Complete the Mission
 

Pilot pushing, how often does it occur by both crew schedules and dispatch?

Never been pushed. They’ll plan on you taking extensions but once I’ve said no they’ve never, ever pushed back. Always felt like I could say no without repercussion here on the FO side at least, and the few times me and the captain have determined we wanted to say no to something the company never pushed the captain either.

My opinion only, the chief pilots here do a good job of backing up their pilots...at least compared to other companies I've worked. You still have to pass the "reasonableness" test, but I agree, if you have to say no they will usually let you off the hook.

Don't think it never happens, but compared to what I believe about other airlines, it happens at AWA less. In all my years I was "pushed" occasionally. In 12 years as a captain, <5 times where I thought it was a little extreme. And the worst case happened with someone who is no longer there. I have worked personally with most, if not all of the Chief Pilots and they are a good group, and will back you up. Dispatch will sometimes push but if you have a good reason and don't back down, they will work with you.

AWA has its issues. I’d never say it’s ACPs and CPs are one. There is no love lost for upper management in ATW but the base Chiefs and Company CP are reasonable if you are.

The simple fact that some of you are responding with “occasionally but they work with you” or “they’ll let you off the hook” is just proving that it is happening and takes someone to actually stand up and say no. You guys obviously aren’t doing it when you should.

Not quite following you. Crew scheduler says hey you need to go fly this trip. You say no thank you. They say you need to talk to the Chief. You talk to the Chief, Chief agrees with you and backs you. You don't fly. What am I missing?

There are a lot of people who are afraid to talk to management. Scheduling has nothing to do with any of this matter. As a PIC you need to make the appropriate decision and coordinate with dispatch. Scheduling can catch up later. The simple fact that the standard company procedure is to talk to a chief pilot is ridiculous.

Is that not how all airlines handle this item of business? (Don't mean this sarcastically - haven't dealt with other airlines.)

I do disagree with you on your first sentence though. People who are afraid to talk to management are a completely different issue than being pushed to fly if they don't want to. Those individuals need to recognize this particular weak area, speak up, and get coached/trained/mentored appropriately.

First of all NO, that’s not how mainline operates hence my comment on the subject. Secondly, reads a bit conflicting. Agree or disagree?