PBS Frontline
 

PBS Frontline is doing an hour long documentary on the airline industry post deregulation - with a focus on issues raised in the Colgan 3407 crash. We are looking for current/former regional pilots to talk with us on background on issues and concerns they have as it relates to safety. We are also looking for pilots with time in the Q400 - and we hopee - some access to a full mission sim. Please respond here or send an email to pilot/plane owner/reporter Miles O'Brien at [email protected].

Miles,
I think it is going to be tough to find a current Q pilot to talk to you. You should know the FAA is crawling all over Q operators. Inspections, Line-checks, and all checkrides and PCs.
S

Any current pilot would be stupid to talk to you.

I would like $400/hr, all expenses paid, first class travel, personal assistant with my own trailer, guaranteed 20 mins of airtime and a five year $780,000 contract to be the PBS Frontline Aviation Consultant. :cool:

Please respond here: [email protected]




OO.


PS Hope is spelled with a single E. They are full MOTION simulators.

Many furloughed pilots or those who are tired of stand-ups and 16 hour duty days would love to talk about it.

I personally wouldn't speak with a reporter without first clearing my statements through an attorney (in other words, never). Remember they are accountable to no one and no thing - including the truth. And of course Miles O'Brien isn't going to be at your FAA or airline termination hearing if you say something incriminating.

That said, Frontline is one of my favorite shows.

Frontline is an incredible show....I sure hope you (Miles) can live up to the challenge. I will be very disappointed if this turns into a CNN "world in peril" Anderson Cooper'esque docu-drama.

I would hope you would focus on the less glamorous topics of corporate (often crooked) bankruptcies and how they were used to get scope relief.

Also, hit upon regional airline whipsawing and the joke of a bureaucracy that is the FAA.

Finally, I would hope you would tie all of this back to the resulting low pay and complete lack of career stability that encourages/ensures a very high turnover (and resulting loss of cockpit experience).

Yeah, umm...keep smoking that hope dope.






OO.

You can tell him anything you want to and it will not be attributed to you if don't want it to be. How do you think the iraq war was hyped?:rolleyes:

Anyone with a story to tell has nothing to lose by talking with him.

FWIW, I know Miles and have flown with him. He is an okay-guy... no bullsh*t, no hidden agendae, not one for 'gotcha reporting'. He listens. He asks questions. It isn't about busting someone's b*lls or getting the big scoop. He isn't after THE QUOTE from some no-name to make a story like the crap in McPaper a few days ago about general aviation airports. He knows what he knows and isn't afraid to find out what he doesn't know.

I guess you can say Miles is old school and coming from an old aviator, that is about the best endorsement I can offer. YMMV...

I think we need a little bit more mature answers to this thread. Remember we are profesionals, and if you are not willing to comment or talk about the mentined subjects, feel free to express your concerns but in a polite and professional manner.
I keep hearing complains about regional pilots like: "nobody knows what it is to be a regional pilot", "they don't know how bad our working rules are and our pay sucks" "public thinks that we are overpaid bus drivers" "nobody appreciate our work"
This might be an opportunity to speak up... now I do have my concerns too, but remember that you might be able to reach an agreement where you remain anonymus and your face doesn't show. I've seen tons of special reports where FBI/CIA/DEA agents testify but with a "dark or blurry face". If any of you q400 guys want to talk I think it would be great, but make sure you run it by ALPA's legal dept. first and make sure that "our" interests are protected during the interviews and it doesn't end up being edited to make us look bad.

You guys ought to quit being a bunch of friggin wienies and speak up. I'm sure you have plenty of gripes....or are you satisfied with the satus quo.

Shoot him an email then.

Are you serious? You really think one hour on a public channel will change the status quo? Money talks, bullsh!t walks...PBS is NOT a lobbyist for regional airline pilots and they certainly aren't going to change anything.

This isn't a bash on PBS, Frontline or Mr. O'Brien. I hope that they do a excellent program on airline safety, but realistically that's all it's going to be.




OO.

I sent Miles the contact info for the MEC Chairs. That should be a pretty solid group of sources, and those that can not only speak- but know the "behind the scenes" discussions going on in terms of new changes and programs towards safety.

A few places to investigate:

- The zero to hero schools and how corrupt some of them are like Jet University
- Pay to play like Gulfstream Academy

A few ideas to discuss:

- The whipsaw effect
- The rail road labor act and the contract negotiations process and how corrupt it can become (Read: Pinnacle and their struggle for a new contract)
- The effect of Chapter 11 on our contracts
- Do a cost analysis on how much extra it would cost the passengers to double the salary of a first year F.O. and get them off of food stamps. You will be shocked how little it is.

