My DVR is set. Behind the scenes, you need to pitch to them that you're an aviation and military specialist and that the so-called experts they have now are idiots!

My publisher and Hannity/O'Reilly/anybody else are still chatting. It doesn't help that the book release is coming off a three day weekend. It'll happen but, after flying my butt off for the last three months, I'm happy to be in LA and not in NY.

Shiz, you're not really equating George Soros-funded organizations with the Marine Times are you? Really?:eek:

Interesting Article on AMR's APA.
 

DALLAS (TheStreet) -- The wide gap between American(AMR) and its pilots union narrowed when Dave Bates, 55, was elected president of the Allied Pilots Association.
More on AMR

Bates, a 25-year American 777 captain, is part of a new breed of union leaders who realize that for pilots to win, airlines must win too. Based in Miami, Bates replaced Lloyd Hill, a union leader who seemed to prefer obstructionism over cooperation.


Bates took office in July along with along with allies Anthony Chapman and Scott Shankland, who were elected vice president and secretary-treasurer. The terms are for three years; the election signifies a change in tone for the union. "We are going to do things significantly differently going forward," Bates told TheStreet in an interview. "I am very much invested in this airline. All of our pilots are. We want to see the airline grow and succeed. We've signaled to management that we want an entirely different business relationship, and our overtures to management have been well received."

Last month, Bates met with CEO Gerard Arpey to get acquainted. "It was a meet-and-greet, so we could get to know each other and develop a relationship," he said. Now, the two men are starting to exchange e-mails.

Following the sharp decline in travel that followed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, most airline employees made concessions inside or outside of bankruptcy court. Typically, pilots made the biggest share. For the leaders who presided over this process -- seeking to ensure their airlines' survival or, in the case of American, to avoid bankruptcy -- the reward was to be voted out of office and replaced by leaders who railed against the concessions.

But those new leaders accomplished little. Now, they have been replaced by more moderate leaders on the theory that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Bates' ascension follows last year's election of Wendy Morse as chairman of the United(UAUA) chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association. She too replaced a predecessor who appeared to be more engaged in obstruction than in conciliation.

The model for this new breed is Lee Moak, the ex-Marine who leads Delta's(DAL) pilots. Moak has taken the approach that working with his employer can benefit his members. He is considered one of the most important labor leaders in the history of the airline industry because his leadership enabled the Delta/Northwest merger to be successful. That eased the path to the merger of Continental(CAL) and United, which is expected to close next month.

I wonder of the CAL MEC will also learn to become more moderate and rid themselves of things like their abrasive bracelets, for example.

He is considered one of the most important labor leaders in the history of the airline industry because his leadership enabled the Delta/Northwest merger to be successful.

--------------
Um ok whatever.

Any other OPR writers that care to take this one on?

I'm not bashing.

Ok maybe I am taking a glass half empty approach.

4%/year? Thats a lot of wasted leverage. Write letters to get JAL and DAL married? Gee I wonder who would be doing all the Asia flying if that had worked out.

I want to cheerlead as much as the next person, but I gotta pass here.

I am glad we are hiring, rumors of fleet growth, etc. But like the congressional midterms, I take a no incumbents approach to the MEC.

You know what, there is a guy that comes in the afternoon on Fox News, John Scott. He's a pilot and when that DAL 738 had a blown tire he schooled the corporate pilot/aviation expert on the fact that this would be rather an unremarkable landing. Get a guy like that to go through the sims, its just good publicity.

And then the anchorettes can ride the jumpseats. :D Ride a longs.

Just wait for the first MD88 pilot who forgets someone is occupying the jumpseat and tries to do the "without looking stuff the notams and weather into the jumpseat" gag! :eek: Supposedly some Captain did that with an attractive female FAA inspector totally by accident. :D

You know, that is an excellent idea. Is it too much to ask for an aviation expert that can actually fly!

Carl

+1!

Carl

If you can pull that off, you won't forget your old pal Carl...will ya?

Carl