does he really put a hula girl on the dash? if so thats hilarious

Yep, he does. I agree it's quite funny and it was a good conversation starter.

I wonder how he calibrates it for mild and moderate chop / turbulance.

I've also had the pleasure of flying with Capt. Flanagan and agree he is an oustanding ambassador for UA. ^ ^ ^

HAHAHAHAHAH! YOU obviously don't know our pilots very well!!!


The first part of this initiative should be that 'no pilot ahead of passengers off aircraft'.

WOW!

YES!

I recently had a pilot (757, DEN-SJC, Jan 06) who was the first one off the plane.... he ran down the stairs (no jetways at SJC) and to the ground to help an elderly passenger down the stairs.

Then he stood there and thanked each passenger as they deplaned.

But for some reason I think Clipper had something else in mind.

Guess that explains this ...

I'm in favor of it. ^ ^ ^ ^

If the pilots want to award bonuses based upon GTEM cards they get, that works for me as well.

Wow! What a class act!

I ask whenever the "obstacles" to asking are not too great. That is, when I can actually catch the eye of a FA; when they're not heads-down, rushing up and down aisles, slamming bag stowage doors closed; when their body language is not practically screaming "don't touch that call button, don't ask for anything, we are here PRIMARILY for your safety," etc. etc.

Now, if the pilot comes on the PA, introduces himself and lets us all know that "I've provided air traffic control on channel 9, and our call sign is UA xxx," then I will often overcome the FA's "obstacles" and directly ask them about channel 9 if, despite the captain's cheery announcement, the Black Eyed Peas are still blaring from that channel.

It's entirely possible that we're better off not knowing how young the captain of a CRJ is... could be that an FA might actually command more respect, or at least less fear!

Very fair point.

FWIW, a pilots is hired for ability to competently fly a plane, not for a sparkling personality. If you don't have one, it shouldn't matter. You're not in a customer-facing role.

I applaud UA's willingness to address this issue, but I frankly think they're firing at the wrong target.

FAs are hired to face the customers (and know this full well when they ask to work for UA). They're the ones who should be implementing the friendliness charm before the pilots do.

Don't get me wrong - I'm all for friendliness onboard, regardless from whom. But the dozens of life-hating, nasty UA FAs over the years stick in my mind much more than a sullen pilot. I'd much prefer a quiet and no-nonsense pilot with a pleasant and friendly FA over a chatty and happy pilot with a miserable FA.

My friend was FO of a UA 737 at the age of 23 which is the minimum age for either FAR Part 121 or for the ATP rating. Nonetheless I just can't picture some pipsqueak flying anything bigger than a C-182. ;-) Then again I was at an high-altitude aviation physiology class at Beale AFB with a 22 year old with 1500+ hours who flew a corporate G-V. Mr. Pillows can give up his F seat and get a full bedroom.

I sware on everything, I once had a CRJ FO who looked not a year older than 18. He wore baggy blue pants and prior to T/O while waiting at the gate, I heard him utter "fo shizzle" on his cell phone.