Bravo nomination for my Indian Detective work!

Congratulations! You have received a BRAVO nomination from Greg Jepp who would like to say 'Thank you' to you and show their appreciation for a job well done.

Fleet: 777
Date: 12Jun2010
Sector: BLR-LHR
Flight No: 118

I wish to highly commend Gary for his keen eye with regard to security. Through his observation and dilligence not only did he prevent the theft of personal property from myself but he also has highlighted a potentially serious security issue in BLR. He is clearly a thoughtful and professional individual and whilst I have personally thanked him I believe that our company also owes at least a vote of thanks to Gary. He has prevented further personal losses to fellow crew members and also potential breaches of security and hence protected flight safety for the airline. The report I have submitted to BA security is cut and pasted below for your consideration. I have concealed the names of the accused parties untill the investigation is complete but security will I am sure speak to you if wished.Thankyou.

Theft From And Interference With Crew Baggage In BLR 12/06/2010
Security reference GL/4/11 June.



This account contains to the best of my recollection events surrounding the above incident and if required can be corroborated by the crew members mentioned within this report.
In BLR we are accompanied on the crew transport by a security guard and someone dressed in what appears to be a hotel uniform but I am informed is actually a “facilitator” from the transport company. Incidentally there is on occasion a third person who I have observed on several occasions whose actual purpose is unclear to me and will be challenged next time.

On boarding the bus crew usually (as do I) deposit hand baggage on the first few rows of seats in order to allow colleagues to be seated comfortably. On this occasion myself, my first officer (SFO Jerry Spence) and steward Gary Marshall-Gleghorn sat either directly behind the guard and transport staff member or in my case one further row back. Our baggage was then clearly visible to us. Jerry and Gary observed the transport employee (or so we believe him to be), subsequently found to be named Xxxxxx, positioning himself very close to Jerry’s briefcase and in fact repositioning it to be directly next to him on his seat. Xxxxx then appeared to rest his arm over said luggage. After a moment’s thought Jerry decided that this seemed a little suspicious and retrieved his briefcase and placed it by his side. In what appears to be a well practiced smokescreen Xxxxxx then stood up, pretended to attend to something in the overhead hat rack and used this as an excuse to reposition himse
lf to be seated next to my briefcase. Steward Gary then watched Xxxxx attempt to cover his right arm from view with a newspaper whilst leaning on my bag in such a way as to cover his activities but which in fact aroused my colleague’s suspicion.

Not having observed this activity up to now I was then appraised of what had happened by SFO Spence and it seemed sensible therefore to remove my bag from Xxxxx’s reach also. On inspection of its’ contents my wallet was found to be missing and it was clearly appropriate to challenge Xxxxx at this time. He seemed remarkably calm and sanguine (as he remained subsequently) as I instructed him to stand and levelled the accusation. Initially all seemed innocent and a simple misunderstanding until Jerry and Gary shone a torch into the area where Xxxxx was seated and purely by very diligent searching discovered my wallet very well secreted and hardly visible stuffed well down the side of the seat.

There is no way this could have occurred accidentally and it was a deliberate attempt to steal and conceal the evidence for later retrieval. CSD Brian Yip who also had a bag in the vicinity could also see that his bag had been rummaged through but fortunately none of the contents removed. The hotel security manager/Transport company airport rep (named Xxxxxxx) /BA station staff and I believe via them the police were all informed and Xxxxx was detained on board the coach whilst arrangements were made.

I believe there have been more than one unproven case of theft on this route which although not known personally by me was reported to me by crew members as having occurred (Gary was aware of this and hence particularly alert) and caused an albeit unofficial warning to be circulated. Of course the implication of interference with crew baggage is not just the theft and removal of property but also the possibility of insertion of an item which could very well pose a serious security risk.

I did not take further part in the subsequent actions as the pre flight preparations needed my attention but have submitted this account to you and copied it to any relevant or involved parties.

I wish to highly commend both SFO Spence and STD Marshall-Gleghorn for both saving me considerable personal irritation but more importantly for their security awareness and diligence in uncovering and highlighting something that could as I have suggested above pose a serious risk to flight safety.

Gregory Jepp (Captain)
705075.
13/June/2010.


The following BA Values have been recognised:
- Safe and Secure
- Professional

Thank you for your contribution, very well done and please keep up the good work.

A copy of this BRAVO nomination will be placed on your operational file.

