Let the captain where is friggin hat, dammit.

I prefer an edgy pilot.

You know who else wore a hat?

so is that the new way of saying "he was drunk"

/sue, where'd you get that black eye?
//ted was having trouble putting his hat on

probably a good thing for the passengers....

He was board n passin the time. Yawl know his career is in a tailspin. Maybe he was just looking for a little lift. Sorry ...just wingin' it here

If a guy says that he is in no mental shape to fly, I dont want him flyintg the airplane Im on.He does need to get a better handle on his emotions though.

A few things....

1) Guaranteed there is more to the story

2) The FAA has a tool for pilots to help determine their fitness for flight... "IM SAFE" (Illness, medication, stress, alcohol, fatigue, eating/emotion). Finally someone followed it.

3) Pilots are often pressured into flying by the overlying threat of discipline/carpet dance meeting with the chief pilot. So few pilots stick up for themselves against this pressure that when one does, management thinks something is wrong with this pilot, other than just realizing he is one of the 1% who decides to not fly... instead of one of the 99% who is scared and will fly anyways even if they shouldn't.

Kudos to this pilot for doing the right thing and removing himself from the flight when he determined that he was not in a mental state in order to fly an airliner. Pilots are humans just like anyone else, they're not machines free of effects from emotion, lack of sleep, sickness, etc. Everyone has bad days, pilots included.

Do you want your airplane being flown by a pilot who is having an exceptionally bad day?

Unions strike again.

The pilots' union has encouraged its members to doff their caps in protest at the difficulties they have suffered since the company's bankruptcy.

Sometimes I wonder what people are thinking. Would you rather have 80% of something or 100% of nothing? I'm sorry that pilots are having "difficulties", but do they really think that doing something that results in delayed or cancelled flights will prompt more people to fly with the airline? Given that customers are necessary for a business to survive, I don't see this as a plus.

After having 2 flights canceled in 2 days last weekend, I would hang the bastard

Meh. I thought those planes could fly themselves.

He's still trying to get over Macho Grande.

Brave pilot. Most people wouldn't have the guts to disqualify themselves - who knows maybe he saved a bunch of lives.

flyf15: Do you want your airplane being flown by a pilot who is having an exceptionally bad day?

Nope, frankly if the pilot isn't even in the mood, I'd rather he stay home.

So wear a cap instead of a hat??

Please, this guy needs to grow up.

This is why I don't fly.

I've never been in an airplane and I don't plan on ever being in one either.

Another airline should grab this guy up.

taytaytay: This is why I don't fly.

I've never been in an airplane and I don't plan on ever being in one either.

as much as I understand that, it severely limits your radius of operations. Sure, there are boats and cars, but they take forever. the area you can cover in your lifetime decreases immensely if you don't fly.

taytaytay: This is why I don't fly.

I've never been in an airplane and I don't plan on ever being in one either.

because any form of ground transportation is sooo much safer...
Your paranoia rules you.

quackslikeaduck: After having 2 flights canceled in 2 days last weekend, I would hang the bastard

I don't know why but that really made me guffaw

hats off to you brave sir !!!

Adolf Oliver Nipples: Unions strike again.

The pilots' union has encouraged its members to doff their caps in protest at the difficulties they have suffered since the company's bankruptcy.

Sometimes I wonder what people are thinking. Would you rather have 80% of something or 100% of nothing? I'm sorry that pilots are having "difficulties", but do they really think that doing something that results in delayed or cancelled flights will prompt more people to fly with the airline? Given that customers are necessary for a business to survive, I don't see this as a plus.

From the United pilots I've spoken to, their frustration stems from things like giving concessions (pay cuts) to help keep the company out of bankruptcy, then the bankruptcy itself when the lost their pensions, and now UAL's CEO Glen Tilton is collecting a fat paycheck trying to spin the company off while not investing anything back into the fleet, facilities, etc.

Of course, given the rabid anti-union bias on Fark, I expect ad hominem attacks for trying to explain a union point of view.

I say huzzah for him. If people would only act this way before getting in their cars there'd be fewer accidents on the road as well.

I also should add that in my career, I've delayed or canceled quite a few flights... in the process affecting, and well...completely pissing off, thousands of passengers. Don't think I've ever made a news article though.

