PlaneMadness Episode 4
- New Show Format
- A Hong Kong Billionaire Buys His Own 787 Dreamliner
- Virgin American Finally Gets the Okay
- We’ll Profile an Aviation Pioneer by the Name of Robert Buck
- A New Industry, A New Career- My Profile on todays Airline Work Environment
- The Joke of the Day
New Show Format
In an effort to constantly improve the show, (which, by the way, involved listening to episodes 1-3 over again) and to continue my quest in search of the elusive devil called “PODCAST EXCELLENCE” I’ve decided to change the things up a bit. One of the new things you’ll notice is on the site itself- I’m going to post scripts of the show as it’s more in the tradition of keeping with a written blog, and it’s also good so that those with hearing impairments can follow along. Last but not least, I also realized that it was impossible to do a totally unscripted show and still produce the results I was looking looking for.
One of my favorite podcasters and someone in this business that I have a lot of respect for is Adam Curry at the Daily Source Code (http://www.dailysourcecode.com). Adam’s the former MTV VJ, and wildly regarded s the Father of PodCasting, hence his nickname- THE PODFATHER. He does a great job with an unscripted format, but he’s in his 17th year of broadcasting, I believe and he’s had a lot of time to perfect his craft…
So, in keeping with the age old practice of try, try, and try again, I find myself making some changes, albeit to produce a better product in the end for those of which it ultimately matters- That’s You. For the most part, you won’t notice a whole lot of changes up front, as most of it’s going on behind the scenes. But of course, you can always leave me feedback on the site, or you can leave a message on the caller feedback line, whichever you prefer… Either way, I’d love to hear your comments.
Billionaire buys his own personal 787 Dreamliner
Boeing gets 787 order from Hong Kong’s Lau - Yahoo News
A Hong Kong billionaire bought his own personal 787 Dreamliner. Boeing says that it’s one of SEVEN orders it’s received for a private version of the jet. Tycoon Joseph Lau, a self made billionaire, purchased the aircraft for a staggering $153 MILLION DOLLARS and is set to receive the his aircraft next year when Boeing formally unveils it to the world. One of things I found most entertaining about this story is the number: 2,404 - That’s the interior square footage of Mr. Lau’s 787. It’s bigger then the inside of my house.
What does Mr. Lau do, you might ask? Mr. Lau holds a majority stake in Chinese Estates Holdings Group, a very large real estate developer in China. I would imagine that Mr. Lau’s personal worth is only going to grow exponentially with the boom in China’s real estate market. Last year Mr. Lau paid the highest amount ever for an Andy Warhol painting, the Mao Zedong, for which he forked over a cool $17.4 million dollars. Also last year Forbes Magazine estimated Mr. Lau’s worth to be $2.1 billion dollars, and ranked him 458th on it’s world’s richest people list.
One of the things I say, being a “WESTERNER” is that I’m a bit surprised that a private citizen could achieve that kind of wealth in a communist country. Being a bit of a lay person when it comes to the differences in communism, other then the obvious, I would have only thought it was possible to generate that kind of personal self worth in a Capitalistic society. I also thought it was very difficult, if not impossible, for private citizens in China to leave. Mr. Lau’s 787 will be taking him anywhere in the world he wishes to go. Perhaps Mr. Lau was or is involved in the Chinese government, I don’t know. But you can’t help but speculate if the Chinese government also has it’s own stake in Mr. Lau’s personal worth, for the record.
Virgin America Finally Gets the “OK”
Well, good news for my pilot friends over at Virgin America. For the last 5 1/2 months I’ve watched these guys basically sit in fear, not knowing if they were going to have a job after the Federal Government denied VA’s first attempt at US Certification back in December of 2006. So, after the company made numerous concessions, regulators finally approved the company’s revised plan last week.
For it’s part, among other things, Virgin America agreed to replace “Branson appointed” Fred Reid as it’s Chief Executive, to cap ownership rules that prohibit foreigners and foreign entities from owning more then a 25% stake in a US based airline, to include requiring US Directors on it’s board to approve a trustee to represent the Virgin Group’s 25% ownership stake, and to report to US Regulators any loan that the Virgin Group makes to a US Carrier- I take that to mean Virgin America. For his part, Mr. Reid will stay with the airline though for 6 months after it’s launch though, to see it through a smooth start up.
Additionally, VA also appointed a former US Transportation Secretary as a Vice Chairmen in late January. Samuel Skinner was Transportation Department Secretary under President George H.W. Bush in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
With in one year, Virgin America plans to serve San Diego, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport.
Whatever your views are regarding the demise of this industry; in other words, it’s affiliated cause factors in terms of pilot pay and lifestyle, I’m just happy that my friends over there have a sunrise on their horizon now as opposed to a complete sunset, even if it’s not the one they got into this business for over 20 years ago. I can tell you that moving to Virgin America was a step up for them, in a very long road of potholes, unknowns, and other career debilitating factors that I won’t get into now for the sake of time, and I’m glad to see them going for it. It sure took a lot more guts for them to do then I have.
