easyJet Employing Contract Captains in Summer 2010
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How many oxford students will take up this offer assuming they already owe money and perhaps no promise of hours from EZY via PARC for a regular income.
Surely the banks will pull the plug on financing training for a 20K starting salary in some of the airlines and perhaps it will kill some of the pay to fly / self employed schemes.
Hope BALPA do something and support the low hour'd and less experienced members like myself
Surely the banks will pull the plug on financing training for a 20K starting salary in some of the airlines and perhaps it will kill some of the pay to fly / self employed schemes.
Hope BALPA do something and support the low hour'd and less experienced members like myself
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flapsfullretard - I am here! The answer is that our CC are facing 6 battles on 6 fronts and are doing magnificently despite the concerted efforts of our management team to bring the company to ruin and destroy our pilots' careers! We ahve just received notification via BALPA of the company's intention to suspend disruption payments due the weather crisis. The sad thing is that the weather crisis is only part of the problem. We have had a breakdown in command and control from the top to the bottom. At last, today Andy Harrison wrote to us all to say what a fine bunch of chaps we were, albeit neglecting to mention he was suspending our disruption payments!
I am not sure what to make of the contract captain report. There is no doubt that at a very senior level it was discussed and a conversation took place between a line captain and very senior management pilot indicating it was on the cards. It appears PS and his mates are backing away from it, but that does not mean it was not planned. Not really sure to be honest on that one. What I can tell you that it is about the quickest way to ensure a total strike in very short order, but past experience says that our managers do not learn from experience so we will have to wait and see.
What I can tell you is that in 6 years at easyJet I have never known an atmosphere like this. There is an overwhelming feeling among the pilots that we are in the hands of utterly untrustworthy and unreasonable people who are hell-bent on destroying the power of the pilots. Led by our nameless Flt Ops Director, who no one really ever hears from, they seem intent on having an all out conflict. They are well on the way to achieving that as they are about to discover. Their treatment of pilots and cabin crew alike has been outrageous this last year and the chickens are coming home to roost. The cabin crew boss (who has just received a £200K+ bonus by the way) is back-peddling in a big way. She is having to offer permanent contracts to all the crew because, strangely enough, they hate being treated like dirt and are leaving in their droves. Consequently we are having to sub-in Monarch to run our flying programme as we do not have sufficient cabin crew. If ever you needed proof about the commercial foolishness of mistreating your staff, this is it. We have run out of captains at Gatwick today, yet we were able to demote 10 of them a couple of months ago because they were 'not needed' for the winter programme! No doubt that decision earnt someone a few quid, only to lose the company hundreds of thousands 2 months later. We are in the hands of short-termists who are so intent on saving a fiver that they then go onto lose fifty grand in doing so. When this current debacle is over, I fully expect to see heads on poles and it cannot happen too soon.
Although we are facing the darkest times I have known in my time at easyJet, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I believe there is going to be a clearout, and it will be good news for everyone. Like most dictatorships, the direction of flight ops is determined by one or two zealots at a top and a bunch of adoring acolytes who lack the moral fortitude to disagree with the insane decisions that are being made. It would come as no surprise to me to find that the top people there are gone very soon as they have been weighed in the balance and found wanting in spectacular fashion these last few days. Our Flt Ops director has not sent a single message of any kind to anyone (is he on leave or, indeed, is he still alive?) whilst presiding over a catastrophe. No one could pick him out in an ID parade, no one outside of Luton ever hears from him and no one has one ounce of respect for him. He has come to represent to the pilots everything that is bad at easyJet. He literally never communicates with his staff (in 3 years or whatever it is he has been here, he has maybe sent 2 e-mails that I can recall). I still believe that Andy Harrison is sufficiently switched-on to know the complete breakdown with his people that is unfolding before his eyes, and will act soon to rid himself of the people who are bringing the whole ship down.
It is not all bad, but we do have some serious issues to resolve. My past observations of easyJet tell me that once the initial disaster has been sorted, questions will be asked and we will sort this out. I certainly hope so.
I am not sure what to make of the contract captain report. There is no doubt that at a very senior level it was discussed and a conversation took place between a line captain and very senior management pilot indicating it was on the cards. It appears PS and his mates are backing away from it, but that does not mean it was not planned. Not really sure to be honest on that one. What I can tell you that it is about the quickest way to ensure a total strike in very short order, but past experience says that our managers do not learn from experience so we will have to wait and see.
