Jetjok

Ah, Traditions!

Whereas some traditions are great, some are not so great. The interesting thing about most traditions is that the majorities of us, either don’t know, or don’t remember where, or how, these very same traditions came to be. We just continue the tradition, because, well, it’s a tradition, after all.

Take the tradition of bringing and presenting cookies to the FedEx flight crew, in exchange for a free ride. I’m sure (but I don’t know for a fact) that at one time, when non-pilot employees were allowed to ride, someone must have either made or bought some cookies and offered them to the flight crew. The flight crew must have thought “what a great thing to have done.” One should understand that back in the early days, FedEx did not cater the aircraft, with anything: nada; zip; zilch; nyet. And so, if a crew was hub turning or about to have a long night, any food at all was a good thing. This probably went on for some time, with that particular jumpseater and flight crew, as back then many non-pilots jumpseated to the same place, over and over again, while many crews flew the same routes.

Then at some point, a crewmember was probably jumpseating with the crew that had been given cookies, and the captain (probably) said “where are the cookies, you’re supposed to bring us cookies, in exchange for the jumpseat ride.” I don’t know, but this most certainly could have been the way this particular tradition started.

To make matters worse (or, to “enhance” the tradition), at some point, some FedEx pilot, who was now conditioned to offering cookies to other FedEx pilots, in exchange for a ride, found himself wanting to jumpseat on a passenger flight. So what did he do? He brought cookies to the crew, of course. I mean, after all, if you have to bring cookies for a ride on your own jet, then you must have to bring them when trying to jumpseat on another airline, right? You should know that in the old days, the crew on most passenger airlines got catered and looked after very nicely by the flight attendants and the company. Did they need cookies? Yeah, like you need a third eye.

So now we have pilots that either don’t know, or never did understand that offering a fellow aviator a free ride is one of the really nice things that we do to foster fellowship and sense of community, amongst ourselves. These pilots, because of tradition, think that it’s a requirement that must be fulfilled, in order to “pay” for a ride, that should be graciously granted, cookies or not. To make matters worse, we now have captains, who having been brought up under this tradition; actually feel that these cookies are in fact, a determining factor, in granting someone a ride, or thinking badly about the guy who didn’t bring them. Very sad.

Whatever happened to a simple “Please” and “Thank You”? Those phrases always did it for me.

What are some of the other great, and no so great, aviation traditions that you know of?

FedExBusBoy

I will digress from the cookie banter........although I love the "5 at 5" thing you guys have here at FedEx.

Buzzard

The original tradition is that the offering must be homemade. So store bought doesn’t count, and your right this practice was started by non pilot jumpseaters.

fly2ski

I'm fine with a intro that includes "asking for a ride", and a "thanks for the ride " on the way out the door. As far as cookies go, I don't eat them or need them but when I JS I always bring them. It's more karma than anything else. Like the big leaguer that wears the same shirt game after game, good luck bestows the jump seater that brings the cookies.....

130JDrvr

What's the "5 at 5" thing? Could also be early and I can't think now....

Past...

Laughing_Jakal

J130Drvr....it is too early...the meeting for dinner thing on domestic Hub turns...meet at 5pm and wait 5 mins for the crewmember who trickles down late.

FedExBusBoy....don't you feel like one of us yet?

130JDrvr

That's what I was thinking but had not heard it termed that way before. Must be due to the lack of domestic currency lately! At least at the pad on reserve anyway!


Had to actually do non-tower ops last night!


Past......

Jetjok

I too, love the 5 at 5 tradition. Just wish the Memphis guys wouldn't use it when on layover in Dubai or Hong Kong, because it sounds so dumb (because it was supposed to mean Memphis Time.)

FedExBusBoy

I guess I'm reminicing on previous airlines and how we never thought of this simplicity......no harm, no foul if you dont show........

Laughing_Jakal

BusBoy,

Well, cookies or not, this is the new reality. Hopefully, I'll have the chance to meet you 5 @5 and buy you a drink....Or bring you a cookie or two if I jumpseat. If you eat it, it might help you assimilate faster, FedEx version of Koolaid......;-) I kid, I kid.