Sliceback

Here's part of the story. I'm friends with a CS'er from dealing with her over the years. She used to call me by my first name. Now it's just easier for her to stay in her 'role' and use 'Captain'. Why? Because a handful of guys have *****ed, they and their buddies are in power or have influence in the union, and they're wrapped up in 'defending the 'profession' and demand that Captains be called be 'Captain.' So instead of perhaps calling the wrong guy by his first name she just calls everyone by their title.
So the next time you're flying with a guy flying a JP-4 burning broom just realize some of the B.S., or head scratching stuff, comes from the pixie dust he drops as he flies around the company.

7576FO

Are you blaming this on the PDP (Pilots defending the Profession)? I hope not, cause you'd be wrong.
PDP does not exist anymore.

Just because you want Ralph Hunters PLI disaster and Ron Hunts "kinder gentler" Union doesn't mean everyone else want to Burn the house down.

Sliceback you always side with the company. As much stuff as you write on C & R, it is never Pro APA.
Sliceback you always complain about C & R, but you are C & R, you Mr 30,000 posts. And all of drinking the company Cool Aid.

You don't even realize you are constantly playing Devil's Advocate. You don't get it.

You always come down on the side of the company.

450knotOffice

Short call Bus at LAX...
I live locally.
ONE trip in the last 6 weeks.
Yea, it really sucks to fly for AA.

Sliceback

How many times has the union demanded the company employees address Captains as 'Captain'?

PDP might not exist as a public face but the individuals behind it are still here. And they're working their way back into power.

I'm not necessarily 'pro company' or 'anti APA'. I am against 'pro stupidity' or against 'anti common sense' or 'anti reality'.

PRS Guitars

Don't lump all AF together. I'd say they are old school AF heavy pilot influenced maybe. I come from the fighter side of the house and would not say this is like the AF at all...

PRS Guitars

Example? Feel free to PM if you prefer. Just curious before I fly out of base. I jump seat quite a bit on LAA 737's and once on the AB. The only difference I noticed on the AB was they use the intercom and the captain briefed everything. Also in general the FO's seem very quiet compared to my JS experiences on LUS and UAL. Just anecdotal though.

Arado 234

You are quite correct in your observation. I don't mind the the little changes, just this "Captain this-only" LAA blablabla gets tiring after a brief while. Except for one, I found it difficult to warm up to LAA Captains. Not sure if they're stuck in their old wAAys or just look at me in distrust (LUS = not superior).

On the LAA AB the ACARS menu is a little different to what we're used to on the LUS side. I find the print option a little bit more convoluted. If your company iPad is in a protective rubber case, get used to taking it off. The iPad holders on the LAA ABs are for the tablet only, any attached accessory will not fit.

The 1 FA has a gogo switch on her CIDS panel (or whatever it is called), so if the gogo phone up front does not power up, the likely reason is that (s)he has turned it off (don't ask).

Most LAA captains have been kinda obsessed with the brake fan. One even included that in his brief when stopping on the runway (ahead of notifying tower).

Procedures are pretty standard, it just this "at LAA we do/did this" and "I'd like to brief this additionally, since it's LAA" that gets tiring.

There might be other little things, I'll post 'em as I remember. Overall, it has been a good experience, I just wish the Captains I had wouldn't be a stiff. A five hour flight can be really long ...

Hueypilot

I don't know about the heavy aspect...I'm a Herk guy and honestly I enjoyed showing up being a civilian. My Reserve unit has become an associate of an AMC wing and sometimes (ok, often) the active duty mindset drives me up the wall.

In my opinion, a lot of it is simply old school thinking in general.

Hueypilot

Most reserve pilots out East are flying quite a bit, some up to guarantee. I'm normally a line holder but found myself on reserve this month. Got called out for a 4-day just about immediately. Not that I'm complaining because I commute and would rather be flying than sitting.

And for the record, I don't think this job sucks. I just think there are some things (ok, quite a few things) that we could do better, if people would be receptive to listening to ideas and negotiating for it.

7576FO

Just a side note under Keeping it real: AA AIRBUS SWITCHED TO USE ALL USAIR AIRBUS PROCEDURES AND TRAINING.
We dont' use anything LAA on the Airbus.

I thought it was a good thing because you guys had the most experience with the Airbus.

Yes, at LAA we brief. We used give long diatribes on "Flight Instruments/Bugs" But not anymore.