Profane rant lands Southwest pilot in trouble - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

catlover79 · 06-23-2011, 12:50 AM

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/7622637.html

Profane rant lands Southwest pilot in trouble
By ZAIN SHAUK
Copyright 2011 Houston Chronicle
June 22, 2011, 7:38PM

A Houston-based Southwest Airlines pilot who inadvertently broadcast a profane rant about his flight attendant co-workers over an air traffic control channel has returned to duty for the company after a suspension, officials confirmed Wednesday.

A recording obtained by the Houston Chronicle on Wednesday captured the pilot, whom the airline would not identify, talking with the first officer in the cockpit about his apparent lack of romantic interest in any of the "continuous stream of gays and grannies and grandes" that he said are flight attendants for the airline.

A button activating his microphone was stuck, likely during a flight from Austin to San Diego, according to the FAA.

The pilot was initially suspended without pay after the incident March 25, although Southwest representatives would not say for how long.

Asked about how Southwest had decided to suspend and submit the pilot to diversity training, then send him back to work for the airline, spokeswoman Brandy King said: "That is an internal issue that we've dealt with directly with that employee, and we don't discuss employee matters publicly."

The head of the union representing Southwest flight attendants criticized the airline's response to the incident, in which the pilot made repeated explicit comments about flight attendants' weight, appearance, age and sexual orientation.

"Our union is rooted in fighting for the rights and protections of working people, including forging the battles to end the prohibition of married women, pregnant women and men from serving as flight attendants and we will not go backward by accepting the behavior and speech of this pilot or any other employee," Thom McDaniel, president of the Transportation Workers Union of America chapter representing Southwest flight attendants, said in a statement. The Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

What he said

The pilot, during the rant, said he was frustrated with the appearance of the flight attendants for the airline. At one point, he said, "I still wouldn't want anyone to know if I had (sex with) them."

He said he was upset because the flight attendants that he met on recent flights to Chicago were mostly gay.

"Eleven (expletive) over-the-top (expletive) (expletive) (expletive) homosexuals and a granny," the pilot can be heard saying, criticizing the lack of a dating pool aboard a recent flight. "Eleven. I mean, think of the odds of that. I thought I was in Chicago, which was party land."

He later said Houston was "easily one of the ugliest bases," adding that, "I mean, it's all these (expletive) old dudes and grannies, and there's like maybe a handful of cute chicks."

He said he was upset because he had gone to bars with flight attendants only three times in six months and was not happy with his company.

In a video posted on the company's website, Southwest's vice president of flight operations, Chuck Magill, said the pilot's comments were "offensive and inconsistent with the professional behavior and overall respect we require from all of our employees."

The pilot had been reinstated in his role after undergoing "additional diversity and inclusion training to reinforce the company's expectation that he show respect and treat all with dignity," Magill said.

"He knows what he did cannot happen again," he said.

Southwest did not reprimand the first officer, who was not audible during the conversation, King said.

The tirade lasted about two minutes, with an air traffic controller attempting to interrupt it using tones and responses like, "Whoever's transmitting better watch what you're saying."

'A receptive audience'

Although one incident, the pilot's rant was likely representative of a culture among airline pilots, who are overwhelmingly male, said Elora Shehabuddin, interim director of the Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality at Rice University. Of the 53,000 members of the Air Line Pilots Association, International, which doesn't include Southwest pilots, 5 percent are women, according to that group.

"The airline industry is a very male environment where pilots who think this way can easily share their opinion," Shehabuddin said. "We didn't hear anything about the other pilot saying, 'Wait you can't think this way.' Obviously he felt no problem sharing his views so he must have had a receptive audience."

Staff writer Terri Langford contributed to this report.

zain.shauk@chron.com

catlover79 · 06-23-2011, 12:51 AM

I guess the skies weren't being friendly to him!!!

tiredmike59 · 06-23-2011, 01:03 AM

Did he come to fly, or did he come to f ?

