AirTran FO suspended for being in uniform at a circus

Totally cheeseball.

Can't handle a heat from the internet about a boneheaded decision?

BTW PRNewswire is a service that you basically pay to publish your statement without any fact checks. Trust me, I know.

Sorry to my Air Tran brothers. Give these guys hell.


AirTran Airways Issues Statement on Suspension of Crew Member
Thursday March 26, 2009, 9:00 pm EDT

ORLANDO, Fla., March 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI - News), today issued the following statement regarding the suspension of a pilot and member of the National Pilots Association (NPA):

The suspended pilot wore his uniform to a non-work, NPA union-sponsored event in clear violation of the Flight Operations Manual and the collective bargaining agreement.

This policy has been clearly communicated to the airline's 1,700 pilots and is standard practice throughout the aviation and other industries.

The NPA union leadership had the opportunity to avoid this suspension on several occasions, and they chose not to.

AirTran Airways is dedicated to dealing equitably with all Crew Members, and to exempt pilots from the policy would be unfair to our other hard-working Crew Members.

The airline has no further comment on this issue and will not conduct labor relations through the media.
 
If he had been dropping his kids off at school, they wouldn't have said jack. In fact, they probably encourage guys to wear the uniform if they go to a school career day. Yeah, they're all about being "fair."
 
Totally cheeseball.

Can't handle a heat from the internet about a boneheaded decision?

BTW PRNewswire is a service that you basically pay to publish your statement without any fact checks. Trust me, I know.

Sorry to my Air Tran brothers. Give these guys hell.
Yeah JO's the number one customer to PRNewswire.
 
But according to airliners.net, unions should be brought down. They are the root of all that is evil, and prevent every airline from reaping billions of dollars.
 
But according to airliners.net, unions should be brought down. They are the root of all that is evil, and prevent every airline from reaping billions of dollars.

Look who generally frequents airliners.net, and the answer to why they think that would be instantly obvious....:D
 
But according to airliners.net, unions should be brought down. They are the root of all that is evil, and prevent every airline from reaping billions of dollars.

Oh man, I still remember some anonymous poster wanting to debate me about how a 737-200 flies based on his "vast" experience with MSFS 2000.... When I wasa 737-200 FO.

"We have a performance data computer that handles EPR adjustments".

"No... You use the EPR placard"
 
To bring this thread back on track. . .

AirTran Airways Unfairly Suspends Pilot for Dropping Children Off at Circus While in Uniform

ATLANTA, March 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of the National Pilots Association (NPA), which represents the nearly 1,700 pilots of AirTran Airways, strongly condemns the wrongful suspension of one of their pilots, and asks the public to join them in demanding that he be reinstated immediately and paid in full.

AirTran Vice President Steve Kolski called NPA President, First Officer Linden Hillman last week to inform him that management's position is that the pilot was in violation of AirTran's flight operations manual and would face possible discipline for wearing his uniform while dropping off his wife and two young children at a circus in Atlanta on February 21, 2009. The NPA sponsored a family day at the circus, and the pilot was on his way to work when he stopped at Philips Arena to help his wife with their kids.

"He was wearing his uniform so that he could get to work on time," said First Officer Tim Baker, spokesman for the NPA. "The circus started at 3 p.m., and he had to be at work at 4:30 p.m. He was leaving on a four day trip and wanted to spend as much time with the kids as possible. He will soon be deployed overseas and is focused on spending time with his family. He only stayed at the circus for a few minutes. The rules even state that he can wear his uniform to and from work."

The AirTran pilot in question is a pilot in the Air Force Reserves, where he has served for thirteen years.

NPA President Hillman said, "It is intolerable for our pilots to be exposed to this type of intimidation. We have tried to resolve this issue directly with management. However, we continue to find management unreasonable. It would be nice to see management focused on returning to profitability, instead of threatening their hardworking crewmembers. You don't see other airlines treating their employees like this."

National Pilots Association -- representing the nearly 1,700 pilots of AirTran Airways.
 
But according to airliners.net, unions should be brought down. They are the root of all that is evil, and prevent every airline from reaping billions of dollars.

Man. If those guys ever get on with an ACTUAL airline, they'll vote out a union in exchange for a cool paint job.
 
I never saw anything posted, but......

What ever happened to the vote for NPA to merge w/ ALPA? Last I heard there was a large number voting in the first few days and then I haven't heard anything else. How'd the vote turn out?
 
I never saw anything posted, but......

What ever happened to the vote for NPA to merge w/ ALPA? Last I heard there was a large number voting in the first few days and then I haven't heard anything else. How'd the vote turn out?

Vote hasn't occurred yet.

Both respective merger committees are working on the process.

Vote is on the 10th of April (or concludes on the 10th). Or so my source says.
 
I never saw anything posted, but......

What ever happened to the vote for NPA to merge w/ ALPA? Last I heard there was a large number voting in the first few days and then I haven't heard anything else. How'd the vote turn out?

Like Surreal said, voting process is still ongoing. Should know sometime in mid-April.
 
Man. If those guys ever get on with an ACTUAL airline, they'll vote out a union in exchange for a cool paint job.

"OMG! LAX to TUS 3x with a A333? Will it have PTV? What tail number will that be?" I love that website, but the forum participants make me want to play "Doom" for an inordinate amount of time.
 
I can't speak for Todd (PCL) but I would imagine that this story is like an early Christmas present for those wanting to get ALPA into AirTran.
 
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