Originally Posted by TANSTAAFL

It's been direct billed to the hotels since before you or I were flying at either DAL or NWA. For a very good reason.

I know you are just being humorous, but this is a BIG step backwards.

Originally Posted by forgot to bid

IATA is heavily criticizing the European response to the airspace crisis caused by the Icelandic volcano, accusing governments of basing critical decisions on unreliable or incomplete information.

The organization is urging Eurocontrol to set up a volcanic activity contingency centre and is seeking an urgent ICAO meeting to review the decision-making process and ensure airspace closure is the result of co-ordinated efforts and detailed data.

In the wake of several airlines' execution of test flights into the volcanic ash cloud, the airline organization says that decisions on operational safety should be founded on "fact, not theory", referring to the computer-based modeling of the ash-cloud's development.

"Governments have not taken their responsibility to make clear decisions based on facts," says director general Giovanni Bisignani.

"Instead, it has been the air navigation service providers who announced that they would not provide service - and these decisions have been taken without adequately consulting the airlines."

He claims that the "blanket" closure of airspace means a number of airlines have unreasonably been denied opportunities to operate safely.

"This is not an acceptable system particularly when the consequences for safety and the economy are so large," he says. "Risk assessments should be able to help us re-open certain corridors, if not entire airspaces."

European ministers are holding an emergency teleconference today, but this has done little to reassure IATA.

"We are far enough into this crisis to express our dissatisfaction on how governments have managed it - with no risk assessment, no consultation, no coordination, and no leadership," says Bisignani.

IATA last week estimated the daily cost of the shutdown, which began on 15 April, at $200 million.

"In the face of such dire economic consequences, it is incredible that Europe's transport ministers have taken five days to organize a teleconference," says Bisignani.

"Governments must place greater urgency and focus on how and when we can safely re-open Europe's skies. This means decisions based on risk-management, facts and utilizing operational procedures that maintain safety."

Originally Posted by acl65pilot

I understand that this was a unannounced change, and one that needs to be fixed. It appears that the change was to a max of 50 dollars, and then the rest needs to be expensed. As past practices have had no limit at these two points, this is a marked change, and one that puts many pilots in a bind.

I hope that it comes to a resolution quickly.

Originally Posted by sailingfun

I am a little confused here. The contract states you can be reimbursed up to 50 dollars for laundry. What is there to discuss and what does past practice have to do with this? Past practice from a contract standpoint refers to a contractual area where something is not clear but has been dealt with in a consistent manner over a period of time. Past practice has nothing to do with contractual sections changed in a new contract. This is a new section and it appears to have no grey areas.
Trying to state the contractual 50 dollar limit is not valid because of past practice would be like trying file a pay grievance stating that we should be getting paid based on the pay rates in 2004 since that is past practice.

Originally Posted by forgot to bid

In the wake of several airlines' execution of test flights into the volcanic ash cloud, the airline organisation says that decisions on operational safety should be founded on "fact, not theory", referring to the computer-based modelling of the ash-cloud's development.

"Governments have not taken their responsibility to make clear decisions based on facts," says director general Giovanni Bisignani.

Originally Posted by sailingfun

I am a little confused here. The contract states you can be reimbursed up to 50 dollars for laundry. What is there to discuss and what does past practice have to do with this? Past practice from a contract standpoint refers to a contractual area where something is not clear but has been dealt with in a consistent manner over a period of time. Past practice has nothing to do with contractual sections changed in a new contract. This is a new section and it appears to have no grey areas.
Trying to state the contractual 50 dollar limit is not valid because of past practice would be like trying file a pay grievance stating that we should be getting paid based on the pay rates in 2004 since that is past practice.

Originally Posted by Check Essential

Here's some "fact, not theory" for those brave IATA desk pilots:

NATO: F-16 fighters damaged by volcanic ash
By SLOBODAN LEKIC (AP) – 3 hours ago

BRUSSELS — A senior Western diplomat says several NATO F-16 fighters suffered engine damage after flying through the volcanic ash cloud covering large parts of Europe.
The official declined to provide more details on the military flights, except to say that glasslike deposits were found inside the planes' engines after they patroled over European airspace.
Last week, two Finnish Air Force F-18 fighter-bombers suffered similar damage while flying through the ash plume that has paralyzed air traffic over much of Europe. Both landed safely, but their jet engines will require expensive overhauls.
Volcanic ash tends to stick to a jet engine's interior parts, such as the turbines, where it melts to form a glassy coating. This restricts air flow and heats up the engine, leading to engine failure.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

The Associated Press: NATO: F-16 fighters damaged by volcanic ash