Response to USAPA ad in USA Today

[nic4us]

They also replaced a control board on the APU, it wasnt just a battery change.

It doesnt take seven hours to change two A/C batteries.

That was not mentioned in Hogg's letter.

Thanks for pointing it out.

I am very leary of anything out of Hogg's mouth since he was caught lying at the crewnews recently.

 

[fr8tmastr]

Thanks for the link.

Looks like the company took the high ground and "would not elaborate" on why captain Wells was removed from the airport.

the ML standing for maintainence log, that would alert any subsequent crew that there is a problem with the aircraft, and that any subsequent crew would immediately be aware of any deficiencies in the aircrafts status in the same manner captain Wells was aware of them.

IMO, this article backs up the company's position.

Are you serious? I ask that question honestly, as I do not know if you are the usual everything East is bad no matter what poster or not.

I dont suppose you have ever seen a "could not duplicate" entry? Or perhaps a "cleaned apu electrical contacts, ops check good" entry?

No matter how you want to spin it, this aircraft required two repairs after new crews had the same issues. I have no idea what went down at the gate, but if you could get off the "Everything East is evil" stance you are in and just look at the fact that this aircraft needed repairs, you would gain some credibility. You are aware you can proclaim your disdain for East pilots while still admitting that just maybe this aircraft did in fact need repairs.

 

[necigrad]

And the west idiots and USA 320 boil this down to a rant from the captain. She did exactly the correct action. The APU was enough to start the line of questions. The hot battery bus issue sealed the deal. The aircraft was in question immediately with these two issues.

Well, I am west 'idiot' on the ramp. I'm trying to look at this intelligently, but no one is willing to answer these questions. Notice that I haven't mentioned any rant.

 

[767one]

For more detials take a look at what US Airways VP of Flight Operations said, which can be viewed here. In addition, take a look at what the PHX Reps said. I have reason believe there are going to be more East pilot terminations due to the USA Today Ad and Mike Cleary's letter to Robert Isom telling the COO that he is advising USAPA members to violate the company's lanyard directive. Normally, union officials have indemnity, but now with a USAPA Committee Chairman recently terminated I believe we are going to see more USAPA officials terminated for insubordination.

I heard that Robert Isom had some sort of edict but I have yet to get anything on CBS or my mailbox which I will check in the morning. Has anybody gotten official notice of the company's latest edict?


Bob

 

[700UW]

No APU not ETOPS, she was 100% right!

 

[Phoenix]

No APU not ETOPS, she was 100% right!

If she cleaned planes back during the cooling off period a couple of decades ago is she still 100% right?

 

[Res Judicata]

And the west idiots and USA 320 boil this down to a rant from the captain. She did exactly the correct action. The APU was enough to start the line of questions. The hot battery bus issue sealed the deal. The aircraft was in question immediately with these two issues.

My only hope for Captain Wells is I hope she actually voted for USAPA. If she did, she has no one to blame but herself for her termination. Her stunning lack of emotional maturity and judgment mirror her Union's in depth and breadth. The latest USA today antics are the most clear evidence of their common trait yet.

Wells, as well as Dr. Von Thaden have been perverted into pawns in USAPAS illegal work action and failed attempt of DOH theft. Von Thaden should sue the pants off USAPA for dragging her name into this. The USA today add is going to violently blow up in somebodies face, unfortunately...as always...the ones causing the harm will probably not be the ones that have to pay the bill. Except for former Captain Wells. She wrote that check herself...now she alone gets to cash it...the cost of being "on board".

 

[700UW]

If she cleaned planes back during the cooling off period a couple of decades ago is she still 100% right?

Maybe she cleaned planes during the 30 day cooling off period like you did and scabbed.

And I worked ETOPS flights for years as Utility before I went to Stores, I had to sign off my block on the job card, been around it enough to know a little about it.

And one's job classification doesnt speak for their education, but hey if you feel like a big man by trying to insult, then go for it, if it helps you sleep better at night.

Your post says all about you, I feel sorry for your family if that is the type of person you are.

 

[Phoenix]

Maybe she cleaned planes during the 30 day cooling off period like you did and scabbed.

And I worked ETOPS flights for years as Utility before I went to Stores, I had to sign off my block on the job card, been around it enough to know a little about it.

And one's job classification doesnt speak for their education, but hey if you feel like a big man by trying to insult, then go for it, if it helps you sleep better at night.