In Tribute to Captain Robert N. Buck
Robert N. Buck Dies at 93; Was Record-Setting Aviator - NYTimes.Com
In my younger years I was a fueler at John Wayne Airport. I got to meet many “real” aviators, either based there or passing through on their pleasure flights. These people possessed the courage, dedication, integrity, and heart that I rarely see in many of the new pilots I fly with anymore, sadly. These aviators were of a do-it-yourself generation, they “owned” their flying, and owed their lives to the courage and leadership it took during the early parts of their generation just to go out to the airport, get into an airplane, and go fly. To say that they paved the way for pilots in my generation is an understatement- As many of their peers were killed in the process.
I never had the honor and the pleasure of meeting him, but Robert Nietzel Buck was one such aviator. Robert regretfully past away on April 14th, 2007. You may have read about him and his life in the papers. At the age of 15, Robert built a glider with a friend, only to crash it a short time later. In 1930, on his 16th birthday, Robert began flight lessons in a Fleet aircraft using a Kinner engine, and a short time later became the youngest licensed pilot in the United States. He received the Department of Commerce license #13478. On October 4, 1930 Robert beat the junior transcontinental airspeed record of Eddie August Schneider in his PA-6 Pitcairn Mailwing he named “Yankee Clipper”. He accomplished the record in or around 28 hours, as their is some question as to the actual time. By the way, the junior record only counts time in the air; it does not count time on the ground. For sustenance, Robert only took along 6 chocolate bars and a canteen of water. Since he did not have a driver’s license, he had to ride his bike to the airport. On the return trip Robert decided to break his own record with a new time of 23 hours, and 47 minutes, with the help of tail winds.
On February 6, 2005, Robert said: “I was the youngest to fly coast to coast and that record still stands. I had my license at 16 and after that, they raised the minimum age to 17. With that change, no one could break my record.”
In 1931, Robert set another record, this time to Cuba, in 13 hours and 5 minutes. When he arrived, he was greeted by excited crowds, and was given a 12 inch cigar which he later gave to President Herbert Hoover, as a good will request by the Cubans.
All total by the time he was 18, Robert had set 14 junior aviation records, which included the junior altitude record for light planes, which he broke in July 1930 by ascending to 15,000 feet. In 1936, flying with a cousin, Robert would set a world distance record for light planes, flying nonstop from Burbank, California to Columbus Ohio, a distance of 1,986 miles, in a Lambert Monocoupe.
In late 1933 and early 1934, while on assignment for the University of Pennsylvania, Robert and a friend, Robert Nixon, aged 19, spent three months roaming the Mexican jungle by air, photographing lost Mayan cities of the Yucatán. They were the youngest aerial explorers ever.
The most amazing thing about all of this so far is that Robert had not even turned 20 yet.
In 1937, at the age of 23, Robert got a job as a First Officer with TWA. In 1940, at the age of 26, he upgraded to Captain and in 1945 became the Chief Pilot, at the age of 31. As is common with pilots like Robert, the desk job didn’t last long, and soon enough he was back out on line- This time on a United States Air Force sponsored project with TWA where he flew a hardened B-17G known as “Two Kind Words”, an aircraft specially built for flying through severe weather. A modified P-61 Black Widow was another specialized aircraft Robert used for the project. For these efforts, President Truman awarded Robert the Civilian Air Medal.
Additionally, Robert took delivery of TWA’s first Lockheed Constellation in 1945. Then, in 1965, Robert flew around the world in a Boeing 707 along with several other pilots in shifts. In 1970 he flew TWA’s first 747 revenue flight- Coincidentally, it was Flight 800 from New York City to Paris- Not the same TWA 800 mind you. Robert retired from TWA after 37 years of service in 1974.
Robert was also a notable author. In 1970 he released “Weather Flying” which is now in it’s forth edition and is widely considered the foremost authority on weather, and in many circles is also considered required reading for student pilots. He also wrote a memoir released in 2002 entitled “North Star Over My Shoulder.”
Captain Robert Buck died on April 14, 2007.
A New Industry, A New Career
In doing my research for today’s show, I was looking through the latest news articles from the airline industry. I came across the following headlines:
As pay and benefits fall, airlines struggle to fill jobs - The Wall Street Journal
Payback slower in coming for workers who carried load - The Houston Chronicle
Pickets target UAL exec pay - The Denver Post
NWA Pilots Protest CEO’s Bonus - Aero News Network
I can’t help but think back to when I got into flying, when I had dreams of one day becoming an Airline Pilot. Some parts of those dreams still exist, but mostly in fantasy. It seems I should have become airline executive though, although I don’t have the heart for it- It’s not me. But that’s where I think the pilot career’s prehistoric lucrativity has transferred to.
