Career Dedication
03-27-2006, 07:02 AM
#1
Self Employed.
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Career Dedication
Five years Ago This Morning
It was five years ago this morning that I was in the delivery room with my wife. We were expecting to meet our second son within minutes when my cell phone rang. Expecting my mom to be on the line I was surprised to be extended a greeting from crew scheduling. Odd I thought, I am not on reserve what could they want? Crew scheduling announced that I was being drafted for a Chicago overnight and needed to report to the crew lounge within one hour. I suppose a more dutiful pilot would have responded "YES MAM"! I however mentioned that I couldn't since my wife needed me more. They were not concerned with my silly problems and I was again notified that I was expected to show myself in the crew lounge, this time with the tone of a threat. With that elevation in negotiations I gave them the old "F Off" and hung up. I suppose a better pilot would have handled it differently and listened to the family events from Chicago on their cell phone. I just wasn't dedicated enough.
SkyHigh
It was five years ago this morning that I was in the delivery room with my wife. We were expecting to meet our second son within minutes when my cell phone rang. Expecting my mom to be on the line I was surprised to be extended a greeting from crew scheduling. Odd I thought, I am not on reserve what could they want? Crew scheduling announced that I was being drafted for a Chicago overnight and needed to report to the crew lounge within one hour. I suppose a more dutiful pilot would have responded "YES MAM"! I however mentioned that I couldn't since my wife needed me more. They were not concerned with my silly problems and I was again notified that I was expected to show myself in the crew lounge, this time with the tone of a threat. With that elevation in negotiations I gave them the old "F Off" and hung up. I suppose a better pilot would have handled it differently and listened to the family events from Chicago on their cell phone. I just wasn't dedicated enough.
SkyHigh
03-27-2006, 11:21 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Posts: 215
In 1985 I had a similiar situation. I called crew scheduling and told them that my
wife was going in for emergency surgery. The crew scheduler said I was the only guy available and had to take the flight. (13 hours away).
On the second call I was told to fly the flight or else.
Being young and naive(also stupid) I flew the flight and paid the ultimate price about two years later. My ex never forgave me and I don't blame her.
I made it back from GRU trips for the birth of both of my kids and can't tell what that meant to me.
Good on ya for telling them to shove off
wife was going in for emergency surgery. The crew scheduler said I was the only guy available and had to take the flight. (13 hours away).
On the second call I was told to fly the flight or else.
Being young and naive(also stupid) I flew the flight and paid the ultimate price about two years later. My ex never forgave me and I don't blame her.
I made it back from GRU trips for the birth of both of my kids and can't tell what that meant to me.
Good on ya for telling them to shove off
03-27-2006, 03:01 PM
#4
Chief Jeppesen Updater
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Executive Transport Driver
Posts: 3,080
SkyHigh,
Ever wonder if it wasn't your ability to handle a situation with a little bit of tact isn't one of the reasons that you didn't succeed as much as you first expected. I agree that this is a situation where anybody in their right mind wouldn't go fly... but there are better ways of handling it.
I found that more often that not, crew schedulers were willing to work with you on various conflicts if you treated them like human beings. I find it hard to believe that any manager or scheduler would give you the hard line if you had the least bit of respect or courtesy towards them.
For those who ***** about screw scheduling, remember that they have a job too. And it's certainly a lot more than just moving crews from one plane to another. If you doubt me, go sit with them for a day- I guarantee that you'll walk away with a greater sense of the big picture and appreciation for what they actually do (other than call you at 5am on your day off). Plus you'll most likely score some bonus points on their lists.
Rather than tell them to f off, you could have simply stated, "Sorry, I'm unable- My wife is in labor, this is a family emergency, and I'm in no mental condition to be flying. End of story." In doing so, you treat them like a human, tell them why you can 't work, and back it up with an irrefutable (and true) safety reason." Failure to do so, just makes you more of a target for schedulings wrath. (And trust me- I have some friends that are schedulers- I know that they too have favorites, just like pilots have favorite schedulers).
A little bit of tact goes a long way. And in a situation like this, it's possible that the best thing for you is also the best thing for the company. The trick is showing them logically and respectfully how to see things your way.
Ever wonder if it wasn't your ability to handle a situation with a little bit of tact isn't one of the reasons that you didn't succeed as much as you first expected. I agree that this is a situation where anybody in their right mind wouldn't go fly... but there are better ways of handling it.
I found that more often that not, crew schedulers were willing to work with you on various conflicts if you treated them like human beings. I find it hard to believe that any manager or scheduler would give you the hard line if you had the least bit of respect or courtesy towards them.
For those who ***** about screw scheduling, remember that they have a job too. And it's certainly a lot more than just moving crews from one plane to another. If you doubt me, go sit with them for a day- I guarantee that you'll walk away with a greater sense of the big picture and appreciation for what they actually do (other than call you at 5am on your day off). Plus you'll most likely score some bonus points on their lists.
