WCA CHIEF PILOT CALLS IT QUITS

[FOwithBO]

I agree, but I was there when a new MD came and he tried to talk with everyone. No one trusted him, and by good measure because he turned out as a nasty. This is a very hard thing to extract from people, what they think of the company, especially if the one they are talking to is from management, ie. an MD or CP. One would have to have the uncanny ability of being able to make all the departments trust him. Not an easy task. I personally do not believe one on one is the best approach, people would feel more free and secure to talk as a group, and probably be more accurate and open.

[Cat Driver]

FOwith BO:

The answer for me is simple.

I have been doing this for so many decades that most of the people who I would talk to know they can trust me.....

.......just ask a few of the captains in WCA if they would trust me to help them to build a better working enviroment in their company.

And I have never ever had a problem getting the grunts in any company to trust me....its known as reputation for being fair and truthful.....I am the exact opposite of what you have in your regulator.

And that son is why you have so many problems in Canadian commercial aviation, your regulator is corrupt at the top, which allows for coruption to thrive down to the bottom of the industry.

[FOwithBO]

Its awfully flattering that you call me son, makes me feel young. Well Cat, I'd certainly root for you to apply.....what would you have to lose? Nothing, but really gain all the admiration of the industry to turn that company around. And that would be the best pitch for an interview there....."I'll work here, make your company great in the eyes of TC, the workers, and the clientele, as long as you listen to me and pay me some good cheddar......and it will make you more money in the longrun" For WCA to reclaim a safe, reputable organization well before the start of the Olympic boom, it will have to change to keep a future. How long are those 100's going to last? GET 300's or hell invest in the new Twin Otter upon delivery! In the meantime, if he doesnt make some humbling changes, he wont and so will many others even have a job.

The guy HAS to make some manly decisions, put responsiblity and confidence in the hands of his workers to be able to survive. If he at least tries for that, then I might gain some respect for him for trying. If not, I'll gladly snicker as his boat sinks.

[ei ei owe]

Cat,

By the way your selling yourself in those two last posts it sounds like you're getting ready for an interview.

[Cat Driver]

Cat,

By the way your selling yourself in those two last posts it sounds like you're getting ready for an interview.

No I am not in the least interested in the position for many reasons the most important being I already have a far better position and am committed to it.

What I am doing is pointing out that any pilot with the qualifications to hold the position of chief pilot can turn that company around, all that is needed is the will to do it right.

There are two things that you have to do, get the backing of the pilots and follow the rules as set out for the type of operation they are running.

If the upper management circumvent you and you can not operate safely and legally ...quit....

They will really be in a tough position then.

['79K20driver]

all that is needed is the will to do it right.

That's true, and it would be nice, but WCA doesn't want any forward thinkers. They want a puppet that can be thumbed around. RB will be looking for a "yes-man". He wants someone that looks good on paper and that's it. The only creativity that will be expected is to find ways to circumvent the CARS.

[carholme]

But it still begs the question, "Why do you guys put up with it?"
You can get all the CPs you want but as long as the line drivers knowingly do the job, they are supporting what management is doing.
You cannot continue to blame it all on management. If management is doing what people on here suggest, then they are only doing it because all of you are letting them do it.
You want a CP to baby you and take the shit for you but when is the last time any of you stood up and said enough is enough. If you haven't, you are all as bad as the management.
Yet, you all continue to piss and moan about wages and poor working conditions.


carholme

['79K20driver]

You're right carholme, and that's a reason why I no longer work there. It was, and still is I imagine,a frustrating place. There was so much potential. A Twin Otter on floats on the west coast: can it get any better? Unfortunately WCA just can't get it done. After a while, one gets tired of the BS. Hence the unionization. Hopefully positive changes are ahead.

[Cat Driver]

That's true, and it would be nice, but WCA doesn't want any forward thinkers. They want a puppet that can be thumbed around. RB will be looking for a "yes-man". He wants someone that looks good on paper and that's it. The only creativity that will be expected is to find ways to circumvent the CARS.

