Ok, so I was just going to stay on the sidelines but I think I need to make some clarifications. That message was intended to Stok1 negative remarks about Allegiant.

Disco, I completely agree with you in the fact that being an ULCC is just a business model and that pilot services are worth the same regardless of the type of airline and therefore should be well compensated.

I really like Allegiant's business model and love the fact that I will be home every night (I hope). I look forward to having a good career there. Any positive feedback is appreciated! Thanks

 

Let me preface my comments by saying I have zero attachment to Allegiant and have only vaguely followed the details of the event in question. I live in LAS and absorb a bit of info about Allegiant "goings on" through forced osmosis. And I once flew with GB, and later he became my boss. We've purchased fares between LAS and BLI a few times. As others have said, it's ultra low cost, and you need to keep it in context. I caught a glimpse of company "philosophy" when my daughter's flight was dispatched with a some sort of fuel system MEL that severely limited range. Stops in Medford and Fresno to make Vegas out of BLI on a clear summer day. I can only assume that was a captain who did not feel his company would stand behind him for making the right decision; aside from the risk associated with tripling the cycle count, it would be a stretch to call it "unsafe." But it was dumb. In summary, I have a pretty good idea of the atmosphere at Allegiant, but I have no interest in it's success or failure. Of course I hope it can be safely operated.

That's probably more backstory than you care for, but I want to make it clear I have no agenda. With that said, I am appalled to hear how this thing went down. I once was in a similar hot seat many years ago flying a regional turboprop. I evacuated with zero injuries on a high speed taxiway after an airborne cargo smoke warning. My chief pilot emphasized that the aircraft had a history of false warnings (which I knew) and that I should have thought it through a bit harder. Really? Explain that as it burns! Then they tried to fire me for discharging halon into the engines. Evidently this step of the Evacuation Checklist was important enough to stencil onto the yoke of the airplane. But I was told after the fact I should have used "discretion." Hmmm. That's how I was trained, it's in the ops specs signed off by the FAA - couldn't I be violated for applying my own whims to an emergency checklist? Ultimately, the CEO determined I did the right thing and fired the chief pilot instead. But for two weeks my job hung in the balance for something I thought the F/O and I handled by the book.

Fortunately my event had a better outcome, but I know what it's like to be called out when I thought I performed as required. Since I do not possess all the facts, I can't conclude with certainty that you did the right thing. But it sure appears like you used sound judgement and did what you believed to be proper. Any post-mortem will find some sort of flaw. But termination seems extreme. I've been in ALPA for nearly 25 years. I've spent more time frustrated with their bloated bureaucracy and failure to properly represent on a number of issues than I have celebrating victories. However, it's good to wake up knowing they have me covered for situations like this.

I am really disturbed to read the disparaging comments from another Allegiant pilot. Jetpartner, there will come a day you need somebody to have your back. As somebody else just pointed out, this forum is not as anonymous as some might assume. If your career aspirations extend beyond Allegiant, you're probably burning bridges before you reach them. On a more local scale, good luck retaining the trust of your F/Os. Sure, they will back you up on issues of mutual concern. But don't expect them to help out if they see you stepping off a cliff by yourself!

FlyAirJason, I'm sure there are things you should not or do not want to say on here. But if you care to, let us know how your career prospects appear after this firing. I know several pilots who have turned incidents and firings into positive interview banter. If you get the interview, have a clean training record and are personable, a lot of things can be explained. One of my friends turned a low-flying violation into an interview winner. It was all in how he told his story of hitting high tension lines and surviving, and how it as a turning point in his life. Nothing like your situation, but proof positive that willingness to talk openly and portraying your side of the story can do wonders.

Congratulations for an honorable retort to mudslinging. Best of luck to you.

 

Aren't you in the middle of a lawsuit? I find it hard to believe you would even think of discussing this. Even if there was a settlement you would be barred from discussing it.