What I can tell you is that in 6 years at easyJet I have never known an atmosphere like this. There is an overwhelming feeling among the pilots that we are in the hands of utterly untrustworthy and unreasonable people who are hell-bent on destroying the power of the pilots. Led by our nameless Flt Ops Director, who no one really ever hears from, they seem intent on having an all out conflict. They are well on the way to achieving that as they are about to discover. Their treatment of pilots and cabin crew alike has been outrageous this last year and the chickens are coming home to roost. The cabin crew boss (who has just received a £200K+ bonus by the way) is back-peddling in a big way. She is having to offer permanent contracts to all the crew because, strangely enough, they hate being treated like dirt and are leaving in their droves. Consequently we are having to sub-in Monarch to run our flying programme as we do not have sufficient cabin crew. If ever you needed proof about the commercial foolishness of mistreating your staff, this is it. We have run out of captains at Gatwick today, yet we were able to demote 10 of them a couple of months ago because they were 'not needed' for the winter programme! No doubt that decision earnt someone a few quid, only to lose the company hundreds of thousands 2 months later. We are in the hands of short-termists who are so intent on saving a fiver that they then go onto lose fifty grand in doing so. When this current debacle is over, I fully expect to see heads on poles and it cannot happen too soon.
Although we are facing the darkest times I have known in my time at easyJet, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I believe there is going to be a clearout, and it will be good news for everyone. Like most dictatorships, the direction of flight ops is determined by one or two zealots at a top and a bunch of adoring acolytes who lack the moral fortitude to disagree with the insane decisions that are being made. It would come as no surprise to me to find that the top people there are gone very soon as they have been weighed in the balance and found wanting in spectacular fashion these last few days. Our Flt Ops director has not sent a single message of any kind to anyone (is he on leave or, indeed, is he still alive?) whilst presiding over a catastrophe. No one could pick him out in an ID parade, no one outside of Luton ever hears from him and no one has one ounce of respect for him. He has come to represent to the pilots everything that is bad at easyJet. He literally never communicates with his staff (in 3 years or whatever it is he has been here, he has maybe sent 2 e-mails that I can recall). I still believe that Andy Harrison is sufficiently switched-on to know the complete breakdown with his people that is unfolding before his eyes, and will act soon to rid himself of the people who are bringing the whole ship down.
It is not all bad, but we do have some serious issues to resolve. My past observations of easyJet tell me that once the initial disaster has been sorted, questions will be asked and we will sort this out. I certainly hope so.
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I still believe that Andy Harrison is sufficiently switched-on to know the complete breakdown with his people that is unfolding before his eyes, and will act soon to rid himself of the people who are bringing the whole ship down.
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You folks at LCC's in Europe are screwed/blued/tatooed, in reality.
Whether you have a pilots 'union'...or not.
With cross border employment now a distinct reality, EASA combining regulatory authorities/pilot licensing, the door is clearly firmly open to cheaper FD labor.
Like it or lump it.
Management calls the tune, others follow.
BALPA can do absolutely nothing about it, either....except huff & puff a little.
Whether you have a pilots 'union'...or not.
With cross border employment now a distinct reality, EASA combining regulatory authorities/pilot licensing, the door is clearly firmly open to cheaper FD labor.
Like it or lump it.
Management calls the tune, others follow.
BALPA can do absolutely nothing about it, either....except huff & puff a little.
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Ah, 411a. I was going to give a reasoned response but, why bother so here it is: F*ck you you Texan Git. Stay in your misery-ridden hooch and bleat away on a US forum and leave Europe to itself you moronic, one-themed tw*t. Seasons greetings and all.
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NSF
Even as an outsider -valid comments. I feel the bonus culture is causing a lot of problems in many uk airlines we seem more than ever before to miss the point and targets become the be and end all of decisions.
Even as an outsider -valid comments. I feel the bonus culture is causing a lot of problems in many uk airlines we seem more than ever before to miss the point and targets become the be and end all of decisions.
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According to 411A the best thing to do would buy a L1011 type rating and demand what salary you get!
This is one serial pprune poster who doesn't fly.
Back to reality and 411A to my ignore list
This is one serial pprune poster who doesn't fly.
Back to reality and 411A to my ignore list
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Texas Hold 'em and Farty Fred in the hole.
I must apologise for ShortFinalFred, 411A, or Flatulence Fred as I like to call him. He's a proselytiser for our version of the airborne Teamster admiration society; you know the sort, all moustache, RAF accent, general cluelessness, that type of thing. Funny, in a sad way, when viewed from a distance.
He's often tedious, frequently deceptive, occasionally fond of barefaced lies, but is rarely so unrestrainedly rude as he has been to you. Please accept my apologies on his behalf. I can only imagine that, as an Aer Lingus pilot recently in receipt of his pink slip, he's feeling rather more grumpy than usual. Seems he's won a while in solitary for his troubles too.
I agree with you about the prospect of FD labor (sic) having an interesting future, but you'd do well to realise that avoidance of the dreaded SHIG focuses the attention of LCC management on our side of the pond, even those with frustrated, resigned CEO's like Easyjet, in ways that will prevent your prediction coming true, thanks be to God. As I'm sure a man of your experience will appreciate, a nexus in the collective mind of the LCC customer between low cost and low cockpit quality, must be prevented, no matter what the costs.
Ergo, here at my particular employer at least, we're possessed of the apparently old fashioned view, that pilots need to be of the highest quality. Its all about threat tolerability matrices, old boy. Can't speak for the Brady Bunch, but I'm sure Norman is more than capable of filling in the gaps for you.
