Go Back  Airline Pilot Central Forums > Airline Pilot Forums > Cargo
FedEx "Spin" on an Accident >

FedEx "Spin" on an Accident

Notices
Cargo Part 121 cargo airlines

FedEx "Spin" on an Accident

Old 03-27-2009, 01:53 PM
  #1  
Down, 3 Green
Thread Starter
 
NightBusDriver's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: MEM A300
Posts: 103
Default FedEx "Spin" on an Accident

First of all, kudos to ALPA, FedEx, and all the volunteers who helped get it right for honoring CA Mosley and FO Pino.

However, can someone in Flight Management "get it right" and use the word "accident" instead of "mishap" or "incident." From the start, this was an accident (both hull loss and loss of life) and the FedEx "spin machine" chose to use inappropriate verbiage to address it. I know -- minor point but it galls me nonetheless.

Feel free to vent, flame, berate me ... I spent the entire morning of the "minute of silence" walking through a local park thinking about the families involved here and how their lives were just turned upside down ... the least FedEx can do is put the "spin doctors" on hold.

They handled the memorial side of things in a first class manner. Why can't they do the simple things right?
NightBusDriver is offline  
Old 03-27-2009, 02:02 PM
  #2  
Gets Weekends Off
 
boost's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 156
Default

Yes per the NTSB, accident is the more accurate description...however, I have been more impressed that I can tell you with FedEx, ALPA and the CIRP working together and dealing with this unfortunate situation. The re-routes of flights due to the volcano, the honor guard ceremony, hangar viewing, the display in the AOC, and disseminating information at the proper times, all done like only this company and its employees can do.
Just like all of us will deal with the loss a little bit differently, I believe the situation has been handled in a "first class" manner just like you said in your post.
Don't split hairs, they did a great job handling this in a sensitive, honorable manner. Kudos to everyone involved.
boost is offline  
Old 03-27-2009, 02:32 PM
  #3  
China Visa Applicant
 
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: IPZ to Mr.
Posts: 1,915
Default

Originally Posted by NightBusDriver View Post
can someone in Flight Management "get it right" and use the word "accident" instead of "mishap" or "incident." From the start, this was an accident (both hull loss and loss of life)
Where do the specific definitions of these words live?
Hacker15e is offline  
Old 03-27-2009, 02:50 PM
  #4  
Gets Weekends Off
 
DLax85's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: Gear Monkey
Posts: 3,189
Default

Originally Posted by Hacker15e View Post
Where do the specific definitions of these words live?
In the Air Force (perhaps the entire DOD) "mishap" and "accident" are virtually interchangable.

There is a distinction between the two types of investigations in the USAF, but they differ by the titles:

Safety Investigation Board (the internal/priviledged investigation)

...and

Accident Investigation Board (the legal/publically-releasable investigation)

Perhaps the NTSB uses these terms differently.
DLax85 is online now  
Old 03-27-2009, 02:57 PM
  #5  
Gets Weekends Off
 
tennesseeflyboy's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 425
Default

Seems like "insurance talk", a play on words for sure .........................
tennesseeflyboy is offline  
Old 03-27-2009, 03:03 PM
  #6  
Gets Weekends Off
 
VegasBoy's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: MD-11 F/O UPS
Posts: 175
Default

An accident is defined as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft that takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, and in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage. An incident is an occurrence other than an accident that affects or could affect the safety of operations. (49 CFR 830.)

Substantial damage means damage or failure which adversely affects the structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the aircraft, and which would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component. Engine failure or damage limited to an engine if only one engine fails or is damaged, bent fairings or cowling, dented skin, small punctured holes in the skin or fabric, ground damage to rotor or propeller blades, and damage to landing gear, wheels, tires, flaps, engine accessories, brakes, or wingtips are not considered ‘‘substantial damage’’ for the purpose of this part.

Serious injury means any injury which:
(1) Requires hospitalization for more than 48 hours, commencing with- in 7 days from the date of the injury was received;
(2) results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose);
(3) causes severe hemorrhages, nerve, muscle, or tendon damage;
(4) involves any internal organ; or
(5) involves second- or third- degree burns, or any burns affecting more than 5 percent of the body sur- face.

I remember from CFI days that $25,000 worth of damage was the line for the definition of substantial damage requiring immediate notification but I can't find that cite now.

Last edited by VegasBoy; 03-27-2009 at 03:23 PM.
VegasBoy is offline  
Old 03-27-2009, 11:51 PM
  #7  
Gets Weekends Off
 
subicpilot's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: A300CAP
Posts: 479
Default

I seem to remember from my Navy days that we moved away from using the term "accident" and started using "mishap" because "accident" defined an event resulting especially from carelessness or ignorance, or an unexpected happening causing loss or injury which is not due to any fault or misconduct on the part of the person injured, or that it was some kind of act of God kind of thing that the crew had no control over, whereas "mishap" was a generic term for aircraft damage. Mishaps were classified as A for fatality or total loss of aircraft, then B or C depending on the dollar amount of damage or severity of injury.

Perhaps the civilian world took this same thinking onboard.

It all seems to mean pretty much the same thing to me.
subicpilot is offline  
Old 03-28-2009, 06:25 AM
  #8  
Gets Weekends Off
 
captjns's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B-737NG preferably in first class with a glass of champagne and caviar
Posts: 5,886
Default

Mishap is a politically correct term for accident or incident that does not point the finger of guilt in any direction.
captjns is offline  
Old 03-28-2009, 06:37 AM
  #9  
Gets Weekends Off
 
CaptDan's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Oct 2007
Position: MD11 Capt
Posts: 119
Default

My only problem with the company notification is why did it take so long???? Whatever they want to call it.
CaptDan is offline  
Old 03-28-2009, 06:57 AM
  #10  
Gets Weekends Off
 
captjns's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B-737NG preferably in first class with a glass of champagne and caviar
Posts: 5,886
Default

Legal department of the airline, and image.
captjns is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SWAjet
Major
8
01-01-2020 12:25 PM
boost
Cargo
20
06-07-2009 05:40 PM
Windsor
Cargo
1
03-27-2009 11:47 AM
Precontact
Cargo
1
09-22-2008 07:55 PM
RockBottom
Major
0
03-05-2005 04:12 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices