New Call Sign

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

"Cactus" seems to be appropriate denoting a large and prickly entity.

 

[supercruiser]

... Better to ask if the DL pilots would embrace the Northwest callsign or if the NW pilots will embrace the Delta callsign.
Jim

Better to ask if the DL pilots would embrace the Northwest callsign if they call the combined airline Delta, and paint the planes with Delta Air Lines on the side.

 

[Art at ISP]

I want to preface what I am about to say by stating that I admittedly don't have a dog in this fight, and personally I don't think it matters what US calls itself on the radio--for me Cheapskate seems the most appropriate but that's another story.....

So my question is other than the egos of east vs. west, what does it matter? I have to say that if EVERYONE involved in this merger had spent as much energy on finding common ground and finding a way to work through the issues as they do on fighting (this and other threads are testaments to that), MAYBE the company would not be in the sad shape it is in.

Not for nothing, but it should have been one operation when the certificates merged, if not earlier. The added costs associated with running two seperate operations for all intents and purposes are DIRECTLY responsible for the company's inability to recover from the oil debacle relative to other airlines. So instead of working on the REAL problems, they choose to stick it to the customers MORE than any other carrier.

Don't get me wrong, I think ALL airlines are wrong for the nickel and diming. I think fares should be R A T I O N A L-- 5 buckets in any given market, period, and a reasonable top fare which provides flexibility and value to the business traveler. At this point I would even say do away with domestic F, since it is nothing more than a wide seat at this point (I know I am gonna catch crap for that one but it is what it is).

And I am not singling out any particular group for criticism here--this is as much the fault of the Sand Castle as it is labor. I am sorry, but you are ALL in some way driving this place into the ground-it is an inhospitable place for both employees AND customers at this point.

As far as the name, it's a name -- get over it.

More importantly take all the heat and energy which you are pouring into anger and frustration and make an HONEST attempt to fix the place--or just sell it or shut it down.
Nothing is going to improve until SOMEONE realizes what the TRUE problems are....and it ain't the customers.

 

[westcoastflyer]

I want to preface what I am about to say by stating that I admittedly don't have a dog in this fight, and personally I don't think it matters what US calls itself on the radio--for me Cheapskate seems the most appropriate but that's another story.....

So my question is other than the egos of east vs. west, what does it matter? I have to say that if EVERYONE involved in this merger had spent as much energy on finding common ground and finding a way to work through the issues as they do on fighting (this and other threads are testaments to that), MAYBE the company would not be in the sad shape it is in.

Not for nothing, but it should have been one operation when the certificates merged, if not earlier. The added costs associated with running two seperate operations for all intents and purposes are DIRECTLY responsible for the company's inability to recover from the oil debacle relative to other airlines. So instead of working on the REAL problems, they choose to stick it to the customers MORE than any other carrier.

Don't get me wrong, I think ALL airlines are wrong for the nickel and diming. I think fares should be R A T I O N A L-- 5 buckets in any given market, period, and a reasonable top fare which provides flexibility and value to the business traveler. At this point I would even say do away with domestic F, since it is nothing more than a wide seat at this point (I know I am gonna catch crap for that one but it is what it is).

And I am not singling out any particular group for criticism here--this is as much the fault of the Sand Castle as it is labor. I am sorry, but you are ALL in some way driving this place into the ground-it is an inhospitable place for both employees AND customers at this point.

As far as the name, it's a name -- get over it.

More importantly take all the heat and energy which you are pouring into anger and frustration and make an HONEST attempt to fix the place--or just sell it or shut it down.
Nothing is going to improve until SOMEONE realizes what the TRUE problems are....and it ain't the customers.

Very insightful, as usual. Could you please forward these sentiments to Scott Kirby and Doug Parker; they STILL don't get it. They are so proud of their on-time numbers, which are mostly the result of greatly inflated scheduled block times. They are the ones that could actually start getting everyone going in the same direction. US Airways, the company that knows the cost of everything, and the value of nothing.

 

[Art at ISP]

I would forward these thoughts, although it would be for naught. If it isn't their idea, they don't want to hear it.

