BA hero pilot plans to quit in disgust (unfair treatment)

[mpenguin1]

BA hero pilot plans to quit in disgust at bosses' unfair treatment
27th April 2008

The British Airways pilot who saved 152 lives in the Heathrow crash landing claims he has been mistreated and is planning to quit.
Captain Peter Burkill has reportedly been grounded since the incident and has had his salary cut.

The hero pilot, 43, feels "betrayed" by the airline, claiming it has not been supportive enough since the Boeing 777 lost power on January 17th.

After taking time off with post traumatic-stress, the married father-of-five's salary was halved from £120,000 through lost bonuses.

His pay was eventually raised to £90,000 but his bonus is still being withheld as BA claim he cannot fly again until an inquiry into the crash is complete - despite Second Officer Coward and the plane's third pilot returning to work as normal.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770

[C150J]

Already did the math for those interested:

£120,000 = $238,824

£90,000 = $179,118

$59,706 paycut.

[mpenguin1]

Originally Posted by C150J

Already did the math for those interested:

£120,000 = $238,824

£90,000 = $179,118

$59,706 paycut.

I don't think the pilot was given a pay cut, just a guess, the pilot is probably not receiving per diem, overtime pay, etc as he is not flying.

Yes, I realize that he is taking home less money, but, I don't think it was a paycut...

[777forever]

Originally Posted by mpenguin1

I don't think the pilot was given a pay cut, just a guess, the pilot is probably not receiving per diem, overtime pay, etc as he is not flying.

Yes, I realize that he is taking home less money, but, I don't think it was a paycut...

[v1valarob]

I'd just sit back, let the salary I am receiving come in and just hang out.

-Rob

[WestIndian425]

How come the first officer got to return to work? I know it's the captain's ship, but geez!

[dell30rb]

post-traumatic stress? come on

i'm sure it was a stressful experience but if he actually freaked out enough during the landing to keep him from flying for months afterwards...

[Sidious]

Originally Posted by dell30rb

post-traumatic stress? come on

i'm sure it was a stressful experience but if he actually freaked out enough during the landing to keep him from flying for months afterwards...

Only he knows... I haven't had to land a 777 without power with all those lives aboard so Ill reserve any comment.

[Champcar]

Originally Posted by C150J

Already did the math for those interested:

£120,000 = $238,824

£90,000 = $179,118

$59,706 paycut.

I think he will survive.

[mikecweb]

Originally Posted by Sidious

Only he knows... I haven't had to land a 777 without power with all those lives aboard so Ill reserve any comment.

I did last night in MSFS. It's not as hard as the media is making it out to be.

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by dell30rb

post-traumatic stress? come on

i'm sure it was a stressful experience but if he actually freaked out enough during the landing to keep him from flying for months afterwards...

People underestimate PTSD. It's not some sham that people just use to get out of work or to sue people. It's a legitimate disorder, and it's quite serious. It can result in insomnia, hypertension, among other things. Since no one here has ever had to dead-stick crash land a 777, I don't think anyone should be judging whether his PTSD condition is legitimate or not. Only he and his doctor can determine that.

Originally Posted by Champcar

I think he will survive.

Easy to say for someone who hasn't had their pay cut by $60,000. Everyone lives within their means. Those that make more buy bigger houses, more expensive cars, etc.... A loss of $60k could mean that he has to sell his home. Certainly a big deal, even if he is still making what you consider to be a lot of money.

[Tiger815]

Originally Posted by PCL_128

People underestimate PTSD. It's not some sham that people just use to get out of work or to sue people. It's a legitimate disorder, and it's quite serious. It can result in insomnia, hypertension, among other things.

Not to hijack the thread but, PTSD seems to me to be an epidemic these days. One has to wonder how the WWII generation was ever able to come home from their experience and lead the greatest wave of accomplishment in history, what with all their undiagnosed PTSD.

