Throw us your roundtable ideas...

[Qgar]

Originally Posted by SRA_kbad

How bout' a discussion on what overnights have the best happy hour's within walking distance from the hotel

Great idea!

[ATN_Pilot]

Originally Posted by Kristie

With that, do you think it would be a good idea to bring in union representation and hold a pro/con session afterwards to discuss and work thru the issues? it'd be a separate roundtable from what Tracy is suggesting but could go along the lines....

Seggy and I will both be there, but I could also talk to someone in the Communications department at ALPA if you'd like to get an "official" speaker from ALPA. Just depends on what you're looking for.

[FlyChicaga]

I would block off a good chunk of time if you'd like a union discussion. As you can see from the discussions on the board, it is a subject that brings a lot of strong opinions and emotions along with it. It is important to talk about, but be ready for the possibility of it getting "heated." That's why I just prefer to stay out of the union discussions anymore. It's not because I'm anti-union.

If the discussion would inform pilots of the total benefits of union representation, in a positive manner, then it would be great. Usually these types of things talk about "when management tries to screw you", contracts or disciplinary hearings. That is ineffective when trying to encourage companies with good labor/management relations into unionization.

Just my opinion.

[ATN_Pilot]

Originally Posted by FlyChicaga

I would block off a good chunk of time if you'd like a union discussion. As you can see from the discussions on the board, it is a subject that brings a lot of strong opinions and emotions along with it. It is important to talk about, but be ready for the possibility of it getting "heated." That's why I just prefer to stay out of the union discussions anymore. It's not because I'm anti-union.

I don't think it would necessarily get heated. These things tend to get "heated" on message boards, but stay relatively calm in person.

If the discussion would inform pilots of the total benefits of union representation, in a positive manner, then it would be great. Usually these types of things talk about "when management tries to screw you", contracts or disciplinary hearings. That is ineffective when trying to encourage companies with good labor/management relations into unionization.

I think both discussions would be helpful. Some pilots work at companies where they really are out to get you (Pinnacle, Mesa, etc...), while others work at companies with relatively good labor relations (ExpressJet, RAH, etc...). Dealing with both sets of issues would be advantageous. As a union organizer, I've had to deal with both. We tried to focus on the positive when holding Skywest events, for example.

[Kristie]

would it be better to deal with both sets of issues separately (as in 2 roundtable sessions) or as one big chunk of "union" talk?

If it's going to be a particular large event, we could set up the golden room for something like that.

[ATN_Pilot]

Originally Posted by Kristie

would it be better to deal with both sets of issues separately (as in 2 roundtable sessions) or as one big chunk of "union" talk?

If it's going to be a particular large event, we could set up the golden room for something like that.

I personally think it would be best to have it as one single event. Although all pilots aren't subjected to the confrontational labor relations styles of airlines like Pinnacle and Mesa, it's important for all pilots to understand that it does go on. A newbie pilot at Skywest might not understand why pilots at Mesa are so disgruntled, so this sort of dialog could help him understand where they're coming from. Likewise, a Pinnacle pilot might be completely dumbfounded that an ExpressJet pilot isn't filled with vitriol towards their management. A full discussion could explore all of that.

[TheShortOne]

i can see that being a huge discussion and would suggest getting a big room for it. I know I'd be interested in listening in, if for nothing else than for my own education.

[Kristie]

we have a big room that could fit 200-400....so that would be the room we would set up for it... i'm just not sure when we would hold it.

PCL - can you talk to your comm. officer about the event and roughly pencil him in? I think that would be a great idea and might help with community relations among the pilot group(s).

[ATN_Pilot]

Do you have the dates set yet? This is a Board of Directors meeting year for ALPA, so for two weeks in October the Planet Hollywood will be swarming with a couple hundred ALPA reps and staffers.

I'll talk to someone in the Comm Dept in Herndon to see what they can do.

[Kristie]

Yup... Oct 19-22...All of the meeting room stuff will be going on from the 20th - 21st. so either of those two days is up for grabs.

[ComplexHiAv8r]

Kristie, do you have a list going? If so how about an update on subjects.

How about:

CFI as a career? It takes a special person to do this. Is Van coming to NJC???

Flying and the family? How to support/handle having the family and flying for a career.

Career Changers: I think we are seeing more of this, might be nice to have a seperate discussion with people changing careers to flying.

Finance 101: How to prepare and survive those first couple years on low pay.

Would it be beneficial to have someone from AOPA attend and discuss the benefits of joining their organization?

[TheOneMarine]

Originally Posted by ComplexHiAv8r

Kristie, do you have a list going? If so how about an update on subjects.

How about:

CFI as a career? It takes a special person to do this. Is Van coming to NJC???

Flying and the family? How to support/handle having the family and flying for a career.

Career Changers: I think we are seeing more of this, might be nice to have a seperate discussion with people changing careers to flying.

Finance 101: How to prepare and survive those first couple years on low pay.

Would it be beneficial to have someone from AOPA attend and discuss the benefits of joining their organization?

-On this note, how not to get yourself in the hole as a regional captain to the point where you can't move on.

-Also, as a new 121 guy, I would REALLY like to know specifics from ALPA as to how I (the individual) can get involved in different aspects of the union. I feel a big problem for new FO's is that we have no idea what we can do to change things, when I'm sure it starts at our level. So a discussion on ALPA being for ALL and not just a captains only club.