I think it's up to EVERYONE to do something-I am not placing the entire blame on either side of the negotiating table--EVERYONE bears some responsibility.

The first step to solving a problem is acknowledging you have one (and making sure it's the RIGHT one). This east/west nonsense has gone on MORE than long enough, and it's time to just say "lets fix it"....because if it continues down the current path, in another year or so there won't be anything left to fix.

I can't BEGIN to tell you how much premium revenue has already left, but when the next survey results come out, we'll give you an indication.

It's one thing to disagree - it's another thing to see so much HATRED and contempt for each other around this company right now.

And that applies to management too--who has shown all too often the contempt they hold for both employees AND customers. They don't DESERVE our business any more-they certainly don't APPRECIATE it..

I miss my good friends who are on the front line at US--many have moved on as I have-and I wish all who are left nothing but the best.

 

[ClueByFour]

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

It's not like there is a choice involved.

 

[RowUnderDCA]

I thought the whole point of a call sign is that it's unique to avoid confusion.

Honestly, I'd think that USAir would be more likely to be confusing to controllers in other countries..... it's so generic.

Cactus is goofy, but unique. And I think it's ironic and kind of fun. I think I originally posted something like this two years ago. Good to know you guys aren't moving on with anything. or something.

 

[LCC_#1]

Um, US Airways WAS liquidated. They were liquidated straight into the arms of America West. There's no denying that a liquidation took place...they picked up all the pieces they wanted and abandoned the rest. Airplanes, operating certificate, assumed leases, facilities, routes, etc.

They may have "merged" operations, but the original US Airways corporation was imploded after America West took over the operations.

Which is why this Eastie wishes we would had kept the name American...I mean America West. If you're going to screw an airline up more than it already was, why not give ALL the credit to the ones in charge. At least by saying cactus, we know who is REALLY in charge and who REALLLY f______ things up!

 

[LCC_#1]

I thought the whole point of a call sign is that it's unique to avoid confusion.

Honestly, I'd think that USAir would be more likely to be confusing to controllers in other countries..... it's so generic.

Cactus is goofy, but unique. And I think it's ironic and kind of fun. I think I originally posted something like this two years ago. Good to know you guys aren't moving on with anything. or something.

I like the cactus sign too. In fact, I say paint a little cactus and put it right on the tail of the a/c. It would be appropriate since we have all been getting screwed over by these bunch of pricks for too long!

 

[EastUS]

I like the cactus sign too. In fact, I say paint a little cactus and put it right on the tail of the a/c. /quote]

Hmmm...got a possibly better thought = Paint the entire fleet up as giant saguaros, lying on their backs. Fuselage = the main trunk. Wings as the arms/branches, and the tail as a troubled and twisted "root" structure.

 

[ussnark]

Seriously, America West acquired US Airways. AWA is the "management" in charge. They really can do whatever they want.

They could if they did, but they didn't.

 

[PA18]

So what's the big deal?

There are pilots here who, on Sept. 1, will start using their fifth call sign without ever having changed employers.


Example:

Mohawk, Allegheny, USAir, Speedbird, Cactus.

Empire, Piedmont, USAir, Speedbird, Cactus.

Eastern, Trump Shuttle, US Shuttle, USAir, Cactus.


To the best of my knowledge, the inevitable embarrassments on the radio aside, there has never been a single incident or accident attributable to a change in call signs.

 

[BuffaloJoe]

So what's the big deal?

There are pilots here who, on Sept. 1, will start using their fifth call sign without ever having changed employers.


Example:

Mohawk, Allegheny, USAir, Speedbird, Cactus.

Empire, Piedmont, USAir, Speedbird, Cactus.

Eastern, Trump Shuttle, US Shuttle, USAir, Cactus.


To the best of my knowledge, the inevitable embarrassments on the radio aside, there has never been a single incident or accident attributable to a change in call signs.

Speedbird was and still is British Airways.

 

[N965VJ]

That's a reference to the BA Wet Lease in the early 90s, IIRC.

 

[BuffaloJoe]

That's a reference to the BA Wet Lease in the early 90s, IIRC.

I forgot about that. Me Sorry!