CACTUS call sign

[Atlantic]

Thats because you don't have to say it 100 times when you come to work. It relates to nothing in aviation. Some damn plant that grows in sand. The worst though is "waterski". Where did that come from?

 

[700UW]

So you have to say it to ATC, big deal, move on and get a better CBA.

 

[a320av8r]

I am pretty sure that under the newer ICAO rules, a call sign can not be more than 3 syllables and can not use abbreviations (i.e. U.S., TWA, PSA) or the words air or airways. The old call signs were grandfather in.
I thought Grey Flag would be good but, as somebody previously pointed out, with our geriatric pilot group in the east and dropping one or two letters, this could easily become derogitory.
I guess Speed Bird, Palm and Citrus have been used so Cactus it is.
I'll be proud to use it.

 

[JAXPax]

Thats because you don't have to say it 100 times when you come to work. It relates to nothing in aviation. Some damn plant that grows in sand. The worst though is "waterski". Where did that come from?

Trans States originated as Resorts Air, I believe, and their first flights were hauling waterskiers to resorts in the Ozarks.

 

[USFlyer]

Incidentally, I listened to the earnings call and do not remember hearing this decision announced. Does anyone know precisely when in the call it was?

 

[etops1]

remember that british airways uses "speedbird" and aerlingus uses "shamrock". so cactus across the pond isn't that bad. although it would have been nice if they came out with a call sign like "pheonix flight" people will get use to "cactus".

 

[A320 Driver]

You know I find it funny this is such a hot topic, tell the certain East pilots with their egos to get over and move on, there are way more important things to accomplish then bicker over a stupid call sign.

I agree with you on this one...100%.

A320 Driver

 

[exB717Flyer]

The worst though is "waterski". Where did that come from?

Wow, you have a strange sense of what's a bad callsign. I consider myself lucky. I've used the callsigns Chautauqua, TWA, American, Waterski, and now Cactus. "Cactus" is by far the coolest, followed by "Waterski". You just can't beat a two syllable callsign.

If for no other reason I'm glad we're keeping Cactus so I don't have to every hear someone say "US Airs" on the radio again.

 

[FLYLOW22]

I believe it's a mistake to use either "USAir" or "Cactus" and by using "U.S." you would create a call sign that both pilot groups would embrace, not just one.

Best regards,

USA320Pilot

The arguement could be made that that very attempt has been made with the seection of the callsign designation.

CactUS.

Hmmmmmmmmm.

 

[Bus Driver]

Guy is absolutely brilliant. Way to go 320. Nice call. Cactus it is.

Take care and God bless.

pilot

Is it Lance?

 

[JS]

You know I find it funny this is such a hot topic, tell the certain East pilots with their egos to get over and move on, there are way more important things to accomplish then bicker over a stupid call sign.

 

[USA320Pilot]

The majority of the pilots I talk with want the call sign of their pre-merger airline, which is understandable.

I believe a new and fresh "call sign" like "U.S." would be appropriate and it would help Larry LeSueur with the culture integration.

It would not surprise me if the pending announcement to use the "Cactus" call sign is changed. However, with that said I understand the decision to use the "Cactus" call sign is written in "dark lead", but not yet in "ink".

Finally, I understand former US Airways and new US Airways vice president of operations Ed Bular's reasoning to use the "Cactus" call sign, but like with the "USAir" call sign, I do not believe "cactus" is the best choice.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[N924PS]

The majority of the pilots I talk with want the call sign of their pre-merger airline, which is understandable.

I believe a new and fresh "call sign" like "U.S." would be appropriate and it would help Larry LeSueur with the culture integration.

It would not surprise me if the pending announcement to use the "Cactus" call sign is changed. However, with that said I understand the decision to use the "Cactus" call sign is written in "dark lead", but not yet in "ink".

Finally, I understand former US Airways and new US Airways vice president of operations Ed Bular's reasoning to use the "Cactus" call sign, but like with the "USAir" call sign, I do not believe "cactus" is the best choice.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

How about "CHIPSTER".

 

[767jetz]

You know I find it funny this is such a hot topic, tell the certain East pilots with their egos to get over and move on, there are way more important things to accomplish then bicker over a stupid call sign.

As a casual observer I find this whole discussion (3 pages of it) humorous. I couldn’t agree more with 700UW. This is such a petty pi$$ing contest among a few bloated egos. Sounds like most don’t give a damn. The public certainly won’t. (Only the UA customers listening to CH9 will hear it anyway.)

Here are a few observations:
1- The new USAirways already kept the east name, so why not compromise and keep the west call sign?
2- Isn’t the new headquarters at the west location? Since America West is considered the acquiring airline, keeping the USAirways name for the sake of recognition, it makes sense to keep cactus. The call sign is not in the public view.
3- Cactus sounds no more odd than Speedbird and Shamrock. In time it will be a conversation piece.
4- Using just US is a clever way for certain folks trying to impose their way, since US is too close to USAirways, and is a stretch to claim it’s the LAST 2 letters in Cactus. Even on this very web site people refer to USArways as US for short. If anything it would be a lingering insult that could divide. (Using someone else’s logic.)
5- Who says US is a call sign “everyone†can embrace? I bet the west pilots would disagree. If that’s the case, come up with a totally new idea that starts from scratch. (Perhaps “LC 123†after the new stock symbol.)
6- Or better yet… the small % of pilots that think this is such a big issue should lighten up, get over it, and move on to more important business.

JMHO of course.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Aside from US not really being "new and fresh" since it's just a shortened US Air, there are 2 other carriers that have "US" in their callsign (US Charter & US Jet), so dropping the "Air" could lead to communication confusion (was that for us???). There's even 2 carriers using "Us" pronounced as a word, not initials - Usjet & Uskam).

The best "national" callsigns are taken - American & even States - as is the geographically broader callsign - North American. Even broader - World & and several containing Global - are taken. TransWorld isn't currently in use but it's probably too reminiscent of that airline.

Even something more reminiscent of the southwest (the region, not the airline) like Desert is taken.

Maybe we could give the British controllers a chuckle and use "Colony" - it's not taken.

As someone else said, it's just a callsign for crying out loud. If something like this is supposed to split the employee ranks apart, there's no hope of unity to begin with.

Jim