Aer Lingus Suspends Pilot For Denying Non-Union Crew Business Class Seats

Most commentators miss the important and relevant points. This is a much more serious matter than reduction to accusations of pettiness and personality accusations. Say what you will about the Captain and his decision, seemingly without all the facts. That’s in fact irrelevant. He had no obligation to upgrade anyone, and, at most, he can be accused of being petty. But without understanding all the circumstances, even that is merely speculation, and with what facts are present, even unlikely. Probably his actions and decision were STRICTLY, by the letter in accordance & complying with policy (even if you suspect or don't like his reasons/motives and influenced by some other factors as suggested); and (in the absence of proof otherwise) he was strictly speaking NOT "bending" a rule or company regulation, one that had become common practice to bend or strictly enforce for the benefit of flying staff-members .... i.e. complying with a rule which had become common practice to routinely "ignore" and thus had resulted in an expectation that it BE ignored. However he never broke any rule or regulation. And in military terms, he never ignored any LAWFUL order. He is absolutely legally within his right to ignore any instruction given to him inflight by the COO. Non- aviation people might not understand that. Just because an instruction comes from a more senior manager does not make it valid, much less appropriate. A banker cannot just give a loan against bank policy to the manager’s friend just because the manager tells him to do it. At most the COO could have REQUESTED the positioning crew to be upgraded. Technically speaking, the actions of the COO were probably illegal, certainly against aviation regulations, and probably (mootly) against company policy. Even though he might be executive management in the company, with regards this COO management position, he strictly had no right to instruct the Captain accordingly. That is not an opinion, it is a legal fact - one hard to grasp when the assumption is ... "but he is the boss, so what he says goes". No, he actually cannot. His management authority does not extend so far in this particular circumstance. The actions and decision of the Capt possibly (though probably not so) could be called anything from petty to ill-advised, but almost certainly had nothing to do with EGO. And was not either illegal, nor, as will probably be determined, in contravention with company policy or aviation regulations. And aviation regulations trump company policy. HOWEVER the actions of the COO to try and impose action on the Capt while in flight is not acceptable under aviation regulations. At most, once the aircraft was in-flight, he could have REQUESTED the Captain to upgrade. If the Captain did not comply, it ends there. One might not like it, one might take personal offence. One expects ones managers to on their big pants when they are an executive manager’s. All have probably heard the term "give an inch and they'll take a yard"! Aviation crew are constantly battling non-crew managers (and even crew managers) interfering in operational aspects, and degrading the authority of the Captain invested in him by Aviation Regulations and the relevant legal Aviation Authority, i.e. THE LAW. There is VERY good reason so much authority resides in the Captain, by international treaty and by every aviation authority, in every country. It starts with subtle interference and when unchecked, increases. Just as a bank robber might start out shoplifting a candy bar and getting away with it. This is a real phenomenon. With all the apparent facts, regardless with what one might think about motives actions or what you think should have happened, the most egregious part of this story is that despite the Captain having exercised his legally invested authority, the company's actions have sought to erode that authority. Which has very detrimental safety implications. Another inch to the yard - where more serious captain decisions in the future impact negatively on safety due to erosion of Captain Authority, future bowing to company commercial and other pressures, and fear of company retaliation. I have personally seen this effect many times. At one of the world's most famous National Carriers I was “instructed" not "requested” to take a senior manager on a cockpit jumpseat. It is strictly the Captain's decision in most airlines whether they accept someone on a cockpit jumpseat (if policy allows anyone at all). Even an aviation regulator/inspector/official can be denied access if the Capt feels it is in the interests of safety to do so. I refused to comply with the instruction, reminding that no-one had requested of me to use the jumpseat. In fact, I had other valid specific safety-related reasons I would not accept anyone on the jumpseat on that particular occasion, but did communicate that as it was irrelevant. The applicable department's response was that they don't "beg" for jumpseats, which seemed to reflect their mindset, entitlement to disregard regulations, and disregard for the authority of the Captain. Nevertheless, I never heard anything more about it, certainly not from Operational Management. This is the first inch of the yard denied. Seems petty to the outsider, but is real and it is serious.

Written like tabloid rag garbage by someone with very little understanding of the greater LEGAL issues involved in this event. There is a requirement to have crew throughout the cabin on longer flights to monitor the status of the cabin incase of fire etc. There was no other crew assigned to perform this duty on this 9 hour flight. Go and actually find out some detail before accusing pilots of wrongdoing. Your article is libelous to the crewmember involved. Absolute ignorance.

Four stripe JERK, acting like a Nazi towards fellow crew members! What goes around... I'm hoping he'll be served cold coffee from now on when this gets around!

A hot headed Irish Pilot Irish Pilot was horrible during an SAS Connect flight towards the crew. When we landed in Scandinavia,he was walking through the terminal with a red face and as if he will combust. What Irish Aviation needs is Instagram's Irishpilotpete to run things. I won't use words, that I feel apply to Captain Barbados in the story.

Whether you thibk the guy is a duck or not, Pilot in command has the final say, period. That authority overrides ATC and certainly overrides some rando at the office.