Thieving Indian!

It was 430am in India, we met as a crew in the lobby ready for the long flight home from Bangalore, little did i know what was about to unfold between the hotel and the airport.
We boarded the crew transport, the front rows left and right were occupied with a security guard and a member of hotel staff, rows 2 left and right were empty apart from crews bags left on seats, bags were also in rows one with the security man and hotel staff member, i sat in row three on the left and a first officer sat in the third row on the right, the rest of the crew were dotted about behind me.
I had been aware of keeping an eye on my luggage and that of others for security reasons so my attention was drawn to the hotel staff member who was sitting at the front of the bus, he kept looking to see if anyone was looking, my bag was next to him but nothing of value was in it as i always keep my smaller bag next to me.
After about ten minutes of "shifty" behaviour he stood up, checked the air con outlets above the seat as if to say his were not working and he moved to row behind, now sitting in front of a pilot, he was using his newspaper as a smokescreen to hide his arms and hands so i kept watching, in the end i asked the first officer to look between the seats, he saw nothing so turned to the captain who was sitting behind and suggested it may be a good idea to move his bag which was next to this staff member.
When the captain retrieved his bag he had a look in and noticed his wallet was missing, the staff member stood up and asked what the problem was, the Pilot leaned to over to the row he had been sitting and found the captains wallet jammed between the two seat cushions.
This guy had been rumbled, he was shocked and obviously knew there was no escape and his job had just been taken from him.
After numerous telephone calls from the crew transport we were met at the airport by security and hotel staff and they were going to hand him over to the police and charge him with theft.
I became the hero of the day, i was chuffed with the result as i had read on crew online forums about missing i-pods, wallets, cameras etc etc but the source had never been found as once crew get to the aircraft or possibly back home to UK, this is when you discover you have lost something and cannot trace it back.
I will never leave my bag unattended ever again as it they can take something out, they could also put something in.
Safety First!!!

NEW TV

I wired some money to dad yesterday as i think it is about time they had a new flatscreen tv, he paid £2500 for his 32" flatscreen in 2004, that is how much they were then, he is going to get a Panasonic freesat hd ready 42", i am so pleased to be able to help them out, well it is a good job i do as no one else bothers.
I must have spent 20K on them in past three years, and they deserve every penny and it is a great feeling to be able to help them out.

In years to come when i have no parents i will be able to sit down, remember all the good times and know i did as much as i could with what i had and brought pleasure, luxury and comfort to the two most important people in my life.

I love them dearly.

Depressing Day

Today is a bad day, i have just realised i have lived in a dressing gown for two days and never got dressed, i cried 4 times today, and have not spoken to a soul in two days.
I could hear a bank holiday party going on in my neighbours garden, i could see people filling cars with picnic hampers and folding chairs, i watched out of the window as i imprisoned myself indoors.
I will admit i am lonely, no one visits, no one calls, life is empty, life is awful.
Presently i cannot even escape to fantasy land as there are no flights as i am on strike.
I often reminise to myself, the 70's and 80's were ok years, i think of "Get Carter" the movie with Sir Michael Caine which was filmed in parts in Gateshead, the older cars and bright yellow double decker buses all bring back memories.
Family was always around me, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents,most of now are dead, i have no grandparents, one aunt, no uncles a few cousins but all lead their own lives and as i live so far from anyone the loneliness just seems to be worse.
I watched Billy Elliott the movie on Sky tonight, i cried and cried, this was just like my childhood, miners strikes, poverty although we were not quite as poor as others in fact we were pretty well off,but i hate money and always will, i only need enough to get by, flash cars, big houses are a sign of insecurity as people cannot attract attention with themselves so need materialistic things to attract people which is so sad.
The miners strike on Billy Elliott was bringing the 1970's to 2010 with the BA strike, emotions also running high at work, no trust with colleagues, there is bullying and intimidation and lots of people being suspended for harassing others.
I have to got to work ( non strike days only) do my job, say nothing, never get into strike conversations, ignore everything going on around me and them get home after the trip and slam the door!Phew!!! another one over!!!
I miss a lot of things in my life, i miss all the people who are not here anymore through bereavement and also those who choose to want nothing to do with me in a time in my life when i really need them.
My health is still not too good, diabetes is hard to control, sometimes i forget to take my pills and when i check my own blood glucose levels they are sky high.... i also have to go next week to see the dietician as need to control what i eat and also have an appointment to see the eye specialist to make sure i am not going blind or indeed could do in the future.
I deal with all this on a daily basis,alone..isolated.....depressed.....thanks people!

