Item 12: Chairman’s Editorial
You know, this used to be a hell of a career—now it just a job and not a very good one at that. Even during the Lorenzo era—for a while, anyway—while we didn't have good pay or work rules, there was a time we were treated with dignity and respect, just like real airline pilots. Now, thanks to almost two decades under the Friends of Fred, those days are just distant memories for some of us. Many of our pilots don't even know any better, they believe our Flight Operations is just there for discipline and to manage the airlines liability (us) and keep the airline running at all costs. To contrast today vs yesterday, I am honored to yield my editorial this week to a man I am proud to call my union brother.
Here is his story:
I was "bitten by the aviation bug" early in life. Boy Scouts and rocketry, NASA & the Apollo program, a trip to Wright-Patterson & the Air Force Museum, painstakingly assembled scale models, in mock-combat, hung from my bedroom ceiling. I borrowed my parents car at 16... they thought I was headed to the shopping mall... I headed straight to the Flying Cloud Airport for my first flight lesson & my parents weren't that surprised when I told them later that night. (Stick with me... the resume & story all come to a point) The University of North Dakota , flight instruction, a lucky break flying corporate colors. The ATP oral and practical passed & FAA letter issued at 21 instructing how to obtain my certificate when I turned 23. Flight Safety & Air Midwest, Wichita. The FEB & FEJ written exams all led me to Continental in April, 1987. I had just turned 24 and was, quite possibly, the happiest guy in the solar system. There was a dream, it was attainable.
It's my Dad's fault... he was a Naval Aviation combat veteran of WWII, South Pacific Theatre. I carry his love of aviation in my very soul. He died suddenly, while I was working, in 1998. I look at the flag that draped his coffin, frequently, remembering who planted the dream of aviation, and the love I have for the profession.
My claim to the Bob Six era is but a glimpse of greatness. Having experienced "the best and brightest" personally, I share this story, one of many. It is a story of the MOST capable and compassionate people hired prior to the Lorenzo (a.k.a. Fred Abbott) era, and it is a direct comparison of dignity and disgust.
My 1987 arrival on Guam was spectacular. First Class seating, positive-space, on the DC10. I had not been farther than the Bahamas prior to my LAX-HNL-GUM flight. That aircraft actually had a pub (a lounge) installed in the aft section of First Class. Passengers loved that feature & really had a party enroute. The Flight attendants were attractive, friendly and extremely professional. The flight crew invited me to the jump-seat enroute & welcomed me to "Air Mike." The CPO administrator/secretary met the flight at about 0440 a.m. (can you imagine?) then personally drove the group of newbies to the Guam Hilton, holding our hands & setting us up with lodging/temporary living quarters at the Hilton. All smiles, nothing but friendly & a model of efficiency. I couldn't have been treated with more dignity and respect. When the Sun came up that morning, I was stunned at the tropical beauty of Tumon Bay. How happy was I? I can tell you for sure, the dream was reality.
What I didn't realize at the time, was that the Guam Chief Pilot, Captain Dick Floreani, administered "overseeing of the FNG's" & he is but one of my connections to Bob Six.
Several months into my GUM stint, there was an opportunity to give Second Officer IOE. I headed to Captain Floreani's office, a man I had never met. When he called me in his office, I walked into a time warp of aviation history. A life full of honor, sacrifice, dedication, and accolade. I was drawn to a photo of Dick next to a Navy A-4, "on the boat" & smiling. That's where our conversation began... a brief resume of how he came to Continental from the Navy and Colorado. I liked him instantly & he gave me all the time in the world, letting me look around his office, providing a brief narrative of the pictures, plaques, certificates, and other "stuff" that caught my eye. I told him about being born in Colorado & my father's WWII Naval Aviation combat experience as a twin .50 caliber turret gunner on the Lockheed Ventura. Dick told me that Continental adopted that very aircraft, the Lodestar, in the "early years." I felt a bond with this man & he gained my professional respect immediately, steeping me in Air Micronesia history... The development of Island-Hopping ideas and execution of dreams by a man named Bob Six... Continental Hotels, coral runways, aircraft accidents & mishaps, the B727's named "Ju-Ju" & "Nu-Ju", observations by topless female native islanders, etc. He graciously accepted my offer to provide IOE. (Upward mobility was there for the asking, so just ask... what a concept.) I was trained to do this in a few days time & waited patiently for my first "victim." (Frank Gicca... please forgive my inexperience, I remember... glad you survived!)
