Sunday AJC "Why is this Airplane Always Late"

[n6604f]

ASA Ranks last in everything! Even the MGM, AL govt thinks the G.O. needs a complete rework of management......Finally something worth reading in the AJC.

DL is very displeased with ASA....Like that is any surprise. WAY TO GO B.L.

 

[Tim47SIP]

Bad Rap!

Well it is not always ASA's fault. I travel for the Mil every two weeks or so up to BWI from Florida. When I go from an ASA station to mainline for the last leg, my bag has ALWAYS been there. But when I transfer from Mainline back to ASA for the final leg, my bag is missing almost like clockwork. I know that it is not ASA because there are normally 10-15 people on the originating flight that did not get their bags which means that the cart never makes it from Delta Mainline to the ASA ramp. Several times, the bags ended up in Denver as that is where the originating flight from BWI goes. In these cases they never even got them off the aircraft!!

ASA does take some heat that they are not responsible for.

 

[Old Crow]

Well when corrected for weather, atc, the war in iraq, and the NFL, ASA is usually higher than everyone...
I just don't know why the AJC would publish such a thing.

 

[atrdriver]

Well it is not always ASA's fault. I travel for the Mil every two weeks or so up to BWI from Florida. When I go from an ASA station to mainline for the last leg, my bag has ALWAYS been there. But when I transfer from Mainline back to ASA for the final leg, my bag is missing almost like clockwork. I know that it is not ASA because there are normally 10-15 people on the originating flight that did not get their bags which means that the cart never makes it from Delta Mainline to the ASA ramp. Several times, the bags ended up in Denver as that is where the originating flight from BWI goes. In these cases they never even got them off the aircraft!!

ASA does take some heat that they are not responsible for.

I would certainly agree that many of our bag problems are not uor fault, simply because all mainline conmnecting bags are handled by mainling, either coming or going. But what about our dismal on time performance?
1. Needless aircraft swaps, normally accompanied with a concourse swap, normally on a 50 minute turn.
2. Late getting fuel.
3. Late getting NORMAL aircraft services, like catering, cleaning, and lav dumps.
4. Late getting releases.
5. All closed up and late getting rampers to run the tug and wing walk.
6. Inbound flights waiting 20+ minutes for a lift and a wheelchair.

These are all things DIRECTLY controlled by ASA, and all things that could be changed by good management. Yes, we certainly have problem that are out of our control. But we have many many more that are completely in our control, and those are the things that need to be fixed.

 

[ASARJMan]

I would certainly agree that many of our bag problems are not uor fault, simply because all mainline conmnecting bags are handled by mainling, either coming or going. But what about our dismal on time performance?
1. Needless aircraft swaps, normally accompanied with a concourse swap, normally on a 50 minute turn.
2. Late getting fuel.
3. Late getting NORMAL aircraft services, like catering, cleaning, and lav dumps.
4. Late getting releases.
5. All closed up and late getting rampers to run the tug and wing walk.
6. Inbound flights waiting 20+ minutes for a lift and a wheelchair.

These are all things DIRECTLY controlled by ASA, and all things that could be changed by good management. Yes, we certainly have problem that are out of our control. But we have many many more that are completely in our control, and those are the things that need to be fixed.

Well said driver...and so very (unfortunately) true. Like Boyd stated, get a hose and wash out the GO! Surpised though ASA didn't try and blame those "damn pilots' with their outrageous demands for all of it!

VOTED IN FAVOR!

 

[AutoTransfer]

ASA is a company of good employees led by a management that blames everyone else for their problems instead of owning them. It's the ATL airport, it's the Atlanta demographic, it's ATC, it's one too many runways, it's one too few runways, it's the weather.

Under the current leadership we have gone from an organization with problems, but great potential to an organization with just problems. Dead last in everything.

Brian L., if you want to save your job (and it may already be too late) maybe you should re-read Bethune's Worst to First and actually heed his advice regarding employee relations and process improvement. The tools are out there, you just have to have the will to use them.

I'm glad the heat is on though. It's what’s usually required to enact sweeping change. Maybe Atkin will pull a Rumsfeld on LaBreque the day after this article comes out. That would be an early X-Mas.