Strike Take 2

Day one two and three on the picket line had temperatures soring into the 80's and lots of burnt crew, some with sun stroke, which probably made day four when i arrived at 0930 a little quiet, it was drizzly, i attended the Hatton Cross Picket line with the group of 14 ( all that is allowed by law per picket line but they are rotated every 45 minutes to an hour. Horns were honked from cars in support of our Industrial action but also we will always get verbal abuse and he odd finger gesture.
The open topped double decker is a great 40 minute journey around Heathrow, it allows crew to scream SHAME ON YOU SCABIN CREW in various locations like the crew car park, back to back hotel and cranebank training centre. I am so amazed that scabs actually go into work, previous crew members from the 80's abd early 90's fought for the terms, conditions and pay that we have now, many crew left charter airlines for these reasons and now, some, are willing to return to charter terms and conditions and not put up a fight....i say....SHAME ON YOU!!
I am currently on strike, i will lose £80 per day for the 6 days i missed with my trip + days off totally £480.00 out of Junes Pay slip.
People think we are militants and we want all this, this could not be further from the truth, we want a fair deal, we are willing to help make savings, we want to get back to normality and do the job we all love but we have a massive Irish brick wall in our way. Gosh i wish this nightmare would all end, i am poor, upset, unhappy and completely miserable, i have also lost many many friends who have decided to not support the cause and i really have no time for them now, or indeed any time in the future, such a shame but scabs ( yes the word exists in the dictionary and is described as " someone who crosses an official picket line and goes to work" so i am not saying a bad word.

What i have learnt

I haven’t really had time to keep my blog up to date and when I do have time I am just too tired. I have been working a lot and have had tons of crazy new experiences. People never cease to amaze me….

So my trips have been a blur so I can’t really go into details, but this is what I’ve learned in the past

When the airplane is going back to the gate due to a mechanical problem with the air conditioner there is no way to answer “Why can’t we just open a window?” with a strait face.
Your crew can really set the tone for what kind of mood you’ll be in for the next 2-5 days.
If you piss off crew scheduling you’ll find a 6 leg a day trip in the near future.
Never, ever, EVER call fatigue, even if you can’t walk…. It will come back to bite you in the ass.
In-Flight management must have already forgotten how challenging this job can be on the body, heart, and soul of us reserves.
That airsick bags are my new “duct tape”… 1,001 uses and counting!
That you can make grilled cheese sandwiches on a plane…
What crew juice is, the different names for it, as well as several recipes.
That our website gives carry on dimensions that are seriously too large for our overhead bins…
That gate checking bags can nearly cause a riot.
How to spot an over sized carry on across the room.
Truth or Dare is more fun at 31,000 feet
That oxygen bars are god’s solution to hangovers.
That it is always the little old women who know that they can’t lift their bags that pack the heaviest.
That there is no such thing as non-run hosiery.
Why some flight attendants wear thigh-highs
That UMs are worse than screaming babies.
That even UMs can find love on an airplane.
That business cards are a must because cocktail napkins are easy to loose.
That gate agents have feelings too.
That gate agents will put a non-ambulatory, blind, man who doesn’t speak a word of English on last and then try to close the door before we can even figure out how we are supposed to brief him.
That Seal-A-Meal I bought is the best $45 I’ll ever spend.
That you can heat Seal-A-Meal bags inside an airsick bag full of hot water and actually eat a hot meal on the plane.
That the ice packs that are used for injuries are better than the blue ice because you can refill them on the plane, the airport, and at the hotel… no freezing required!
That the view from the flight deck is breathtaking.
That even though the aft lav on a 717 says Push on the door people will still pull out the ashtray thinking it is a doorknob.
That the forward lav attracts everyone from row 1 -31
That the aft lavs are typically cleaner due to last lesson learned.
That it is possible for a crew to deplane a full flight only to find out as I preflight that they were missing a slide. (no joke)
That you should never tell a 5 month pregnant woman that her flight has been cancelled unless you plan on calling security.
That even though the wing flap is broken… we are good to go :-/
That layover hotels do not like skinny dippers!

New First Class Cabin 777 G-VIIM