Rather than tell them to f off, you could have simply stated, "Sorry, I'm unable- My wife is in labor, this is a family emergency, and I'm in no mental condition to be flying. End of story." In doing so, you treat them like a human, tell them why you can 't work, and back it up with an irrefutable (and true) safety reason." Failure to do so, just makes you more of a target for schedulings wrath. (And trust me- I have some friends that are schedulers- I know that they too have favorites, just like pilots have favorite schedulers).
A little bit of tact goes a long way. And in a situation like this, it's possible that the best thing for you is also the best thing for the company. The trick is showing them logically and respectfully how to see things your way.
03-27-2006, 05:18 PM
#5
Self Employed.
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Understranding
Originally Posted by FlyerJosh
SkyHigh,
Ever wonder if it wasn't your ability to handle a situation with a little bit of tact isn't one of the reasons that you didn't succeed as much as you first expected. I agree that this is a situation where anybody in their right mind wouldn't go fly... but there are better ways of handling it.
I found that more often that not, crew schedulers were willing to work with you on various conflicts if you treated them like human beings. I find it hard to believe that any manager or scheduler would give you the hard line if you had the least bit of respect or courtesy towards them.
For those who ***** about screw scheduling, remember that they have a job too. And it's certainly a lot more than just moving crews from one plane to another. If you doubt me, go sit with them for a day- I guarantee that you'll walk away with a greater sense of the big picture and appreciation for what they actually do (other than call you at 5am on your day off). Plus you'll most likely score some bonus points on their lists.
Rather than tell them to f off, you could have simply stated, "Sorry, I'm unable- My wife is in labor, this is a family emergency, and I'm in no mental condition to be flying. End of story." In doing so, you treat them like a human, tell them why you can 't work, and back it up with an irrefutable (and true) safety reason." Failure to do so, just makes you more of a target for schedulings wrath. (And trust me- I have some friends that are schedulers- I know that they too have favorites, just like pilots have favorite schedulers).
A little bit of tact goes a long way. And in a situation like this, it's possible that the best thing for you is also the best thing for the company. The trick is showing them logically and respectfully how to see things your way.
Ever wonder if it wasn't your ability to handle a situation with a little bit of tact isn't one of the reasons that you didn't succeed as much as you first expected. I agree that this is a situation where anybody in their right mind wouldn't go fly... but there are better ways of handling it.
I found that more often that not, crew schedulers were willing to work with you on various conflicts if you treated them like human beings. I find it hard to believe that any manager or scheduler would give you the hard line if you had the least bit of respect or courtesy towards them.
For those who ***** about screw scheduling, remember that they have a job too. And it's certainly a lot more than just moving crews from one plane to another. If you doubt me, go sit with them for a day- I guarantee that you'll walk away with a greater sense of the big picture and appreciation for what they actually do (other than call you at 5am on your day off). Plus you'll most likely score some bonus points on their lists.
Rather than tell them to f off, you could have simply stated, "Sorry, I'm unable- My wife is in labor, this is a family emergency, and I'm in no mental condition to be flying. End of story." In doing so, you treat them like a human, tell them why you can 't work, and back it up with an irrefutable (and true) safety reason." Failure to do so, just makes you more of a target for schedulings wrath. (And trust me- I have some friends that are schedulers- I know that they too have favorites, just like pilots have favorite schedulers).
A little bit of tact goes a long way. And in a situation like this, it's possible that the best thing for you is also the best thing for the company. The trick is showing them logically and respectfully how to see things your way.
Sure I know what you are saying but The places I have worked had brutal crew schedulers. I flew with a Captain who was drafted on his wedding day and he politely told them no. He was punished.
I heard of a pilot for Mesa who wouldn't answer his phone at all since he knew that CS was hunting him. They called the police in fear of their co-workers "safety". Once at the guys home the police were instructed to call CS "to tell them that he was safe". CS asked to talk to the pilot and he was drafted.
Often a polite "No Thanks" doesn't impart the determination that you have not to comply with their request. In addition I was told by CS that they intentionally hit the soft targets first. Perhaps you worked for a nicer company.
SKyHigh
03-27-2006, 05:24 PM
#6
Chief Jeppesen Updater
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Executive Transport Driver
Posts: 3,080
If that's the case, then it truly sucks. And you're right, while I've heard of my share of "screw" scheduling horror stories, for the most part, I also realize that they too have a job to do. I've always found that the whole "you scratch my back, i'll scratch yours approach worked for me."
Then again we didn't have junior manning (for the most part, I eliminated those companies that did from my list of "candidates")- so if I didn't want to work on a day off, I could always say no.
Then again we didn't have junior manning (for the most part, I eliminated those companies that did from my list of "candidates")- so if I didn't want to work on a day off, I could always say no.
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