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UPS pilots union leaders defend contract agreement
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<blockquote data-quote="BrowntailDriver" data-source="post: 114097"><p>I feel a few things need to be set straight here. For one thing, our average captain salary will be nowhere near that $300,000 mark. The media loves to run with a story-even with bad information. The details of our recently ratified contract will be a matter of public information for anyone who prefers the truth vs. rumor. Life is about choices. I chose to become a pilot, but it was a long, difficult road. Not everyone who chooses to be a pilot realizes that dream. </p><p></p><p>To In Awe-for each one of us on the line, there are at least 10 out there who want our jobs. I know I'm lucky to have this job. FYI, not all of our airplanes are the "newest equipment", I happen to fly on what is humorously referred to as the "Classic Fleet"-yep, it is my choice to do so. Even in our most advanced airplanes, the autopilot does not do all the work. The autopilot does not sign the flight release or review the hazmat paperwork. The autopilot does not think or make decisions, does not know the regulations, does not know how to react to an inflight emergency. It also does not go to the FAA medical doctor every six months and get an EKG every year to keep its job. It also does not have a 4 year degree (a UPS minimum). The autopilot does not go to annual recurrent training as required by the FAA, and the FAA does not grade an autopilot on a line check. </p><p></p><p>To Yard Boss, I can respect the long hours you put up with. We as pilots must be prepared each and every night to be on duty for 16 hours. The FAA says that's safe, even on the back side of the clock. Just FYI, even our so-called modern airports become an ice skating rink with minimal traction in the winter. Keeping a heavy jet on the pavement even in rain, not to mention ice, is tricky-try it sometime. The ramifications of a runway or taxiway excursion are not good. Speaking of your frozen toes, I have personally suffered frostbite flying airplanes in -20 degrees friend with broken heaters on the path to the big UPS job. I agree it's not fun. I've also dealt with that same airplane trying to fall out of the sky when encountering unforecast icing conditions enroute. That's even less fun-ranks right up there with flying through thunderstorms with no radar. Inflight fires (think of the February incident in PHL), engine failures (yes, I've lost the engine in a single-engine plane at night full of cargo in the clouds-that wasn't fun, either), flying in all the weather are all just some of the dangers we accept in our line of work. There's an old aviation truism: "I'd rather be on the ground wishing I were in the air instead of in the air wishing I were on the ground". </p><p></p><p>To Thebrowntruth, I'm in my 16th year and am not able to bid a "good" schedule. I am away from my family 3 weeks a month and I can count on being in strange hotel rooms on holidays with no place to go. By the way, I'd sure like to know where all those beds you speak of are...nope, they don't exist.</p><p></p><p>Thank you to Roadking and Braveheart for your support. I was there in 1997 in Chicago and got to know several of the gound folks. I made a lot of new friends. I'll be there again for you in the future.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BrowntailDriver, post: 114097"] I feel a few things need to be set straight here. For one thing, our average captain salary will be nowhere near that $300,000 mark. The media loves to run with a story-even with bad information. The details of our recently ratified contract will be a matter of public information for anyone who prefers the truth vs. rumor. Life is about choices. I chose to become a pilot, but it was a long, difficult road. Not everyone who chooses to be a pilot realizes that dream. To In Awe-for each one of us on the line, there are at least 10 out there who want our jobs. I know I'm lucky to have this job. FYI, not all of our airplanes are the "newest equipment", I happen to fly on what is humorously referred to as the "Classic Fleet"-yep, it is my choice to do so. Even in our most advanced airplanes, the autopilot does not do all the work. The autopilot does not sign the flight release or review the hazmat paperwork. The autopilot does not think or make decisions, does not know the regulations, does not know how to react to an inflight emergency. It also does not go to the FAA medical doctor every six months and get an EKG every year to keep its job. It also does not have a 4 year degree (a UPS minimum). The autopilot does not go to annual recurrent training as required by the FAA, and the FAA does not grade an autopilot on a line check. To Yard Boss, I can respect the long hours you put up with. We as pilots must be prepared each and every night to be on duty for 16 hours. The FAA says that's safe, even on the back side of the clock. Just FYI, even our so-called modern airports become an ice skating rink with minimal traction in the winter. Keeping a heavy jet on the pavement even in rain, not to mention ice, is tricky-try it sometime. The ramifications of a runway or taxiway excursion are not good. Speaking of your frozen toes, I have personally suffered frostbite flying airplanes in -20 degrees friend with broken heaters on the path to the big UPS job. I agree it's not fun. I've also dealt with that same airplane trying to fall out of the sky when encountering unforecast icing conditions enroute. That's even less fun-ranks right up there with flying through thunderstorms with no radar. Inflight fires (think of the February incident in PHL), engine failures (yes, I've lost the engine in a single-engine plane at night full of cargo in the clouds-that wasn't fun, either), flying in all the weather are all just some of the dangers we accept in our line of work. There's an old aviation truism: "I'd rather be on the ground wishing I were in the air instead of in the air wishing I were on the ground". To Thebrowntruth, I'm in my 16th year and am not able to bid a "good" schedule. I am away from my family 3 weeks a month and I can count on being in strange hotel rooms on holidays with no place to go. By the way, I'd sure like to know where all those beds you speak of are...nope, they don't exist. Thank you to Roadking and Braveheart for your support. I was there in 1997 in Chicago and got to know several of the gound folks. I made a lot of new friends. I'll be there again for you in the future. [/QUOTE]
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