wheelsup said:
Pretty messed up that someone released that to the media.
I'll like this only because I feel it will bring a negative impression upon United due to the highlighting of deviations from policy.
Otherwise, the memo itself, while strongly worded I think will resonate with a lot of us who are focused on risk management. Numerous hazards exist in our industry with even more countless consequences evolving from those hazards. It is the safety structure, culture, and policy that helps keep the risks at a manageable level. The idea of even an undesired aircraft state, critical fuel situation, or a GPWS recovery procedure (granted, not sure how intense that really was...), must be respected.
The release of the memo, since we don't know the source, isn't necessarily a concern in my mind - at least not a negative one. To me it shows a management (dare I even call them leaders since they pretty clearly laid out a vision...) team that is taking the matters and incidents that they have seen as very serious. I commend them for doing such.
Pretty sure those of us working to improve overall flight safety wouldn't challenge their communication of said concerns. We pilots tend to do some boneheaded things from time to time. Occasionally we need to be called out, even sternly, for doing those stupid things. Flight safety tends to be a secret realm where public disclosure is not welcomed...especially in the military, so I can understand any harsh feedback United flight ops management receives, but nevertheless these issues do need to be communicated internally.
I am sure our resident United guru will chime in in a matter of minutes and tell me how horribly wrong I am for agreeing with United management, but it is their responsible to maintain the integrity of its operation and the wellbeing of crew and passengers - including company resources.