BUT... its always been in the interest of safety. Its for everyone's own good... my passengers, my airline, and my crew. Occasionally, for various reasons, the the only option with an acceptable level of safety is to not go at all. Sure, it may be hard to explain, especially if for a very technical or detailed reason, to the passenger that is screaming in my face telling me "you don't know what youre doing, I'm never flying this f***ing airline again, the weather is fine!". Though as a captain, although at times extremely unpopular, its a decision I have to make.

I'm glad this pilot didn't let these affect his decision either. Air travel is only as safe as it is because of a lot of dedicated people who make it their sole goal to be as safe as possible without letting external pressures affect their decisions. Its either safe to go or its not.

jayessell: Meh. I thought those planes could fly themselves.

Tha is true for the most part. The flight plans for most aircraft these days are fed into an FMC, or a flight management computer. This is a flight plan generated by the guys at the flight operations for the airline.

The route is planned from runway to runway, so all the pilot has to do, pretty much, as activate the autopilot very shortly after take off, then simply monitor the cockpit, and take manual control of the aircraft during extenuating circumstances.

Pilots from Europe usually say they just "manage the cockpit".

It's not like the old days of so-called "steam guages" where every NDB, or VOR radial had to be set manually...or adjust a twitchy INS (Intertial Navigation System). In fact, if you are landing at the right runway with the proper equipment and acceptable weather conditions, most of these new aircraft can land themselves.

Pilot is an asshole. This is why there are TWO pilots on a flightdeck.

I want the guys that sit all the way in the front of the plane to be able to fly me safely. I've always said that "those guys want to land the plane on its wheels as much as I do".

The guy made the right call. I'd thank him.

I got up this morning wondering if I should doff my cap, so I'm getting a kick..........


OK, not really.

I'm just not quite sure whether I agree with theigorway or sapper_pig.

What the hell does this even have to do with the TSA?!!!

sorry, guess I'm gun shy or preemptive.

jayessell: Meh. I thought those planes could fly themselves.

They can: perform lift off while managing thrust, climb to altitude, make heading changes, cruise at altitude, make emergency maneuvers, descend to final approach and land, all the while maintaining flaps configuration and braking as required.

They can not steer on the ground nor can they handle in-flight emergencies )other than collision avoidance system maneuvers already mentioned.

You want a tip-top pilot to be in the seat not when things work as planned, but for when they do not.

Good lu...WHERE'S YOUR farkING HAT?!?!

Look, great..he was in no shape to fly and pulled himself out. Lovely.

Now, the real problem people are having is *why* he was so upset or in a condition that prevented him from flying in the first place.

It's one thing if someone told him his dog just died, or that his wife was screwing the pool cleaner...but he got into an argument ABOUT HIS FREAKING HAT. You don't get an 'atta boy' for arguing about your damn hat.

I used to hang out with missile cops from the local Air Force Base. The guys who go out, with guns, and protect nuclear silos. This was back in the early nineties, the Soviet Union was still looked upon a bit warily. They too had a program to pull themselves off of duty if they were unfit...but do you know why most the ones I knew did it? Because they were drinking like a fish the night before they knew they had to go on duty and still hadn't sobered up.

flyf15: A few things....

1) Guaranteed there is more to the story

2) The FAA has a tool for pilots to help determine their fitness for flight... "IM SAFE" (Illness, medication, stress, alcohol, fatigue, eating/emotion). Finally someone followed it.

3) Pilots are often pressured into flying by the overlying threat of discipline/carpet dance meeting with the chief pilot. So few pilots stick up for themselves against this pressure that when one does, management thinks something is wrong with this pilot, other than just realizing he is one of the 1% who decides to not fly... instead of one of the 99% who is scared and will fly anyways even if they shouldn't.

Kudos to this pilot for doing the right thing and removing himself from the flight when he determined that he was not in a mental state in order to fly an airliner. Pilots are humans just like anyone else, they're not machines free of effects from emotion, lack of sleep, sickness, etc. Everyone has bad days, pilots included.

Do you want your airplane being flown by a pilot who is having an exceptionally bad day?


You have made some very good points that I had never really even considered. I think most people just assume that pilots are somewhat like machines, with no emotions.