Not if you darken the faces and put in the deep voices. You'd have a line out the door. Airline pilot confessionals.

Blah Blah Blah.......Remember we are profesionals.....It's always one in the bunch.

This isn't just happening to Q pilots.

The appearance is that the FAA has basically gone on a witch hunt against ALL regional pilots. They refuse to acknowledge the problems that they themselves have allowed and instead apparently are becoming aggressive against regional pilots performance as if the primary problem is faulted outside of the system they have created and approve of, i.e., it's just bad pilots.

The FAA has become defensive and reactive to this situation. Instead of working WITH pilots (line pilots) to better understand their issues, their problems and what is truly effective in altering poor performance and THEN making necessary changes in operation, training and performance, they've instead decided to come blasting out of the gate to stand regional pilots against the wall.

Many wonder what happens when this method of resolution fails (it will). It seems as it stands now, putting the spotlight on regional pilots themselves deflects scrutiny away from the relationship of the FAA to air carriers and its resulting inadequacies allowing the previous business as usual problem to continue uncorrected.

I doubt many currently employed pilots would risk their jobs and careers to assist in any such documentary as part of the business as usual philosophy is that silence is golden. Exposing many of the fundamental problems in this industry will end up costing money and profit is king here, therefore a dim view will be taken against those that participate in rocking the boat in any manner contrary to what the RAA and ATA declare to be reality.

Ask either of these two groups about this and they'll just claim that training and testing need to be ramped up a little to weed out the weak or bad pilots and then we'll be fine, but STAY AWAY from any issues within either the carriers themselves or their relationship with the FAA as their is certainly no problem there.

Are YOU are one of those pilots who are unwilling to risk your job to try to improve things? If so, don't whine about how nobody is willing to fix things for YOU, because YOU are part of the problem.

It's unfortunate that the FAA runs on tombstone regulation, but right now, we have a chance to have a voice if WE have the 'stones. I have contacted Mr. O'brien (have not heard back yet), but I AM willing to make a statement.

This boat we are all in is called Aviation, and it's taking on water. Grab a bucket and bail, or else don't be surprised when you drown!

Thanks for the stern lecture. :rolleyes:

The point wasn't about ME or fixing things FOR me...........it was a simple statement of fact. Most will not do this for fear of reprisal from either their company or the FAA and that's all I was saying.

The fact you twisted that around to provide yourself an opportunity to attack ME over it, I consider pathetic. Perhaps you've got nothing to lose and can always move back with mom and dad or work for an understandable company that will allow you to publicly criticize them in the media. If so, feel free to fly your little blue goose majestically forward to move heaven an earth for the rest of us. We all need hero's and if you succeed, maybe someone will send you a red shirt with an "S" on it.

So, I guess you won't be taking advantage of this opportunity to get your story heard?

Some responses on here highlight why the industry is so exploitative.

Somebody is offering to draw attention to the problems within a segment of the industry and yet most pilots are too gutless to come forth and become a part of the debate.

Dont complain next time your evil boss screws you or works you too hard. If you cant be bothered to help bring about change then sit in silence.

Many fine examples of us attacking each other rather than the cause of the problem.

It is no wonder we aren't respected.

...........

What if they put your name out? Are you going to ask for anonymity?

Maybe he can go to his employer and say, " Look, I'm going to spill my guts in the media about how you're treating us like crap and endangering the lives of the travelling public.............you don't have a problem with that right ?"

I'm sure his company will just say, "Sure, go right ahead".

Probably get sued for defamation. Getting fired wouldn't be as bad as the legal bills defending yourself (right or wrong). Most companies the size of even a modest regional can make an example out of dragging someone thru the legal process resulting in tens, if not hundreds of thousands of legal dollars out of pocket for them. If they got really ****ed off they could blow 100K themselves just to put you in BK and foreclosure.

Once you go down that road, you can't call a "time out" and you cannot predict where that road will take you. It may strat off looking innocent enough, but terminate in a dead end cliff without enough room to turn around.

My advice is to at least put the house in your spouses name before starting ANYTHING. At least then, you'll have a better chance of not sharing breakfast out of a paper bag with some of the less fortunate local residents.

Miles,

Nice to see you've landed on your feet with a respectable platform. I hope you'll be allowed to do a fair and balanced story and shed light on some of the practices that airline managers at every level use to squeeze costs until Wall Street is happy. The government and the geniuses running airlines these days have collectively turned what used to be the safe, pleasant experience of flying into an ordeal to be endured only as a last resort. I'm a retiring senior captain with a legacy carrier, and I am appalled at what has happened to our product. Passengers often ride RJ's and turbo-props where we used to fly 737's, and 737's now go where DC-10's and 747's used to. So there's a much bigger story here than just Q400 operators--they're only flying because they were the lowest bidder for a major airline contract. The ultimate responsibility for the quality of their product lies in the boardrooms of the carriers who hired them.

