John Travolta's 'tacky' safety video

[burhead1]

Did a search did not see it posted


The actor may have slicked back his hair and put on his dancing shoes in "Grease" more than 30 years ago, but in his latest gig as ambassador for Qantas airlines, Travolta looks positively tame in a suit, tie and pilot's cap.

What bothers multiple members of the Australian airline's staff, however, is what he says.

"This is your captain speaking," an overly friendly Travolta starts in the safety video. "Well, maybe not today.

"But I can guarantee that the guys on the flight deck and the great team care just as much about aircraft safety as I do."

Some Qantas employees have taken to online message boards to complain about Travolta's "tacky" delivery and word choice, notably pointing out that the actor uses "team" instead of "crew," which makes them "feel like we work at McDonald's."

"The whole thing seems to make the safety message seem trite," one anonymous poster complained.

A spokesman for the airline defended its decision to include the "Pulp Fiction" star, calling the video "really engaging."

So why Travolta?


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2011/ ... z1Hk8pIimz

http://video.news.com.au/1847658538/Captain-Travolta

[paul65]

"Captain Travolta", not really with only a PPL. He's not even PIC on his 707, he only has a SIC rating. From the FAA database "B-707 SIC PRIVILEGES ONLY." If he wants to be called "captain" why doesn't he get his ATPL, he certainly has the hours.

[invertedattitude]

Was this part of the 747 deal?

[Doc]

Here's Air New Zealand's briefing starring the All Blacks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDgWR6YrOCI

Just shows that you need not of a carrot up your ass, like AC!

[bizjets101]

Kudo's to Travolta - he's gone thru some tough times of late especially with the death of his son Jet.

Qantas crews are amongst the best in the world, and the most laid back and fun!!! I doubt very much the complaints are anything serious.

As far as Travolta - and excellent Ambassador for Qantas - never mind he's famous, well liked all over the world - promotes AussieLand to Americans - the guys married to an Aussie, lives on an airfield - bought an ex Qantas B707 - what else does the guy have to do???

As for his ratings, Click Here. FAA Inquiry.

[bizjets101]

I still like Delta's

[g5]

John's response to the complaints...

[bizjets101]

Here are some photo's of the Travolta residence;

CLICK HERE

Didn't realize you add to re-add the info to the FAA page,
here is what is listed on John's license with the FAA.

Certificate: PRIVATE PILOT
Rating(s):
PRIVATE PILOT
AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE LAND
AIRPLANE MULTIENGINE LAND
INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE

Type Ratings

P/B-707 P/B-720 P/CE-500 P/G-1159 P/HS-125
P/LR-JET


Limits

B-707 SIC PRIVILEGES ONLY.
CE-500 (VFR ONLY).

[Expat]

As a person, John is a class act. One of the few sucessful actors who lives a normal life. The guy is not into anything stupid, and on top, he is generous. He flew a load of relief supplies to Haiti last year.
He may not have all the ratings, but he keeps clean and fit.

[buss]

[quote="Expat"]As a person, John is a class act. One of the few sucessful actors who lives a NORMAL life. The guy is not into anything STUPID.
. [/quote]

expat your kidding right? The guy believes we owe our existence to aliens

As a Scientologist, I have the technology to handle life’s problems and I have used this to help others in life as well.

I would say that Scientology put me into the big time.

John Travolta
Actor

[robertsailor1]

Actually Scientology is easier to believe than Christianity (if you had a desire to believe far fetched stories in the first place) Think about it..people or Gods coming from different planets etc. etc. a bit more hip than some camel jockey waling on water and burning bushes having conversations with you!!

[OceansEdge]

All religious arguments aside (and we thought the age argument was contentious!)..

I can see why some QANTAS employees might be a bit ... prickly over it. There could be a perception, one not entirely without merit, that QANTAS management have pandered to the 'Big American Superstar'. When he bought the 707 there was a fair bit of effort put into making sure he got period correct paint details, period correct uniforms for his crew. And I think there's a point to be made about him standing in the video in uniform and cap - looking all the world like a QANTAS captain - whether or not he admits he isn't it's the enduring image people are left with and some really do feel slighted that he hasn't EARNED that.

Sure Air New Zealand has used Richard Simmons and the All Blacks in safety videos (see other thread) - but he wasn't putting himself off as an airline captain, and real crews are still featured heavily in the videos and credited.

Nice guy? not nice guy? brilliant actor? religious nut? I don't know - I've never met the man, but from a public visibility standpoint his relationship with QANTAS does kinda smack of Hollywood starlet syndrome.

[Beefitarian]

What everyone is missing here just like "IcePilots NWT" is these videos are not for pilots. The pilots know they are safer flying Quantas than most airlines.

The people in the back need that guy from "Look who's talking too" to tell them everything's ok. "Oi mate! I love that Vinnie Barbarino guy. I read he really is a pilot too." etc.

Personally I'd rather they had a more experienced guy like that Captain Fantastic come on and say something equally silly like "The plane is indistructable." also, but I didn't pay to make the video.

[Expat]

What everyone is missing here just like "IcePilots NWT" is these videos are not for pilots. The pilots know they are safer flying Quantas than most airlines.

The people in the back need that guy from "Look who's talking too" to tell them everything's ok. "Oi mate! I love that Vinnie Barbarino guy. I read he really is a pilot too." etc.

