WestWind Airlines

Ian Crawford, the HM Boston and EVP Cargo Ops Europe will take the office as EDDF HM.
In combination with his job as EVP, Ian will put EDDF back on the map.
Welcome in Frankfurt Ian and lots of succes with this new challenge.

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Chris, WWA1509.

Thanks for the nice welcome Chris!

    For those of you who don't know me, my name is Ian S. Crawford. I am a real world PPL holder, working on building hours to start working on my instrument rating. I have been with Westwind for 4+ years as a pilot, 3.5+ in management, and just over a year as an executive vice president. I have previously been the hub manager at Boston, where I took the hub from a sleepy little hub to one of our largest hubs up until just recently. I've been planning and working on things for the hub behind the scenes before this move was announced, so I can now give you guys an update on what I plan on doing as your hub manager.

1) There will be new routes posted. Some of the old routes may not exist after this evening, so keep your eyes open.

2) There will be a new mini hub in Munich opening to help the EDDF hub with intercontinental flights, especially to our new destinations such as Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mexico City, etc. Munich will also allow me to return some of the flights to the schedule that Frankfurt lost.

3) Frankfurt will become more European in it's approach and execution of aviation. There are a lot of things that Flight Sim does not teach about aviation in Europe, and there are a lot of things that differ from American aviation. These will be pointed out.

4) Anyone who is padding their flight hours will receive immediate notification of the suspension of the hours. Upon satisfactory demonstration that those flight hours were legit, they will be returned. There are a lot of people who spent years getting to the top at this airline, don't ruin it for them or yourself. If you really want to do that, there are plenty of "flying clubs" online you can join. I will be checking the PIREPS every few days, more if the situation requires, so you won't go too long without being caught.
 

5) I will hold bi-weekly office hours on Westwind's teamspeak server, T-Th from 2000z-2100z. I will also be on the forums simultaneously for those pilots who wish to contact me for a more immediate response to their questions. I would also welcome pilots who just wish to chat, I would enjoy meeting all of you!

6) Expect some European based charters popping up here soon.

7) Expect some cargo announcements soon as well.

 

    Thats about it. I don't demand too much except for honesty and a once-monthly PIREP. Again, my door is always open and I'm glad to answer any questions.

 

     Ian S. Crawford
     Hub Manager, Frankfurt
     EVP Cargo Operations, Europe
     Senior Command Captain

 

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Ian S. Crawford
WWA 752, CYYZ
VP Director of Cargo Operations, Europe
AOPA # 05034673

Ian S. Crawford:

 3) Frankfurt will become more European in it's approach and execution of aviation. There are a lot of things that Flight Sim does not teach about aviation in Europe, and there are a lot of things that differ from American aviation. These will be pointed out.

4) Anyone who is padding their flight hours will receive immediate notification of the suspension of the hours. Upon satisfactory demonstration that those flight hours were legit, they will be returned. There are a lot of people who spent years getting to the top at this airline, don't ruin it for them or yourself. If you really want to do that, there are plenty of "flying clubs" online you can join. I will be checking the PIREPS every few days, more if the situation requires, so you won't go too long without being caught.
 

Phew... good to know I've got one a convert, I hope you can carry it all off.  Just curious, what happened to 'we are a hobby airline, if you want real then go find one' not a quote but something like that as I remember like less than two days ago.   Don't get me wrong I for one 100% agree with you may be you should push to get item four made policy of the airline that is exactly what I wanted.  May be I'll have to re-apply to join Franlfurt hub

Any way Ian all the very best Chris is the best, you'll find.

PS some flying clubs have very strict rules some are VATSIM only flown hours count.

Something about having Langen Radar yelling at pilots for not being at flight levels when they're at 12,000ft. :) Its like I told Chris, I think there is a major difference due to the isolation of European hub ops because, in my opinion, most American pilots dont understand that aviation isn't universal. There are different flight levels, QNH's, and different ways of interpreting METARS. SIDS and STARS are spelled out plain as day, and there are only very rarely radar vectors to final. All altitudes are spelled out....in American aviation, it's a luxury to have these things, whereas in Europe its uncommon to not have these. I think it's not only a good aviation lesson, but I think its a good real life lesson for everyone involved. It presents a different way of doing things because the entire world isnt based on the US or European style of aviation, and hopefully this will open a few minds to explore more about Europe and perhaps break down some stereotypes or misconceptions. However, these guidelines will be optional, but I feel that people should be informed about what they're doing, especially on VATSIM. Anyways, I digress.....

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Ian S. Crawford
WWA 752, CYYZ
VP Director of Cargo Operations, Europe
AOPA # 05034673

Ian,

I had to log on again, just to reply to you, that is how glad I feel for the first time in weeks.  Oh don't let this get in the way of study and best of luck with your examinations.  All I want to say is, I 100% agree with you and everything you have said. It is what I wanted for all the European hubs.  In fact reading what you've said here is like music to the eyes or something like that.  I can only wish you all the best again and I hope that the hubs in Europe appreciate what you are about to do for them.  Its now 1:50 here time I hit the sack all the best.

Cheers

 

 

 

Shams:

Ian S. Crawford:

 3) Frankfurt will become more European in it's approach and execution of aviation. There are a lot of things that Flight Sim does not teach about aviation in Europe, and there are a lot of things that differ from American aviation. These will be pointed out.

4) Anyone who is padding their flight hours will receive immediate notification of the suspension of the hours. Upon satisfactory demonstration that those flight hours were legit, they will be returned. There are a lot of people who spent years getting to the top at this airline, don't ruin it for them or yourself. If you really want to do that, there are plenty of "flying clubs" online you can join. I will be checking the PIREPS every few days, more if the situation requires, so you won't go too long without being caught.
 

Phew... good to know I've got one a convert, I hope you can carry it all off.  Just curious, what happened to 'we are a hobby airline, if you want real then go find one' not a quote but something like that as I remember like less than two days ago.   Don't get me wrong I for one 100% agree with you may be you should push to get item four made policy of the airline that is exactly what I wanted.  May be I'll have to re-apply to join Franlfurt hub

Any way Ian all the very best Chris is the best, you'll find.

PS some flying clubs have very strict rules some are VATSIM only flown hours count.

I think it is helpful to recognize that Europe and the U.S. are very different cultures. We need to recognize this and allow Europeans to be Europeans and Americans to be Americans. This is the only way we are likely to attract European pilots to WestWind.

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WWA1702 Senior Command Captain +3
RWP SEL Instrument Rating (almost)
WW Test Pilot
Monster Driver

Ian S. Crawford:

  

     EVP Cargo Operations, Europe

Hmmm..........shouldn't that say Director Cargo Ops - Europe.......congrats on the move!

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EHAM-YSSY B772LR

It's like being a Russian general: you're got so many titles you tend to forget what you really are.... I think I'm actually a pilot underneath all of that! I'm going to keep our original strategy in place, but I'm going to start picking at the HM's in Europe brains to see what we can come with for cargo operations.

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Ian S. Crawford
WWA 752, CYYZ
VP Director of Cargo Operations, Europe
AOPA # 05034673

First thing Ian, Congratz for you're new job here at Europe, i'm sure that it will be a great time for you here in Europe!

I see you got big plans for Frankfurt as well, i'll be probobly meet you on TS and bug you a little bit

I'm sure that you'll do a great job at Frankfurt!   And again, Welcome to Europe!

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