I think this has been discussed before with management. Their feeling was that it would "encourage" pilots to fly sick just for that extra retirement bonus.

I'll bet that all of this "extra" scrutiny of sick calls will go away after peak when volume drops and we truly are overmanned :eek:

[QUOTE=CloudSailor;1517121] As we all know, many times, when those closest to you are ill, or very sick, you are in no shape to fly - safely, even though you might be physically fit (IMSAFE). Under those circumstances, what would a Dr's note say? Should you go to a psychiatrist?

Why not? Or you could go to clinical psychologist. Quite frankly, when I fly I want to be 100% committed to the flight for my sake and the guy/gal flying with me. I will not fly carrying emotional baggage, undue stress, undue worry, etc. That is a legitimate use of sick time, and if I need to see a psychologist for the note, I will.

I fully agree with you, but the problem is that many pilots are worried about their FAA medical, and having mental health problems is a good way to get grounded for quite a while.

The rates of depression in the public at large is about 6%, with 2% being severe. That would mean, among 10,000 pilots, you'd have 600 guys with clinical depression; 200 severely depressed. Yet how many of these actually admit it and seek treatment? This may be why alcohol abuse among pilots is not just a false stereotype. Pilots self-medicate, and keep quiet.

I agree, I don't think I'd want to admit mental health problems if I ever wanted to fly again ...

But it could be a good way to retire on disability, or maybe you could say you hurt your shoulder (FauxHunter?) when you fell of your horse?

ForeverFO,

I'm pretty sure that no one is advocating calling in sick for a day or two because they are suffering from severe (or any other degree of) depression. CloudSailor was mentioning that at times, because of what's happening in ones life, ie, a sick parent/spouse/child, or another significant, unplanned event, we get more concerned with that than with doing our jobs. At that time, it takes a real professional to realize that it's better to take ones self off the schedule, rather than attempt to compartmentalize the issue, while at the same time, possibly risking safety, all in the name of moving the freight. Even FedEx, in it's current anti-employee attitude, would eventually see the wisdom in that decision, and if it takes a note from a professional, than so be it.

"On a different but related subject ... I'm also concerned about the "Fuel Sense Police" offering CASH bonuses for fuel savings. I can imagine numerous EMERGENCY FUEL calls and I'm a bit scared about someone running out of fuel."

Is this actually being considered? I think it was Pan Am that tried this a long time ago, it didn't last long.

Once upon a time I was a PanAm 747 pilot ... I've never heard that story? I did hear about a UAL 747 in Asia having fuel "stuck" in a wing tank, they'd already flamed out the #3 engine. A PanAm crew intervened and recommended that they transfer fuel using the FUEL DUMP SYSTEM (it was a PanAm NORMAL procedure!) ... it worked.

Here's the rumor I heard ... Remember when KAL 007 was shot down by the Russians? My rumor mill says the Koreans were having trouble getting jet fuel and were offering their Captains CASH bonuses if they landed with more fuel than flight planned.

I wonder what a direct (great circle) route from ANC-SEL looks like and if the "splash" coordinates are on that route? :eek:

Korean Air Lines Flight 007 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They already do...to our dispatchers. Paul L is the most prominent one but maybe others do it too.

Safety
 

Safety is the most important consideration in all Fedex operations. The operating philosophy at Fedex also supports the conclusion that safety is an essential ingredient to commercial success. In the course of flight operations, several factors must be given due consideration. 1) is the documented intended for the FAA as eyewash. Or 2) is the documented intended for the actual crew member during peak?

They already do what?

I've heard that there is a monthly printout of fuel planned by dispatcher. That said, although I've had to call GOC MUCH more often than I think is reasonable, I seldom have to debate very long when I "request" extra gas.

Some of the few times it's turned into a debate (we both know I'm going to win in the end), it was a matter of leaving freight on the ramp in order to upload my extra fuel ... that is a REASONABLE discussion that I don't mind having with the dispatcher.

That said, how come on a VFR day I need to add fuel for a daytime MEM-JFK leg. Everybody knows there will be BIG delays, even in VFR conditions. As one example on said MEM-JFK leg ... I added 3,000#'s extra. By the time I arrived at the jet they had already loaded my 3000 and an additional 2000 more (I was just fine with that). I arrived at the JFK ramp with only 14,500 lbs and would have been EMERGENCY FUEL except for the extra gas!*?

CASH incentives for saving gas is a very bad idea ... :eek: