Gods of the Airways

The Gods of the Airways
The Airline Union flexes its muscle, as Unions should.  However, as a former small plane pilot, the rules speak for themselves.  Most small planes fully loaded with a full passenger cabin, their respective baggage, and with full fuel would be over the maximum allowable takeoff weight;  therefore, to meet the requirements set by the FAA for journeys of any length, something has to give.  The answer back then was simple, reduce the fuel load, or remove baggage, or leave a passenger or two behind.  Usually it was fuel, well it was always fuel as I recall.  The FAA had in place rules and still does for safety so that all would arrive and with enough fuel, even if one airport was inaccessible.  Today it is still a fact and reality to pilots of light aircraft, under 12,500 lbs.  It is a reality to top of the line high speed business/corporate/charter jets, and it is now a fact for the airlines. 
In the early seventies while visiting my uncle in England I had the occasion to interview a senior captain of British Airways as my uncle couldn't make the commitment.  Not having any experience in such matters, but with a head full of airplane learnin' and little experience I ventured forth, with the simple understanding I was to ask this god of the airways what he did as a senior captain for BA. 
As we sat in the cockpit of a 747 because the Concorde was backed up into an engine test facility opposite us, he talked of his career, switching to management from the line and mostly of engineering, 747, Concorde, and aviation engineering.    747, Concorde, to me the difference was negligible, though I feigned disappointment.  Imagine if you had the opportunity to meet Bill Gates, but instead had to settle for Warren Buffet, or vice-versa. 
I was enjoying sitting there just listening to this graduate engineer turned pilot, and ever so occasionally throwing in a small question of aviation to show my superior, inexperienced knowledge.  "So that there is the barn door lever is it, and this must be the headlight switch huh?"
The reality of this conversation hit home recently when I heard of the airline pilots complaints regarding fuel.  The captain I had er…interviewed said that British Airways had a policy for fuel reduction by minimizing flap usage.  Without getting technical, the less of, and the less time you hung a barn door against the wind, the less fuel you would use dragging that barn door through the air. 
One area which could yield further savings would be the continuous glide-slope from altitude approach, for lack of a better term, versus the step down approach is my opinion.  I doubt too many in aviation disagree with that concept.
The rules are put in place by the Feds for safety.  I doubt they would be dismissed because some pilots have been spoiled by an overly fond addiction to excess fuel, the ease of GPS when allowed for navigation, the technological advances in worldwide instantaneous weather, and holds to make things flow more smoothly.  With the reality of ever increasing costs, against an ever declining supply of jobs for all, all must cut back, even those gods of the airways. 
So suck it up fast class big plane pilots, those in slow and go economy planes have been doing it for years. 
Unions have to flex, and often for good purpose.  However, the people have had enough scares lately, if the rules ain't broke, don't fix them.
The line I best remember from my time at Flight Safety International at Vero Beach, Florida was simply, "The best safety device in any airplane is a well-trained pilot."  Education, perhaps, leads to less fear for all.