All the very best for the New Year, old boy. You cause me to frequently smile.
Leo.
He's often tedious, frequently deceptive, occasionally fond of barefaced lies, but is rarely so unrestrainedly rude as he has been to you. Please accept my apologies on his behalf. I can only imagine that, as an Aer Lingus pilot recently in receipt of his pink slip, he's feeling rather more grumpy than usual. Seems he's won a while in solitary for his troubles too.
I agree with you about the prospect of FD labor (sic) having an interesting future, but you'd do well to realise that avoidance of the dreaded SHIG focuses the attention of LCC management on our side of the pond, even those with frustrated, resigned CEO's like Easyjet, in ways that will prevent your prediction coming true, thanks be to God. As I'm sure a man of your experience will appreciate, a nexus in the collective mind of the LCC customer between low cost and low cockpit quality, must be prevented, no matter what the costs.
Ergo, here at my particular employer at least, we're possessed of the apparently old fashioned view, that pilots need to be of the highest quality. Its all about threat tolerability matrices, old boy. Can't speak for the Brady Bunch, but I'm sure Norman is more than capable of filling in the gaps for you.
All the very best for the New Year, old boy. You cause me to frequently smile.
Leo.
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How can anyone even think BALPA has no power ? How can anyone imagine striking would have no effects on the trend of decisions made ??? Of course it would ! How do you think workers in Europe and the western world acquired their status ? Does anybody here read history books now and then ?
Industrial action. Period. BALPA, have an action set up and you'll witness a great deal of humility from some on the management side.
Don't fear to protect your T&Cs. This pilot job is very demanding. Eventhough it is despised by several poorly grown directors. But then they have no idea what they're talking about. I used to be a director myself. That really is no big deal. I have met with many dumb directors who were there just because they had the right networks. Being a director takes nothing more than flying an airplane, and probably much less. Believe me ! I've seen directors making so much more money than you all for so much less skills.
While some directors (who make outrageous amounts of money for doing nothing outstanding) dream to have you on **** money, you must not feel your job takes less competence than theirs. Everybody here must fight for conditions even if it means crossing a bit of money out of the "take home" in the short run.
Do you people realise what portion of the cost structure our incomes represent, hence a portion of our incomes ? Having pilots 10%, 20% or even 50% paid less would only yield marginally cheaper tickets. This LCC policy has gone too far and it makes no sense anymore.
Not to mention the bleeding of pilots workforce once business kicks back in. What do they think ? Do they believe pilots will forget about the way they've been treated in harsh times ? Pilots will be leaving for greener pastures on the first opportunity, even if they're bonded for many of them. Pilots have always wanted to make more money and always will. Easyjet will then have to produce so much efforts to catch up on the draining workforce this will erase several times the laughable costs cuts made before. Many airlines will thank EZ for taking care of their new pilots during the economic crisis. Now that's a strategy : having a grab on competitors' pilots, cheap to train and expensive for the competitor to replace.
Anyway, fear nothing. Aim at the longer run. Have no hang-ups. Take no bargains for your job is very special. So are your skills. Bind management to have those cadets hired on a fair deal. A finance graduate will make good money and surely would never sign up for such crap contracts.
Be proud !
Industrial action. Period. BALPA, have an action set up and you'll witness a great deal of humility from some on the management side.
Don't fear to protect your T&Cs. This pilot job is very demanding. Eventhough it is despised by several poorly grown directors. But then they have no idea what they're talking about. I used to be a director myself. That really is no big deal. I have met with many dumb directors who were there just because they had the right networks. Being a director takes nothing more than flying an airplane, and probably much less. Believe me ! I've seen directors making so much more money than you all for so much less skills.
While some directors (who make outrageous amounts of money for doing nothing outstanding) dream to have you on **** money, you must not feel your job takes less competence than theirs. Everybody here must fight for conditions even if it means crossing a bit of money out of the "take home" in the short run.
Do you people realise what portion of the cost structure our incomes represent, hence a portion of our incomes ? Having pilots 10%, 20% or even 50% paid less would only yield marginally cheaper tickets. This LCC policy has gone too far and it makes no sense anymore.
Not to mention the bleeding of pilots workforce once business kicks back in. What do they think ? Do they believe pilots will forget about the way they've been treated in harsh times ? Pilots will be leaving for greener pastures on the first opportunity, even if they're bonded for many of them. Pilots have always wanted to make more money and always will. Easyjet will then have to produce so much efforts to catch up on the draining workforce this will erase several times the laughable costs cuts made before. Many airlines will thank EZ for taking care of their new pilots during the economic crisis. Now that's a strategy : having a grab on competitors' pilots, cheap to train and expensive for the competitor to replace.
Anyway, fear nothing. Aim at the longer run. Have no hang-ups. Take no bargains for your job is very special. So are your skills. Bind management to have those cadets hired on a fair deal. A finance graduate will make good money and surely would never sign up for such crap contracts.
Be proud !
