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I always say that we've got to take care of ourselves and look out for one another because, as pilots, we're all we've got.
Good management or bad management, when the fecal matter hits the fan, the only people you really have on your side are your fellow crewmembers and that's it.
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Agree fully. You're always going to have the bad apples that look out for themselves. I've told some jumpseating horror stories of my own here, but I always followed the etiquette.....always acquiesed to those heading to work. Always kept the attitude that my being able to jumpseat was a privilige, and still I ran into cool people as well as a-holes. Learned the tricks along the way too......like trying to jump from Chicago to Denver is next to impossible.
Like jumping out of New York or Chicago, and heading to LAX, LAS, SAN, SFO or some other west coast destination where I could "buy" some hours, and have many more chances to catch an eastbound America West or Southwest to PHX. Still remember the SWA pilot in Tucson. I was loading some last minute cargo, and was waiting for the mainfest and the last truck to show up. SWA pilot shows up on the ramp from one of the terminal vehicles. His car had broke down at home, and had a flight to get to in PHX, and seemed somewhat deperate. Asked if I was headed that way. Said sure, hop in....toss your bags in the nose compartment. We'll be out of here shortly. Could use the company and someone to talk to. Started up, let him do the takeoff and the flight, and even land at PHX. At the cargo ramp (the old one west of Terminal 2 and the old Terminal 1 location), borrowed a car and took him to Terminal 4 to catch his plane, then back to my plane to close it up and secure it for the night. Guy was appreciative......figured someday if I'm in such a bind, maybe the same can be done for me.
Gotta take care of each other, and not let the bad apples get you down. I've run into enough of them in my time.