Does your airline use the "brick" for alternate airport Jepps?

[propjockey]

There has been some talk at our airline (SKYW) about moving to a "brick system," in which pilots still carry destination airports, but all the alternates are put in a shrink wrapped "brick" issued to the airplane. You only break into the brick if you actually go to an alternate that isn't a regular destination (i.e. almost never) to reduce costs and save pilots' backs from lifting 40+ lb flight cases all the time.

I'm sick of getting a hernia every time I lift my flight case, and it takes almost an hour to do a revision, partly because we carry around so many airports we don't fly to. Not to mention the fact that it takes my three 2" binders + one 1" binder to fit all that crap.

Do any of you work for carriers that are already doing the brick? If so, does it work well?

 

[John Pennekamp]

There has been some talk at our airline (SKYW) about moving to a "brick system," in which pilots still carry destination airports, but all the alternates are put in a shrink wrapped "brick" issued to the airplane. You only break into the brick if you actually go to an alternate that isn't a regular destination (i.e. almost never) to reduce costs and save pilots' backs from lifting 40+ lb flight cases all the time.

I'm sick of getting a hernia every time I lift my flight case, and it takes almost an hour to do a revision, partly because we carry around so many airports we don't fly to. Not to mention the fact that it takes my three 2" binders + one 1" binder to fit all that crap.

Do any of you work for carriers that are already doing the brick? If so, does it work well?

ASA uses a "brick". I'm surprised you don't.

 

[freeflyer14]

I thought SKYW in the process of going paperless...

 

[Hovernut]

The "Brick" has been around Comair for over a year now. I've never had to delve into it, as diverts usually are rare and usually to an on-line airport.

When we began flying out West several years ago, our Jepps had gotten ridiculously thick, so the brick was a welcome addition to the plane. With the coast-to-coast route structure you guys have, I can't imagine the airport count in your binders!

Ultimately, the EFB should alleviate all this, but it's all about $pending for it.

 

[propjockey]

I thought SKYW in the process of going paperless...

We've been in the "process" of going paperless for at least 4 or 5 years now. I guess we could consider moving to the brick system just another step in that looooong process. At least it's a step in the right direction.

Yeah, John. If you guys are doing that at ASA, I'm surprised we're not also. How's BH treating you guys?

 

[mynameisjim]

Air Wisconsin just got rid of the brick and added the contents to our manuals, citing costs. Or contempt.

 

[DashTrash400]

Horizon uses a brick. Works great (I never had to break into it).

Compass doesn't use a brick and I'm getting sick of carrying around so friggin many charts. And this is before we fly that any places! Had a MSN divert last month where our GRB alternate unexpectedly went to crap and we wanted to divert to MKE instead...but the plates were taken out in our last revision! Why am I lugging around 30 lbs of manuals that don't even include charts for the obvious divert airports!?

 

[John Pennekamp]

How's BH treating you guys?

He's been pretty good so far, despite our expectations. He told off most of the GO lackeys because they tried to blame last weeks deice problems on the pilots. He said they had no excuse for blaming the pilots for a problem they created. We've never had a company president defend us before. However, he still spews feel good BS in his memos.

Oh, and he shaved the 'stashe. He looks like a little kid now. Guess he got tired of being called Uncle Rico the porn star.

 

[DrewBlows]

Compass doesn't use a brick and I'm getting sick of carrying around so friggin many charts.

You won't have to carry around charts at all any more. All deliveries from here on out have EFB and retrofits for the rest start in April (I think). Check 'Bendo's Bylines' on the company website to see pictures.

 

[great cornholio]

One thing with the brick is that when you have an alternate listed is to make sure that there are plates for that alternate in the brick. There is a list on the back side of the brick that lists all the airports that are in it, so you don't have to break it open just to make sure the plates for a city are in it. Its rare for us to even look at the brick because most of the time dispatch gives us an alternate that is a city that we normally fly into or hasn't made it out of our regular Jepp book yet. Between that and the rarity of diverting anyways I've never once had to break open the brick in 4 years...although I'm sure now I will have to next trip.