Many weeks later, while working a weekend turn back from Japan, GUM ops informed me that "Dick Floreani wanted to see me & was waiting in his office." (GULP!) "Rodger" was my VHF response. WOW! What had I done? Relax, regroup, replay... absolutely nothing... The walk to his office felt like a death-march for some nagging reason... He welcomed me in & I entered his office, Dick's demeanor was disarming & cordial. I looked at that A-4 photo & he was still (a good omen?) smiling... He then told me to relax... to "trust him & that this was a no jeopardy situation for me, really, you are in no trouble what-so-ever!"
(WHEW!)
Hang on now... here comes the "thrust" of the story...
Dick told me that while he was a probationary Second Officer on GUM, his father had become ill back in Denver. His family had called & requested that he come back "as soon as he could." (I was very naive, but intently focused on his story) He went on to explain that he had just one more trip to fly, then he could head straight to Denver for extended time with the family. So he made his choice & flew his schedule, not wanting to be a burden to flight operations & not wanting to compromise his probationary attendance. As I was slowly adding it all up, Dick told me, "My father died while I was enroute back to Denver... I want you to know that your father is stable, but has suffered a heart attack. Your mother called us & has requested that you come back as soon as you can." I could see the emotion & compassion in his eyes, I will NEVER forget the humanity that man displayed & the dignified manner in which he then stated "...so we have taken the liberty of arranging travel for your return to Minneapolis, you can leave your flight bag right here, if you like, the next flight leaves for Honolulu in 25 minutes... here's your ticket. I think you should go, right now & know that your job is secure and will be here for you when you return. If it takes three weeks, or three months... just let me know what you need, when you can... now GO!" I was already out the door.
Keep in mind, there was no such thing as Family Medical Leave, it was a weekend, I was a new-hire on probation, etc.
There's more to that story... it's all amazing, decent and good. I'll spare you the rest of my 27 hour trip back & having the chance to spend a few minutes with my father prior to his successful bypass surgery. Dick Floreani takes a place among great men. Bill Leeper, Chester James, and a dedicated other few that rose to position of Chief Pilot as advocates of line pilots, and of the profession. They made me LOVE this place. I still stand tall from their influence and impressions.
Why did I take so much time in relating this story? Because the differences between then and now could not be more stark.
It ****es me off that Fred Abbott is still part of this company. I am not alone, Fred. Every one of my 1987 brothers (I salute all of you) is ready to stand, toe-to-toe with you & face down your lies. You are still part of the Lorenzo model: divide and conquer. You were about my age in 1988 when, as the IAH Chief Pilot, you lost me forever. We had been, for several weeks, discussing the fine points of exactly how the 88-1R (furlough) bid entitled junior pilots to fly my status, in my original base, while I was advanced to EWR, out of seniority, to fly a reserve schedule virtually overnight, and kept hostage while the bid was subsequently "cancelled." A mistake? NO! Hotel room? NO! Passes to or from work? NO! (For the junior pilot, ask any one of the several hundred of us about 88-1R) You, Fred, as my Chief Pilot, quite unprofessionally & loudly, literally yelled this insult to my face: "Why don't you go work for United!" If you are man enough to recall, I stood up & with equal tone and lack of respect said "Why don't YOU! YOU seem to be the problem here!" My lack of respect for you continues to this day, Fred, & I stand up to you again and everything you've represented since 1987. I AM NOT ALONE! “Comm One” this... Stop mailing me your crap, DO NOT pretend you represent anything other than Lorenzo & all your money. If you truly desire harmonious pilot relations, resign. We will all jump for joy! Your place in history is secure, Fred, & you know my name.