Airline Operations

[sebastian]

I'm sorta new to this airline business; so maybe what I experience is typical. We have frequent 'computer problems' that delay flights; sometimes these are big issues that last for several hours and sometimes only for an hour or so. On most days the release and weather is delayed for a long time; sometimes past departure time. Our radio frequency is so jammed with everyone calling inrange; asking for fuel, paperwork, lav service etc. that I sit for a long time just waiting to get a word in. The Captain delayed a flight because we were missing most of our connecting baggage.

Our passengers get upset when they miss their connection, or their cruise or whatever, and one day we had two kids, UMs, that had connections to Europe; we were an hour late; i hope they made it.

No one seems to care! Is this typical of a regional airline or is it just the one I'm at?

 

[Resume Writer]

I do not think it is typical of your airline. This happens at most every airline.

It seems they look at the domino effect of delaying flights, which messes up the whole system down the line. Sometimes I think management would rather inconvenience a few passengers rather than many others. Further, if crews are affected by minimum rest or duty time, then that causes another set of problems.

So, in answer to your questions, there are many factors that are taken into account when they make decisions. They typically look at the "big picture" even though we, as frontline people, do not always understand what they are doing.

As far as computer problems, that happens at every airline. The key is to have a contingency plan in place for when that happens.

Kathy

 

[millhouse21]

Let me guess, you're flying out of the G gates at IAD right?

 

[TurboS7]

The awesome life of an airline pilot, in reality it is a crap job.

 

[sebastian]

yeah, the G gates at IAD. I work for Air Wisconsin; and I think we are doing ops and suppossed to be getting the other united express carriers their paperwork, right?

To all those other airlines that are affected by this mess:

I'M SORRY WE ARE SO MESSED UP!

I love flying; but this is really a mess. I wonder what winter will be like? Has anyone been through de-icing at IAD?

Is Air Wis the worst out here? Do you other guys experience computer issues that delay flights and distresss passengers?

 

[millhouse21]

I agree that no one seems to care. The people who should care the most are management at UAL since in the end it is their customers getting screwed. However, there seems to be a complete absence of supervision and/or leadership on the ramp. What they need to do is bring in a couple of retired Master Chiefs from the Navy and let them kick a$$ out there. Failing that, they need to recognise that it isn't the crew or TSA or Mesa or AWAC that is causing the delays. It's the 8 people sitting on their butts doing nothing!! (My favorite is the big girl who just stands in one spot and imitates an orange cone)I'm sure they think it's OK to just pass along a penalty for poor performance but unless they fix the real cause, it won't change. Of course, we call out on time to keep from getting in trouble but this is a case of the company lying to itself. When I say the company, I mean all of us because we are all working for UAL at that point. At least, that's the way the customers see it.

I feel better now but seriously that UAL operation at IAD is the worst run organization I have ever seen and I spent 9 years in the Navy. I'm pretty certain that jetBlue doesn't put their pax through hell like you see at the G gates.

 

[AA717driver]

To all those other airlines that are affected by this mess:

I'M SORRY WE ARE SO MESSED UP!

Come on, sebastian, get ahold of yourself! Remember, being an airline pilot means never having to say you're sorry.

In fact, the more your f**kups screw over your competitors, the more fun it is! Enjoy! TC

P.S.--please forgive my insanely cynical attitude. I'm hungover and I'm off my meds.

 

[sebastian]

It's really embarassing, to say the least. I know we all have the same problem getting the release and other required stuff; and again, I'm sorry. Hey, how do you other guys get your weight and balance? Do you do it yourselfs? We get ours read to us, often in a language I don't understand.