The rant that went out over air traffic airwaves by the Southwest Airline pilot in the Houston area has caused a lot of hurt feelings out there.  It’s shockingly over the top to hear it from any pilot but especially so by a Southwest Airlines’ pilot.  Even Southwest flight attendants are considering a complaint to the EEOC.

What can I say?  It’s terrible to hear that.  It is horrific to hear that being done by a Southwest pilot.  In fact, the horror one feels is exactly why we need to understand that this isn’t a problem with Southwest.  It’s a problem with the pilot.

One thing I learned many, many years ago when I worked at Love Field and had an altercation with an irate pilot (I towed his car from our freight dock area and he was parked in an area that was explicitly and prominently signed as being a no parking area for *anyone*.)  The pilot threatened me, threatened our company and generally acted like an ass. 

So I went and talked to someone at Southwest.  That Southwest representative had the Chief Pilot call me and he listened very carefully.  He also asked very careful questions and then he came over to see the signage  His response? 

He declared the pilot shameful in his behaviour, graciously apologized on behalf of the company and then suspended the pilot for his behaviour and made him come to our offices and apologize in person. 

Make no mistake, Southwest will exact quite a bit from this pilot and they’ll do it like a family.  That doesn’t mean the pilot will be fired (and I don’t think he should be fired myself) but it does mean he’ll answer for his actions in a meaningful manner.   And it won’t be forgotten.

Filed under: Airline News by ajax