I was watching at a mainline gate a couple of weeks ago - before the 767 pulled in the rampers had the power cord stretched out and ready to plug in. Parking brake set, chocks in, and power plugged in. Nice and quick. Our rampers wait for us to park, then wait for the gate agent to move the jet bridge back and forth a few times before they finaly get it in position, THEN the rampers might think about grabbing the power cord and plugging it in. I honestly don't understand whey that can't get the cord out and ready to plug in right away.
With all the harping on saving gas - I have been guilty of starting the APU so we don't sit there with an engine running for so long waiting for the ground power. But given the APU problems, I'll leave it off from now on.
Deferrals - the planes are running out of deferral stickers and the plastic sleeves can't hold all the pages of deferred maintenance items. Someone complained of 5 deferreals - I wish I could have a plane with only 5. Are there any 700s with two gear doors? The organizing drive crossed my mind - but it may be turnover in the maintenance department. I'd be curious to know. The cold weather is causing problems too - I swear it took and hour and a half for the electrons to thaw out in Milwaukee recently. Some of the systems in the cockpit check wouldn't test at all.