Rez O. Lewshun
Save the Profession
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2004
- Posts
- 13,422
Fellow Pilots,
This months Feb ALPA issue discusses the criminalization of pilots. Recently in Japan a captain was finally vindicated from murder charges. The crime? During turbulance an FA was killed.
"That won't happen to me" logic doesn't work for rape victims and it won't work for us either..
In addition, even if it doesn't happen to us, we don't want the precedent set that anywhere is the world it is satisifactory to place a Pilot on trial for conducting flight duties. What kind of respect would we receive if the public and our supervisors know we can be instantly turned into criminals.
The Brazil incident is also very disturbing. These guys are guilty until proven innocent and were held without cause. I am guessing that most Colgan and Skywest Pilots would like the option to fly bigger equipment for more pay...this might require working at another carrier.
Bigger aircraft means international routes. Sure we are American pilots with a leading justice system. But these guys were in Brazil. Be the PIC during an accident overseas and you may be placed in thier prison and justice system. Are you preapred to go to jail? The Brazil guys are facing 12 years imprisionment. ALPA was party to getting them released from house arrest and returned to the USA. They are furloughed ALPA pilots.
There are 19 cases of pilots criminalized cited in the article. Many of which included convictions and jail time.
Also in the Feb magazine an Air Line Pilot tested "positve" for a drug test. It was incorrect and pilot got her job back. The Medical Review Officer (management) had the evidence and authority to reverse the test results but was afraid to do her job properly. Or do the right thing. Colgan and Skywest pilots do you have the resources, experience and MONEY to handle a false positive that will surely end your current employment and any hopes of futrue employment (ie your career)? Again, "it won't happen to me" doesn't work.
Finally on page 21 the ALPA secuirty committee has provided a checklist for overnight (hotel) security. You may be surprised there are a lot of issues with hotel security. Fired employees keep room key access and attack, rape and kill people when they enter thier rooms. And pilots, rape is a power crime so it doesn't matter if you are male or female to the aggressor.
Fellow pilots: consider sharing this hotel security info with your FA's.
This months Feb ALPA issue discusses the criminalization of pilots. Recently in Japan a captain was finally vindicated from murder charges. The crime? During turbulance an FA was killed.
A pilot with Japan Airlines (JAL) has been accused of negligence for a 1997 incident that caused the death of a JAL flight attendant.
Police sent papers to prosecutors on 9 March accusing the captain of erroneously manoeuvring an 8 June 1997 flight over Mie Prefecture and causing the aircraft to jolt. The in-flight incident resulted in injury to seven crew members and six passengers, with one of the flight attendants later dying of multiple organ failure in February 1999. The papers also claim that the 50-year-old captain is responsible for the flight attendant's death, Kyodo News reported.
In addition, even if it doesn't happen to us, we don't want the precedent set that anywhere is the world it is satisifactory to place a Pilot on trial for conducting flight duties. What kind of respect would we receive if the public and our supervisors know we can be instantly turned into criminals.
The Brazil incident is also very disturbing. These guys are guilty until proven innocent and were held without cause. I am guessing that most Colgan and Skywest Pilots would like the option to fly bigger equipment for more pay...this might require working at another carrier.
Bigger aircraft means international routes. Sure we are American pilots with a leading justice system. But these guys were in Brazil. Be the PIC during an accident overseas and you may be placed in thier prison and justice system. Are you preapred to go to jail? The Brazil guys are facing 12 years imprisionment. ALPA was party to getting them released from house arrest and returned to the USA. They are furloughed ALPA pilots.
There are 19 cases of pilots criminalized cited in the article. Many of which included convictions and jail time.
Also in the Feb magazine an Air Line Pilot tested "positve" for a drug test. It was incorrect and pilot got her job back. The Medical Review Officer (management) had the evidence and authority to reverse the test results but was afraid to do her job properly. Or do the right thing. Colgan and Skywest pilots do you have the resources, experience and MONEY to handle a false positive that will surely end your current employment and any hopes of futrue employment (ie your career)? Again, "it won't happen to me" doesn't work.
Finally on page 21 the ALPA secuirty committee has provided a checklist for overnight (hotel) security. You may be surprised there are a lot of issues with hotel security. Fired employees keep room key access and attack, rape and kill people when they enter thier rooms. And pilots, rape is a power crime so it doesn't matter if you are male or female to the aggressor.
Fellow pilots: consider sharing this hotel security info with your FA's.
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