National Geographic show FedEx Hijacking
 

Tonight at 9PM ,the Nat'l Geographic channel will broadcast "Air Emergency" about the Calloway hijacking.

If its the one I saw on NatGeo on an overseas layover earlier this year, its junk! Very sympathethic to Calloway, if you ask me!

I'll bet the boys in the Atlanta Federal Pen. can't wait to see the show, AND give Calloway another beating.

That's Danny's job, isn't it?
;)

We need more minority hiring quotas!!
 

I had better stop now!

Not too sure if it is just the programming in my area, but my listing shows about five "Air Emergency" documentaries starting at 1900, all different.

They really downplayed the whole flying into the Hub part, and also the why he was getting fired part. I don't know what kind of retirement/disabilty the crew got, But I hope Fred sends them a christmas card every year.

The amazing part was that he timed out by One minute and his crew was replaced on the trip. Him attacking from behind with the crash axe against only two people, one female, and there would be no FedEx.

I undertand it that Auburn asked the Capt of the flight he timed out on if he wanted him to change the time to stay legal!

They totally downplayed Auburn and was somewhat too sympathetic for me! It was nice to see Col Sanders, Jim and Andy talk about their experiences, especially Jim!

From what I understand from a source in Crew Pay, they are still on full salary.

That's the way it should be. Good for FedEx to take care of it's folks.

I love how they said the attacker was upset that he used to be a top pilot but was now "just an engineer...on a cargo plane!" ;)

Also thought it was a little ironic with all the talk of scope going on these days that there was a Gemini jet in clear view in one of the shots of the FedEx ramp.

EDPM

The Captain was a she. He bid to fly with her for obvious reasons.

I also had a FDX security guy tell me that the survivors were provided with security at their homes for quite some time after the incident. Those familiar with Memphis will know why....

Jeez, everyone always thought he was a guy!:(

From what i understand, this guy flipped and was basically insane when this occured. On a side note, I guess the fact that he was black just shows that if you give somebody somethinig(i.e. a minority), they come to expect things.

I think the Capt's wife might have something to say about that, but the FO was a woman! She works in the school house now!

Yes, the originally scheduled FO was a woman.... and the original Captain was a man.

You can read the book if you want more details, "Hijacked : THE REAL STORY OF THE HEROES OF FLIGHT 705" by Dave Hirschman.

The CVR transcript used to be available over at Avflash. Not sure if it still is, but it is chilling to read, if you get the chance.

Sorry. These tales change over time.

Boy, nice narrow-minded, white supremacist remarks guys. Keep them to yourselves, I sure don't want to hear it.

Calloway was a scumbag liar, regardless of his race. And it could have just as likely been a caucasion guy go bonkers and take a speargun and hammer to the crew. What would you have said then?

So please take your comments and attitudes somewhere else.

I don't care if you really believe that or if you're trying to get a rise out of the rest of the forum - you don't belong here. Goodbye.

Bravo
 

Seriously, do people actually read their own posts before they hit "Submit Reply"? Spelling aside, this guy sure didn't.

Except in present contract negotiations...:confused:

Yes, I hope that works out for the better soon. Good luck.

Thank you HSLD......

Quick question -

If Calloway knew he was going to face a disciplinary board or something...why was he given access to the jumpseat? What I mean is this - obviously HE knew that FedEx was looking into something that would get him fired...and FedEx knew something that prompted a hearing...so at the point that FedEx knew this, why didn't they suspend him or tell him not to be on property until his hearing? The show, and things I have read make it seem like all was normal until his hearing.

What am I missing (and i am sure I am missing something)? If a pilot, or any other employee is suspected of a transgression serious enough to be terminated over, why are they not immediately suspended (with pay) until the matter is resolved - similiar to a cop turning in his gun and badge until an inquiry is over?

Monday morning quarterbacking I know - but has anything changed? Also - thanks for kicking the Klan member off. I believe most workplace shootings are perpetrated by middle age white males.

Auburn was about to questioned for false info on his application. He took a job with Flying Tigers while still employed with another airline. Flying Tigers fired him when they found out. He eventually gets hired at FedEx. Or course, FedEx buys Flying Tigers. He is known to have a chip on his shoulder at FedEx, is recognized by some Tiger guys, but the eventually gets on Fred Smith's radar by questioning him directly on a call in to some sort of company meeting/pilot meeting. Smith says "who is this guy" and in the course of finding out for Smith, it comes to light there might be some "discrepency" in his application compared to reality. You're right, he was not pulled from any trips or blocked from jumpseating - today, he would not be able to book a jumpseat!

Thanks for the info - and I am glad that today he wouldn't be able to get a jumpseat. Just for my own knowledge - what kind of screening needs to occur to jumpseat? Weird things happen - like Calloway and the Egyptian Air pilot - so other than credentials, is there any kind of screening?

We get that question all the time, and to borrow a phrase from bikers..."...if you have to ask, you wouldn't understand..." Or as it applies to jumpseating, if you have to ask, you probably don't need to know.

I would ask other members to review the forum rules regarding divulging security sensitive information (SSI).

