ChasenSFO
hen teaser
Depends on my mood....does your headset work?
Two United 777 Jets Hit Wingtips at Washington’s Dulles Airport
- Thread starter pntbllr233
- Start date
Autothrust Blue
Welcome aboard the Washington State Ferries
Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
That right there is problem. Too many people don't give a crap unless it affects their pay check immediately. I don't know, but it seems us 30+ somethings and older have a completely different work ethic than the younger generations now (yes there are exceptions both ways).
Autothrust Blue
Welcome aboard the Washington State Ferries
Ah yes, us damn kids...
Problems with "this" generation aside, "quality costs money," and outsourced ground handling, while good for the bottom line, isn't always good for the operation.
I can't do my job until the ramp is done doing theirs, preferably correctly, safely, and efficiently.
dasleben
That's just, like, your opinion, man
ChasenSFO
hen teaser
I agree, but it all depends on the situation. I was totally professional for the first 3 of my 4 years at the company, but it got to a point where I was among the "1%" who cared. One day when I looked around and realized everyone who actually cared about the company was pissed everyday and totally frustrated at the fact that every change was for the worse, and those who came to work and did what they wanted were laughing and smiling all day. So, I started letting things go. I'm sure UAX/Air Wisconsin at IAD and US Airways Express/Peidmont in PHL have similar stories, but like a zombie plague, eventually apathy reaches everyone if you mismanage a company enough.
That being said, once I found myself happy with a new job in the ramp tower, it was very easy to become professional again. All about the environment.
In the situation at my company, it gets hard to give a crap when despite having great on time performance, being one of the best stations in the system for aircraft damage, and doing extremely well in baggage performance, we get told our jobs are up for bid so mainline can bring in a cheaper company, despite our 5 year contract being renewed less than 2 years ago. Every airline at the airport I work at has seen damage, lost baggage claims, and delays skyrocket since contracting out their work to the lowest bidder, yet the lowest bidders are the ones that always seem to stick around. The message we get is "it doesn't matter how good of a job you do, we only care about cost."
These lowest bidders are the outfits that will try to deice your airplane with hot water, or just flat out not deice the tail when there's 3 inches of ice on it. (Both true stories) Amazing how some companies don't realize how much safety gets affected by shoddy operations like that.
That said, most of us still do our best with what they give us, but after a certain point there's only so much you can do.
amorris311
Well-Known Member
Eric, you have seen what express carriers have to deal with first hand. Even if everyone gave a crap and wanted to be the best they quite simply can't. The IAD "A" gates are a perfect example. People there I think actually care but too many times they don't have the resources or properly functioning equipment to do their jobs. Over time that becomes stressful and people begin to get hurt. Two summers ago I was sitting in my plane loading up and watched a ramper get squished by a malfunctioning tug. How do you think morale was after that? It has nothing to do with age but the continued race to the bottom that affects people's attitudes and work ethic. That won't change until people feel secure with the workplace and make a paycheck that is commensurate to their specific job. Basic Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
Autothrust Blue
Welcome aboard the Washington State Ferries
Fixed it for ya.30+? What if you're 29?
I'ma write Congress! 1500TT and 30+!
Screw you kids! I got mine!
dasleben
That's just, like, your opinion, man
Fixed it for ya.
Yup, if we legislate a 30+ rule, nobody will go work for the regionals for such low pay. It'll help fix this industry.
This was my idea. You heard it here first!
Autothrust Blue
Welcome aboard the Washington State Ferries
Great logic. Run for congress, dude.
We have these hard and fast rules that govern when we can taxi into the gate. There were a number of ground equipment collisions so the company started hammering down on us.
Memos memos memos.
But in the real world, the rampers don't get the same memos and think you're an ass for not taxiing toward the gate when items listed in the memo aren't clear of the gate area.
Many companies have a problem with "group think" and divisional autonomy. People who don't fly the line but have the ability to create policy sit in a board room and come up with things that sound good behind a desk, but are absolutely unworkable and idiotic on the line. And then they don't communicate the change to any other division.
The flight attendant manual will say one thing, the flight operations manual will say something else, the gate agents have their own directives and the ground ops people have something else.
But you're the captain, don't be wrong. Or late. And make sure you don't step on any precious egos otherwise you'll have six different reports to file and might get a carpet dance.
Memos memos memos.
But in the real world, the rampers don't get the same memos and think you're an ass for not taxiing toward the gate when items listed in the memo aren't clear of the gate area.
Many companies have a problem with "group think" and divisional autonomy. People who don't fly the line but have the ability to create policy sit in a board room and come up with things that sound good behind a desk, but are absolutely unworkable and idiotic on the line. And then they don't communicate the change to any other division.
The flight attendant manual will say one thing, the flight operations manual will say something else, the gate agents have their own directives and the ground ops people have something else.
But you're the captain, don't be wrong. Or late. And make sure you don't step on any precious egos otherwise you'll have six different reports to file and might get a carpet dance.
Autothrust Blue
Welcome aboard the Washington State Ferries
rwgb1984
Well-Known Member
Sounds more like an issue with the rampers. We all know the first-class individuals that get hired to work IAD gates...
United could save millions a year in fuel costs alone if every flight didn't have to sit for 5-10 mins to get parked.
Never worked the ramp at a big airport (biggest was probably KFTW in terms of traffic and aircraft I had the opportunity to service, etc...) and can vouch that there are some folks who work on airport ramps that probably shouldn't be there. Makes me think of Louis C.K.'s bit on 20 yr olds who "make coffee sarcastically." HA! Boy I know that's true just about everywhere you go actually...