Personally I'd rather they had a more experienced guy like that Captain Fantastic come on and say something equally silly like "The plane is indistructable." also, but I didn't pay to make the video.

Right on! This is for passengers, and the video probably goes well with them...

[OceansEdge]

What everyone is missing here just like "IcePilots NWT" is these videos are not for pilots. The pilots know they are safer flying Quantas than most airlines.

The people in the back need that guy from "Look who's talking too" to tell them everything's ok. "Oi mate! I love that Vinnie Barbarino guy. I read he really is a pilot too." etc.

Personally I'd rather they had a more experienced guy like that Captain Fantastic come on and say something equally silly like "The plane is indistructable." also, but I didn't pay to make the video.

Right on! This is for passengers, and the video probably goes well with them...

I'm just saying it's possible to make a decent engaging (and even humorous) safety video that informs the traveling public without necessarily insulting your crews. *shrug* Heck - use Hugh Jackman if you must have a Hollywood star - at least he IS Australian and still well liked at home. But honestly why do you need an American film star at all? Australia has plenty of their own engaging personalities.

(edited for typo correction)

[C-FABH]

Re: "Some Qantas employees have taken to online message boards to complain about Travolta's "tacky" delivery and word choice"

Better watch out, next thing you know, the NY Daily News reporters might be lurking in the Avcanada forum to lift a few quotes!! Not like you'd ever hear anyone complain on the internet.

[DanJ]

Not sure if Qantas has any female pilots, but I would have thought that his phrase "The guys on the flight deck" would have been more of a concern than simply saying team instead of crew.

[niss]

"guys on the deck"? That's an odd name. I'd have called them "chazzwazzers".

[Beefitarian]

What everyone is missing here just like "IcePilots NWT" is these videos are not for pilots. The pilots know they are safer flying Quantas than most airlines.

The people in the back need that guy from "Look who's talking too" to tell them everything's ok. "Oi mate! I love that Vinnie Barbarino guy. I read he really is a pilot too." etc.

Personally I'd rather they had a more experienced guy like that Captain Fantastic come on and say something equally silly like "The plane is indistructable." also, but I didn't pay to make the video.

Right on! This is for passengers, and the video probably goes well with them...

I'm just saying it's possible to make a decent engaging (and even humorous) safety video that informs the traveling public without necessarily insulting your crews. *shrug* Heck - use Huge Jackman if you must have a Hollywood star - at least he IS Australian and still well liked at home. But honestly why do you need an American film star at all? Australia has plenty of their own engaging personalities.

Who? That guy might be know down under but Quantas does a lot of flights all over the world.

I'm just a dummy riding in a plane. I heard Travolta was a pilot, he took Oprah flying. That helps me think he knows what he's talking about.

[OceansEdge]

Who? That guy might be know down under but Quantas does a lot of flights all over the world.

I'm just a dummy riding in a plane. I heard Travolta was a pilot, he took Oprah flying. That helps me think he knows what he's talking about.

Hugh Jackman - actor - X-men, Van Heisling - etc etc etc.... (never mind)

Travolta may know what he's talking about. Again, I don't know the man, I'm certainly not about to question his abilities or ratings as a pilot. That said he really hasn't earned the right to wear the QANTAS uniform, so I can see why some people might be prickly about it - it's not just the video, but all of the pandering and gifts from the management when employees are facing cutbacks.

And BTW - not to be all prickly myself - but it's QANTAS - no 'U", all Caps Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Service.

[niss]

[Hedley]

his abilities or ratings as a pilot

ok, what are your abilities or ratings as a pilot?

[OceansEdge]

ya know Hedley... if I didn't know better, I'd almost think you were deliberately trying to pick an argument.

*shrug*
fortunately .. I know better

[Hedley]

I guess that's the answer.

I have no problem with people throwing rocks at John Travolta because they're jealous of him and his personal B707. No problem at all. That's the Canadian way. But anyone that craps on him as unqualified had better have better credentials. People in glass houses, and all.

[OceansEdge]

Hedley, I have NO bone to pick with you, I have NO bone to pick with John Travolta... if you would do me the courtesy of rereading what I wrote in both posts again you will clearly see me state that:

I'm certainly not about to question his abilities or ratings as a pilot.

Please if you're going to quote me, at least do it in context.

Nice guy? not nice guy? brilliant actor? religious nut? I don't know - I've never met the man, but from a public visibility standpoint his relationship with QANTAS does kinda smack of Hollywood starlet syndrome.

He's an actor, a film star a pilot, ... I know no more about the man any other public citizen - and NON of has been any kind of comment or slander on Travolta, but rather a question of whether or not QANTAS management using him in the form and format they did was a) in good taste and b) potentially offensive to QANTAS employees. It has nothing to do with his, mine, or anyone else's skills as a pilot (I'm not the one who was posting type ratings)

Hell I'd have said the same thing if it were John Wayne, Bruce Willis, or Steve McQueen for that matter (and you'd probably still be picking the same out of context argument)

I fully understand that quite often on the internet people read what we write or say in a context outside of what me meant. So let me be as clear as I possibly can before I let this drop. I threw no rocks, I have no desire to have John Travolta's life or B707, and I'm quite content with my own life, my own PPL, and my own career, and my own 30+ yrs of aviation experience. Drive on by there is nothing to see here.

Once more for clarity:
I have NO bone to pick with you, I have NO bone to pick with John Travolta