SWA starts proviing runs to SJU

[GIZMONC]

All this week SWA is flying from various cities to start proving runs for service to SJU. Yesterday a flight had the following routing: DAL HOU SJU MCO. Due to storms in SJU it was delayed until leaving DAL late in the day. Following runs are as follows: Day 2 MCO -SJU-BWI. Day 3 BWI -SJU -MCO Day 4 MCO -SJU -MCO
Day 5 MCO -SJU -DAL. Just wonder how long before SWA starts service there are no slots to aquire just red tape.

 

[Just thinking]

Yippeeeeee how exciting..... now you just have to figure out what happens in case of a divert into a foreign country!

 

[Lear70]

Yippeeeeee how exciting..... now you just have to figure out what happens in case of a divert into a foreign country!

Nah, STX is just right down the road.

Most of the time the heavy weather stays south of the approach for Rwy 10, might have to cut right to the marker and just tell them that's what you're going to do when the one girl is working who doesn't speak English fantastically and gets flustered.

In the event (I go down there 9-10 times a month every month for the last two years) that you HAVE to go somewhere else, the odds of STX (only 25 minutes or so max) being socked in for weather also is pretty nil.

All in all, it's just a long flight where you're not talking to a whole lot of people most of the way and it happens to be surrounded by water. Last I heard they plan on putting it on the schedule for March with a complete take-over by September.

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

This is news?????

 

[Dumb Pilot]

Yippeeeeee how exciting..... now you just have to figure out what happens in case of a divert into a foreign country!

So what? A diversion to the Bahamas or Dominican Republic is being done many times, the A/C remains as technical stop and just refuels and departs again, there are procedures for this in place and it is done regularly, don't know why you assume it is an issue.

 

[Ty Webb]

So what? A diversion to the Bahamas or Dominican Republic is being done many times, the A/C remains as technical stop and just refuels and departs again, there are procedures for this in place and it is done regularly, don't know why you assume it is an issue.

I'm sure for your carrier, it is no big deal, and it isn't for any international carrier, but for an airline with no International Ops, it presents a few difficulties.

Let's see . . . for starters, no International Ops Specs, No International dispatching software. No ACARS. No international procedures training, no approach charts . . . No ground handling contracts in place. No fueling contracts. No approved weather sources.

Other than that, it's a breeze.

 

[ATLplt]

This is news?????

Exactly

 

[IAHERJ]

Proving runs to SJU? Didn't Pan Am, Eastern, and Trans-Caribbean take care of this in the mid 1950's? Lots of 737's in and out of SJU daily(although the smaller of the jets serving the airport). It is not ETOPS unless you are flying from the Northeast when Bermuda is closed so why again does this route need a proving run? FA's practicing the life vest/raft demo? Use of long range navigation for the pilots? "This guys, is an HF radio. These were used during WWII to communicate great distances".

Meanwhile our guys are doing real proving runs on the 787 this week. Proving runs that make sense.

 

[Ty Webb]

"This guys, is an HF radio. These were used during WWII to communicate great distances".

Now, THAT'S funny. :laugh:

 

[ATLplt]

You have to remember that this is from an airline that believes getting the -800 is akin to the second coming of Christ.