And that children is what is wrong with your industry, there is only one important issue to be considered and that is the paper work must be good and TC will appoint the village idiot as long as said idiot can churn out the proper paper work to cover everyones ass.......except the passengers of course but they don't matter all they are needed for is a flow of money.

[carholme]

.;

The problem with accepting that point of view is that it lets everybody else in the company off the hook.

The position of CP has about as much teeth as a toothless tiger and that is why many people do not strive for it anymore. If Ops are in the hand of management, the CP, a union or God him/herself is not going to change things.
There is only one group of people in this company who can change the events and those are the pilots who fly the aircraft and fly them legally. If the aircraft are not legal, don't fly them.
All the crap about how poorly treated and paid everybody is, is just an excuse for staff to hang onto piss poor jobs and wait for their saviour to come along. It would seem to me that they don't really mind too much if they are willing to keep the status quo.

I wish all of the crews in this company success in creating a better environment for themselves and their passengers but if they don't do it. there sure as hell isn't anybody else who can change it for them.
A new CP who wants to make changes will only be effective if he has the support of those crews, If he/she doesn't, they are down the road the moment they are percieved as interfering with the wishes of Ops/Management.

carholme

[Cat Driver]

A new CP who wants to make changes will only be effective if he has the support of those crews, If he/she doesn't, they are down the road the moment they are percieved as interfering with the wishes of Ops/Management.

That is sadly how it works.....and that is why I wouldn't even consider accepting the position of chief pilot with any company with top management problems.

The chief pilot only has the power to change things if the employees will back up the chief pilot.

So we go right back to the root problem that allows this sort of culture to thrive in Canadian aviation....lack of support for the position of chief pilot from the regulator...and most important the fact that if a chief pilot follows the law and is fired for doing so he / she is walking the street without an income and now seen as a " problem " in the industry which can make it difficult to find another job in some instances.

One thing I can state 100% for sure, if you get caught between the regulator and the law you are fu.ked 100% if TC decides you are exposing any of their own.....because the law is a joke when it comes to Canadian aviation the law is sitting behind a desk in Tower C in Ottawa and to him the law only exists to serve his own agenda which is protecting the status quo within his own corrupt organization.

Sort of like the Catholic church and the pedophile priests, they have been protected by those in power regardless of how much proof there is of these deviates plying their agenda.

So my bet on this company is there will be no hero riding on his horse packing the power of the law to change the culture in this company.

TC will scope out a safe chief pilot and everything will be back to normal..... untill the next accident which will be swept under the rug because everything looked good on paper.

[snaproll20]

Carholme and Cat Driver.
You both have it exactly right.
It will be interesting to see how this one pans out.

Thirty days. (?) If they get an extension, then something stinks to high heaven.

[Bulawrench]

Finding a strong Chief pilot will be a challenge but i also think about the other members of the organization above the chief. The operations manager and the DOM. All three of these positions must work together. If you phoned right now and asked the person that answered who the Operations Manager is.. you would get a long pause on the other end. I know because i have done this. As far as the DOM... don't get me started. You might as well call it the puppet show.
How does RB get those long strings to work from such a high tower downtown. You are all right, anyone with balls wouldn't put up with this company. That is why the puppets are there. Someone shut this operator down before more potential harm can be done to the traveling public and the reputation of the industry.

[carholme]

Unfortunately for this industry, there are too many companies across this country who are in as bad or worse situations, companies who are phonier than a three dollar bill, fully endorsing illegal tactics in house and continuing to show a false front to the regulator and their customers.
But there is a gathering storm of concerned people who see the effect these companies are having on the industry and though it may take time, there will be change. The change will be in spite of the phony rhetoric out of Ottawa concerning SMS and all the other buzz words which imply safety and good management. You all know who you are, enjoy your day in the sun.

carholme

[SeptRepair]

Reading all this sure makes me shake my headl. WCA sounds like the poster child of all past defunct operators, Nav Air, Sonic Blue ( aka Regency) Awood Air, and lest not forget SKYLINK. Has WCA been involved in any accidents where there have been fatalities? Or is that what Transport is waiting for before they act?

