A Pinnacle CA friend was recently suspended for 2 weeks without pay for refusing an airplane without an autopilot. Contributing factors to the decision were:
-No autopilot, scheduled block just over 2 hours
-Scheduled departure 10:16pm
-Destination wx 600 OVC, RA, winds gusting 25kts, 60 degrees of crosswind
-Line of thunderstorms between origination and destination
The CA refused the flight in the interest of safety with regard to enroute and destination weather, and was immediately removed from the flight and replaced with a reserve CA. Pinnacle didn’t have any spare planes to swap to, so scheduling simply replaced the crew. The reserve CA also initially refused the flight, but ultimately ended up going after a lengthy delay during which time most of the enroute and destination wx had cleared.
I simply cannot fathom how Pinnacle can completely ignore FAR 91.3, "Responsibility and authority of the pilot in command" and penalize the CA for the decision that was made.

 

ALPA should be able to fix this. Let the process run its course. If everything is as you say, I'm sure he'll get back pay for the trips he misses.

 

Unbelievable. If a CA honestly feels that it is not safe, and is not comfortable, then he/she should be 100% supported by EVERYONE. That's totally uncalled for, and I'd love to see what the FAA has to say about that.

 

That CA is on a paid vacation. Good on him/her! This is something that needs to be out in the news media...

 

UNPAID suspension. No pay, no travel.

 

He'll get that pay come heck or high water...this is why we pay dues to ALPA folks...so say we all...

 

I am not second guessing the Captain's decision and think the situation is crappy, but at some airlines, that sort of flight is an everyday occurrence. Maybe that is why a no-go decision is not made more often at those airlines. In this CA's case, this was not something he did on a regular basis so it sounds like a good decision. Either way, he better get paid for the time off.

 

The captain should have said he wanted to wait for the weather. Refusing because the A/P is inop is lame. You are supposed to be a professional. What, can't hand fly?
Leave out the A/P excuse and I would agree

I know several people who used to have to hand fly a Lear at 410 from the midwest to the west coast.

 

You're so full of $hit..... ever try hand flying after a long day to crappy wx? give it a try before you hang the guy.

 

touch a nerve?

You made my point. Make it about the weather. Didn't hang him and still think A/P is a poor excuse. And yeah, I have long days sometimes too but I don't take my ball and go home.