Member-only story
Processes and rules are meant to streamline the systems of an organization and must be abided by for a smooth operation. However, there are times when these rules should be looked at from a humane perspective.
Flight operations is a tough job and managing schedules is its centrepiece but when exceptional issues come then leadership plays a pivotal role.
Here’s a story from Omar Ahmad from his times managing tough schedules.
I was the Crew Operations Controller at that time responsible for the activities at Base and Worldwide. There had been a situation where I had to step out of the way and make an exceptional decision to support and help one of our crew members on humanitarian grounds.
The crew member had called the office to request an emergency Leave. He had informed me that his father had fallen ill and had been hospitalized and he needed to travel home immediately to be with him.
Unfortunately, his request was declined as it didn’t meet the company emergency leave criteria based on the information, he had provided which didn’t indicate that his father was in a critical condition.
The crew member was distressed, emotional and anxious; taking account of the situation, I thought of an alternative to providing him the…
