hardest times I've ever known in the industry. 1973 was a walk in the park! But you need an income. What should keep you going is the promise to yourself that as soon as it becomes possible, you are so walking! But until you can walk into another job, you will happily turn up at work, and smile, and do the biz.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: lancs.UK
Age: 77
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
^^^^ commonsense!...all the posturing and chest-banging in the world , won't create a job in a shrinking market that is over-supplied with qualified staff.
I understand the frustration,when the return on your huge investment in training is not commensurately rewarded.
Fact is, a small slice of a very small cake is a damned sight better than a chance to join the queue for possible crumbs from a bigger one.
As the LoCo bashers are always complaining, there's always someone a bit hungrier than you, prepared to have a smaller slice, inferior conditions.
I understand the frustration,when the return on your huge investment in training is not commensurately rewarded.
Fact is, a small slice of a very small cake is a damned sight better than a chance to join the queue for possible crumbs from a bigger one.
As the LoCo bashers are always complaining, there's always someone a bit hungrier than you, prepared to have a smaller slice, inferior conditions.
And I lost 36% of my savings over the last six months. So can't just show them the finger and bugger off.
I am stuck. Like most of us. Life sucks! Until you go down in flames
I am stuck. Like most of us. Life sucks! Until you go down in flames
It's a strange thing in life but when you walk away from a bad situation all sorts of other doors will open which you had never even thought of. Nature abhors a vacuum!
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: US
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Agreed. Your greatest asset is your health.
Maybe it is time to name and shame the outfit you are working for.
Always remember you have a responsibility to your passengers and crew to carry out the job with safety up most in your mind.
If it is the country I am thinking you are referring, then it will be futile whistle blowing to the authorities.
Maybe it is time to name and shame the outfit you are working for.
Always remember you have a responsibility to your passengers and crew to carry out the job with safety up most in your mind.
If it is the country I am thinking you are referring, then it will be futile whistle blowing to the authorities.
Swish 266,
I think many of us have found ourselves in the same or a very similar situation to yourself over the years. I know it is of very little practical help to you I'm afraid, but I'm sure you are not alone & very many folk appreciate exactly what you are going through at present.
I can only reiterate what a number of other respondents to your original message have suggested.
Without wanting to sound too dramatic ,can I say, you only have one life & stess can unfortuately get you in the end. I fully appreciate your position, but there comes a time when you have to ask yourself, can I sensibly go on from here, or do I cut & run & accept the consequences, loss of salary & possibly career?
One post on here suggested, that you might continue on as best you can even for a short time, but as soon as you are in a position to get out, you are on your way. Also if you really must continue at present, set yourself a time limit, eg if things are still the same in six months, I am definitely going come what may. You may find by setting yourself some form of time limit or goal, you have something to look forward to.
I don't know if you are in BALPA & I appreciate you are working outside the UK, but would some contact with one of their Pilot Counsellors be worth a try.
However at some stage you may very well have to ask yourself, is it worth me carrying on, or do I take a completey different track?
Very best of luck & I hope things do work out for you.
I think many of us have found ourselves in the same or a very similar situation to yourself over the years. I know it is of very little practical help to you I'm afraid, but I'm sure you are not alone & very many folk appreciate exactly what you are going through at present.
I can only reiterate what a number of other respondents to your original message have suggested.
Without wanting to sound too dramatic ,can I say, you only have one life & stess can unfortuately get you in the end. I fully appreciate your position, but there comes a time when you have to ask yourself, can I sensibly go on from here, or do I cut & run & accept the consequences, loss of salary & possibly career?
One post on here suggested, that you might continue on as best you can even for a short time, but as soon as you are in a position to get out, you are on your way. Also if you really must continue at present, set yourself a time limit, eg if things are still the same in six months, I am definitely going come what may. You may find by setting yourself some form of time limit or goal, you have something to look forward to.
I don't know if you are in BALPA & I appreciate you are working outside the UK, but would some contact with one of their Pilot Counsellors be worth a try.
However at some stage you may very well have to ask yourself, is it worth me carrying on, or do I take a completey different track?
Very best of luck & I hope things do work out for you.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Zanzi's Bar
Age: 59
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It makes such a difference!
Guys!
Thank you so much!
It made my heart glow to have all these positive replies!
I understand that our industry is one of the worst affected as a result of the economic meltdown.
But still, we must fight bean counters and management for whatever few benefits we have left.
Discretion is about being brave to put safety above all.
Unfortunately it is so difficult to be brave when any job is a good job and I have 2 big boys to put through university...
I was just wondering what can be done about this BRINKMANSHIP mode of operation, that I am sure is not common only to my company. In a recent exchange of fire with the local press, Management said that they successfully passed the IATA safety audit for a second time.
But surely there must be a way to bring attention to the fact that the workforce is being blackmailed and pushed over the limit!
Thank you so much!
It made my heart glow to have all these positive replies!
I understand that our industry is one of the worst affected as a result of the economic meltdown.
But still, we must fight bean counters and management for whatever few benefits we have left.
Discretion is about being brave to put safety above all.
Unfortunately it is so difficult to be brave when any job is a good job and I have 2 big boys to put through university...
I was just wondering what can be done about this BRINKMANSHIP mode of operation, that I am sure is not common only to my company. In a recent exchange of fire with the local press, Management said that they successfully passed the IATA safety audit for a second time.
But surely there must be a way to bring attention to the fact that the workforce is being blackmailed and pushed over the limit!
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
First: Health and Wealth are simply not in the same league. There are billions of human beings short of cash and still enjoying life - but if you ruin your health, a pension pot the size of Fred Goodwin's will not compensate.
Second: If you engage in brinkmanship how does it look to everyone else? Inevitably they will say: Well, he pushes to the limit therefore I must do the same.
As one of the great Old-Timers used to say: This can only end in tears.
Second: If you engage in brinkmanship how does it look to everyone else? Inevitably they will say: Well, he pushes to the limit therefore I must do the same.
As one of the great Old-Timers used to say: This can only end in tears.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: lancs.UK
Age: 77
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Unfortunately it is so difficult to be brave when any job is a good job and I have 2 big boys to put through university...
Those "big boys" should have been prepared by their parents TO STAND ON THEIR OWN TWO FEET....failure to teach them how to be independent, self-supporting adults, is poor parenting.
my graduate daughter thanked me for that, when she watched her "freshman" peers frittering their grant-money, shopping expensively,unable to cook, do basic housekeeping. etc......she supported herself,ran a modest car, did a Doctorate, had a job before she graduated.
At her graduation ceremony, one of her peers was still "trying" to find a job and he and his "supportive " parents were stunned to learn that Daughter had earned over £40 k in the interim and paid off all overdrafts and expensive loans.
Teach your kids how to survive in the "real" world.....spoonfeeding them and wiping their ass just undermines them....yes, I know you want the best for them but sometimes we're misguided as to "best"
So, just set your own stall out, hey? As others have advised..look round, plan an exit-strategy or a carreer change (I've had 5 major changes of direction)
maybe go self-employed.....if you're dead, you can't spend it!