Now I know that it’s impossible for a pilot to make the tens of millions of dollars that the executives do, but in it’s day, an airline pilot’s career was pretty lucrative. I remember when a United 747-400 International Captain’s pay was $345 dollars an hour. With per diem and a busy year, a 747 Captain could have made over $400,000 dollars, working 10 days a month, at full benefits and a retirement fund that would have likely landed him millions of dollars at retirement.
To say that things have changed now would be the understatement of the century. It seems that the powers in control of the paychecks and the benefits don’t think that pilots should be paid that much anymore. I don’t think they’ve ever had to fly an approach down to minimums in blinding rain and snow with a 30 knot crosswind, but that’s neither here nor there, right? They’ll tell you it’s a result of what people want to pay for their tickets. But, when most people find out the kind of hits the airline pilot profession has taken in terms of benefits and pay they squirm. Occasionally you’ll find those that still think pilots were paid too much, you’ll even find pilots who’ll tell you they think pilots were paid too much also.
But let me ask you this- If you had to choose between two airlines, one whose pilots made less then the other airline, but the price of the tickets were the same, which airline would YOU choose? Wouldn’t you feel a little better going with the airline whose pilots made more money, from your own comfort’s sake? It’d be like going to a lesser paid doctor for surgery- Each profession is in charge of your safety, not that one group is lesser qualified then the other though, mind you.
But the airline executives will tell you that today’s market doesn’t permit the historical pay scales that pilot’s used to earn, but I ask, does it support the current pay scales that the executives bring in? American Airlines CEO got a bonus for $6.6 Million dollars last year, and was among 874 bonuses given out to AA management last year, in a year that was supposedly “one of the toughest on record.” Just last month AMR executives received $21 Million in bonuses.
Executives say that kind of pay is required to keep the necessary talent staying at airline managements nationwide. In fact, US Airways Doug Parker is the longest serving CEO of a major airline, at 6 years. And, according to the Houston Chronicle, airline executives are leaving at record rates with their record pay, only because they can make more money with less stress in other industries. But what does that say about our industry?
Here’s what I think it says. It says we’ve been “Wal-Mart-ed” out. As an industry we’ll do anything required to sell tickets at the cheapest prices. And in doing so, we cheapen ourselves. And according to the executive consensus, all of this is driven by a market which dictates it.
In order to return to the historical class and quality of the airlines of years past, there’s only one MAIN thing we can do, among others- Raise the ticket prices. I say that if every airline raised it’s ticket prices 20% across the board, the flying public wouldn’t have a choise. Now, if you’re not in the industry but you’re a passenger, you might not like that. But how often do you fly? If you fly on business for your employer then it’s not your problem. Perhaps your employer has a private jet, or contracts your flying out to a fractional charter operator. That’s fine, but it still doesn’t impact you directly. The only time a raise in ticket prices would impact you directly would be if and when you had to fly somewhere on pleasure, and I’m sure you’d be willing to pay the extra 20% it would take to get the kind of service back again from an industry in the deepest depths it’s ever been in terms of poor moral, high turn around, and lack luster working conditions. Imaging more leg room, better food, shorter waits, and happier staff.
But that will never happen in my opinion. The unions aren’t strong enough to produce a quake of the magnitude required to move the tectonic plates of the industry, nor are the airline managements ever going to do it voluntarily. Maybe after enough years of employee dissatisfaction, heavy turnover, and poor moral will they see the light, but that in and of itself will not be enough to do it- The stock prices have to drop as a direct result of all of those factors, and every other experimental fix until then has to be tried, before ticket prices will be raised.
We are in the age of Wal-Mart, and it’s here to stay. Ironically enough, it’s the passenger who is going to suffer. You will get what you pay for- Smaller leg room in first class, food you pay for instead of a 5 star meal, and peanuts instead of chicken parmesan- served by a cranky flight attendant living near the poverty level.
Not much different then Wal-Mart on a Saturday.
The Priest and the Pilot
A priest dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him
is a guy who’s dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket and
jeans. Saint Peter addresses this cool guy, “Who are you, so that I may
know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?”
The guy replies, “I’m Harvey, retired Delta Airlines Pilot from
Florida”. Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the pilot, “Take
this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom.” The pilot goes
into Heaven with his robe and staff. Next it’s the priest’s turn.
He stands erect and booms out, “I am Father Bob, pastor of Saint Mary’s in
Pasadena for the last 43 years.”
Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the priest, “Take this cotton
robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom.”
“Just a minute,” says the good father,” that man was a pilot and he
gets a silken robe and golden staff, and I get only cotton and wood. How
can this be?”
“Up here, we go by results,” says Saint Peter, “when you preached,
people slept; when he flew, people prayed.”
Music Credits:
Brother Love - There She Goes
Arthur Yoria - Rim Job
Adrenaline Factor - Seven Beer Bitch
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