Dont mess with female pilots!

[markis10]

Love it, very much the correct action IMHO

BRAZILIAN airline says one of its female pilots tossed a passenger off a flight because he was making sexist comments about women flying planes. Trip Airlines says in a statement the pilot ejected the man before take-off as he made loud, sexist comments upon learning the pilot was a woman. The jet continued on to the state of Goias after a one-hour delay.
The passenger involved in Friday's incident has not been identified.
He was met by police at the plane and escorted out of the Belo Horizonte airport, althought it was not known if the man was charged.

Read more: Female pilot boots passenger over remarks | News.com.au
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[simongr]

I would be interested to hear what he actually said. I do not condone sexist comments but given that I assume he wasn't making comments that might impact the safety of the flight I do not think she would be justified in tossing him off the aircraft.

 

[rechoboam]

I would be interested to hear what he actually said. I do not condone sexist comments but given that I assume he wasn't making comments that might impact the safety of the flight I do not think she would be justified in tossing him off the aircraft.

I think this does impact the safety of the flight. Having a customer insulting you while you are working in a critical environment cannot be tolerated. Would you want a distracted and angry pilot taking off? I have experienced exactly the same sort of thing in my industry. While I have not actually tossed people out, I have firmly told them that if they can't keep their thoughts to themselves they will have to go home and come back another time after cooling down.

Anyway by definition whatever a pilot does is the 'right' thing unless they have totally lost the plot like the fellow in the US we were discussing. Too much at stake.

 

[simongr]

That is why I would like to know more - I do not believe that the pilot is always right.

EDIT

Just noting this was my 11,000th post...

 

[markis10]

That is why I would like to know more - I do not believe that the pilot is always right.

However the law assumes they are always right and empowers them appropriately when it comes to passenger control!

 

[JessicaTam]

I think this does impact the safety of the flight. Having a customer insulting you while you are working in a critical environment cannot be tolerated. Would you want a distracted and angry pilot taking off? I have experienced exactly the same sort of thing in my industry. While I have not actually tossed people out, I have firmly told them that if they can't keep their thoughts to themselves they will have to go home and come back another time after cooling down.

Anyway by definition whatever a pilot does is the 'right' thing unless they have totally lost the plot like the fellow in the US we were discussing. Too much at stake.

+1

The buck stops with the pilot. If any pilot is uncomfortable with a passenger for any reason they have the right to take whatever action is reasonable in the circumstances. If that means removing the passenger from the flight, then so be it.

 

[Fantic125]

According to the article it states the Company (Trip) policy is not to tolerate any disparaging remarks about its female crew, so it's quite possibly a corporate policy driven decision rather than the individual pilot's decision.

Either way, IMHO some people should STFU if they haven't got anything positive or constructive to say.

 

[simongr]

+1

The buck stops with the pilot. If any pilot is uncomfortable with a passenger for any reason they have the right to take whatever action is reasonable in the circumstances. If that means removing the passenger from the flight, then so be it.

Again I am actually not that comfortable with this "for any reason" - that could cover a lot of instances where the pilot shouldn't be making those determinations.

Either way, IMHO some people should STFU if they haven't got anything positive or constructive to say.

I agree - frankly I think most people should just shut up on the aircraft - would make them more enjoyable overall.

 

[markis10]

Again I am actually not that comfortable with this "for any reason" - that could cover a lot of instances where the pilot shouldn't be making those determinations.
.

The pilots powers are quite clear whether you are comfortable with them or not!

Australia

Powers of pilot in command (1) The pilot in command of an aircraft, with such assistance as is necessary and reasonable, may:
(a) take such action, including the removal of a person from the aircraft or the placing of a person under restraint or in custody, by force, as the pilot considers reasonably necessary to ensure compliance with the Act or these regulations in or in relation to the aircraft; and
(b) detain the passengers, crew and cargo for such period as the pilot considers reasonably necessary to ensure compliance with the Act or these regulations in or in relation to the aircraft.
(2) A person who, on an aircraft in flight, whether within or outside Australian territory, is found committing, or is reasonably suspected of having committed, or having attempted to commit, or of being about to commit, an offence against the Act or these regulations may be arrested without warrant by a member of the crew of the aircraft in the same manner as a person who is found committing a felony may, at common law, be arrested by a constable and shall be dealt with in the same manner as a person so arrested by a constable

Internationally the powers were framed by the Tokyo Convention of 1963 which was adopted by 170 countries and broadly cover the following:

An aircraft commander who has reasonable grounds for believing that a person has committed, or is
about to commit, on board his aircraft, an offence against the penal law of the State of Registration of
the aircraft or a "jeopardising" act, may impose on that person such reasonable measures, including
restraint, as are necessary :
(a) to protect the safety of the aircraft or of persons or property on board;
(b) to maintain good order and discipline on board; or
(c) to enable him to disembark that person or to deliver him to the appropriate authorities.

 

[JessicaTam]

The operative word in my post was 'reasonable'. That is, the action of the pilot must be reasonable. In my role with an emergency service I have certain legislative powers (and responsibilities). I may exercise those powers where it is reasonable to do so. I do not have the opportunity to consult with anyone, so must use my judgement and experience. I can, like anyone else including pilots, be called to account for the use of such powers if it is deemed that they need to be justified.

 

[nickykim]

Putting my HR and Customer Service hat on - in Australia it is unreasonable behaviour which if doesn't stop when the customer is approached is bullying. A responsible employer will allow staff to refuse to deal with such customers. I have told members of the public to leave our reception area when they are being verbally aggressive towards the customer service officers and I have called the local police station more than once to have members of the public removed. Oh! the joys of working in local government.

 

[straitman]

The operative word in my post was 'reasonable'. That is, the action of the pilot must be reasonable. In my role with an emergency service I have certain legislative powers (and responsibilities). I may exercise those powers where it is reasonable to do so. I do not have the opportunity to consult with anyone, so must use my judgement and experience. I can, like anyone else including pilots, be called to account for the use of such powers if it is deemed that they need to be justified.

A very slight but important variation to your comment is that the ' as the pilot considers reasonably necessary to ensure compliance with the Act or these regulations in or in relation to the aircraft'

Many/most Company Operations manuals then have a clause that then indemnifies the pilots' from legal challenge.

 

[markis10]

Many/most Company Operations manuals then have a clause that then indemnifies the pilots' from legal challenge.

As do the laws of the countries that were signatories to the Tokyo convention, immunity is part of that agreement.

 

[seanpodge]

This pilot is my hero! The only further information I need is her airline's route network so I can give them my money whenever I'm in range of it.

 

[casanovawa]

Hmmm, the joys of dealing with local government...

 

[dodgeyhack]

I would be interested to hear what he actually said. I do not condone sexist comments but given that I assume he wasn't making comments that might impact the safety of the flight I do not think she would be justified in tossing him off the aircraft.

Maybe not, but it's nice to see the uppence served when the opportunity is available. Too often there's no recourse.

 

[seanpodge]

I would be interested to hear what he actually said. I do not condone sexist comments but given that I assume he wasn't making comments that might impact the safety of the flight I do not think she would be justified in tossing him off the aircraft.

Air travel isn't a human right. If someone can't handle not being a bigoted w**ker in public for a few hours then tough luck. If the passenger was being sexist/racist/homophobic et al to fellow passengers and/or staff, I'd hope that he got booted off at the first opportunity and told exactly where to stick his refund application form.

Sometimes, the customer is very, very wrong.