[Bulawrench]

The list of companies with fatalities is a long one. One of those companies mentioned i watched move trailers of parts to a hidden hangar when they were getting audited. I thought it strange at the time and saying something only made my boss joke about it. Later on i realized pilots lost their lives because of unsafe actions of this company to make the owners more money. They now sit in their lavish homes without any connection to the crimes they committed. You see Transport thinks their latest crash landing is no big deal. There has to blood spilled before they shut the company down? Get off your duff transport and issue the 30 day suspension.

[Cat Driver]

Finding a strong Chief pilot will be a challenge but i also think about the other members of the organization above the chief. The operations manager and the DOM.

For ensuring safe flight operations the chief pilot is the hands on person who should be flying with the crews to make sure they are following safe operating procedures, and the chief pilot has the authority under regulation to do the job.

The operations manager does not generally have hands on interaction with the pilots....in fact the operations manager does not need to be able to recognize an airplane if they see one.

[86583]

you make some pretty strong accusations bulawrench when you say crimes are committed....what's your back ground that makes you such an expert on the matter

[Bulawrench]

I have 25 years of experience. Anyone with two eyes and an asshole can see what is going on. When the Pratt rep won't talk to the company you know they are up to no good. How about safety for the traveling public.Anybody care about that? Aviation is a small community and i have lost a few to poor operators like WCA. It is time for people to speak out against the money hungry operators that are below the minimum standard. It will take something drastic to get people to have a look. So let people's blood be spilled.

[snoopy]

If this is true: "It is time for people to speak out against the money hungry operators that are below the minimum standard." then why won't anyone step forward and do it?

Why is it people are quite willing to bitch and complain on an anonymous forum, but when it comes to putting money where the mouth is or letting the feet do the walking, nobody seems prepared to do it?

There was/is a high profile news agency willing to expose the Air Taxi industry, but when the call was put out on this forum, not one - let me say that again
NOT ONE - person or operator was willing to step forward and speak openly.

"It will take something drastic to get people to have a look."

Like what? Ranting on this forum? Anonymously? Continuing to stab each other in the back? Complaining about a company under cover of a username?

http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopi ... 54&t=34356

Cheers,
Snoopy

[Cat Driver]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
crime /kraɪm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[krahym] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. an action or an instance of negligence that is deemed injurious to the public welfare or morals or to the interests of the state and that is legally prohibited.

[xsbank]

They are advertising for a CP now....

[Cat Driver]

It will be most interesting to see if they do find one.....and if they do how the new one performs.

They came as close to a real disaster as any airline would ever want to come when that Beaver hit the trees in fog with passengers on board.

I wonder if TCCA knows about that?

[J31]

It will be most interesting to see if they do find one.....and if they do how the new one performs.

They came as close to a real disaster as any airline would ever want to come when that Beaver hit the trees in fog with passengers on board.

I wonder if TCCA knows about that?

This seams to be the way some times

[86583]

so bulawrench you have 25 years in the industry as what prey tell...I tend to think maybe you've never held a position as op's mgr or CP with an operation say with 10 or more airplanes and maybe say 25 or more pilots....you sound more like the ranting of a pilot that just never made it any where in the industry and you like to sit back and sling sh_t at people and company's, calling people criminals etc etc.....sounds to me anybody with that kind of conviction shouldn't be hiding behind a funny name and a stupid picture unless of course that is the real you...thanks for your comment snoopy, you hit the nail right on the head...what do you think ....I think he's a commie, since when is it a crime for a company to make money, isn't that what companys do in the free world, or do you base money grubbing as profits in excess of a certain percentage or in your opinion should all companys break even or maybe take a loss every year...I'd really like to hear your concept of how to run a 703/704 operation, pay the bills, plus the employee's in a fashion to which they'd like, and most of all keep everybody from doing some thing stupid that will cause a fatal accident...I'm all ears mr bulawrench..do tell