What's going on at AirTran?
 

In ATL today and the ground controller was ill with several citrus flights.....

ATC..."Citrus xxx, do you plan on taxiing at that speed to the runway?"
Citrus xxx..."Yep"
ATC...much frustration....................and the ground controller pulled him out of line and made him wait until the money line cleared.

The "safe taxi" speeds must be getting noticed around ATL.:D

There's another thread on this somewhere. I had to do a go-around because of Air Tran. They are extremely slow at clearing the runway. But after we landed, the ground controllers made them hold short of our ramp and we got in first.

Those "wiley" ground controllers seem to be trying to counter-act the effects of the safe taxi speeds. Kinda funny, if you ask me. :p

I am sorry, but your picture is just flat out wrong.:)

One or two
 

There is always one or two knuckle heads who decide to protest on their own. Airtran is in contract negotiations. This stuff ushually gets corrrected pretty quick by the flight ops dept. The montra is do your job and fly the contract. I agree but you don't hose your buddy either.

No slam on the controllers but ATL is kinda of a busy place. Go arounds can and do happen often because of spacing. Even when you do what control asks you can still get sent around. My philosophy is "Keep it Moving"

You must not get out much huh? How the hell do you not know the movie Borat?

The same guy that plays Borat, the avatar picture you see, is the same guy in the movie Bruno out right now.

LIVE IN THE NOW! :D

Unfortunately, the "safe taxi" speeds are being documented by management and being forwarded on.

I don't care if you push the aircraft to the runway, do not "safe taxi" when crossing a runway. Don't risk the safety of others to prove a point.

It is frustrating, often funny, because each pilot's "safe taxi" is different. Note: If you have 4 ramp head start on American and they catch you, you may be going too slow!!!

Be careful guys and gals....

Not being argumenative, but the FAR/AIM recommends that an aircraft be taxied at the pace of a brisk walk. Maybe everyone else is taxiing too fast????:rolleyes:

I get your point though.....just remember, the FAR's do not address taxiing too slow.

I completely understand. I just don't want to see any pilot lose their job because of this!

I've been flying in and out of ATL for just under 9 years. I have never done a "go-around' ever in all those years while on approach in ATL. I've seen them, but never done one in ATL. Now BWI, thats another story.

Unless of course you count the one's I've made in the simulator, while in for training or PC/PT's, then thats about 10 or 15 a year...... :cool:

Boeing717Driver

not related but intresting!

Other News
Thursday August 13, 2009
AirTran Airways announced yesterday that it will expand operations at New York LaGuardia and Washington National from Nov. 4, and reportedly it will cease operations at Newark on Oct. 25. The Associated Press reported that AirTran obtained additional slots at LGA and DCA from Continental Airlines in exchange for its slots at EWR. Neither airline confirmed the deal. AirTran did say in a statement that it will begin offering LGA-Indianapolis service and boost LGA-Orlando flights from Oct. 25. It added that it will "increase the frequency of flights to Orlando and Atlanta" from DCA on the same date. AP, citing unnamed AirTran officials, said the LCC will give its 10 EWR slots, as well its lone gate at the airport, to CO, which hubs there. CO in turn reportedly is giving AirTran four LGA and six DCA slots.
ATW Daily News

Not good news for ATL-EWR commuters.

"CO in turn reportedly is giving AirTran four LGA and six DCA slots."

Good news!!! 4 less RJ's into LGA and 6 less RJ's into DCA........... :D

Boeing717Driver

So I guess that means that these slots will be flown by 737's and not 717's :rolleyes:

If you think the 717 is an RJ then you have a serious problem!! :confused:

It's an inside joke . . .;)

But the DC9 was definitely the RJ of its day, feeding its larger siblings . . . and nothing wrong with that.

The problem came when DC9 and 737-200 regional flying was farmed out to the lowest bidder, who put the people in the "new RJ's" (the EMB's and CRJ's) and paid the pilots as if they were still flying turboprops.

OK, Im following you now. It was a sarcastic post. I wish the DC9's & Guppys were still feeding 727's. :(

I think it was a joke... :)

When I was a Citrus 717 driver the 'heavy' 737 guys & gals would call us RJ drivers... ;)

I enjoyed that airplane, probably the most uncomfortable cockpit seats in the industry but a great airplane overall...

PS. I still fly RJs or the smallest airplanes my current airline has - 757s LOL

Ding, Ding, Ding! We have a winner!

