Southwest Pilot Suspended For Slurs, Swearing Over Air Traffic Radio
Jun 23, 2011, 7:07 am
#16
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: United 1k ; SW A+ Preferred; Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 634
I guess if Southwest wants to continue to employ a bigoted homophobe, that's their business. It also reflects their corporate values.
The FA union has expressed dismay at the pilot as well as SW management for the "slap on the wrist” he got. Crew relations will only go south from here –and passengers are bound to notice. Just what an already deteriorating airline needs right now...
The FA union has expressed dismay at the pilot as well as SW management for the "slap on the wrist” he got. Crew relations will only go south from here –and passengers are bound to notice. Just what an already deteriorating airline needs right now...
Jun 23, 2011, 7:55 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
I wonder how much the union went to bat for this guy. On the one hand, that's what they do. On the other, if I'm the union, I've gotta be thinking that it is a PR nightmare if I stick up for the pilot in an era where unions aren't exactly getting great press.
Mike
Mike
Jun 23, 2011, 8:27 am
#19
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,028
The funny thing is that instances of "stuck mics" are not all that uncommon. Those push-to-talk (PTT) button can stick sometimes.
If an aircraft is parked at an airport, ATC contacts each airline and local personnel have each of their aircraft checked to find the culprit.
If the aircraft with a stuck mic is in the air, ATC commonly contacts the airline's dispatch center, and the dispatcher for each flight will communicate with their various aircraft in the area via a text message interface (ACARS), or on a different frequency (aircraft have more than a single radio) to have them check.
If only sports or politics had been being discussed (instead of boorish locker room talk), this would have been just another tranient stuck mic event and the story never would have made the news. Alas, it didn't happen that way.
I would hope that most folks could discern the difference between the behavior of one and not an entire organization...
Jun 23, 2011, 8:38 am
#20
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 228
I would hope that most folks could discern the difference between the behavior of one and not an entire organization...
Last edited by hat attack; Apr 21, 2018 at 6:56 pm
Jun 23, 2011, 8:40 am
#21
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC & Delhi
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Jun 23, 2011, 8:40 am
#22
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 401
Regardless of how crude the pilot's sentiments may be, I have to wonder if he is smart enough to be in the cockpit if he says those sorts of things in the cockpit. You never know when something will go wrong. And if a disruption happens, say a piece of fuselage peels off, then the FAA will be all over the black boxes and pick up that kind of conversation.
Or, from another angle, remember the DL pilots who flew past MSP because they were talking about work schedules?
Or, from another angle, remember the DL pilots who flew past MSP because they were talking about work schedules?
Jun 23, 2011, 8:55 am
#23
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I guess if Southwest wants to continue to employ a bigoted homophobe, that's their business. It also reflects their corporate values.
The FA union has expressed dismay at the pilot as well as SW management for the "slap on the wrist” he got. Crew relations will only go south from here –and passengers are bound to notice. Just what an already deteriorating airline needs right now...
The FA union has expressed dismay at the pilot as well as SW management for the "slap on the wrist” he got. Crew relations will only go south from here –and passengers are bound to notice. Just what an already deteriorating airline needs right now...
He should have been fired.
Jun 23, 2011, 8:59 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,028
Should the situation have been different, say, some passengers theoretically overhearing two male F/As discussing the same type of inappropriate subject matter, the F/A group might have felt that termination was too harsh, and that other remedial actions would have been more appropriate, even if maybe some other groups interpreted them as being a "slap on the wrist."
I've got friends at several other airlines, and some of these other airlines seem quite Draconian when it comes to metting out discipline and terminations. In my 30+ years at SWA, I've found management to be fair and equitable, and, personally, I trust their judgement on the matter. Naturally, every individual employee has to come to their own conclusion.
Cheers...
Jun 23, 2011, 10:08 am
#26
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: On the road somewhere
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Posts: 4,304
Jun 23, 2011, 10:41 am
#27
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 228
Should the situation have been different, say, some passengers theoretically overhearing two male F/As discussing the same type of inappropriate subject matter, the F/A group might have felt that termination was too harsh, and that other remedial actions would have been more appropriate, even if maybe some other groups interpreted them as being a "slap on the wrist."
In my 30+years at SWA, I've found management to be fair and equitable, and, personally, I trust their judgement on the matter.
I didn't mention the word "termination", but suggested that the FAs are disturbed by the condescending tone from the Company. However, I have no doubt that termination 'would be on the table', if a gay passenger complained to the Company about 2 FAs being overheard making the same remarks.
This situation is worse, considering how much time and training is used to emphasize the importance of CRM, crew communication and trust, and crew teamwork.
Last edited by hat attack; Apr 21, 2018 at 6:54 pm Reason: spelling
Jun 23, 2011, 11:03 am
#28
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Los Angeles
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Posts: 1,314
I listened to the recording..
I thought it was awesome and funny.
No clue why he's been suspended. What, he's not allowed to have his opinion?
I hope he sues.
I thought it was awesome and funny.
No clue why he's been suspended. What, he's not allowed to have his opinion?
I hope he sues.
Jun 23, 2011, 11:18 am
#29
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Palm Springs
Programs: UA, VX, AA
Posts: 490
Thank you for sharing your opinion. I hope I NEVER have the displeasure of sitting next to someone like you who finds this behavior acceptable. He is entitled to his opinion, but as a supposed professional and representative of an airline which supposedly promotes diversity and tolerance, he should keep is insensitive philosophy to himself.