“WELL IT’S LEGAL”…”ER NO IT’S NOT”
HOISTED BY THEIR OWN PETARD?
It’s likely that many readers of this post, including many airline pilots and cabin crew, will not fully grasp the implications of the above graphic. Many will never have seen anything like it. The question. you need to ask yourself is ‘why not?’
Since the release of Pulling Wings From Butterflies, I have been inundated with requests for assistance from fellow pilots and cabin crew who have found themselves in a similar position to mine.
For those that have contacted me, the very first thing I recommend is for the individual to inform their airline they require a copy of the FAST (Fatigue Avoidance Scheduling Tool) printout. 100% of the time, the response from those asking for assistance has been, ‘what’s that?’
Every year, pilots and cabin crew attend a CRM (Cockpit Resource Management) course. It is mandated by the CAA.
The issue of fatigue will be discussed throughout the full day. Considering that the printout above is crucial for monitoring fatigue, how many of us can confidently say that our airlines have taken the time to thoroughly explain the crucial information contained within the printout? Indeed, how many pilots and cabin crew members have even been informed of the existence of such a document by their airline? Again, you need to ask yourself why.?
Indeed, I first became aware of the FAST printout during my legal case against Thomas Cook Airlines.
In my case, senior airline management used the printout as evidence in an attempt to persuade a judge that I was lying when I stated I would be unfit to operate a duty due to a dangerous level of fatigue. Indeed, a level that would directly impact flight safety.
Their argument? As the trace never entered the red zone, my claim I was dangerously fatigued was dishonest, It was a lie.
This document was also provided to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Their response? “This is an employment matter,” and,, within an internal email gained by Pulling Wings From Butterflies, the CAA suggested I should “get over it.”
It became very apparent that the airline was attempting to use the printout in an attempt to ruin a blemish-free career.
However, as you will discover in the second instalment of Pulling Wings From Butterflies, the reality is that this seemingly innocuous printout can be the ultimate defence for any crew member when facing any airline manager or crewing manager of dubious integrity when they pressure a crew member to operate a duty using that well-worn phrase “well it’s legal’.
PRe ORDER BOOK TWO NOW
“Tercio De Banderillas” Lands March 31st, 2025!
Are you ready to question everything you thought you knew about the aviation establishments’ view on safety?
March 31st, 2025, marks the highly anticipated release of “Tercio De Banderillas,” the explosive second instalment in the “Pulling Wings From Butterflies” trilogy. This isn’t just another thriller; it’s the continuing gut-wrenching true story that dares to peel back the polished veneer of the aviation industry.
Pre-order your copy today and prepare to have your beliefs challenged. This is more than a book; it’s a wake-up call.
A limited number of signed hardback editions will be available exclusively through the Pulling Wings From Butterflies store. These exclusive items will be dispatched in the first week of April. .
Join the conversation: #TercioDeBanderillas #UnmaskingAviationTruth
Don’t just fly. Understand.
BOOk ONE in the series
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They Ignored Him Twice. Now, He’s Exposing the Deadly Truth.
Two warnings. Two fatal crashes. Captain Mike Simkins’ voice was silenced. Until now.
Imagine knowing, with absolute certainty, that a preventable tragedy is looming. Imagine being ignored, dismissed, even ridiculed, as you desperately try to avert disaster.
On two separate occasions, he warned aviation authorities of lethal safety deficiencies.
He wasn’t speculating; he was speaking from experience. He saw the cracks in the system, the shortcuts taken, the corners cut. And twice, his warnings were tragically ignored. Twice, those ignored warnings resulted in devastating air crashes.
But Captain Simkins refused to let history repeat itself.
“Pulling Wings From Butterflies” is the raw, unflinching account of his stand. It’s the story of a man who dared to challenge a multibillion-dollar industry, a man who refused to compromise passenger and crew safety for corporate greed. He stood alone against the might of the aviation establishment, and now, he’s bringing the truth to light.
This isn’t just a story; it’s a call to action.
Don’t let their silence continue. Demand the truth.
#PullingWingsFromButterflies #AviationTruth #SafetyFirst
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part one - Tercio de varas
The first book in the trilogy begins by following the unique journey of Captain Mike Simkins from touring Europe as a drummer and performing with some of the most prominent musical artists of the late ’80s, to becoming a commander on the world’s most advanced passenger aircraft.
Ultimately, the wings were pulled from the butterfly of a dream career when, Mike stood alone to confront a multibillion-dollar aviation establishment when he refused to place profit before safety.
PArt TWO - Tercio de banderillas
Will the pilot union BALPA and the regulator, the CAA, support a legal case of major significance to the safety of airline passengers and crew?
What’s the reason unions and regulators allow airlines to have ‘Cash Cadet’ pilots with zero jet experience pay them to fly fare-paying passengers?
Why do pilots agree to fly when dangerously fatigued that directly places not only themselves but their passengers and crews in danger?
What was the answer from the Thomas Cook CEO to the question ‘did the company put profit before safety’ in relation to two children’s death in Corfu?
How will a pilot with zero legal experience confront a multimillion-pound multinational at trial?
part three - Tercio de MUERTE
Crews admit that they are knowingly flying duties in the full expectation they will suffer fatigue. They are committing these criminal acts due to the “Bullying” culture at one of the UK’s biggest airlines.
The CAA is provided with irrefutable proof that duty times are knowingly falsified to make it appear they conformed with strictly laid down maximum times and that pilots are flying at the equivalent effectiveness of a drunk driver. Their response? ‘Get over it.’ .