Under the durrent CBA, he can't be "disciplined" until he has an Administrative hearing." Before the hearing he was going to be asked a few questions. He wasn't guilty, just like the guy who was removed for "being drunk" at SWA, why would anyone assume he was going to do this. I've heard a lot of people say worse things about Fred and FedEx and weren't banned from jumpseating. And who says it wouldn't happen today.

Extremely sorry for asking a question whose answer may be deemed "sensitive" - please don't respond to it. Perhaps a better way, less sensitive question would be "Are steps in place, since Calloway and 9-11, to more carefully restrict jumpseat access?" A "yes" or "no" would suffice - and sorry again.

Regardless of the CBA, if someone is under enough suspicion to even be asked "a few questions", my opinion is that the individual should be removed from the line immediately - with pay - until the situation is cleared up in a formal manner. This suspension would not result in any loss of income to the pilot/crew member therefore the pilot group (ALPA, APA, or other union) should have no problem with it.

That's a great concept, but it's just not that easy. And yes, there are measures in place.

It is wonderful to know that Bigots and Racists are still alive and well among airline pilots!!!

I suppose your definition means that those who know and speak the TRUTH are thus defined?

I will bet you don't have one clue about what this is all about, do you? Easy to name call, when you are ignorant of the facts.

captain_drew...I'm thinking you might have take SEGATAKI's comment out of context...

CargoBob's original comment was:

Is that what you meant to defend? I hope not, and I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. Just wondering...

Having been the blatant victim (on a couple of occasions) of 'Affirmative Action', where MUCH lesser qualified (some unqualified, like Auburn) people were hired ahead of qualified ones, due to thier 'minority' status, I take exception to anyone who mistakenly thinks 'AA' is a good thing.

Drew, I truly respect most of your views. But I think you're missing the point here.

My original post calling out CargoBob and C175 had nothing to do with "AA ". It had to do with racist comments (as did SEGATAKI's post). Now whether they realized what they were saying is another topic...ignorance or true feelings...but I digress...

CargoBob's post implied that Calloway attacked the crew simply because he was black, hired under a "minority quota". Do you really believe that?

Calloway attacked a FedEx crew because he was caught in blatant lies, and wanted to punish those who caught him. NOT because he was a minority...NOT because he was hired under some Affirmative Action/minority quota policy.

CargoBob's post implied that FedEx shouldn't hire any minorities...you know how unstable THEY can be. Any one of them will take a crash axe to another crew at anytime...God forbid.

Is that the view you wanted to defend?

Well. .the short answer is . . yeah !

You have to understand the specific history of Calloway. He WAS the poster child for Affirmative Action, 'set asides' and special treatment. . . his whole life. He only got as far as he did BECAUSE he was a minority. . . .NOT because he had any special gift -or was all that smart or gifted. He felt entitled to special treatment . .because up until that point . .he had always gotten it. . . HOW DARE FedEx hold him up to some sort of standard he was never required to live up to previously!

"AA" got him into Stanford, when non-minorities -a whole hell of a lot more intelligent than him were 'stiffed'. If he were a white guy, he wouldn't have got into San Diego State!

Stanford, if you are not aware, does not 'grade' students . . . so you get through their program with a degree, based upon how they 'feel' about you. And. . WOE to any professor who did not 'feel' good about a minority. So he is standing there with a degree in his hand, just about the time Naval Aviation has a major push on to get minority pilots into the ranks.

I have never heard about his performance through Flight Training, but knowing how they lowered the bar when they wanted women pilots, I can guess. I picked up the story after his crime, when I had a chance to talk to a couple of his squadron mates at his VS Fleet Squadron. They were aghast that he EVER got an airline job.

The people hiring him at both Tigers and FedEx apparently never checked his credentials or talked to anybody in the Navy. The PIC time he had to list on his application was obviously bogus, as he NEVER was allowed to upgrade to Aircraft Commander in the Navy.

He FINALLY got to a place where the advancement was not automatic, due to Liberal pressure. Fortunately, the CO, XO and NATOPS listened to the Aircraft Commanders he flew with, who gave him the collective ‘thumbs down’ on upgrade. He, apparently, could not keep the S-3 straight and level and had no situational awareness. He was the only JO in squadron history who did not advance to Aircraft Commander by the end of his 1st tour.

So, knowing all the history I do, I take exception to your comment. He would not have even been on the property had not someone been pushing “quotas”. Someone did not do their job in checking his background, where I know they checked MY references.

My college ‘little brother’ happens to be of the black persuasion. He is a senior captain at FedEx, nearing retirement. He followed me into the Navy, after I visited campus in uniform, with fresh wings.

He has EXCELLED . . all along the way, because he was smart and competent . .NOT because he was using the system. He did a tour in Nam as an NFO . .and was then able to pass the physical for pilot and went through the program again and did another tour as a pilot. It is guys like my friend who really get frosted at “AA”, because it lets incompetents into places where they otherwise would not make the grade and casts a shadow on the bone fide accomplishments of competent minorities.

An old Reserves XO of mine (an American Airlines guy that transitioned from S-3s to the Mighty Orion!!:D ) was in the RAG the same time Auburn was. He said Auburn was half way through the RAG when he got there and he was still there, not much beyond halfway complete, when he left for his fleet sqdn!