Hope things are going well for you at your new gig, or new old gig. Sorry the "hot AirTran chick" turned out to be just a damn Tranny.

I picked up on if after the fact. :) I understand the sarcasm. I guess you both have at some point in time heard the same pax comment I have when boarding the DC9........Boarding Pax says 'Oh.....it's one of those small planes.' WTH0?!:confused:

I had great time and enjoyed it so it was a tough decision... In 20 years or so I'll know for sure if I made the right decision but so far I'm pretty content... ;)

PS. "I have nipples Greg, can you milk me?" Love that movie! :D

Sure but after 4,000+ hours in a 19-seat turboprop Jetstream I was totally immune to that comment... ;)

"So what movie are y'all playing tonight?"

Today we have "Honey, I shrunk the airplane!" :D

Any word on hiring? I'm assuming with the summer about gone those on perpetual reserve will remain on perpetual reserve.

Just smile and respond with "Really, would you like to help wash it? It should only take a few minutes since it's so small."

Need better / more gates at LGA BLAH BLAH
 

I really do not like Airtrans LGA gates. It is nice to get new slots in LGA but we are going to need better gates and more of them. I can't tell you how much time I have in the penalty box because we have a plane on the gate with no free gates to go into.

Back to the original topic of this thread. Why is there always "That Guy" who figures he has some master plan to bring the Airline to the table by "taxiing slowlly", delaying at the gate to get one bug off his windscreen, ETC. It just reflects poorly on us. Angering ATC just make it more difficult for all AT guys, and brings down stricter scrutiny. It is far more effective to make the public at large aware of our issues rather than ATC.

Pilots are a tough crowd. I think we could make $200/hr and we would still gripe. Besides the love of flying and travel, many people came into this industry expecting some great quality of life and lifestyle. To the public imagination we are still the "Catch Me if you can" over paid, over sexd, Captains of the Air. Recent events like the crash into the Hudson and the commuter crash earlier this year have brought the difficulty of our jobs into the public awareness.

We need to play on this and fight for the basic standards, safety, pay, quality of life. The reality is we are highly trained, underpaid professionals, trying to make good.

Blah Blah Blah... IF anyone has a plan let me know,

Boogie

Your the exception, not the rule. Talk to your co-workers.

Duplicate post

OK, I am going to try this again, since my last post was deleted-


Boogie, For all your talk about "informing the public", we've had three Informational Picketing events. How many have you attended? Let me guess, you were too busy fetching strollers, pushing wheelchairs and kissing babies to show up, or were you picking up a trip "to help Scheduling out".

Guys like you are the reason this has dragged on for 5 years. Quit being part of the problem, and start being part of the solution.

KAT MILLIKER Learn respect
 

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kat Milliker (Post 663942)

OK, I am going to try this again, since my last post was deleted-

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Let me guess you are a guy who is Holier than thou. You are a guy who jumps to conclusions without all the facts. You are a guy who always has the last word. You are a guy who is out for numero uno.

No it turns out I have been activated in the military. No I did not volunteer for this one, but I am doing my duty and meeting my responsibilites. I am spending my time serving my country far overseas, away from my 4 month pregnant wife, and 18 month old daughter. I am sacrificing to give you the right (freedom of speech) to march up and down holding signs a looking sharp in your uniform.
Don't talk to me about not doing my part you flame baiter.

You with your whopping 6 posts. Not been here long eh?

I am a guy who treats people with respect, always. If it takes shaking hands and kissing babies, and pushing wheelchairs from C1-D2 to treat people with respect then that is what I will do. This nothing to do with the company or contract. When I signed up with Airtan I took a personal responsibility to do a good job. Do the job the contract states (AND treat people with respect customers or not) If I get to the point where I am so fed up I can't do my job professionally AND show people respect, then I will leave the career field, or work somewhere else.

If the time comes I will show my support for my fellow pilots by walking the line. I will commute the 2000+ miles to do so. I do believe in solidarity, and that has been lacking. You do not need to come in here swinging for the fences when you do not know what you are talking about. You don't know me or understand who I am.

You need to grow up, become PROFESSIONAL, and show some respect to those around you. You do not represent me. If I have to walk the line with people like you, then I may have to go work somewhere else.

Fortunately for me, I have had only two people who have giving me pause at Airtran (now three if you work there). I have invited many of the captains and FA's come by my house on layovers where I live. Good Folks.

