ASA to Commit Schedule Suicide for June

[spudskier]

but that's the problem, typically the airplane stays with the CA if not the CA and FO. They try to keep the airplane with the pilots, not the FA, so the FA cannot pre-board without us since we also have the plane...

scenario:
pull into D36T, off load the pax, 3 wheel chairs, no one shows up for the meet and assist for at least 15 minutes, oops, one is a straight back chair, I think they have one on the C-concourse... finally everyone is off 30 minutes after we got there. FAs swap out 10 mins later since new FA's previous flight was late. She throws her stuff on board and we're ready for the pax 10 mins before D-0... gate agent starts sending the pax one by one, a few get lost and try to board other airplanes, some put their pink tags on the wrong baggage thingy... finally we get everyone on by 5 mins past D-0 and the fueler has finally showed up. D-0+15 we're ready for pushback but it's shift-change in da ATL-hole and the ramp is clogged with the afternoon rush. D-0+30 we're finally rolling backwards... let's go play in traffic. Metering on the south-side and we're assigned Rwy28.

A-14!? fughedaboutiiiit

 

[Plainsman]

I'd like to see that slick haired Dick Anderson get his ass over to the bottom of D27 and see how his company treats persons with disabilities and um's in that freaking holding cage. I bet those parents wonder where their kids pick up the f bomb and ebonics speech after 30 minutes in that joint. Delta you can do better than that!

 

[LazyLightnin']

I'd like to see that slick haired Dick Anderson get his ass over to the bottom of D27 and see how his company treats persons with disabilities and um's in that freaking holding cage. I bet those parents wonder where their kids pick up the f bomb and ebonics speech after 30 minutes in that joint. Delta you can do better than that!

Delta's not totally to blame. The blame lies with affirmative action. An unnecessary relic of a by-gone age.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

those poor UM's look shell shocked. Like they're sitting on death row...

 

[atlcrjdriver]

The actions the company is taking are in-line to try and get the summer skd done w/ as few disruptions as possible. While building pairings that keep the entire crew together for the whole month was convenient for us it never was efficient. When you have a different number of F/A vs F/O and CA positions by seperating them it gives the company and crewmembers more options. While we may be swapping out crewmembers more often, as stated, this has been done at other carriers for a long time now so we are simply catching up and not breaking new ground here. The auto-board process w/o pilots onboard can only be done on gate w/ ground power and air (for the summer months). On occassion I would expect tho see RR F/As fill in to expedite boarding if the skd F/A was running late.

As for the new MTC procedure in ATL, what do you do at an outstation when a deferable item breaks. You call MCC and have it defered. Why can't you follow the same process in ATL? Why should I pull a mechanic off an A/C with an item that cannot be defered just to fill out paperwork that I can do myself?

As for the room on D-conc for WC and UMs, this is only a transfer room and not a "holding pin". They are only there long enough to confirm a gate and have someone take them out. If a child has a lengthy L/O then they are taken to Dusty's Den. This job has nothing to do with AA as I have been there and done that years ago. It is a low paying thank-less job that many people simply don't want yet these people do and they have gotten better.

While it is not a perfect system it is a viable system.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Why should I pull a mechanic off an A/C with an item that cannot be defered just to fill out paperwork that I can do myself?

More responsibility on the pilots' backs. Just the way management likes it. What's next, fueling the airplane yourself? Just an excuse for them to not hire more mechanics.

If you can't get maintenance in Atlanta, where then? They just want more deferrals and less fixing. Hope you guys defer things correctly.

 

[atlcrjdriver]

More responsibility on the pilots' backs. Just the way management likes it. What's next, fueling the airplane yourself? Just an excuse for them to not hire more mechanics.

If you can't get maintenance in Atlanta, where then? They just want more deferrals and less fixing. Hope you guys defer things correctly.

You don't make the decision if an item is to be defered or not. That is why you still have to contact the MTC/MCC and have the line per MCC and his/her emp number. As long as you follow company procedure then you are fine.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

You don't make the decision if an item is to be defered or not. That is why you still have to contact the MTC/MCC and have the line per MCC and his/her emp number. As long as you follow company procedure then you are fine.

