T, you sort of have to be looking for a loophole, in order to extrapolate that his main point was that ALPA would fail to represent. Bottom line, sailing was saying this wouldn't become an issue. I'm starting to think he's right. If there is a conflict, and some over-agressive ACS person writes a pilot up, I think the company will not let it get out of hand. If they don't, then ALPA better be all over it.

I was thinking further about this after talking to a rep, and realized I don't really have a strategy for them to react upfront. The company is emphasizing that pilots have an impact. I agree with that. They're telling ACS we will perform these gatehouse duties, in a beautifully tailored uniform, and I agree we'll do it to the extent it fits our plans. If in the application of this projection of pilot coolness, they get ahead of themselves, then we'll need to act.

I'm not sure I want us anticipating a problem on the PA's, but I'd like to see more assistance on the costs of uniforms.

What if there are a few issues, and a new memo reminds ACS that the PA's will occur if the Captain feels it appropriate in light of his/her other duties? That sentence alone would have made the memo perfect, but it can come in the form of a clean-up if needed.

Scope. Need I say more?

http://i1144.photobucket.com/albums/...hwestfleet.jpg

We agree. I'm less of a fan of gatehouse PA's now than ten years ago, but then again, the four stripes on my epaulets are black. I can't remember ever making a gatehouse PA myself...

reword it to say: if you have good public speaking, people skills or devilishly handsome, feel free to make a gate PA...

You still don't understand the discussion here.

I do think ALPA/DALPA would defend the pilot(s) involved in something like this after the fact if/when it gets that far. That is not the point.

He was arguing that DALPA would never do so because they would never have to. I refuted that, and even gave him yet another theoretical "out" to his proposed technicality, and then refuted that as well. You completely missed that. Twice.

I never said DALPA wouldn't defend the pilot(s), I only asked him if that was what he was saying because his "wager" could only pay out (to him) if it either never happened, or if it happened and DALPA refused to defend. Otherwise he would lose his bet.

This is a bad policy as written and needs quick clarification from company leadership. If that doesn't happen, DALPA needs to take charge of this and nip it in the bud to the extent possible. They need to at least make the attempt. If they are unsuccessful, then at least we all know where we stand and can go from there. If the company wants to officially make us part time gate agents, subbordinate to superior gate agent directives to follow their orders to make PA's, then let's at least get that out in the open.

Its great if you get your defense when brought up on "charges" from a direct superior gate agent or FA who reports you for disobeying orders for not doing your required PA when they directed you to do so (this will happen eventually). But it would be a million times better for all involved if it never got that far. A simple, completely free memo clarifying that all of this is only a suggestion/guideline and not a strict "will do" policy is very much needed before it gets that far, because without it, it will.

A lot of good ideas become very bad policy when written into mandatory policy. This is one of them, and pilots will face diciplinary actio over this eventually unless we fix this now.

Its great if your rep gets the charges dropped for you, after you apply your affirmative defense of "I was attending to physiological needs" or whatever. Hopefully that holds up to the gate agent's testimony that you were ordered to make it, by them, and you refused because you said that you didn't want to when you were supposed to say "yes sir/ma'am" and do as they ordered you to do.

Given a predominantly military background for our work force, the level of direct and indirect insubordination is impressive.

They teach some tough flying in the armed forces, but did you guys never practice PAs? Sad.

And insubordination>not wearing your hat

Out of curiosity, is questioning a poorly worded new policy insubordination?

Easy:

"Ladies and Gentleman, this is your pilot speaking. We are delayed, if you have any questions or concerns please direct all of them to this find upstanding gate agent and he/she will take care of all of you. I'll be back in 15 minutes to remind you."

You forgot to include a phallic fake name.

-Capt. Longdonghugenschlong

This raw/days bucket system is working fantastic.

I'm low-mid range seniority on rsv in my category. 68 hours of credit.

A guy a few numbers above me has flown 15. Excellent!