Marvo301 · 06-23-2011, 01:04 AM

He doesn't love to fly and it shows!!!

catlover79 · 06-23-2011, 01:15 AM

We have drunk and/or cussing pilots, air traffic controllers who either sleep or watch movies while on the clock, guys who either won't pull up their saggy pants or go through security checkpoints in swimsuits and fishnets. In their own way, they are about as disturbing as the terrorists!!!

OH Nuts! · 06-23-2011, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

We have drunk and/or cussing pilots, air traffic controllers who either sleep or watch movies while on the clock, guys who either won't pull up their saggy pants or go through security checkpoints in swimsuits and fishnets. In their own way, they are about as disturbing as the terrorists!!!

You got that right. All of it. It is reallly scaarry - esp. for someone who HATES to fly to begin with. IMO its just a big tin can 30,000 feet up in the sky - and with jerks like this piloting them - I want to stay off of them even more - he should have been canned - if he had the bad judgment to OVERLOOK an intercom and have his potty talk beamed for millions to hear - how will he be with other stuff. He should have been canned. And I, for one, don't understand why he wasn't. He must really be some hot stuff, to bash others they way he was. It would be a hoot to find out he is a lummox with a gut - then he would really be even more of a laughing stock than he is now.

Coffeecup · 06-24-2011, 10:55 AM

What is causing all this friction? You didn't to have situations like this 30-40 years ago. I sometimes get bent of shape over things, but usually if I can find a kind soul and talk it out, my anger is slim. I guess it is hard to talk it over with someone until it is too late. Sad to think everyone on the outside is talking it over now.

Rezny@gmail.com · 06-24-2011, 11:42 AM

Alot oe the problems with the airlines started when they de-regulated them.Flight attendants on many other countries airlines are still attractive younger women for the most part.and i don't see anything wrong with that.this 'diversity' BS has ruined many things in America.as far as the pilot de regulation also probably lowered the standard of pilots too.

OH Nuts! · 06-25-2011, 04:27 PM

Well I for one couldn't care less if the flight attendants are gay, old, fat, granny age or what not. ALL I care about is that they are competant and know what to do in an emergency. Just as all are neat, clean and presentable.

But as for doofus pilots with brains (and bigotry) up their a** - hope they get the boot - anyone dumb enough to think and act the way he did in a HIGHLY RESPONSIBLE position sends shivers down my spine. Talk about dumb dumber...and dumberer - a real winner of a pilot - and person. He's no Sully that's for sure!

catlover79 · 06-25-2011, 09:45 PM

Hey, I'd trust this guy as my pilot before I'd trust most of the employees at TSA!!!

