Well, here's a sample of PDP thought/belief I pulled off PDP's editorial page for the forum to read over and sample to help determine exactly who PDP is.. . It's a pretty decent product, overall...and I'll take this group and their reasoned arguments over an ad hominem attack...anyday.

Maybe folks should peruse the PDP website, read the op/ed located therin, and form their own opinion before agreeing with the rock-throwers on this site.

ADIRU



AMR Corporate Attitude - Setting the Standard?
PDP Editorials - Editorials
Wednesday, 04 May 2005
The following letter was sent by SFO based Captain Bill Haug to American Airlines Vice President of Flight Mark Hettermann. Captain Haug is one of the leaders of the American Employees for Ownership (BuyItFixIt) effort.

Mark,

On April 8th, Captain Hunter (APA President) sent a letter to the pilots, the "sick letter". In it, he stated that APA had been in discussions with AA about pilot sick rates, and a Flight Department Manager had said that the pilots are "an unreliable asset base."

It is difficult for me to convey the disgust and revulsion that I felt after reading this. It is incomprehensible to me that, after the long, sordid, and tortured experience that American Airlines has had with the arrogant, foolish, and counterproductive practice of condemning an entire employee group for the actions of a few, a Flight Department Manager would say something so stupid. That any AA manager, much less one in the Flight Department, could so blithely sweep aside and trivialize the vast monetary and other sacrifices this pilot group has made for the benefit of American Airlines is astonishing.

And, perhaps, revealing. Captain Scott Griffith, to his credit, kicked off the discussion at the SFO Safety Standup earlier this year by saying that "we think our main problem is arrogance." I did not disagree, but responded to Captain Griffith that the greatest arrogance I had personally witnessed was arrogance expressed by various AA managers. Arrogance breeds arrogance, and does nothing to solve any of our problems. A wise man once said, "you cannot solve a problem by condemning it."

In your Flight Manual Part One Prologue you stated:

"This prologue to our Part One sets our standard as we seek to strengthen our airline through a vital support-leadership role."

"I ask each of you to recommit to the personal discipline, humility, self-sacrifice and adherence to policy and procedure that will serve as an example to all our employees, as well as enhance the standing of our profession."

"With this understanding, we should stake out the high ground of patience, humility, and emotional even-handedness in our interactions with passengers, crew, and fellow employees."

The statement Captain Hunter attributed to a Flight Department Manager was lacking in humility, was a poor example, was not emotionally even-handed, and did not exhibit patience. It degraded, rather than enhanced, the "standing of our profession" while addressing the sins of a very small minority in our ranks. It negated the huge self-sacrifice that our pilots have made, and continue to make, to keep our company solvent.

And, it was wrong.

I am profoundly, profoundly disappointed. In a few short words, a Flight Department Manager has undermined everything you have said in your credo, "Setting the Standard", exhorting us to take a leadership role.

I guess it just proves once again that one cannot "Set the Standard" with words ... only with actions. One can lead only by example, and no other way.

Regards,

Bill Haug
CA SFO
Unreliable Asset #xxxxxxx