AT

 

[COOPERVANE]

My big gripe is all boarded up....spin
"add one more Pax" .......spin
"Oh, and 3 bags" O.K. .......spin.........2 minutes later
"3 more pax coming down" ....spin........30 sec later,
"2 more carry ons".....spin
"Hey! we got 47 and gate says 49"
"yeah two wheelchair pax on the way from D, should be here soon"
"add 11 more bags"spin, spin, spin
"Pilots took forever to get the paperwork out!"

What happened to CLOSING the flight? We could play this game all day!!

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Last month Jerry said that Bryan was putting his job on the line when he (Bryan) told him (Jerry) that he could fix the ramp problem in ATL.

Well, according to the AJC article, they are hoping for a turnaround by next summer.

NEXT SUMMER!!!!!!!!!! So I guess they are ok with there still being another 6, 7 or 8 months of poor performance in ATL. Not to mention the previous YEARS of poor performance already.

I can't fathom how Delta or SkyWest has not already done a complete house cleaning in the GO yet?

Leadership starts at the top of the organization, and ASA has ranked at or near the bottom in DOT statistics for as long as I have been here.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Electronic Flight Bags, or using Cornerstone (the software already in our gate / dispatch systems) to calculate Weight and Balance before the paperwork is handed up would save an estimate 5 minutes on every ASA turn. It would avoid the problems Coopervane brought up. In the case of Cornerstone, we have had this software for years, but the company is afraid to use it because they don't trust the below wing employees to get it right.

The Cornerstone product was a Delta Tech deal that Delta brought over to us. I don't know if we still have it, but I think we do.

The pilots carry this Company, despite all the crap SkyWest has dealt us since they began strip mining the fleet. At some point, you would think pilots would get fed up. It amazes me how professional pilots are (me too) despite our treatment by management.

 

[michael707767]

The pilots carry this Company, despite all the crap SkyWest has dealt us since they began strip mining the fleet. At some point, you would think pilots would get fed up. It amazes me how professional pilots are (me too) despite our treatment by management.

Pilots carry every airline. We are the last line of defense on everything.

 

[No Delay]

I wish someone would bring up the fact that Delta wants the cheapest. We are bound by our contract to be the lowest...

You cannot be the cheapest and the best. It is usually (as is in this case) the cheapest will bring you the worst!

I know the rampers and the gate agents are not top notch. However, the only people you are going to find to work in an environment as bad as the ramp and gates with the wages they are paying are people just like we have right now. Mostly uneducated under-acheivers with bad attitudes and an "I don't care" mentality. H e l l, I think for what they are paid and for what they have to put up with...they are doing an okay job. They are paying $8.00 an hour and I believe we are getting about $8.00 worth of work.

 

[redflyer65]

I laughed my *ss off when they said they hired Boyd. He calls himself an aviation consultant, but most of the time he has no idea what's going on in the industry. Maybe he needs to take an ASA ramp job to find out. You know, undercover of course.

 

[BobbyBiplane]

History has shown that Mr. Boud is an ASS who has never actually run an airline... Why would anyone listen to this fool????

ASA is ********************ED up because of ASA.

 

[ASARJMan]

ASA is ********************ED up because of ASA.

Actually ASA is *****ed up because of all the ex-DAL managers, who ******ed up DAL, then got themselves a job here after 'retiring' from DAL, starting with Skippy.

VOTED IN FAVOR!
www.nopilotleftbehind.com

 

[JoeMerchant]

Actually ASA is *****ed up because of all the ex-DAL managers, who ******ed up DAL, then got themselves a job here after 'retiring' from DAL, starting with Skippy.

Fourth thing we agree on today.......

 

[Matty4me]

Just Say No

My big gripe is all boarded up....spin
"add one more Pax" .......spin
"Oh, and 3 bags" O.K. .......spin.........2 minutes later
"3 more pax coming down" ....spin........30 sec later,
"2 more carry ons".....spin
"Hey! we got 47 and gate says 49"
"yeah two wheelchair pax on the way from D, should be here soon"
"add 11 more bags"spin, spin, spin
"Pilots took forever to get the paperwork out!"

What happened to CLOSING the flight? We could play this game all day!!

It's easy. JUST SAY NO!!! During pushback, when it happens, say no and spin the motors. don't give into the ramp and their lack of anything common sense. PIC. Perform as you may. dictate to others. don't let others dictate to you.

 

[Matty4me]

True Dat!