Your post says all about you, I feel sorry for your family if that is the type of person you are.

Dude your trigger has a feather light pull.

I was impressed that you knew the Captain made a good decision but I was even more impressed that you allowed yourself to say something supportive of an East pilot, notwithstanding your oft repeated assertion that all East pilots are scabs for cleaning during the cooling off period. I have asked you to provide a published list of names of the are alleged scabs for this alleged activity, and you haven't provided the list.

P.S. I am not on the list (if one even exists) as I have never done work outside of the scope of my job (accept buy "morale food and drinks" for other employees, which I actually consider to be in the scope of my job).

 

[Barrister]

My only hope for Captain Wells is I hope she actually voted for USAPA. If she did, she has no one to blame but herself for her termination. Her stunning lack of emotional maturity and judgment mirror her Union's in depth and breadth. The latest USA today antics are the most clear evidence of their common trait yet.

Wells, as well as Dr. Von Thaden have been perverted into pawns in USAPAS illegal work action and failed attempt of DOH theft. Von Thaden should sue the pants off USAPA for dragging her name into this. The USA today add is going to violently blow up in somebodies face, unfortunately...as always...the ones causing the harm will probably not be the ones that have to pay the bill. Except for former Captain Wells. She wrote that check herself...now she alone gets to cash it...the cost of being "on board".

She wasn't terminated moron!!!!

NICDOA
NPJB

 

[Crzipilot]

An interesting wrinkle, if you may, is read the preamble to the MEL.......a few items of note are such that the list it self is not a operational manual, but simply a guideline of what may be inoperative for continued flight. That an item must be TROUBLESHOOTED prior to being put on MEL, to ensure that the system which you think is at fault is actually the system which is at fault. In addition, it states something along the lines that, while this MEL allows an airplane to be released for flight, it still becomes the responsibility of agreement from the PIC, dispatcher, and MTX to agree that with those items which have been MEL'd, the flight may still be operated safely.

The FAA's statement, that the airplane performed as advertised, and that the a/c had been maintained within the FAR's, and there was not a FAR violation means didly squat. As the capt. refused the flight and the aircraft did not fly until it was fixed. (their statement MAY or MAY NOT have been different if the capt went flying) In addition, there wasn't a FAR broken, as APU is allowed to be MEL'd, and we don't know what trouble shooting MTC did on the system. It does seem a little strange that a Hot battery bus was changed as well as the apu controller, and the batteries went dead. Company makes one believe that the crew tried multiple attempts at starting the APU which caused the battery drain. Could there have been a short on that battery bus that caused the batteries to drain? We will never know.

Bottom line, Just because the FAA says you can MEL a certain system or part of a system, does not mean that the airplane is still SAFE for that particular flight you are going to perform. Sorta like an anti-ice valve that fails in the middle of the summer. don't need those right? Good to go, it's summer time, it's hot out....there isn't any ice around here. take the airplane, go ahead.......take it.....

 

[MUTATIS MUTANDIS]

USAPA a UNION of LEADERSHIP , WE LUV OUR UNION AND STAND BEHIND THEM http://charlotte.news14.com/content/top_stories/644220/pilots-association-ad-says-us-airways-chooses-money-over-safety!

 

[SparrowHawk]

What disturbs me with this whole thing is that it seems to me at least that NOWHERE is the safety of the customer being brought into the equation. The whole thing just comes off as Union Posturing and I know enough folks at US to know that at least some of this has more than a germ of truth to it.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Response to USAPA ad in USA Today – A Message from COO Robert Isom

July 22, 2011

Dear Fellow Employees,

By now some of you may have seen an advertisement in today’s USA Today paid for by our pilots’ union, USAPA. As you know, USAPA has been embroiled in an intra-union seniority dispute for several years and is also working to negotiate a joint contract. Those efforts have been severely complicated and delayed by their inability to resolve the seniority dispute, and because of this dispute, USAPA has embarked upon a smear campaign that in reality is all about contract negotiations, not safety. Today’s move is simply the latest in a series of misguided efforts to put pressure on the Company as part of those negotiations, and while we are disappointed that USAPA has chosen to use safety as a negotiating tactic, I can tell you unequivocally the union’s claims are outlandish, false and a disservice to the 32,000 hard-working employees of US Airways.

