HercDriver130

Though not flying 121 anymore.... I agree, never a better time than NOW for the Unions to really step up at all levels.

Rather B Fishin

New Know hit the nail on the head with his post. Our individual companies use the media to create a public perspective that favors them when needed. Let's use some of our 2% and do the same this time around. No, we can't IMMEDIATELY change the way we're paid, treated and respected by our companies, the public and the govermnent BUT we can start crafting an image and informing the public of what we really do up there on the pointy end of the spear and the EXTREME sacrifices we've endured.

Most of the flying public DON'T know we have lost our pensions, DON'T know we have taken 50% pay cuts, DON'T know that their First Officer is flying them around and doesn't even receive medical benefits for his first 6 months, DON'T know that 8 hours from the time they get to their destination, we're back at work.

We have some very smart people working for us (at least at ALPA) in terms of media relations and lobbyists. Let's get the message out. Let's put our CEO's collective salary and SEC stock options/bonuses out there for the public to see. It may be something so simple as: CEO Joe Smoe = 1.3 million a year, FO Joe Dirt 27,000 a year. Who do you want up front when things go wrong? Sr.VP Jane Doe = 500K a year in pension, CA Jane Doe = 30K PBGC pension a year. Should Jane really be worried about her pension while concentrating on flying this aircraft?

We as pilots also have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot. As a group goes, we're a pretty humble bunch (for the most part). Someone say's "nice landing", we say "ahh even a blind dog finds a bone once in awhile.." Why not start saying "Thanks, yeah it was pretty challenging up there today." Some one say's "look at this new 777 (or now 787) it looks pretty complicated." We say and I qoute the Discovery series on the 777 development "Nahh with this technology there's a button I push to t/o and another one I push for landing." Why not start saying "You are correct, thats why our most senior and experience pilots fly this airplane."

Let's stop selling ourselves short and diminishing the awesome responsiblity we possess. I don't know of any other profession that requires the training, education, skill and responsiblity that doesn't take credit for it and are not ashamed to say so. I'm writing my letter TODAY.

jonnyjetprop

The general public will never give a rats ass about an airline pilot's compensation package or quality of life. To think that a PR campaign is your ticket to a better life is silly. Does anybody including most major airline pilots even care that a new hire at a regional makes less than 20K. I didn't think so, so why would they care that a USAir captain only makes 144K.

Please keep in mind that the great job that Capt. Sullenberger did will soon be forgoten and will only be pulled out now and then in a news clip. 14 minutes and counting.

IMHO there is only one way to better your pay and quality of life. First, the airline has to make money and then you negotiate for a better package. It's going to take years.

The loss came from the poor economic profromance of the airlines and the willingness of a judge to cut a deal with management instead of forcing the unions and the airlines to negotiate reductions.

DAL4EVER

I agree 100%. A little over a year ago I was having a similar conversation with the Captain. We were talking about an experience I had while jumpseating out of uniform. I was standing at the front of the jetway when three business travelers were looking from the jetway into the cockpit. One of them said, "that looks incredibly complex. I wonder if they really have to know what everything does?" One of his counterparts replied immediately, "they don't do anything. Those computers do all the work." And on they went.

I was recounting this to my Captain and I was wondering out loud with him if are in fact our worst enemies. When there are thunderstorms enroute or at destination we say "there are rainshowers". Windshear we make a PA saying "gusty winds". We have become so good collectively as well as they system that supports us that we haven't had a deadly plane crash since Comair 5191. While unbelievably admirable, like anything else in life, something that appears to be inherently reliable tends to be taken for granted. Passengers seem to think that the "Easy Button" is pushed on takeoff and all is well. They don't realize the years of training and experience it takes to make that happen.

Since that conversation I began making honest PAs. It lets passengers know that there are hazards but that we safely brought them through those. Time and again. My pre-takeoff announcements also include something like "our takeoff weight today is approximately 340,000 pounds. To get us airborne we have two General Electric engines that are producing 112,000 horsepower. The fuel we will use to get to California is approximately 9,000 gallons." I do that because I often find people are amazed at these numbers and that planes can even fly. When deplaning, I see many more people acknowledging us as they leave the airplane.

I think Sully and crew at USAir reminded the public this week of the extraordinary skill, critical decision making and value in experience that pilots must possess. I doubt anyone will say he's overpaid. I think this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to remind the public what we do and that people like him may not always be around to command your plane if wages and working conditions don't improve. If they don't, people won't continue to come into this profession as the law of capitalism will dictate that those with the best skills will go where they are rewarded. Failure to have to the best qualified guys up front could be catastrophic the next time.

Rather B Fishin

Johnny,
Silly me, you're so right. Informational picketing, picketing while on strike, billboards, giant rats, mobile billboards, USA Today ads, they don't do anything. I bet the company just throws us pay raises when it's time for a new contract because they don't care about NEGATIVE PR. I guess local news crews don't care about what we have to say when they send reporters out to cover said events. Why do companies agree to any pay raises or contractual improvements outside of pilots seeking "self help". I bet it's out of the goodness of their hearts.........

Buzz

Like some other folks have typed, yes, we are our own worst enemy ($18k a year for a new hire FO RJ pilot, $31 an hour for a new hire FO at Continental, etc).

Hell, America is it's own worst enemy. Everyone and their brother whines and cries and moans about "outsourcing" but how many Americans refuse to buy foreign made goods? 1%?

The folks don't give a poop about us, they only care about the cost of a ticket from city X to city Y and that is not going to change.

But, tomorrow we get change that we can believe in.

A320fumes

The one I really hate is "The computer says we'll be arriving at XX:XXpm". It just reinforces the idea that we are just data entry clerks.

cactusmike

I agree with you there.

HalinTexas

You forgot about all those that took a 100% paycuts last year. Many of them have left the country because that's the job they could find.

DAL4EVER

Good luck with the job hunt. Hopefully its outside of aviation.