 

FlyAirJason- very well said, sir.
Just remember that you've been shown more support from your collueges than those that try to tell the story like they were sitting in the right seat that day. Then they decide it is their job to criticize your actions as they sit in their over-stuffed La-Z-Boy recliner typing away and stuffing their smug face with some left over galley snacks.

You made the best decision you could have that day. All PICs should be able to back you up by saying they would've done the same thing you did with the information you were given in that moment. What the company should be worried about are Captains, like Jetpartner, that are overly cocky (which is a weakness when it comes to aviation). One day his attitude will not only put himself in harms way, but the lives of everyone on that aircraft. I really hope that doesn't happen. THAT'S what should be criticized, not you and your actions.

When you make a decision based on safety you will always "be right no matter what".

 

Jury awards $10 million to pilot fired over ice storm flight - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |

There was an american eagle captain who got terminated in the mid 90s and successfully sued the AMR corporation in dallas texas. His case sounds similar to yours. The company (AMR) claimed he did not follow proper procedures to the letter. This case was interesting because he actually went to a jury trial in amr’s backyard. And amr pulled out all the dirty tricks they could; they hired private investigators that were able to discover dirty laundry on the guy, and use it in the trial. Along with an earlier disciplinary action when he was a pilot for eagle. It seems jury’s and this one in particular, have been sympathetic to captain's authority in the past. For obvious reasons.

So long as you are consistent and did indeed act in the moment, in the best interest of your passengers. Which I’m sure you did, you should prevail as well if this gets to a jury. For selfish reasons I hope you don't settle out of court. There is not a more deserving bunch of dirtbags than Allegiant management to read about your victory in USA today. Good luck and don’t stop fighting.

 

Was there a reason you chose unskilled labor as a comparison? Doctors, lawyers, arquitects and other 'professions' require a lot of investment and sacrifice to reap the reward at the end. You also left out trades like plumbers, carpenters, electricians, try undercutting one of those groups the next time you need a project done around the house.

Does it take a car salesman, waiter, cook, 5-10 years of intense study and preparation, while struggling financially, afraid for their life? Starving medical interns and pilots accept the tough years so that one day we can live the life we struggled so much to achieve. Risk/reward, something the communists never fully understood. Few would put up with all that, knowing the final reward was some nebulous (cheap) figure negotiated downwards by pitting pilot against pilot. That is management's wet dream and why they hate collective bargaining. CEOs aren't concerned with the long term devastation and dismantling of the profession when their golden parachute is only a fiscal quarter away.

 

Try telling a rich $1000.00 an hour FordHarrison attorney who acts as a third party agent on behalf of Allegiant management, to take less compensation based on the ULCC model of reduced cost.

Hypocrisy.

 

The company should also be worried about captains who are afraid to execute the emergency procedures they were taught and trained to do. Allegedly, there was one recent instance where slides were deployed but the passengers were not evacuated. Was this hesitation out of fear? How much time does it take to evacuate 150+ souls from a smoke filled cabin?

Aborts, go-arounds, missed approaches, evacuations, you name it, captains must be nervous over there and first officers probably refusing the upgrade out of fear of getting snared in one of the webs G4 weaves. These are split second decisions that require clarity of thought and conviction, not doubt and fear of being second guessed by armchair heroes. The MD-80 is a complex, archaic and difficult plane to operate WHEN WELL MAINTAINED. Those guys deal with countless engine failures, air returns, smoke in the cabin, etc so their career fears are not unreasonable. I'm sure the opinion and rebuke expressed by Sky Gods are not shared by most G4 pilots.

 

You made my point exactly. They are lawyers, very very good ones and in very high demand getting paid much more than their peers chasing ambulances or public defenders or DAs. How is that fair?

 

And you proved mine. Ambulance chasers still don't vary their fee of ⅓ of the settlement. Proportionally it's the same. The bigger the settlement the bigger the paycheck. If that's all the business they have. DAs and prosecutors usually use city hall as a proving ground to hone their skills then move on to private practice.

“Labor Consultants”, a.k.a. the blood sucking leeches of our society; Fordharrison attorneys did not endure their process to give discounts to corporations based on its profitability and/or model.