FDX QA Observations
#21
Hmmm. What would Tony do?
Is it paranoia if they're really out to get you? I wasn't quite sure what to think when my FO alerted me to this attempted QA ride a couple of weeks ago. I had the luxury of time to contemplate my options, reread pertinent sections of the CFR and FOM, and to plan a course of action. When I was removed from the trip because of a guage change (been happening a lot, by the way -- they seem to be having trouble finding enough MD-11 FOs to fill all of the MD-11 trips), I wondered if this FO Manager Wannabe would follow me to my new destination,
Is it paranoia if they're really out to get you? I wasn't quite sure what to think when my FO alerted me to this attempted QA ride a couple of weeks ago. I had the luxury of time to contemplate my options, reread pertinent sections of the CFR and FOM, and to plan a course of action. When I was removed from the trip because of a guage change (been happening a lot, by the way -- they seem to be having trouble finding enough MD-11 FOs to fill all of the MD-11 trips), I wondered if this FO Manager Wannabe would follow me to my new destination,
I spent all day yesterday at an ALPA Symposium, "Just Culture, A Proactive Use of Data" at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC.
My amateur summary of the subject matter was ... now that the industry is in the "big data collection" business, how should that data be handled and who should have access to it? How should the data received from our many safety programs be handled?
I had the opportunity to relay to Peggy Gilligan, the Associate Administrator of Aviation Safety, my feeling that the proposed "Just Culture" concept might not work well at FedEx because the line pilots can't trust management not to use the SAFETY DATA for disciplinary purposes (her boss, Michael Huerta was in the audience). Her immediate reply was that the program will never work if we can't trust each other and that she would discuss my feelings with FedEx Management the next time she meets with them.
It seems that almost the entire industry has evolved into a practice that if your questionably unsafe event wasn't intentionally reckless or negligent then no enforcement action will follow. I was able to relay two different ASAP type reports that were as evidence in discipline hearings. Hmmm ... I wonder if other airlines have that problem?
I was pleasantly surprised to see that the FAA Senior Management seems to understand the pilots' professional vulnerability and seemed to be inclined to give us the benefit of the doubt if there was one.
Last edited by MaydayMark; 06-17-2014 at 10:17 AM.
#22
Kinda odd that she wants to rat you out like that. I don't think she gets it.
#24
When we had our QA observation, we really had no idea about the program. After the flight, we still didn't.
The QA guy was an LCA from a different fleet. He said the program wasn't about the pilots, then promptly asked us several questions about our rest prior to the flight and then went into some "stump the dummy" questions about flying cost index and maintaining Mach on overseas routes. The captain stepped up and said since it wasn't a check ride we wouldn't play that game.
He was recording events like, when did we get the weight and balance, dg, etc. I found it slightly distracting. When I mentioned that I wouldn't participate, I mean I wouldn't participate in the interview. After all, it's none of his business how much I slept and if I commuted, etc.
The way I see it, there is nothing good that can come from these flights.
The QA guy was an LCA from a different fleet. He said the program wasn't about the pilots, then promptly asked us several questions about our rest prior to the flight and then went into some "stump the dummy" questions about flying cost index and maintaining Mach on overseas routes. The captain stepped up and said since it wasn't a check ride we wouldn't play that game.
He was recording events like, when did we get the weight and balance, dg, etc. I found it slightly distracting. When I mentioned that I wouldn't participate, I mean I wouldn't participate in the interview. After all, it's none of his business how much I slept and if I commuted, etc.
The way I see it, there is nothing good that can come from these flights.
#25
If you were still on the property you would be aware of active monitoring of our phone conversations with scheduling. Apparently management wants to prove there is a coordinated labor action going on.
But that is nonsense. The fact is more and more of us, individually, are sick of managements failures.
I think they're wondering why it took so long for us to start drowning in the sewage that is continually heaped upon us.
But that is nonsense. The fact is more and more of us, individually, are sick of managements failures.
I think they're wondering why it took so long for us to start drowning in the sewage that is continually heaped upon us.
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Retired
Posts: 3,717
If you were still on the property you would be aware of active monitoring of our phone conversations with scheduling. Apparently management wants to prove there is a coordinated labor action going on.
But that is nonsense. The fact is more and more of us, individually, are sick of managements failures.
I think they're wondering why it took so long for us to start drowning in the sewage that is continually heaped upon us.
But that is nonsense. The fact is more and more of us, individually, are sick of managements failures.
I think they're wondering why it took so long for us to start drowning in the sewage that is continually heaped upon us.
As for my "paranoid aren't we" comment, Mark never said that they knew his name, just that Ms. Gilligan promised to mention how Mark felt about the lack of trust between the pilots and FedEx management. So when you commented that: "I'm sure you said, "I thought this was off the record, please don't use my name. I fear retribution." and "Kinda odd that she wants to rat you out like that.", it just seemed a little paranoid to me.
#27
Please do try to keep up.
#28
Whether an observer is allowed to jumpseat or not jumpseat can be settled by reading FOM 2.93 page 2-41. The bottom line is this is a new world. IOSA and the FAA require QA programs and data gathering. I was reading data in the WBAT and some of the questions asked that were objected to are in the ERC reports and are nothing more than data gathering that in actuality may help crews by adjusting flight schedules and manning issues that have been brought up in other threads.
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2012
Posts: 260
Read Tonys post...
Whether an observer is allowed to jumpseat or not jumpseat can be settled by reading FOM 2.93 page 2-41. The bottom line is this is a new world. IOSA and the FAA require QA programs and data gathering. I was reading data in the WBAT and some of the questions asked that were objected to are in the ERC reports and are nothing more than data gathering that in actuality may help crews by adjusting flight schedules and manning issues that have been brought up in other threads.
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