I Have an Unexpected Problem

[Capt Jim]

Does the company have an official policy on this sort of thing? I take it you're not holding the camera and that it's in a fixed position? I am sure you're professional enough to ensure you're following all SOPs and FAA regulations etc while flying, so it all comes down to company policy IMO.

I'm guessing NBC are doing an aviation special in light of the Malaysian airlines disaster. Maybe the angle they are going after is the fact the Captain of that flight also had a YouTube channel. Personally I think it's a pretty sensitive subject / time. Since we don't yet know the outcome of the investigation into that accident, it might not necessarily be good publicity for you. The media can take your video but put their own commentary / analysis which doesn't really represent your intentions. Just something to bear in mind.

I was just kidding about the deny part.

as far as the questions you ask
1. The camera is always on the glare shield looking over the nose or clamped to a panel looking between the pilots. it never moves or is a distraction.
2. I've always been very conscious of any possible problems with the regs when I make videos
3. the videos are always made with no passengers on board. Just the two pilots.
4. most of the videos have no way to identify the aircraft or whose flying it.
5. no mention in employee manual. I think it as written before cell phones were so popular.

It's not worth risking your job over a couples seconds of video being used on NBC. I'm pretty sure they won't offer you money and if they do it will be next to nothing. I had a channel use one of my videos and they paid me nothing, but I still had to sign a release form and everything. While it's cool to say "hey my video was on TV" it really does nothing for you other than having a good conversation topic with friends. I almost would be willing to bet it would be used in some show (Dateline) when they are talking about the Malaysian flight.

This is the part that really bothers me. I think that there will be no real benefit to giving them permission to use the clip and I don't trust them to use it in a positive manner that would promote aviation. You are absolutely right, they can say their going to do one thing then turn around and add anything they want to it. Unfortunately, in the news, bad news sells. Unless they can present a terribly compelling argument for me to do it I will probably decline.[DOUBLEPOST=1395800076,1395796733][/DOUBLEPOST]Just returned from dinner and checked the employee handbook online. It's been updated and specifically covers social media sights. It basicly says the company knows the employees use these sites and upload pictures etc. It says they expect employees to adhere to applicable laws and to use discretion or vague terms when discussing the company. There is nothing in the manual which prevents me from doing it. But, and this is a big but. I started uploading videos never really expecting anything to happen. I just wanted to share some of the things I saw and did. I saw it as a way to share aviation and travel and have always stayed on the positive end. With the recent Malaysia 777 disappearance and the associated information that's coming out I think the potential abuse of something I've created is very possible.

Back to my employer. I never expected to get this attention/views. I've had offers to buy me nice cameras and even had a passenger of mine send me a message saying he found me on the internet and loved my videos. I've got web sites and people are posting my videos all over the world. So it is probably time I have a little talk with the big man. Hi ******, can I talk to you? I've got a little secret I think I need to tell you about.