Apparently now over 70% of our troops being deployed to Iraq and Afganistan are coming home diagnosed with PTSD. While I don't discount the sacrfice todays soldiers are making, the fact is, statistically their chances of getting hurt or killed are very, very slim. Compare that to bomber crews in WWII, where statistically you're odds of surviving a full tour were very near zero and many, many units had over 100% casualties (in shear numbers, not that every original guy was wounded or killed). How is it that the vast majority of these guys were able to come home after enduring these conditions for YEARS, adjust and live long and prosperous lives, while today it seems a few months overseas (or one scary incident) with a very remote possibilty of being killed sets a person up for a lifetime disablity? I do believe there is such a thing a PTSD, but I also believe there is such a thing as "Job Security" for mental health "experts" and progress is being made on one front.

We now return to your regularly scheduled discussion.

[Low_Level_Hell]

Having seen my share of people with PTSD and being in a crash landing (shotdown) I don't think a solitary event as such would result in PTSD. There were no deaths as a result and while a tense moment the end result was not exactly a tragedy. Not saying he doesn't have it, but his wishes to continue flying with BA or another airline cause my doubts.

[PCL_128]

Boy, we sure have a lot of doctors around here.

[Low_Level_Hell]

Originally Posted by PCL_128

Boy, we sure have a lot of doctors around here.

Agreed. Just seems strange that a guy suffering from PTSD would be so antsy and boisterous to get back in a plane again.

[C150J]

Originally Posted by Tiger815

Not to hijack the thread but, PTSD seems to me to be an epidemic these days. One has to wonder how the WWII generation was ever able to come home from their experience and lead the greatest wave of accomplishment in history, what with all their undiagnosed PTSD.

Apparently now over 70% of our troops being deployed to Iraq and Afganistan are coming home diagnosed with PTSD. While I don't discount the sacrfice todays soldiers are making, the fact is, statistically their chances of getting hurt or killed are very, very slim. Compare that to bomber crews in WWII, where statistically you're odds of surviving a full tour were very near zero and many, many units had over 100% casualties (in shear numbers, not that every original guy was wounded or killed). How is it that the vast majority of these guys were able to come home after enduring these conditions for YEARS, adjust and live long and prosperous lives, while today it seems a few months overseas (or one scary incident) with a very remote possibilty of being killed sets a person up for a lifetime disablity? I do believe there is such a thing a PTSD, but I also believe there is such a thing as "Job Security" for mental health "experts" and progress is being made on one front.

We now return to your regularly scheduled discussion.

I hear you, but keep in mind that many veterans have been able to survive due to advances in medical technology (blood transfusions, prosthetics, etc.) that didn't in WWII. War has never been "pretty," but seeing your fellow soldiers without their limbs return to wife-less homes does not bode well on the psyche. Guerrilla tactics, something that was generally unheard of during WWII, makes the transition to normal street life harder. Going from fighting normally-clothed combatants on one city block to shopping with the kids on another is a lot different than trench warfare. Kind of like how flying with cynical pilots makes you cynical if you don't watch out. Downward comparison is a proven psychological phenomenon.

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by Low_Level_Hell

Agreed. Just seems strange that a guy suffering from PTSD would be so antsy and boisterous to get back in a plane again.

I don't think he's antsy to get back in a plane. He just wants his full salary while he's on leave. As someone that the airline has called a hero for their own PR purposes, I don't think he's asking too much.

[Low_Level_Hell]

Originally Posted by Tiger815

Not to hijack the thread but, PTSD seems to me to be an epidemic these days. One has to wonder how the WWII generation was ever able to come home from their experience and lead the greatest wave of accomplishment in history, what with all their undiagnosed PTSD.

Apparently now over 70% of our troops being deployed to Iraq and Afganistan are coming home diagnosed with PTSD. While I don't discount the sacrfice todays soldiers are making, the fact is, statistically their chances of getting hurt or killed are very, very slim. Compare that to bomber crews in WWII, where statistically you're odds of surviving a full tour were very near zero and many, many units had over 100% casualties (in shear numbers, not that every original guy was wounded or killed). How is it that the vast majority of these guys were able to come home after enduring these conditions for YEARS, adjust and live long and prosperous lives, while today it seems a few months overseas (or one scary incident) with a very remote possibilty of being killed sets a person up for a lifetime disablity? I do believe there is such a thing a PTSD, but I also believe there is such a thing as "Job Security" for mental health "experts" and progress is being made on one front.

