Well it’s been a while since the last posting but that’s life! Am on standby today but once that is finished I will be hitting the road back home for a few days off. As they are somewhat short of Captains at Liverpool I don’t do too many standbys but it’s quite nice to get the occasional one which enables me to play catch up on paperwork and also have a bit of a breather between duties. Contrast this to the first officers at Liverpool who are not doing that much flying as there is a surfeit of same. This means they earn less money so some of them are not so happy.
It’s pay negotiation time at the moment. When I use the word “negotiation” it’s in a fairly loose sense! One perspective is that in the current financial situation especially with the airline we are lucky to have a job. My answer to that is that the employers are lucky to have our skill, expertise and dedication! I still enjoy my job (that’s the bit when the wheels are off the ground) but could easily weep when I see some of the things that are now happening in the airline industry. There seems to be a continual eroding of terms and conditions, a lack of respect for our profession, not to mention banal security checks which we are subject to every working day of our lives.
I am concerned that Britain (which used to be Great) is not far short of a police state. I see recent legislation has been enacted that you cannot take a photo of a policeperson in uniform! Good grief you really couldn’t dream this stuff up! Are they going to arrest every Japanese tourist who snaps one of the boys in blue whilst on vacation in London?
I predict that we are not far off a revolution in UK and the collapsing economy will be the catalyst to get it going. I only hope it will be a peaceful one! My sense is that HM Government (and I include all parties in this) have really lost the plot.
I am following quite closely the discussion on www.pprune.org/forums on the accident at Buffalo, NY state to the Q400 turbo prop with the loss of all on board (48 I believe) and one on the ground. Aviation is a family and we mourn their loss. Modern flying is outstandingly safe by any reckoning and I wish to assure any readers that they can fly with the confidence that all will be well. Very occasionally things can got wrong but the NTSB investigation will find out what went wrong and what lessons are to be learned. Turbo prop aircraft fly lower so spend more time in icing conditions which are not dangerous as such but can bring extra challenges. If you think of a block of Swiss cheese it has holes in it. It’s only when all the holes line up that an accident occurs. It’s never one things but a chain of circumstances which if not checked lead to an accident (this can be applied to almost all transportation accidents).
I have got tickets for Tina Turner in London in a couple of weeks but it’s nigh impossible to arrange a day off with my employer. Maybe I can get a swop but I just have to book tickets for shows and then take pot luck – maybe this time I won’t make it.
Son Martin is reovering well from the slipped disc operation. He has another one in his neck but that is less serious. I renewed my annual medical last week (and passed with flying colours!) and mentioned him to the doctor and that he was circ 6ft 6 ins tall and worked as a bartender. Doctor said trouble is these places are just not designed for tall (or short) people. So if you’re tall then you are more likely to suffer from this type of injury.
The exercise routine goes well. Ran 16 km (= 10 miles) in 92 mins yesterday and felt good on it. Aiming for Marathon later this year.
Well thats all for now. Have fun and Live with Passion!