06-23-2011, 12:50 AM	#1
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Profane rant lands Southwest pilot in trouble http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/7622637.html Profane rant lands Southwest pilot in trouble By ZAIN SHAUK Copyright 2011 Houston Chronicle June 22, 2011, 7:38PM A Houston-based Southwest Airlines pilot who inadvertently broadcast a profane rant about his flight attendant co-workers over an air traffic control channel has returned to duty for the company after a suspension, officials confirmed Wednesday. A recording obtained by the Houston Chronicle on Wednesday captured the pilot, whom the airline would not identify, talking with the first officer in the cockpit about his apparent lack of romantic interest in any of the "continuous stream of gays and grannies and grandes" that he said are flight attendants for the airline. A button activating his microphone was stuck, likely during a flight from Austin to San Diego, according to the FAA. The pilot was initially suspended without pay after the incident March 25, although Southwest representatives would not say for how long. Asked about how Southwest had decided to suspend and submit the pilot to diversity training, then send him back to work for the airline, spokeswoman Brandy King said: "That is an internal issue that we've dealt with directly with that employee, and we don't discuss employee matters publicly." The head of the union representing Southwest flight attendants criticized the airline's response to the incident, in which the pilot made repeated explicit comments about flight attendants' weight, appearance, age and sexual orientation. "Our union is rooted in fighting for the rights and protections of working people, including forging the battles to end the prohibition of married women, pregnant women and men from serving as flight attendants and we will not go backward by accepting the behavior and speech of this pilot or any other employee," Thom McDaniel, president of the Transportation Workers Union of America chapter representing Southwest flight attendants, said in a statement. The Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association did not respond to repeated requests for comment. What he said The pilot, during the rant, said he was frustrated with the appearance of the flight attendants for the airline. At one point, he said, "I still wouldn't want anyone to know if I had (sex with) them." He said he was upset because the flight attendants that he met on recent flights to Chicago were mostly gay. "Eleven (expletive) over-the-top (expletive) (expletive) (expletive) homosexuals and a granny," the pilot can be heard saying, criticizing the lack of a dating pool aboard a recent flight. "Eleven. I mean, think of the odds of that. I thought I was in Chicago, which was party land." He later said Houston was "easily one of the ugliest bases," adding that, "I mean, it's all these (expletive) old dudes and grannies, and there's like maybe a handful of cute chicks." He said he was upset because he had gone to bars with flight attendants only three times in six months and was not happy with his company. In a video posted on the company's website, Southwest's vice president of flight operations, Chuck Magill, said the pilot's comments were "offensive and inconsistent with the professional behavior and overall respect we require from all of our employees." The pilot had been reinstated in his role after undergoing "additional diversity and inclusion training to reinforce the company's expectation that he show respect and treat all with dignity," Magill said. "He knows what he did cannot happen again," he said. Southwest did not reprimand the first officer, who was not audible during the conversation, King said. The tirade lasted about two minutes, with an air traffic controller attempting to interrupt it using tones and responses like, "Whoever's transmitting better watch what you're saying." 'A receptive audience' Although one incident, the pilot's rant was likely representative of a culture among airline pilots, who are overwhelmingly male, said Elora Shehabuddin, interim director of the Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality at Rice University. Of the 53,000 members of the Air Line Pilots Association, International, which doesn't include Southwest pilots, 5 percent are women, according to that group. "The airline industry is a very male environment where pilots who think this way can easily share their opinion," Shehabuddin said. "We didn't hear anything about the other pilot saying, 'Wait you can't think this way.' Obviously he felt no problem sharing his views so he must have had a receptive audience." Staff writer Terri Langford contributed to this report. zain.shauk@chron.com
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

06-23-2011, 01:04 AM	#4
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	He doesn't love to fly and it shows!!!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

06-25-2011, 09:45 PM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Hey, I'd trust this guy as my pilot before I'd trust most of the employees at TSA!!! Attached Images

06-23-2011, 12:51 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I guess the skies weren't being friendly to him!!!

06-23-2011, 01:03 AM	#3
tiredmike59 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 05, 2010 Location: OUTLAW STATE {MO} Posts: 1,868	Did he come to fly, or did he come to f ?

06-23-2011, 01:15 AM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	We have drunk and/or cussing pilots, air traffic controllers who either sleep or watch movies while on the clock, guys who either won't pull up their saggy pants or go through security checkpoints in swimsuits and fishnets. In their own way, they are about as disturbing as the terrorists!!!

06-24-2011, 10:55 AM	#7
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,183	What is causing all this friction? You didn't to have situations like this 30-40 years ago. I sometimes get bent of shape over things, but usually if I can find a kind soul and talk it out, my anger is slim. I guess it is hard to talk it over with someone until it is too late. Sad to think everyone on the outside is talking it over now.

06-24-2011, 11:42 AM	#8
Rezny@gmail.com Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,675	Alot oe the problems with the airlines started when they de-regulated them.Flight attendants on many other countries airlines are still attractive younger women for the most part.and i don't see anything wrong with that.this 'diversity' BS has ruined many things in America.as far as the pilot de regulation also probably lowered the standard of pilots too.

06-25-2011, 04:27 PM	#9
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Well I for one couldn't care less if the flight attendants are gay, old, fat, granny age or what not. ALL I care about is that they are competant and know what to do in an emergency. Just as all are neat, clean and presentable. But as for doofus pilots with brains (and bigotry) up their a** - hope they get the boot - anyone dumb enough to think and act the way he did in a HIGHLY RESPONSIBLE position sends shivers down my spine. Talk about dumb dumber...and dumberer - a real winner of a pilot - and person. He's no Sully that's for sure!