Monday, August 15, 2005
The Coming Lockheed – AOPA Conflict
Ted Sturm is in charge of Lockheed Martin’s Human Resources department. His comments to one air traffic controller included words to the effect that there would be some sort of ‘performance expectation’ in terms of 'numbers productivity' that if missed could result in release from service.
If some form of ‘quota’ is indeed implemented, the impact on pilot briefing will not be good news for pilots. Should controllers feel that they have to ‘keep numbers up’, the unintended consequence is predictable; a bias toward completing contacts in rapid fashion.
This would run afoul of the vision that AOPA’s Mr. Boyer has for future service. As mentioned earlier, more data, interactive briefing and diluted area knowledge will tend to increase the amount of time it takes to work a given pilot contact. If this occurs (as we expect it will), LM will move to keep individual contacts short and sweet.
But Mr. Boyer is of the impression that if AOPA isn’t satisfied with performance, LM will respond quickly and decisively. So if pilot contacts become rushed to meet LM’s productivity requirements, Mr. Boyer can be expected to give Lockheed Martin a call. When the two worlds collide, who will win?
A number of possibilities exist; It could be that Mr. Sturm hasn’t gotten the word about the promises to APOA. Or, in his meeting with LM where Mr. Boyer states that his team asked “all the tough questions," maybe this one didn’t cross their minds.
Most likely, the real answer is based in the fact that neither LM or Mr. Boyer understand the business of providing Flight Service products to pilots. Should goals conflict, only one of them can win. Mr. Boyer may believe he’ll have leverage enough to steer things his way, but it will be Lockheed Martin in the drivers seat.
If some form of ‘quota’ is indeed implemented, the impact on pilot briefing will not be good news for pilots. Should controllers feel that they have to ‘keep numbers up’, the unintended consequence is predictable; a bias toward completing contacts in rapid fashion.
This would run afoul of the vision that AOPA’s Mr. Boyer has for future service. As mentioned earlier, more data, interactive briefing and diluted area knowledge will tend to increase the amount of time it takes to work a given pilot contact. If this occurs (as we expect it will), LM will move to keep individual contacts short and sweet.
But Mr. Boyer is of the impression that if AOPA isn’t satisfied with performance, LM will respond quickly and decisively. So if pilot contacts become rushed to meet LM’s productivity requirements, Mr. Boyer can be expected to give Lockheed Martin a call. When the two worlds collide, who will win?
A number of possibilities exist; It could be that Mr. Sturm hasn’t gotten the word about the promises to APOA. Or, in his meeting with LM where Mr. Boyer states that his team asked “all the tough questions," maybe this one didn’t cross their minds.
Most likely, the real answer is based in the fact that neither LM or Mr. Boyer understand the business of providing Flight Service products to pilots. Should goals conflict, only one of them can win. Mr. Boyer may believe he’ll have leverage enough to steer things his way, but it will be Lockheed Martin in the drivers seat.
# posted by Skywise @ 10:45 PM 