Out of respect for this forum and it rules, I do not use more colorful language when addressing you.

I do not care if and when we go on strike, I will still show people respect. I grew up in an Airline family and will never be a scab, but will I do the best job I can because I have accepted that responsibility. I am a professional. If you do not like it, leave.

Every job has sacrifices and rewards. Being deployed I am making in 3 months 90% of what I make in a year at Airtran. That’s great, but I am deployed to someplace few would want to live. Do I think we deserve more for what we do? Heck Yes!! Would I be there in ATL if I could, you betcha. If you talked to me like that at the gate, or crewroom and we would have issues. I have been places and done things in my life few could dream of or understand. It has been rough and rewarding road. Don't ever think you can be condecending to me.

The reason the contract has not been resolved in five years is a lack of leadership pure and simple. Both on the company and unions part. This coin is two sided. Guys like you are a road block to success. You would complain just to hear your own voice. You lose sight of the goal. A good contract, a good place to work, with good people. With synergy like that this company could go places. Walking the line is a good start, but in no way gives you the right or clout to tell me how it is.

It seems we finally have some leadership on the union side, and I pray we can move forward together from here.

Well, enough ranting, the crew bus is here, off on another mission. KAT spend a few years in hot sandy places away from family and friends. If you already have then thank you, but remember you could be here, and don't throw baseballs inside this glass house.

Boogie
Character Counts

Informing the Public
 

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kat Milliker (Post 663942)

OK, I am going to try this again, since my last post was deleted-

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Mission Canxd

When I say informing the public, I do not mean Airtran, I means as all professional pilots. You need to look beyond the Airtran picture part of this.

I caught grief on this forum for suggesting that Airtran (NPA), a year ago with the last TA, should not be negotiating at that point. I argued we were ill prepared to do so. We should not have been trying to set a basis by which other pilot groups contracts would be compared to (see Airtran does it for this amount of $$). We were not organized nor unified to do that. I suggested that we wait till SWA, Alaska, AMR, worked out their contracts. I knew they would all get better deals than we could at that time. I suggested it was better for us to compare ourselves to them after their contracts were negotiated. I think luckily for us it will workout that way. (Now we can say see Alaska does it for this)
I am not saying Airtran pilots should let the others do the heavy lifting. I am saying we would have done more harm than good as a basis of comparison

We need to inform the public as an industry, not as an airline pilot group. Airtran’s MEC is a small part of this.

See the bigger picture

Boogie
Going Running

Boogie,

Its always better to be in negotiations AFTER other carriers. Contract negotiations are the only issue where it DOESN'T pay to the the lead dog in the sled team.

You get it!!
 

See you get it!! I agree 100%. I just thought we would be lowering the bar if we settled for less than we are due. A raise for the sake of a raise is not worth doing unless it is what we deserve

Boogie

Since you're not on the property, and obviously have no idea what's going on around here, I'm gonna cut you some slack and let you figure it out when you get back.

PS., I joined this board about 4 years ago, after receiving an email invite from another well-known board. There wasn't enough traffic to bring me back often, and I forgot my username and password. I heard there was some interesting AAI stuff now, so I signed up again. I guess that makes you the newbie . .. . things are not always what they seem.

You got served
 

Well, welcome back, that said in the last 4 years alot has gone on here sorry you missed it.

Since you are a great font of information spend some time and enlighten the forum on what is actually going on at Airtran. Quick quips do nothing but inspire ire, and add nothing to the discussion.

If you think the NPA had their stuff together the last 5 years please tell me why and how.

I noticed you are keeping mum about the rest of my rant. And no please don't cut me slack. You will never be in a position to do so. I do not need or want your condencention. Please learn that people are entitled to not agree with you. I hope you learn to treat people with respect. It will make things easier all the way around.

Boogie

Sorry, but between serving on two committees, and working to establish an emergency fund for our two most recent contract hostages, I'm a little too busy to exchange dogmas right now.

Good luck and stay safe

KARMA runs over Dogma
 

I would love to compare lives sometime on who is busier. Suffice it to say I hope you get caught up. I would like to hear the real story on the latest two who were fired and why they were spotlighted. I hope our new union can take intimidation out of the companies play book when it come to contract negotiation.

You fly safe too. See you in Aruba soon?
Looking forward to getting back to the line

Boogie