New Call Sign

[BuffaloJoe]

Call sign should be "Kettle". Its the most appropriate.

 

[N924PS]

In keeping with FOM procedures, effective 9/01 I will start using the phraseology of Cactus, but identifying the livery, so as to minimize confusion. e.g. Cactus 2117, US Airways livery.....

Can't wait to see the flood of ASAP's over this one....

There has been little, if any, compliance with this FOM procedure. I think ATC "gets it" and if they aren't sure which jet you are, they will ask what colors or scheme your wearing.

How often do you hear "Allegheny Livery", "Steeler Jet" or "The Cardinal" when you are listening on the frequency?

There are plenty of airlines that don't use the airline name as part of the call sign. From an ATC standpoint, fewer syllables, less likely to cause a similar call sign readback/hearback error, are the best call signs. CACTUS certainly does that. (perhaps only Air Tran CITRUS being simlar sounding)

Here's a list for your perusal:

http://www.atcmonitor.com/callsigns.html

It really is no big deal, from any standpoint. It just takes a while to lose the old one from your aviation lexicon.

"Over and Out."

 

[trunion]

Looks more like keeping with the east mentality to me. You know the one, my way or the high way, and I'll stomp and kick and resort to all kinds of underhanded tactics if anything is not to my liking.

WOW... here he goes again. A civil discussion cannot be had. Do you live with a half empty glass? The call sign will work out fine and it helps to keep the America West legacy going.

I wonder how many east pilots kicked and screamed for the Cactus call sign. Your first line does not make sense.

Now... be civil, or leave the playground.

 

[Bobbie]

You can't spell Cactus without US

 

[exB717Flyer]

In keeping with FOM procedures, effective 9/01 I will start using the phraseology of Cactus, but identifying the livery, so as to minimize confusion. e.g. Cactus 2117, US Airways livery.....

Can't wait to see the flood of ASAP's over this one....

Got news for you: ATC has handled this kind of thing before -- and so have I. At TWA we changed our callsign while most planes hadn't been repainted yet. It wasn't a big deal and being professional pilots we (grudgingly) just dealt with it. If the Easties choose to act professionally this won't be a problem either.

 

[exB717Flyer]

Does it matter?

Nope, it surely doesn't matter. Of course, the Easties decided to make it an issue when they raised a stink about changing it eleven months ago. So I'm not the one who needs a lecture.

 

[machtuck]

Got news for you: ATC has handled this kind of thing before -- and so have I. At TWA we changed our callsign while most planes hadn't been repainted yet. It wasn't a big deal and being professional pilots we (grudgingly) just dealt with it. If the Easties choose to act professionally this won't be a problem either.

What makes you think the "Easties" won't act professionally?

 

[Bobbie]

What makes you think the "Easties" won't act professionally?

I don't know...perhaps because these guys have been driven so far past the breaking point of human emotion that no one can even predict what will happen? Seriously, you abuse people like this, it certainly makes matters unpredictable.

In my encounters with crews from both groups, I can tell you that I never felt the least bit unsafe in the hands of either an America West or US Airways flight crew. They're both top-notch aviators as far as I'm concerned. With that being said, with these people being dragged through the sand like they've been, I have wondered how they could stay so professional under such awful conditions.

I want my flight crew, whether he or she comes from the land of Sand or Snow, to be content, happy, healthy, well taken care of, and not worried about where the next paycheck is coming from, if at all. I like the focus to be on the flying task. All the bitching and bumper stickers can wait until you're off the plane, please.

 

[GorgeousGeorge]

Nope, it surely doesn't matter. Of course, the Easties decided to make it an issue when they raised a stink about changing it eleven months ago. So I'm not the one who needs a lecture.

Wasn't that just ALPA being its typical ineffectual blowhard self and grandstanding on a superficial issue? They certainly didn't resemble anything close to trade unionism.

 

[Barberpole]

I think it's nonsensical. The majority of their aircraft are flying around with US Air as the callsign already... more pilots to retrain.

That was HILARIOUS! You are absolutely right. I think management should allocate at least 3 sim sessions per eastie in order to "retrain" them on the cactus callsign. How anybody can expect 3000 east pilots to learn how to say Cactus instead of Us Air is beyond me. I think it's time to activate the critical incident response team. Does USAPA have one of those yet???

 

[machtuck]

I don't know...perhaps because these guys have been driven so far past the breaking point of human emotion that no one can even predict what will happen? Seriously, you abuse people like this, it certainly makes matters unpredictable.

In my encounters with crews from both groups, I can tell you that I never felt the least bit unsafe in the hands of either an America West or US Airways flight crew. They're both top-notch aviators as far as I'm concerned. With that being said, with these people being dragged through the sand like they've been, I have wondered how they could stay so professional under such awful conditions.

I want my flight crew, whether he or she comes from the land of Sand or Snow, to be content, happy, healthy, well taken care of, and not worried about where the next paycheck is coming from, if at all. I like the focus to be on the flying task. All the bitching and bumper stickers can wait until you're off the plane, please.

Well, then. nicely said. I wish that commentary could be sent to the Sand castle for their review.

I'd agree...my experiences from both sides have been exemplary..but I am concerned over some of the things I hear and have read about a renegade group of pilots from the phoenix base .
I'm a pilot myself, so I can appreciate your concerns.
I think Mr. Parker should have handled this a lot differently.

 

[GorgeousGeorge]

Does Uscaba have one of those yet???

scab
Pronunciation:
\ˈskab\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Swedish skabbr scab; akin to Old English sceabb scab, Latin scabere to scratch — more at shave
Date:
13th century

(1): a worker who refuses to join a labor union
(2): a union member who refuses to strike or returns to work before a strike has ended
(3): a worker who accepts employment or replaces a union worker during a strike
(4): one who works for less than union wages or on nonunion terms


The definitions apply to which pilot group? Portions or all of one group has acted consistent with three of them.

 

[Richard]

Folks,

Use the PROPER name of an organization and do not change to reflect your opinion.

The use of the name scab out of its proper definition will be grounds for suspension.

For the record, whether some of you like it or not, USAPA is a union.

 

[N965VJ]

I think they're copying me I own an East Coast company named Solid Cactus. It should be interesting, first off, I'd say half the people who live on the East Coast can't spell cactus. They for some reason thing its cacus or catus. Is there a way I could change my forum name? Now everyone is going to really think I work at the sand castle...

I was always wondering about that. My apologies if your welcome to USAviation was less than friendly back then!

IIRC, we had some oddball n00bs that were shown the door around the same time.




New FA sales contest; first prize a Cadillac, second prize a set of steak knives, third prize you’re fired!

 

[IntegrityMatters]

I'm a Westie and I personally don't care about the callsign. I don't think it was an issue for any of us until the company made a big deal about it and then the East pilots made a big deal out of it. There are 3 significant things about this decision however:

1) The company is living up to it's word. I know what a foreign concept that is for some. This decision was made 3 years ago; plenty of time for folks to start rehearsing.

2) The call sign decision was made SPECIFICALLY to remind all those out East that the US Airways name was kept solely for marketing purposes. I don't subscribe to the "we bought you" rhetoric (neither did Nicolau BTW). We all work for a different company than we came from.

3) Ed Bular finally admitted that it's not a safety issue (egg on his face). I'm sure USAPA won't see it that way and I expect to see another USA Today ad any day.