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From: ark@alice.UUCP (Andrew Koenig)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Pilot Proficiency Program
Message-ID: <3851@alice.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Jun-85 10:53:32 EDT
Article-I.D.: alice.3851
Posted: Mon Jun 10 10:53:32 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 11-Jun-85 05:40:46 EDT
References: <800@ihnp4.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Murray Hill
Lines: 36

> I agree that the program may be a success because of the type of pilot
> that participates.  What my argument is:  I don't want a pilot flying
> for me that does not see the advantages to the PPP, and who does not 
> see the need for annual refresher training.  As a company, I can
> insist on "stacking the deck" in my favor by allowing only those
> pilots who are demonstrably safety conscience fly for company business.

And my argument is that the PPP may not have any effect by itself,
so requiring it might not do any good.  If someone wants to fly and
is told he must jump through a particular hoop, he'll probably jump.
That doesn't mean any of the training is going to stick.

Our flying club requires annual check-rides and pushes safety in
other ways, but that didn't stop one member from taking off without
an instrument ticket into a 600 foot overcast (fortunately, he made
it back).  That particular member was obviously a loon, but it
didn't show up in any of his training.

I'm even more worried about this scenario:  I'm running a company
that lets people fly on company business only if they meet the
requirements I've set.  Now, an employee, on company business,
bends an airplane.  It's clearly his fault, but he sues me, saying
I should never have let him fly and that my rules are too lax.
I don't want to have to defend that lawsuit.

For that reason, I think that the most reasonable attitute to have
toward employees who want to fly on company business is the same
attitude most companies have toward those who want to drive:
it's YOUR life and YOU get to decide how to get there.  I am
not going to do anything to keep you out of trouble, or to get
you into it.

Incidentally, it might interest you to know that IBM encourages
employees to fly light airplanes on business trips by offering
to pay mileage as if the employee had driven or coach airfare
(I think times number abord), whichever is MORE.