CO/UA Receives FAA Single Operating Certificate on 30 November 2011 [Updated Title]
Nov 23, 2011, 10:29 pm
#46
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I did have an FA tell me today that there is supposed to be a consolidated operating manual by the end of the month, for whatever that's worth (perhaps not much).
I did have an FA tell me today that there is supposed to be a consolidated operating manual by the end of the month, for whatever that's worth (perhaps not much).
United began the distribution process of the new FAOM yesterday, Monday, November 21, 2011. The new manual is scheduled to become effective on November 30, 2011. The effective date is tied the date United expects to receive their Single Operating Certificate (SOC).
The new FAOM are available at your local Domicile from now thru December 15, 2011. The FAOM packet includes: the new required FAOM binder, the FAOM contents and tabs, the announcement book and the FAIM supplement. Also with the new FAOM, you will receive Bulletin #1 that has the effective date of November 30, 2011 this includes some last minute policy and procedure changes.
The new FAOM are available at your local Domicile from now thru December 15, 2011. The FAOM packet includes: the new required FAOM binder, the FAOM contents and tabs, the announcement book and the FAIM supplement. Also with the new FAOM, you will receive Bulletin #1 that has the effective date of November 30, 2011 this includes some last minute policy and procedure changes.
Nov 25, 2011, 1:50 pm
#47
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From the Chicago Tribune:
United Continental expecting to receive FAA single operating certificate next week
Move would allow company to finally operate as a single airline more than a year after merger was approved
United Continental expecting to receive FAA single operating certificate next week
Move would allow company to finally operate as a single airline more than a year after merger was approved
Nov 25, 2011, 3:49 pm
#48
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Nov 25, 2011, 3:52 pm
#49
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Nov 25, 2011, 4:00 pm
#50
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Nov 25, 2011, 5:03 pm
#51
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I hope none of the employee groups decides to follow the footsteps of the US East pilots.
DLP
Nov 25, 2011, 8:49 pm
#52
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The United pilots union has been complaining that pilots are not receiving adequate training to use merged cockpit procedures, a necessary checklist item enroute to the FAA certificate. It has largely involved retraining United pilots to use Continental procedures. And some pilots have claimed they feel uncomfortable with the new procedures, having only about an hour's worth of computer-based training.
Every day the fact that this 'merger' is a complete takeover of UA by CO becomes more clear.
Nov 26, 2011, 10:17 am
#53
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Indeed. The changes are so complicated that pilots are complaining to Congress that they're forgetting to put down the landing gear. The whole thing is a crock.
Nov 26, 2011, 11:30 am
#54
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We're a very very long way from becoming a single airline. CAL flight crews will continue to operate CAL aircraft for quite some time. SOC will not change this. United crews will operate United aircraft. There will be no movement there until the JCBA and SLI process are completed. I don't personally see any of that being completed inside of 18-24 months.
Regarding the procedural changes. I've never seen anything like this in my career. Wholesale changes made to how the aircraft are operated and the only training being provided has been limited to bulletins and computer training modules. There's significant confusion and the volume of change has been at times overwhelming. If your crews are complaining, it's justified. All of this has been completed by the cheapest means possible.
The UAL crews are experience more change as the CAL operating certificate was retained. There have however been some very critical changes to procedures on both sides and the way we've been notified of these changes is nothing shy of reprehensible.
Regarding the procedural changes. I've never seen anything like this in my career. Wholesale changes made to how the aircraft are operated and the only training being provided has been limited to bulletins and computer training modules. There's significant confusion and the volume of change has been at times overwhelming. If your crews are complaining, it's justified. All of this has been completed by the cheapest means possible.
The UAL crews are experience more change as the CAL operating certificate was retained. There have however been some very critical changes to procedures on both sides and the way we've been notified of these changes is nothing shy of reprehensible.
Nov 26, 2011, 11:38 am
#55
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Indeed. The changes are so complicated that pilots are complaining to Congress that they're forgetting to put down the landing gear. The whole thing is a crock.
Safety vs $$$....this is what it boils down to unfortunately.
Nov 26, 2011, 11:45 am
#56
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The training the pilots are receiving is downright careless IMO. Changing policies is one thing, but changing emergency and windshear recovery procedures without practice in the simulators is a dangerous proposition. What the pilots view as a huge red flag, management is spinning as "union posturing."
Safety vs $$$....this is what it boils down to unfortunately.
Safety vs $$$....this is what it boils down to unfortunately.
Notification of a change is not training. The New United doesn't see it that way.
Nov 26, 2011, 12:02 pm
#57
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The entire emergency checklist (we call it a QRH) has been changed. The changes and format are significant. One day those checklist simply showed up in the aircraft and were immediately effective. Call-outs were changed, low visibility approach procedures were changed....all of which was done by bulletin or 10 minute CBT module. Zero training took place.
Notification of a change is not training. The New United doesn't see it that way.
Notification of a change is not training. The New United doesn't see it that way.
Nov 26, 2011, 3:15 pm
#58
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The entire emergency checklist (we call it a QRH) has been changed. The changes and format are significant. One day those checklist simply showed up in the aircraft and were immediately effective. Call-outs were changed, low visibility approach procedures were changed....all of which was done by bulletin or 10 minute CBT module. Zero training took place.
Notification of a change is not training. The New United doesn't see it that way.
Notification of a change is not training. The New United doesn't see it that way.
We're a very very long way from becoming a single airline. CAL flight crews will continue to operate CAL aircraft for quite some time. SOC will not change this. United crews will operate United aircraft. There will be no movement there until the JCBA and SLI process are completed. I don't personally see any of that being completed inside of 18-24 months.
Nov 26, 2011, 4:15 pm
#59
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The training the pilots are receiving is downright careless IMO. Changing policies is one thing, but changing emergency and windshear recovery procedures without practice in the simulators is a dangerous proposition. What the pilots view as a huge red flag, management is spinning as "union posturing."
Safety vs $$$....this is what it boils down to unfortunately.
Safety vs $$$....this is what it boils down to unfortunately.
Nov 26, 2011, 9:15 pm
#60
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CO doesn't use simulators in a lot of their training. Its another safety aspect the UA pilots are concerned about and fighting. COs philosophy is $$$ not safety, i hope not to see or experience any negative results from this shift, and that no one else experiences one either.
Continental does not use a full flight simulator for all training periods. During the early training phases when procedural flows are being learned, an FTD or Flight Training Device is used. It's not a full motion simulator however it is a full flight deck and emulates the operations on the flight deck every bit as well as the sim. It is of course a less expensive option however I don't consider it to be an inferior training device when used during the earliest training modules. There are far more serious issues facing the operational merger than an argument about FTD's vs FFS (Full flight sim). My post above is the most pressing in my view.
BTW, the company has decided to use the UAL model for annual recurrent pilot training. Instead of a two day event currently being used at CAL, the UAL three day event is being added. That is a change in the right direction however I believe that the UAL pilot CBA requires this so I'm not so sure credit should be given to anyone in this case.