Avantair Furlough
#22
I didn't stay. I quit.
I did it on my terms, not theirs.
While I was there, however, I had one safeguard against being forced to fly unsafe equipment, undertake unsafe flights, or fly fatigued, as I was often directed to do.
As a captain, I had the power to say "no." I also had the power to listen to any FO who desired to say "no."
My Philosophy was then, and is now that the most conservative opinion in the cockpit wins. Everyone is tied to the same fate on every flight; we all pay the same price together for poor judgement.
My power to say "no" was used without hesitation, without any regard for the whining and cries of the company, and it was used often. It was used up until the day I said "no more" and quit to go do something safer. I went back to aerial firefighting.
I did it on my terms, not theirs.
While I was there, however, I had one safeguard against being forced to fly unsafe equipment, undertake unsafe flights, or fly fatigued, as I was often directed to do.
As a captain, I had the power to say "no." I also had the power to listen to any FO who desired to say "no."
My Philosophy was then, and is now that the most conservative opinion in the cockpit wins. Everyone is tied to the same fate on every flight; we all pay the same price together for poor judgement.
My power to say "no" was used without hesitation, without any regard for the whining and cries of the company, and it was used often. It was used up until the day I said "no more" and quit to go do something safer. I went back to aerial firefighting.
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 180
So, if the statement is false then what's the point?
#24
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,895
The statement is not false.
In firefighting, when I've stated I won't do something and invoked safety of flight, it's the end of the discussion. I've never been pressured to go do something I felt or stated was unsafe. At avantair, it was a regular thing to be threatened with my job, be tasked with doing something that exceeded duty or rest limits, or to fly unairworthy aircraft.
I never died doing either one, but I was always placed in a more precarious position at avatar, and firefighting was the safer bet.
In firefighting, when I've stated I won't do something and invoked safety of flight, it's the end of the discussion. I've never been pressured to go do something I felt or stated was unsafe. At avantair, it was a regular thing to be threatened with my job, be tasked with doing something that exceeded duty or rest limits, or to fly unairworthy aircraft.
I never died doing either one, but I was always placed in a more precarious position at avatar, and firefighting was the safer bet.
#25
The Faa has know about these problems for years.
I was fired for reporting a near crash due to maintenance, and asked why I went to the Faa.
Two weeks later, I was also accused of trying to start a union?
I also submitted pictures, dates , and times of multiple severe maintenance events to the FAA, which did ground the fleet for a day, but still hard to believe after two years, no change.
Good luck to the pilots, though you knew what was happening, it was just a matter of time for it to catch up!
I was fired for reporting a near crash due to maintenance, and asked why I went to the Faa.
Two weeks later, I was also accused of trying to start a union?
I also submitted pictures, dates , and times of multiple severe maintenance events to the FAA, which did ground the fleet for a day, but still hard to believe after two years, no change.
Good luck to the pilots, though you knew what was happening, it was just a matter of time for it to catch up!
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: If its got wings I'll fly it
Posts: 118
I highly doubt that's statistically a true statement. Avantair has never had a fatal accident while aerial firefighting...well, regrettably has. Even on an 'incident per flight hour' basis I'm pretty sure Avantair would come out better than aerial firefighting.
So, if the statement is false then what's the point?
So, if the statement is false then what's the point?
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Bill Lumberg
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07-02-2008 06:08 AM