Search
Notices
Cargo Part 121 cargo airlines

FDX QA Observations

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-17-2014, 10:06 AM
  #21  
Gets Weekends Off
 
MaydayMark's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: MD-11 Captain
Posts: 4,304
Smile

Originally Posted by TonyC View Post
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,

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.
MaydayMark is offline  
Old 06-17-2014, 02:09 PM
  #22  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Gunter's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,931
Default

Originally Posted by MaydayMark View Post
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.

I'm sure you said, "I thought this was off the record, please don't use my name. I fear retribution."

Kinda odd that she wants to rat you out like that. I don't think she gets it.
Gunter is offline  
Old 06-17-2014, 04:16 PM
  #23  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Retired
Posts: 3,717
Default

Getting a little paranoid aren't we?
Jetjok is offline  
Old 06-17-2014, 04:43 PM
  #24  
Gets Weekends Off
 
HIFLYR's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: 777 Captain in Training
Posts: 1,457
Default

Originally Posted by golfandfly View Post
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.
Once those type of questions start he or she will be told to go to the back and stay there.
HIFLYR is offline  
Old 06-17-2014, 05:08 PM
  #25  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Gunter's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,931
Default

Originally Posted by Jetjok View Post
Getting a little paranoid aren't we?
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.
Gunter is offline  
Old 06-17-2014, 07:34 PM
  #26  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Retired
Posts: 3,717
Default

Originally Posted by Gunter View Post
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.
Gunter, you say "the company has been monitoring phone conversations with scheduling." If you haven't realized it, the company has been recording all phone conversations with CRS since about 1990, and probably even before that."

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.
Jetjok is offline  
Old 06-18-2014, 04:23 AM
  #27  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Gunter's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,931
Default

Originally Posted by Jetjok View Post
Gunter, you say "the company has been monitoring phone conversations with scheduling." If you haven't realized it, the company has been recording all phone conversations with CRS since about 1990, and probably even before that."
They're doing more than just recording in case someone gets an irregularity report. They're listening in real time to get a picture of how we are reacting to them. Which is why I said "active" monitoring.

Please do try to keep up.
Gunter is offline  
Old 06-18-2014, 04:42 AM
  #28  
Gets Weekends Off
 
3pointlanding's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jan 2011
Posts: 307
Default

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.
3pointlanding is offline  
Old 06-18-2014, 05:26 AM
  #29  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Apr 2012
Posts: 260
Default Read Tonys post...

Originally Posted by 3pointlanding View 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.
There isn't an MOU. Read Tonys post...
HKFlyr is offline  
Old 06-18-2014, 06:20 AM
  #30  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Gunter's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,931
Default

Originally Posted by HKFlyr View Post
There isn't an MOU. Read Tonys post...
You're right. Its just a line in the FOM that says they are mandatory
Gunter is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Zoro
Cargo
32
07-26-2012 06:32 AM
vagabond
Cargo
83
07-14-2010 07:27 AM
Ernst
Cargo
148
07-08-2010 06:04 PM
⌐ AV8OR WANNABE
Cargo
61
03-19-2009 08:40 AM
CloudSailor
Cargo
18
05-19-2008 10:34 AM

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



Your Privacy Choices