updated 2/21/2000
MY WORK, MY CAREER, AND MY COMPANY
(...continued...)
Now that I've burned up fully two and a half pages telling you about the different types of
aircraft the USAirways operates (I told you I was an airplane freak), perhaps now I should
tell you what I do as a Fleet Service Agent. The news media incorrectly labels Fleet Service
Agents as "baggage handlers", which is one of the many inaccuracies put forth about the
airline industry to the general public. At USAirways, a Fleet Service Agent does a lot more
than just "handle baggage". The Fleet Service Agent (or "FSA") is responsible for
Operations/Weight and Balance (insuring that the aircraft departing is within safe weight
and balance limitations), Air Cargo/Freight Services (receiving, preparing for shipment, and
documentation), aircraft provisioning (catering), aircraft receipt and dispatch (marshalling
an arriving airplane into the gate and pushing it back on departure), and oh yes, in between
all of this, we do load and unload the airplanes. There is a lot of initial and recurrent training
that is mandated by both the Company and the FAA to be qualified to work as an FSA.
Currently all FSAs at USAirways are represented by the International Association of
Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) union. The IAMAW is our
representative to the Company insuring that our pay, benefits, and work rules are fair
and just to both the Fleet Service Agent group and USAirways.
As I've mentioned before, put me anywhere near an airliner an I'm happy. Just starting
my 17th year with USAirways on October 21, 1999, I still love my job and have a lot of fun
doing it. Below are a few pictures that show my coworkers and I doing our jobs on a daily
basis.
RoseMarie and Kerry, two great
ladies I work with, taking a break.
Mark (blue shirt) and Pat (red shirt), fresh from unloading
7,000 pounds of bags (that's 280 bags!) off of a 757.
Okay, this picture is a little dark, but here I
am with Charlie (blue shirt) in our breakroom
at lunchtime. Charlie's "helping" me open a
can of something...he's a great guy to work with!
Another shot of some great colleagues. Clockwise,
from bottom: Tom, Lorie, Leroy(standing), "Joey",
and Jose.
An action shot of Hal
taking a break. Another
colleague thats the best.
One fine, sunny Saturday afternoon
here in South Florida, Charlie and
Joanne went whizzing by on a tug...
I don't think either of them knew
I took this picture.
I think you can tell by now I really value
working with these people...they're really
great. From left clockwise: Ken, Danny,
Liz and Jeff, in the Operations office.
GOOD PEOPLE MAKE A SUCCESSFUL AIRLINE WORK. I've shared with you some pictures of just a few
of the outstanding co-workers and freinds I am priveleged to be associated with in Ft. Lauderdale. The amount
of passengers and cargo which we handle here at Ft. Lauderdale is unlike anything I've ever seen in 17 years
in the airline business. The very fact that we do it - and do it well, and on time - testifies to the fact that the
USAirways team here is the best group of people I've ever worked with. Hats off to you, everybody!!
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