We now return to your regularly scheduled discussion.

I think the terms thrown out there too much as well. While I don't doubt alot of soldiers who leave the base may have it, the thing that gets me is when soldiers and marines who don't leave the base and any airmen period who claim PTSD are full of it and cheapen the term. Hearing mortors go off every few days and screaming PTSD is crap. So is claiming PTSD when landing a plane where everyone more or less walks away from.

[JacksonHandy]

Originally Posted by Tiger815

Not to hijack the thread but, PTSD seems to me to be an epidemic these days. One has to wonder how the WWII generation was ever able to come home from their experience and lead the greatest wave of accomplishment in history, what with all their undiagnosed PTSD.

Apparently now over 70% of our troops being deployed to Iraq and Afganistan are coming home diagnosed with PTSD. While I don't discount the sacrfice todays soldiers are making, the fact is, statistically their chances of getting hurt or killed are very, very slim. Compare that to bomber crews in WWII, where statistically you're odds of surviving a full tour were very near zero and many, many units had over 100% casualties (in shear numbers, not that every original guy was wounded or killed). How is it that the vast majority of these guys were able to come home after enduring these conditions for YEARS, adjust and live long and prosperous lives, while today it seems a few months overseas (or one scary incident) with a very remote possibilty of being killed sets a person up for a lifetime disablity? I do believe there is such a thing a PTSD, but I also believe there is such a thing as "Job Security" for mental health "experts" and progress is being made on one front.

We now return to your regularly scheduled discussion.

I PM'ed you.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by Tiger815

Not to hijack the thread but, PTSD seems to me to be an epidemic these days. One has to wonder how the WWII generation was ever able to come home from their experience and lead the greatest wave of accomplishment in history, what with all their undiagnosed PTSD.

Apparently now over 70% of our troops being deployed to Iraq and Afganistan are coming home diagnosed with PTSD. While I don't discount the sacrfice todays soldiers are making, the fact is, statistically their chances of getting hurt or killed are very, very slim. Compare that to bomber crews in WWII, where statistically you're odds of surviving a full tour were very near zero and many, many units had over 100% casualties (in shear numbers, not that every original guy was wounded or killed). How is it that the vast majority of these guys were able to come home after enduring these conditions for YEARS, adjust and live long and prosperous lives, while today it seems a few months overseas (or one scary incident) with a very remote possibilty of being killed sets a person up for a lifetime disablity? I do believe there is such a thing a PTSD, but I also believe there is such a thing as "Job Security" for mental health "experts" and progress is being made on one front.

We now return to your regularly scheduled discussion.

It's sand. It tends to get in those places these days, you know.

You know - the places?

[SeanD]

I thought I read that the FO was at the controls when the incident happened.

[Mad Doggy Dog]

Originally Posted by PCL_128

People underestimate PTSD. It's not some sham that people just use to get out of work or to sue people. It's a legitimate disorder, and it's quite serious. It can result in insomnia, hypertension, among other things. Since no one here has ever had to dead-stick crash land a 777, I don't think anyone should be judging whether his PTSD condition is legitimate or not. Only he and his doctor can determine that.

For those of you who are ALPA members:
When you have an incident or accident, ALPA will assign someone to help you determine and deal with PTSD.

[Hootie]

If I had to crash land a 777 damn right I'd take a couple months off for stress.

[WacoFan]

I think more people are getting PTSD simply because they can identify it now, whereas in WWII they would say you had "Shell Shock" and Patton would come into your hospital room and slap you.

PTSD is very real I believe, and can be treated. It is diagnosed more because it can be treated, and that treatment probably saves money long term. How many guys had Shell Shock...or even some carry-over from previous wars and sank into alcoholism, suicide, or other destructive behaviour? I know people that have suffered mental anquish from far less than a deadstick landing with a 777 full of people.

[WestIndian425]

Originally Posted by SeanD

I thought I read that the FO was at the controls when the incident happened.

That's why I'm surprised the FO is back in the air but the CA isn't.