Safety has been and always will be the top priority at US Airways, as it is at any airline. On the specific issue that the advertisement focuses on, I’d note that USAPA’s account is highly inaccurate and its claims about the aircraft in question were wrong – it flew that day and performed flawlessly, and has done the same ever since.

Simply put, our safety facts stand for themselves:

•US Airways has just passed the International Air Transport Association’s highest worldwide standard for safety and security – the IOSA audit – with flying colors. This audit, the airline industry gold standard for safety, shows that we are in compliance in every safety area.
•Our safety team also knows how well we are doing on all safety measurements. Our Flight Safety Index, which measures how we’re doing in all areas, is at the highest level in the history of the company. Aircraft damages are 50% better than industry average, and deferred maintenance items are at an all-time low.
•The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cited US Airways as the model for other airlines to follow with our significant investment of time and resources into the voluntary Safety Management System (SMS) program. We are one of only two airlines to implement SMS in every area of the airline. We also are the first U.S. airline to have our SMS program validated by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

That exemplary record is due to you – the 32,000 outstanding aviation professionals of US Airways who put safety first every day. Please keep that focus and don’t be dissuaded by the misguided and outdated negotiating tactics of a labor union. We will continue to work with USAPA to get to a joint contract, but as they well know, they must resolve their internal seniority dispute before that can happen. We are attempting to facilitate that effort, but expect it will take some more time. In the meantime you will likely hear more defamatory and baseless language from USAPA, but please consider the source and keep doing your jobs in the exceptionally professional and safe manner that you always have.

We have a great team of aviation professionals at US Airways and I am proud to work with you. Thank you very much for all you do and please keep up the great work.

Robert

Allow me to translate.

First Paragraph.

By now some of you may have seen an advertisement in today’s USA Today paid for by our pilots’ union, USAPA. As you know, USAPA has been embroiled in an intra-union seniority dispute for several years that could have easily been resolved if US Airways had put people ahead of Profits, Short terms financial performance ahead of long term economic stability, Had Doug Parker exhibited actual leadership instead of DUI convictions I would be writing this letter. and is also working to negotiate a joint contract. Those efforts have been severely complicated and delayed by their inability to resolve the seniority dispute, and because of this dispute, USAPA has embarked upon a smear campaign that in reality is all about contract negotiations, not safety. We don't have to provide facts to support our allegations of a smear campaign, because we're the smartest guys in the room ! Ask us we'll tell you. After all we have the stunning track record of a convict CEO, a President who is rumored to have engaged in inappropriate conduct, the largest Maintenance fine in FAA history, a Christams Meltdown, Reservations Migration Failure, so it's pretty clear cut we have a ton of credibility Today’s move is simply the latest in a series of misguided efforts to put pressure on the Company as part of those negotiations, and while we are disappointed that USAPA has chosen to use safety as a negotiating tactic, I can tell you unequivocally the union’s claims are outlandish, false and a disservice to the 32,000 hard-working employees of US Airways. BTW when we say a "Disservice" we mean not spouting the party line that everything is rosey except for those evil pilots

 

[av60]

Dude your trigger has a feather light pull.

I was impressed that you knew the Captain made a good decision but I was even more impressed that you allowed yourself to say something supportive of an East pilot, notwithstanding your oft repeated assertion that all East pilots are scabs for cleaning during the cooling off period. I have asked you to provide a published list of names of the are alleged scabs for this alleged activity, and you haven't provided the list.

P.S. I am not on the list (if one even exists) as I have never done work outside of the scope of my job (accept buy "morale food and drinks" for other employees, which I actually consider to be in the scope of my job).

As if it matters Relax there is no "list."
If it existed it is hand written and the first 2 pages are iam members.

The only group within the company that had showed any support during the iam week long strike were the flight attendants.
During the picket we were shown many middle fingers by ramp workers and pilots.
The other iam locals in our city never offered support. (but they did give our stewart the phone # for unemployment)

At least some F/A's stopped to talk and ask how we were holding up.
Coffee and rolls were brought by F/A's, ex PATCO, GREYHOUND workers.
But not a pilot not a ramp agent. They even yelled at us how they were doing our jobs.
Pushing a/c, applying mel's.

But in life what goes around comes around.
Ramp agents start out at 1980 wage rates and little if any benefits today.
And UAV'S are the future.