New Call Sign

[BuffaloJoe]

"AIR BUD", Its represents US' CEO!

 

[Dorf]

"AIR BUD", Its represents US' CEO!

Nope...too close to home...Tempe doesn't like to be reminded of the truth, they like to live in a carbonated bubble...

Dorf

 

[Redneck]

"Ghetto Jet"

 

[EastUS]

I think Kirby should have offered our call sign for sale.

Good thought...but..who would have wanted to buy "cactus"?

 

[cltrat]

Good thought...but..who would have wanted to buy "cactus"?

Wiley E. Coyote?

 

[EastUS]

Wiley E. Coyote?

Could be...(imagines the ACME box showing up with a saquaro that falls out of it onto Wiley, riddling him with cactus spines)

Maybe the "Practus Cactus" crowd has a point = It's gonna' be pretty tough to say that for awhile without just busting up. But..I've managed even more ridiculous call signs in the past. Ah well..no sense in ever taking any such nonsense too seriously in life.

 

[Leonidas]

It's a "safety" issue, just like running the apu across the pond.


"USAPA Safety Committee Update

Item 1 - As you are aware our call sign is changing to “Cactusâ€￾ on September 1st. The USAPA Safety Committee was not consulted nor given prior information regarding the change and found out about it via the CBS message just as you did. We immediately contacted the FAA protesting the move as a detriment to safety and requested their help in stopping the change. That request was respectfully denied and the change will move forward. Neither the Company nor the FAA considers this to be a serious safety issue. Of course, it is a serious safety issue and it has been placed squarely in our laps. While our West brothers are used to using “Cactusâ€￾ the East pilots will need to use extreme caution and care as we transition to the new call sign. Please be extra vigilant during taxi and ground operations since the paint and call sign difference may be confusing to ATC controllers, the folks who work around the gates, and our pushback crews. If there is even the slightest doubt or perception of a misunderstanding regarding your call sign you must stop the operation until everything is crystal clear to all concerned.
One of the most dangerous things we face within the busy environment we operate is the possibility of runway incursions. This call sign change enhances the chance of just such an occurrence especially in the NE corridor and Europe. It will take controllers, as well as our pilots, time to adjust and learn yet another call sign not matching a paint job. Vigilance on both parties is paramount to preventing a potential disaster. We cannot overstate the importance of making absolutely certain that your flight is correctly identified at all times by all parties or stopping the operation until it is.
With this call sign change, as with the recent eight Captain fiasco, we once again see that common sense isn’t all that common. Please use your professionalism, expertise, and maintain impeccable situational awareness in keeping our operation safe and preventing misidentification of our flights."

 

[nycbusdriver]

Starting September 1, we need to listen carefully for our flight number preceded by "Cactus." We need to answer to our proper call sign, and only our proper call sign from day one of this change. Anything else at all should be met with dead air.

 

[Bobbie]

Starting September 1, we need to listen carefully for our flight number preceded by "Cactus." We need to answer to our proper call sign, and only our proper call sign from day one of this change. Anything else at all should be met with dead air.

I don't think that intentionally ignoring air traffic control communication is going to solve anything. It sounds downright dangerous.

 

[BoeingBoy]

I don't think that intentionally ignoring air traffic control communication is going to solve anything. It sounds downright dangerous.

I think that's what nycbusdriver is saying - East pilots will have to listen up for the Cactus callsign. After years of using one callsign, it's almost a subconscious habit to partially filter out other callsigns unless they're near you - a habit that'll need to be broken and relearned.

Jim

 

[BuffaloJoe]

I think that's what nycbusdriver is saying - East pilots will have to listen up for the Cactus callsign. After years of using one callsign, it's almost a subconscious habit to partially filter out other callsigns unless they're near you - a habit that'll need to be broken and relearned.

Jim

Does this mean that US will be going under USA**** as of Sept 1 also? On the ATC screens. And doing away with AWE?

 

[BoeingBoy]

Does this mean that US will be going under USA**** as of Sept 1 also? On the ATC screens. And doing away with AWE?

That's something I don't know. From a human factors standpoint for the radar controllers, it would make sense to use the AmWest identifier since it has gone with the callsign for over two decades (I assume). However, the opposite is true with the tower/ground controllers who will see an airplane with US Airways on the side and the flag on the tail but the Cactus call sign (which isn't helped by having three basic liveries - HP, "old" US, and new US - plus the heritage planes).

Human nature being what it is on both ends of the radio, I'm sure there'll be some radio calls missed by pilots just as there'll be some wrong callsigns used by controllers in the first few days. And you'll occasionally get the controller asking if it's an East or West crew - the "Red or Blue team" would still come up occasionally till the time I retired - nearly 20 years after the US/PI merger.

Jim

 

[wopr21]

Here's a question

I wonder if the Delta boys would have embraced the "catcus" callsign?

wopr21

 

[BoeingBoy]

I wonder if the Delta boys would have embraced the "catcus" callsign?

Since that's neither of the merging company's callsign, probably a moot question. Better to ask if the DL pilots would embrace the Northwest callsign or if the NW pilots will embrace the Delta callsign. But my guess is that it won't generate nearly as much fodder for "debates" on their forum as the Cactus/US Airways decision has here. We've had what - three lengthy threads about it now?

Jim

 

[PHL Approach]

That's something I don't know. From a human factors standpoint for the radar controllers, it would make sense to use the AmWest identifier since it has gone with the callsign for over two decades (I assume). However, the opposite is true with the tower/ground controllers who will see an airplane with US Airways on the side and the flag on the tail but the Cactus call sign (which isn't helped by having three basic liveries - HP, "old" US, and new US - plus the heritage planes).

Human nature being what it is on both ends of the radio, I'm sure there'll be some radio calls missed by pilots just as there'll be some wrong callsigns used by controllers in the first few days. And you'll occasionally get the controller asking if it's an East or West crew - the "Red or Blue team" would still come up occasionally till the time I retired - nearly 20 years after the US/PI merger.

Yes Buffalo Joe, the ICAO code for flight plan filing will be going to USA. And Yes, your right Jim it should be staying AWE even though it wouldn't make much sense since it stands for a company name that doesn't exist. Someone please correct me but I don't think in the history of aviation has a company mixed a callsign with a completely different ICAO code. IMO it will be harder for our nations controllers to break the habit than the pilots because they've been physically staring at USA and saying "US Air" while you look.

As for livery recognition for guys in the cab I don't think it would be that hard. You just have to program your mind to just think Cactus when you read US Airways. Still easier then reading instructions off to say "Cactus" while looking at a datablock on your scope saying USA.

2 weeks: Shall be interesting...