AirTran emergency lndg.

[climbhappy]

shoulgn't this kind of judgment call com up in recurrent

with changes in TSA rules, and how it affects operations, shouldn't a check airman throw this in on reucrrent check rides? the management should decide what is sound judgment for Airtran and pass this wisdom to the check airmen who pass it on to captains.
It could be the kind of thing you do on a loft or getting vectors after the airwork etc. Not on the single engine ILS.

 

[radarlove]

What would they have done if this flight was somewhere over the Pacific Ocean?????

From the sound of this decision-making process, one would have to assume they would have ditched.

 

[jehtplane]

What does that mean? Remember they put one in the everglades one time. Not knowing what was in the bottle, and under the current situation, I think the crew did the right thing. I think the passengers should beat the hell out of the passenger for not following the rules.

What if it was a little old lady? Would still have the same opinion?

 

[180ToTheMarker]

Maybe there is more to the story...

http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-ad-8_22_06-plane.26c7f460.html

 

[Gorilla]

I'm sorry, diverting for a bottle of water is lunacy.

Options - Mullet's is sound. Open the bottle. Smell. Note the viscosity and color. Then make the pax drink a few big swallows. Return the bottle of water to the passenger.

Or - Open the bottle. Smell. If it seems suspicious, THEN you lock everything down and immediately divert to the nearest airport, because there may be accomplices.

As crewmembers, we need to be better educated on explosives. Unless the liquid is exceptionally unstable, it'll still need a booster, such as a blasting cap. Liquid explosives do not look or smell like water. Nitromethanes, hydrazines, acetone/peroxides, all of these stink like crazy.

Added: OK, I missed the odor part. Given that, then the decision to divert wasn't a bad one.

 

[Dizel8]

The F/A probably dumped the water in the lav, hence the strong smell.

 

[SkiFishFly]

Of course if it was an arab muslim who had the water then there probably was a strong odor in the cabin...:laugh:

 

[FN FAL]

Options - Mullet's is sound. Open the bottle. Smell. Note the viscosity and color. Then make the pax drink a few big swallows. Return the bottle of water to the passenger.

One. An airline employee isn't making me drink anything.

Two. There are some chemicals that if you smell them, you'll lose organ function...don't open strange bottles with unknown contents and smell or drink anything.

 

[ReportCanoa]

He's right, you know.

 

[Kharma Police]

You guys are really something else. At least you gave me a good laugh for the day.

That's sad old man (or woman) that this is the highlight of your day.

 

[Pilottodd2]

Listen up everyone, you all have it wrong.

Terrorists used to reign holy terror upon us, now, for the same effect, they are reigning holy 'inconvienence' upon us.
They build a bomb out of liquids..No more liquids onboad. Heck, they didnt even have to buy plane tickets (at $39 each way)
Next, they will build a bomb out of a cell-phone or laptop and get 'caught' before going on to another plane..No more electronics onboard.
Baby bomb..No more babies on board. etc...etc...etc.

Question: If one of the people caught had full airport access, and they could have switched the bottles of water onboard, then why is the airlines still allowed to bring their own bottles onboard??

In order for us to take back our civil liberties that our government is taking away from us (by using excuses about terrorism) the only thing we pilots can do is divert each and every time there is something questionable (like water) onboard. Then we will convey a powerful message to upper management ($$$) about this, then they can take it up with our government. Maybe George and his buddies will do something different to stop the terrorism vs taking away our liberties (like racial profiling, or even god forbid, pull out of the middle east and just leave them alone).

Just my 3/4 cents (after taxes, pay cuts, dealer prep, and delivery fees)

 

[SkiFishFly]

Listen up everyone, you all have it wrong.

In order for us to take back our civil liberties that our government is taking away from us (by using excuses about terrorism) the only thing we pilots can do is divert each and every time there is something questionable (like water) onboard. Then we will convey a powerful message to upper management ($$$) about this, then they can take it up with our government. Maybe George and his buddies will do something different to stop the terrorism vs taking away our liberties (like racial profiling, or even god forbid, pull out of the middle east and just leave them alone).

Just my 3/4 cents (after taxes, pay cuts, dealer prep, and delivery fees)

Appeasement - that will surely work. Are going to convert to Islam too? What about the rest of your infidel family?

 

[mullet]

One. An airline employee isn't making me drink anything.

It's the illegal beverage you brought on board. If you refused to drink it, I would then divert and enjoy leaving your stupid a$$ behind...tough guy!

 

[Kharma Police]

So are they going to put these two heros up for the SSAA? (Scab Superior Airmanship Award)

Through death defying odds these pilots were able to land the plane under the threat that the water would explode in mid flight. Where do we find such brave and wonderful airmen?

yawn.......

 

[Wesb737fo]

What if it was a little old lady? Would still have the same opinion?

Jeht, your avatar is the only thing worthy on this entire thread. Thanks, it wasn't a complete waste of time.

 

[crosscut]

Didn't United just divert a 767 for hand lotion (another banned item)? "Was that one of your super scabs or one of the 500 hour wonders that made the excellent decision to make an emergency landing due to a flippin hand lotion?" Did they make the SSAA nomination? Or are United's "super scabs & 500 hour wonders" different than the ones at Airtran?

 

[freightdogfred]

Well no it was not "just hand lotion". It was many more issues other than hand lotion. It was the FAM's taking the lady down due to their perceived threat and once that happens they decide where the airplane lands.

What did the FAM's say about the water bottle on the Critter flight? Oh that is right FAM's are too afraid to ride Valuetran.

A United pilot making fun of another airline because they have scabs...

A United pilot making fun of another airline's safety record...

A United pilot making fun of the experience level of another airline's newhires...

You've got to be the biggest a$$ I've seen post here.

 

[720persecond]

Well no it was not "just hand lotion". It was many more issues other than hand lotion. It was the FAM's taking the lady down due to their perceived threat and once that happens they decide where the airplane lands.

What did the FAM's say about the water bottle on the Critter flight? Oh that is right FAM's are too afraid to ride Valuetran.

I have several friends at United and none sound like you. You must be a pathetic a..hole to fly with.

What was your experience before you got hired by United ?

 

[Kharma Police]

A United pilot making fun of another airline because they have scabs...

A United pilot making fun of another airline's safety record...

A United pilot making fun of the experience level of another airline's newhires...

You've got to be the biggest a$$ I've seen post here.

I'm glad someone else can see the irony in his posts. Him (or her) being an a$$ is just plain obvious.

 

[crosscut]

Well no it was not "just hand lotion". It was many more issues other than hand lotion. It was the FAM's taking the lady down due to their perceived threat and once that happens they decide where the airplane lands.

What did the FAM's say about the water bottle on the Critter flight? Oh that is right FAM's are too afraid to ride Valuetran.

Don't you think a similar threat could have been perceived on the Valutran’s divert? At least, Valuetran didn’t stop in the middle of the runway & effectively shut down all arrivals for the day … must have been some act of SSAA heroism. Or did the "super scabs & the 500-hr wonders" just give up in the middle of the airport (for their own good)?

Since when do the "FAM's decide where the airplane lands?" Do they have adequate weather/airport conditions/situational awareness/FOB/contact with anyone outside the airplane to make that determination? Perhaps, your channel 9 was their source of situational awareness hence, "this airplane lands in BOS or else..." Will you please share more of your experience with us at Valuetran?