Oh thanks for the lesson. 12 years and i need a 4k hour company man to tell me I should feel fine simply by following company procedures. Is that like resetting the generator multiple times until a fire starts?

Management has analyzed the data, determined there are broken airplanes arriving in Atlanta, and consequently put a priority on schedule over fixing airplanes.

And BTW, I don't have to fly an airplane with a deferral I feel compromises safety for that flight.

 

[atlcrjdriver]

Oh thanks for the lesson. 12 years and i need a 4k hour company man to tell me I should feel fine simply by following company procedures. Is that like resetting the generator multiple times until a fire starts?

Management has analyzed the data, determined there are broken airplanes arriving in Atlanta, and consequently put a priority on schedule over fixing airplanes.

And BTW, I don't have to fly an airplane with a deferral I feel compromises safety for that flight.

Slow down skipper, nobody is telling you how to run your flt deck. You made the coment that this procedure puts more responsibility on the pilot which I disagree with. Safety is always a top priority on my flt deck as well and if I don't agree w/ a deferal then I will refuse the A/C or req clarification. What I am saying is that for those items that are deferable and don't conflict with/compromise safety in anyway then the process of having us fill out the paperwork is fine.

Why would the company hire 50+ more mechanics for ATL for the summer skd? That is like calling back our furloughed guys for 3-4 months then letting them go again. You work with those you have and possibly TDY some from MCN or BTR. You also have the pilots fill out paperwork for deferable items to free up mech. for A/C the require there attention.

This will not compromise safety when done properly. BTW, I guess I should update my times info.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Guys, write up items when they break, not when it's convenient. I'll bet the feds are looking at the fact most mechanical problems suddenly occur at a MX base. This is probably a mutually agreeable fix to the ontime issues and the federales concern that pilots are flying open issues until they hit ATL.

The question remains, at what point will a mechanic actually look at the problem or perceived problem? The company makes it difficult to get outstation maintenance, and now instation maintenance will be equally inaccessible. The company is making a big gamble that the MEL (which has historically been weak and innacurate) is going to keep the operation safe.

 

[atlcrjdriver]

Guys, write up items when they break, not when it's convenient.

I agree 100%

I share the same concern that I these MELs may begin to add up if the company tries to wait until the expiration dates to make repairs. This is a big part of what I mean when I say "done properly". This must be on both sides that the pilot group will do this to help keep the daily ops moving but when these A/C are on overnights or have sit times in CVG/ATL these MELs need to be cleared.

 

[701EV]

If they do it right this just might work.

Hell I think last year CT said we would do 40 min turns in ATL with a crew swap. I thought NO WAY not in ATL. Well guess what, I've done 35 min turns in ATL with a crew swap. Now mind you everything has to work perfect and sometimes it does.

If you haven't figured out by now, we pilots are the guinea pigs for a lot of their experiments. If they work mgmt looks smart to DL.

Lets face it we need to be the pettiest date for the prom in the DCI eat DCI world.

701EV

 

[at7driver]

we have actually been running at least one or two new hire mtc classes over the last month or so...

fwiw

cheers

 

[crj567]

I'd like to see that slick haired Dick Anderson get his ass over to the bottom of D27 and see how his company treats persons with disabilities and um's in that freaking holding cage. I bet those parents wonder where their kids pick up the f bomb and ebonics speech after 30 minutes in that joint. Delta you can do better than that!

I agree,dog!

Anderson is such a complete toolbag! Every time I see his pic, this video classic immediately comes to mind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG3PnQ3tgzY

-Slick Hair? 2009? Really?

-Almost as fashionable as Steenland's damn-fool goatee..

 

[bigshooter107]

It will work. You will have quick turns, show up to an airplane and it will be boarded and go. They will come to ATL have a three to five hr sit and then have every thing ready and in the middle of the boarding process when you show up.

I have been able to do a 20 min turn in a 767 with a plane change and a different concourse because of this. It works out well for us, but not so efficient for them.
IMHO I bed with the jetways on C you will see a change in policy in regards to needing a pilot on board prior to boarding. You will just leave it powered up and on ground power so they can board.

Now thats funny.