I hope that he does not lose his job over it.

Terminate that idiot. If he can't handle stress he should not be piloting commercial aircraft.

Pilot did the right thing. If he'd flown and somehow had an unsafe landing, crashed, or otherwise brought harm to the passengers you farkers would be complaining about how he should have known not to fly. Don't be hypocritical assholes.

Adolf Oliver Nipples: Unions strike again.

The pilots' union has encouraged its members to doff their caps in protest at the difficulties they have suffered since the company's bankruptcy.

Sometimes I wonder what people are thinking. Would you rather have 80% of something or 100% of nothing? I'm sorry that pilots are having "difficulties", but do they really think that doing something that results in delayed or cancelled flights will prompt more people to fly with the airline? Given that customers are necessary for a business to survive, I don't see this as a plus.

There is a lot more to the story. This is a struggling airline who had a new CEO move in a few years ago and cut basically half the employees but left the full schedule. So half the employees doing the same amount of work. That is bad enough. Then add the unbelievable fact that said CEO at the same time took home somewhere in the range of $50,000,000 in compensation in one year. That kind of crap tends to breed some pretty harsh hatred for upper management. On top of that you have your typical union pulling the typical union BS as usual. It is a powder keg of unhappiness.

/two friends are united captains
//had to check that one was not the pilot in the story as both live in denver

I agree its a good thing this pilot did not fly in this case, but if he lets something like this affect him enough that he can't fly then he shouldn't be a pilot. How would he handle an emergency situation. I think he might get too stressed.

Skiffy: Of course, given the rabid anti-union bias on Fark, I expect ad hominem attacks for trying to explain a union point of view.

This is quite possibly the funniest thing I have read today.

taytaytay: This is why I don't fly.

I've never been in an airplane and I don't plan on ever being in one either.

Approves.

this guy too. (new window)

sullyman: Then add the unbelievable fact that said CEO at the same time took home somewhere in the range of $50,000,000 in compensation in one year. That kind of crap tends to breed some pretty harsh hatred for upper management.

Which would make sense from the flight attendants or the CSRs, but one would hope the pilots would be better at basic mathematics. He took that "money" in the form of some restricted stock and a ton of options, many of which haven't even vested and ALL of which are out of the money. As an exercise, pull UAUA's 2007 annual report and do your own valuation of that pay at today's stock price.

Meantime. he got the comapny out of bankruptcy (at least for now) without a senority-destroying distressed merger with Continental or Delta. He should have received that pay pqckage plus every morning a different pilot should have had to tongue-bathe his balls.

So THAT's why they always lie about the weather when they cancel flights...

United charged all of the passengers a $100/ticket re-booking fee, and extra $15 for the first bag, $5 for a window or aisle seat, and $2 for a beverage.

sapper_pig: jayessell: Meh. I thought those planes could fly themselves.

Tha is true for the most part. The flight plans for most aircraft these days are fed into an FMC, or a flight management computer. This is a flight plan generated by the guys at the flight operations for the airline.

The route is planned from runway to runway, so all the pilot has to do, pretty much, as activate the autopilot very shortly after take off, then simply monitor the cockpit, and take manual control of the aircraft during extenuating circumstances.

Pilots from Europe usually say they just "manage the cockpit".

It's not like the old days of so-called "steam guages" where every NDB, or VOR radial had to be set manually...or adjust a twitchy INS (Intertial Navigation System). In fact, if you are landing at the right runway with the proper equipment and acceptable weather conditions, most of these new aircraft can land themselves.

Pilot is an asshole. This is why there are TWO pilots on a flightdeck.



I came here to say "damn nearly" but I think you're way more bored than I am. I'll step aside...

They bought their tickets. They knew what they were getting in to.
I say, let 'em crash!

So was he effectively picketing or was he effectively crossing the picket line?

I was on a united flight recently and the pilot was a tranny :-)

ironic_followup:

I'm agoraphobic. If it weren't for the Internet, I'd never get out of the house.

Steigen:

because any form of ground transportation is sooo much safer...
Your paranoia rules you.

Yes it does; I don't mind so much though. Thankfully though, the only crazies that I have to contend with are the ones that I live with.

DrForrester:

I lol'd!