Originally Posted by
rickair7777
This question brings up an excellent topic, which is especially applicable to mesa: Self Disclosure!
The concept behind self-disclosure is that when an FAR is violated in 121, the operator and any licensed individuals involved (pilots, dispatchers, mechanics) are jointly liable. The company will get a large fine ($10K for small violations) and the license holders will get suspended or revoked.
Now the FAA clearly understands that essentially all violations are really the fault of the conniving and unethical labor types, and that the honest, upstanding, and law abiding company and managers tried their hardest to prevent any and all violations. Occasionally even the company's great efforts cannot stem the tied of employee malfeasance, and a violation occurs. Since the FAA knows it wasn't really the company's fault, and they don't really want the company to have to pay a fine they allow them a way out: Self Disclosure.
The way this works is that if the company becomes aware of a violation committed by one of their employees, they must RUN (not walk) to the nearest phone and contact the POI...before he finds out about it on his own. If they fullfill their snitch duties, then the company is off the hook for the fine!
Here's one "hypothetical" example of how this works at mesa...the company needs to cover a flight badly (their performance numbers are poor, they need to catch up by month end, and they just can't afford to CANX). Unfortunately, they are out of reserves who are legal for the flight. Crew tracking hand-picks a really new, unexperienced, and not-too-bright reserve FO. They call this fellow up and tell him he has a trip that REALLY needs to get covered. If he bites, fine. If he balks due to duty limits, they will make up some BS about the computer showing he's legal or something like that. Our hero accepts the trip, and violates FAR's. Meanwhile back at the ranch....
- This whole deal was arranged by the manager of CT
- It was executed by a junior crew tracker, using a cell phone (instead of the landlines which are recorded)
- They did NOT enter the FO's trip in the computer...because the computer would flag it red for everybody to see.
- Once the flight completes, THEN they enter the trip, it get's flagged, and the CT manager contacts the CP, who self discloses to the POI.
- The company comes away clean, looking good, with no fine.
- The CT manager has plausible deniability, and saved the performance numbers (and his bonus).
- The junior crew tracker doesn't have a license anyway, so the FAA can't do anything to her.
- The FO gets a letter of investigation from the FAA after ten or more days...naturally the company didn't give him a heads up that they threw him under the bus, and the fed naturally ran out the clock on a nasa form (which probably wouldn't have helped anyway).
This is why you have to track your own flight and duty times...especially at the lower-tier companies. I have a good buddy who got self-disclosed, violated, and fired.
Alright, I know many of you read this and said No Way! they would do that...Knowingly...Believe it. The violations get a lot simpler than this one though. Keep in mind that the street CA's only work on the T-props and likely do a lot of RSV work, which means they aren't familiar with the route and also likely have a 250 hour pilot to back them up. (Mesa got in enough trouble they had to raise the green on green to 150 in type). Here are a few that I remember
- It's cold and dark, F.O. does very fast poor walk around and misses something. CA goes down with ship.
- F.O. misses some required placards in the cabin...(Stop shaking your head this really happened and yes the crew got violated)
-15 minute turn on green RSV crew in DFW. Departure not correctly understood or entered and the crew turns the wrong direction after t/o (Remeber 15 minutes is a long turn on one of these a/c)
- In the CA's haste, he is told by MX that the aircraft is ok for return to service and it is signed off. Illegally of course but they didn't want to cnx the flight. The flight goes with paying pax on board. Then lands only to have mx control calling to say oh wait we need to change that write up because actually it isn't legal. And where does that leave the CA.
Always remember that you will have 10 minutes in MOST cases to turn an airplane which includes, looking through the same length release that everyone else gets (8-10 pages at least) to find the mistakes the new dispatchers screwed up on. Get the fuel, bags (which you might help throw), pax on the a/c and briefed, weight and balance done, and many times they will even throw in an a/c swap so you can include preflighting and looking at the books in there too. Now how much time was left to become familiar with that flight plan.
Just don't get out of the gate 1 minute late because then you have to write a email to the regional chief pilot!
So if a couple of you with your 1500 hours that think I am a high time pilot I can handle anything want a stab at that. Go right ahead, that 250 hour guy will back you up and that new dispatcher will help you out. Don't forget to ask yourself one thing though. "Do you feel lucky...well do you punk!"
Sorry had to throw that in there too
And Rick is absolutely correct they have the FAA on speed dial. I think they get their jollies from taking down pilots. Thats it for now.