Actually ASA is *****ed up because of all the ex-DAL managers, who ******ed up DAL, then got themselves a job here after 'retiring' from DAL, starting with Skippy.

VOTED IN FAVOR!
www.nopilotleftbehind.comhttp://www.nopilotleftbehind.comhttp://www.nopilotleftbehind.com

Yea, that's right........

 

[Erlanger]

ASA will continue to do poorly in everything. Skywest, Inc. wants it that way for now, since ASA makes them money. You figure it out what I mean and why.

 

[COOPERVANE]

One of our deice trucks was broken this morning. NO ONE HAD CHECKED IT OUT PRIOR TO TODAY. 45 minutes late because of it!

If a pilot were in charge, he would have made sure those trucks were in tip top shape a month ago. We're working on it. We're working on it. We're working on it.. Frickin broken record.

No one is steering this ship!

 

[Axel]

Fast

Cheap

Good

Pick any two

 

[crashpad]

You think think that's bad? I showed for a Horizon flight last week that was booked to one whole passenger and departed at 7am. Got up early and hustled through the BS of the TSA, only to find out they casually CANCELLED the flight!!!
I reminded them it's illegal per the DOT regulations to cancel a flight simply because it's not convenient. They claimed it was a mechanical....Yeah, Right! The crew didn't even show up! Well, it's all in my report anyway.

 

[Speedtape]

Actually ASA is *****ed up because of all the ex-DAL managers, who ******ed up DAL, then got themselves a job here after 'retiring' from DAL, starting with Skippy.

VOTED IN FAVOR!
www.nopilotleftbehind.comhttp://www.nopilotleftbehind.comhttp://www.nopilotleftbehind.com

Actually, you left out the group that came in from TWA, including the evil one! Most of them are gone now, except the evil one! She is still spreading fear and harsh treatment to all her subordinates and the poor F/A's that work under her.

 

[800Dog]

Actually ASA is *****ed up because of all the ex-DAL managers, who ******ed up DAL, then got themselves a job here after 'retiring' from DAL, starting with Skippy.

VOTED IN FAVOR!
www.nopilotleftbehind.comhttp://www.nopilotleftbehind.comhttp://www.nopilotleftbehind.com

ASA was a mess before they came over as I saw first hand working there in the 90s.

 

[John Pennekamp]

Fourth thing we agree on today.......

And there's the fouth horse of the Apocolypse...

 

[BobbyBiplane]

ASA was a mess before they came over as I saw first hand working there in the 90s.

Correct ... it was hosed up long before Skip got there.

So, let's see - screwed up with George, screwed up with Ed, screwed up with Skip, screwed up with Jerry... what is the constant??????

Have you considered that maybe WE ARE THE PROBLEM????

Bob

 

[172driver]

Bob,

As I'm sure you know, flight crews have very little to do with the actual on-time performance of an airline. You can fly as slow as the plane will allow and it makes maybe five minutes difference...trust me, we are doing it at Comair per new company fuel saving procedures. The delays come on the ramp, at the gate, and from ATC. Yes, flight crews can try to hustle those things along, but it's really not their job to do so. I can tell you with 100% certainty that there are no pilots out there that could step foot on your airplanes and fix the mess at ASA. Just like you couldn't step on ours and fix the mess in JFK.

 

[800Dog]

Correct ... it was hosed up long before Skip got there.

So, let's see - screwed up with George, screwed up with Ed, screwed up with Skip, screwed up with Jerry... what is the constant??????

Have you considered that maybe WE ARE THE PROBLEM????

Bob

Not where I was headed with my post. Never has there been any leadership at the top and it looks like history will repeat itself. The pilots at ASA were the lone bright spot I encountered during my days there. They would be better off and more appreciated elsewhere.

 

[US Flyer]

Fast

Cheap

Good

Pick any two

PERFECT ANALOGY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Espalda Mojado]

ASA Ranks last in everything! Even the MGM, AL govt thinks the G.O. needs a complete rework of management......Finally something worth reading in the AJC.

DL is very displeased with ASA....Like that is any surprise. WAY TO GO B.L.

It's because you have no interested go getters, everything remains substandard.

 

[QCappy]

They claimed it was a mechanical....Yeah, Right!

Of course it was a mechanical. Not to your airplane, but another one. So they took yours. Technicallities.:bawling: