Lambourne

If the bag reaches the cockpit I would always find a spot for it in the cockpit. Unless there was absolutely no room anywhere I would help the omc.

Recently I was going to TK and was boarding zone 4. Asked the capt if I could leave bag in cockpit. He said he didn't have room (a320) Agent tagged and I claimed my bag in DEN. None of us went to jail. No one raised their voice and we all lived happily ever after. It can be done if you don't act like a JA.

Are you going to now use your " Captains Authority" to go to the ramp and oversee the loading of bags/ cargo, back up to the gate to load the passengers, don't forget to send the fuelers the fuel sheet, assure the caterers are there with the correct meals, preflight the cabin and serve the drinks? Or will you allow each employee group the ability to comply with their SOP's. Capts authority is not a dictatorship like some seem to believe. You aren't a congressman. There are repercussions for your actions if you act like a jerk.

Captain Bligh

Well Lambourne, let’s not get too carried away here

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Originally Posted by Lambourne

Are you going to now use your " Captains Authority" to go to the ramp and oversee the loading of bags/ cargo

At a commuter early in my airline years, yes, I did have a tool chest that a transferring mechanic was shipping off loaded because the rampies had no idea what it weighed. FAR 91.3

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Originally Posted by Lambourne

back up to the gate to load the passengers

I have both loaded and stopped boarding as appropriate. Well within a Captain’s job description.

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Originally Posted by Lambourne

don't forget to send the fuelers the fuel sheet,

I’ve also stopped the fuelers from fueling because the grounding equipment
was broken. I’ve overseen their entire operation depending on locations where their familiarity with our procedures was minimal. Also have overseen fuel freeze tests

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Originally Posted by Lambourne

assure the caterers are there with the correct meals,

Almost daily involved with input from flight attendants. Do we even work for the same company?

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Originally Posted by Lambourne

preflight the cabin

Absolutely! FAR 91.103.

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Originally Posted by Lambourne

and serve the drinks?

Like I said, let’s not get carried away here…

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Originally Posted by Lambourne

There are repercussions for your actions if you act like a jerk

That’s true for other employees and company policies as installed and utilized by management as well. But your post leaves me wondering if they are really getting their money's worth from you.

LostInPA

Make every departure out of this agent's gate 1min late. Make him change a delay code for EVERY flight from here on out. Usually works with the problem agents.

(NOTE: I realize this is not professional and not an effective solution. But still, the habiitually lousy gate agents could just get the hint and quit. Even if the delays are charged back to the crews, the idiot agent still must justify the change. And if management sees this enough, I'm sure they'll take the path of least resistance (as mgmt is prone to do) and can this agent quick if it saves them a bit of work.)

Addition: I'm confused about where the 'assault' took place in this process.

Skyone

Ok Lamborne. See your point of view, but no way can I agree with it. Did the Captain in question act like a jerk? If the answer is yes, then what prompted that? Did the agent feel he had complete impunity to do what he did? I am looking at the final result and the agent called the police? Does that seem a bit excessive to you? Did the agent remove himself afterwards to be medically attended to after said "assault"? Can you please explain to me why the agent felt he had to bring in outside law enforcement to get the captain to fly the aircraft. Or did the agent find himself in a box, flight canceled due to the captain's perceived TEM. Just doesn't pass the smell test.

Now back to National ALPA. So you think that the MEC has the capability to defend or assist this captain? Why wouldn't ALPA National back this guy, no matter what his demeanor was? If there was ever a cause that could fire up the whole industry, this might be it. Outside law enforcement called because the captain acted like a jerk maybe? By backing away from this, it will show ALPA's true colors that it only takes on cases it thinks it can win. Are you telling me that NATIONAL would not assist a pilot that was arrested on an International flight after an accident, and they wouldn't throw everything they had to assist the arrested pilot? (re, Brazil) No criminal defense attorney's? Better check the law firm that is on retainer in Washington to make sure there are no criminal attorneys within that law firm.

Finally, Lambourne....I am surprised that you appear to jump to the side of the agent. Again, if I agree with yout hat the captain may have been out of line, a jerk, whatever....does it make sense to you to call law enforcement to make the captain comply? Why did the agent have the sense that he could make the decision on what should or should not be placed in the cockpit? Something ain't right here, IMHO.

syd111

If you get in to one of these confrontations with an agent or anyone else in the company that seems to enjoy some of the new found power have a witness with you if at all possible.

Lambourne

[QUOTE=Captain Bligh;975437]Well Lambourne, let’s not get too carried away here

Bligh, you might want to check your browser. It seems to not allow common sense to penetrate your firewall.

So Bligh when you are in the cabin you are checking all the lighted signs, fire extinguishers, Portable O2 bottles? You are taking tickets and processing the DM list? Clearing revenue and non-revenue standby's. Etc, Etc, Etc.

You are confusing your ROLL as the Captain versus your position in the chain of events that leads to a departure. My own personal philosophy is that the station can have the airplane when it is parked at their gate. If they want to board, not board, push, not push it is up to them to make those decisions. When you lock the door it is mine and my crews to determine the best course of action. I will only intervene in the interest of safety and input if we are missing fuel, food or other required items. I don't ask the agents to supervise my flying and I am sure they don't need me to supervise their loading. If they F it up that is on them not me.

And to think you did not care about the company. You have proven you are more of a company man that I thought I was..

L

Lambourne

Based solely on what I was told by an ALPA guy last night. The agent called the cops because the Captain had a meltdown in the jetway to the point of physical contact with him. ALPA says it is on tape and that is why it has run this course. If there was no evidence it would have been dropped shortly after it happened. As it stands the Captain is supposedly in court today.

Having knowledge of the Capt involved I can see where this story as described in the OP was skewed in his direction. The truth seems to favor the CSR from what I was told.

L

SkyHigh

I have seen my share of Captain initiated temper tantrums taken out on the CSR before. After a decade or two in the left seat it seems that a God complex can develop. Baggage handlers and costumer service agents can seem like suitable places to take out your aggressions on.

The real shock comes the day after retirement when there is no one left to yell at. From king of the world to the lord of nothing in one day. I think it is important to remember that everyone needs to be accommodated at times. No one can make a flight happen on there own. It takes everyone to make it happen.

Skyhigh

NEDude

I have to ask what UAL policy about OMC bags in the cockpit.

The biggest danger of all of this IMHO is the "fly or be arrested" ultimatum from the police officer involved.

Captain Bligh

Like I said in my first post on this topic, I'll take that ultimatum any day of the year, bring it on.

Let's hope there never is a "policy" on OMC (ACM) bags. Let's let common sense and captain's authority prevail. Unfortunately many written policies are in place because common sense didn't prevail one too many times. Let's hope this incident doesn't trigger more policy writing.