Looking forward to your report.

I don't think it's accurate to say there is a "quality" difference between seat 23B in a 737 and seat 6C on an RJ. Both are miserable experiences. In fact when I non-rev I seek out RJs unless there is a chance to get upgraded to first, boarding/deplaning is so much faster.

The issue isn't that "Passengers often ride RJ's and turbo-props" as you brought up, its that those planes are operated by the lowest bidders who then have to corners across the board (which you also brought up). RJs and TPs being flown by mainline pilots at respectable rates would be fantastic.

I doubt we disagree, I'm just responding to how I interpreted your post.

Eagle,

Your warnings are not falling on deaf ears. An interview is risky. (I am thinking about rewatching The Insider to drive that point home) But, now is the best time we have to get out our story.

I think the story Mr. O'Brien is seeking is, as has been said in the NTSB and congressional hearings, there are two tiers of of safety. Also, that ever decreasing fares and excessive competition have forced companies to cut cost including training or safety programs that exceed what the FAA requires.

FWIW, Mr. O'Brien has offered full anonymity (he brought it up). He also said he has been "deluged" with emails.

Good night, and good luck
Edward R Murrow

From my perspective there is a huge quality advantage to an airliner with multiple lavatories and flight attendants, room for everyone's luggage, isn't usually at min fuel status the moment it leaves the gate, and that you don't have to walk outside to board. I agree that individual seat comfort & pitch varies widely--death row inmates have more space than most coach passengers. And yes, they should be maintained, dispatched and flown by mainline carriers who have the resources to do it right.

What does this have to do with SAFETY? And min fuel status, HA! Have you even flown an RJ?







OO.

Agreed, so why do airline managers persist in refusing to fly a 777 from Peoria to Wichita? Three reasons: Cost, Money and Profit.

There's an old joke which applies here. A young computer engineer perfects a printer which never needs ink or paper refills, gives flawless, HD picture quality copies and can run over 100 years without need of repair. After presenting his work to his wife, she asked "how much will this printer cost?" "A million dollars each.......but we only need to sell one".

The airlines are in the same predicament. While there may be a market for comfort and high quality service (e.g. Midwest Airlines) it is a very small niche which may not be financially sustainable in today's market (e.g. Midwest Airlines).

Well said and agreed. I would advise anyone who talks to avoid personal attacks such as CEO Chokesondik won't be happy until a plane full of passengers are killed or even naming the airline such as I work for the industry's most dangerous airline; Flybynite Airways nicknamed "F'n'A". '

My humble advise is to look around the industry, and focus on what regs or system problem need to be changed in order to produce a safer product such as changes in the FT/DT rules and better pay. Explain the time and expense of training coupled with the fact we're all one medical away from being unemployed without even a kiss goodbye.

The Double-Edged Sword
 

Miles O'Brien is a respected friend of aviation, aerospace technology and the environment. If you are not familiar with his reporting I can assure you that he will report only the honest facts.

Miles O'Brien - Uplinks - True/Slant

Deregulation has been a double edged sword. It has allowed competition to provide cheap transportation to the masses while simultaneously and quietly lowering safety and quality to the barest minimum.

Comfort on board has nothing to do with safety, but if you offer a washboard seat and a single smelly lav and your competition offers something better then you have a problem. Never flown an RJ, but I've noticed they're always first to divert when the weather goes down.

Frontline is authentic investigative journalism, and it can lead to action. I remember one story about six years ago about a wrongly convicted poor kid that resulted in such a deluge of mail (5000+ letters) that the case was reopened and overturned, solely because of a Frontline investigation.

I've been around a long time, but I know I still haven't seen it all and done it all, but I do know there are some 24 year old 121 captains out there who don't even know what they don't know. They can't; there is a certain level of awareness, vigilance, and discipline that can only come from decades of experience. This is not meant as a personal attack against any particular pilot, but it truly is all I can think about when I watch my family board a jet with a skipper who was born the year I learned how to fly.

Request anonymity, but please grow a spine and help this man develop a story that has a chance of improving this industry for everyone, especially the passengers who are at our mercy. If you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

Fly safe.

i hope when the show airs, the narator is the dude with "the voice". I always practice "the Voice" in my baron, but it has no effect on checks...soob.

I would like to see your source for this statement. I assure you, aviation is MUCH safer today than it was during regulation.

Please go away.

You are a journalist first, and a pilot last. You defame our profession with your ill advised commentary on television. Anyone who aids you in dirtying our business anymore than the fringe media has thus far is no friend of the professional pilot.

Regards,