[ATN_Pilot]

Kristie, I emailed one of my friends in the Comm Dept, so hopefully I'll hear back from him sometime tomorrow. As soon as I hear something, I'll let you know.

[SpiraMirabilis]

Originally Posted by PCL_128

Kristie, I emailed one of my friends in the Comm Dept, so hopefully I'll hear back from him sometime tomorrow. As soon as I hear something, I'll let you know.

That would be cool if an "official" ALPA could speak about their current goals, problems, battles and how we could help. Although you probably could do that job just as well judging from your posts.

[ILSstud]

I think an ALPA discussion would be great. It would be particularly interesting for someone like me who isn't in the industry yet (in terms of flying) and wants to become informed on issues that you guys face out on the line. I'd definitely be up for something like that!

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by PCL_128

Kristie, I emailed one of my friends in the Comm Dept, so hopefully I'll hear back from him sometime tomorrow. As soon as I hear something, I'll let you know.

Thanks!

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by TheOneMarine

-On this note, how not to get yourself in the hole as a regional captain to the point where you can't move on.

can you elaborate on this please? what hole....moving on to where?

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by ComplexHiAv8r

Kristie, do you have a list going? If so how about an update on subjects.

How about:

CFI as a career? It takes a special person to do this. Is Van coming to NJC???

Flying and the family? How to support/handle having the family and flying for a career.

Career Changers: I think we are seeing more of this, might be nice to have a seperate discussion with people changing careers to flying.

Finance 101: How to prepare and survive those first couple years on low pay.

Would it be beneficial to have someone from AOPA attend and discuss the benefits of joining their organization?

yes, we do have a list going (this thread is it).... i have no idea if Van is coming (he's not registered)... talk to him if you want him to be the head of that particular roundtable and then get in communicado with me so we can work out the details.

Finance 101... i'm not sure how we'd pull off a roundtable session on that... anyone have a financial planner or consultant they could bring in (i doubt we could get suze orman, altho i'm gonna check anyways, you just never know ) to give tips on financial success? we could bring in someone who can talk retirement as well if that was of any interest.

[TheShortOne]

Originally Posted by Kristie

can you elaborate on this please? what hole....moving on to where?

the hole is getting stuck at a regional as a captain because you don't have the financial ability to take the paycut to move up to a mainline (kids, house, whatever)

[TheOneMarine]

Originally Posted by TheShortOne

the hole is getting stuck at a regional as a captain because you don't have the financial ability to take the paycut to move up to a mainline (kids, house, whatever)

Yes Kristie, this is what I meant. Sorry for the lack of original elaboration. Folks who upgrade to making $61K+ a year at the regional level, live to their financial limit, and then can never move up to Delta, Northwest, Southwest, etc. because they can't afford to make <$40K for a year. Some advice on what to do financially as a regional captain from the legacy and major pilots would be great.

[BobDDuck]

Originally Posted by PCL_128

Kristie, I emailed one of my friends in the Comm Dept, so hopefully I'll hear back from him sometime tomorrow. As soon as I hear something, I'll let you know.

FYI the Comm department just went through a bit of turn over. I had a problem with our monthly newsletter because both the people we worked with quit and didn't push out project to anybody else. I'm hoping you're contacts are still there.

[ATN_Pilot]

The guy I usually call about these things has been with ALPA for over 25 years, so I don't think he's gone anywhere. He's been spending a lot of time up in Canada for the past few months on a few organizing initiatives up there, so it's been taking him a while to respond to emails. I know the Director of Comm and the Manager of Comm pretty well, so I'll call them if my buddy doesn't get back to me next week. I just try not to call them unless its something urgent since they're usually extremely busy.

[UPSpilot]

Originally Posted by mpenguin1

Have some of the experienced pilots talk about CRM, flying in a
2 person flightdeck, treating the Flight Attendants as part of the crew (they are an extra set of eyes.)

Good review session for some of the senior pilots & a reminder that CRM does not mean Captain Remains Master

Actually, the "experts" are realizing that they went too far the other way in the beginning of CRM. It used to be that CRM was "touchy-feely", don't do anything to "offend" the F/O and they found that the original version of CRM did not have a clearly defined chain of command ( F/O- I don't feel comfortable ). They are now teaching that the Captain is ALWAYS in COMMAND, and to COMMAND the aircraft WHILE taking into consideration ALL available information from ALL available resources.

[H46Bubba]

Originally Posted by UPSpilot

Actually, the "experts" are realizing that they went too far the other way in the beginning of CRM. It used to be that CRM was "touchy-feely", don't do anything to "offend" the F/O and they found that the original version of CRM did not have a clearly defined chain of command ( F/O- I don't feel comfortable ). They are now teaching that the Captain is ALWAYS in COMMAND, and to COMMAND the aircraft WHILE taking into consideration ALL available information from ALL available resources.

Maybe in the military or UPS land!

[ComplexHiAv8r]

Since it appears that we have the time and the space, is there going to be seperate (and more defined) roundtables?

Upgrade to CA
CFI as a career
Preparing for the ATP (non-121 environment)
Finance 101
Good, Bad, and the Ugly to Unions