Long Time Gone
Never Did The Atkins
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2003
- Posts
- 1,012
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The fact that Mesaba was fined is just total BS. They had no contract with Express Jet, no commitment to provide services, no equipment to provide services, there were four NWA jets diverted and on the ground. Express Jet had about 40 alternaive airports to choose from yet Mesaba gets fined?
What is wrong with this picture? What am I missing?
Everyone on duty that night did exactly what their airlines and their government have conditioned them to do when on the job - they covered their asses.
Actually, it seems to me that the ExpressJet and Mesaba both did what they did because they were afraid to incur the wrath of The Blueberry Police. Given the frightening amount of power given to those waddling idiots and their tendency to redefine their own rules and methods on a near-daily basis, I'm inclined to look at this mess from a slightly different angle:
Gate agent doesn't know the TSA rules for this situation, so plays it safe in the interest of keeping his/her job. Nobody else involved in the evening's debacle knows the TSA rules well enough to educate the gate agent. Suppose the people involved in this mess let the pax off the airplane, and the TSA shows up in the morning and throws a tantrum because they weren't able to oversee the whole process? Or, God forbid, one of the pax wanders outside the "sterile area"? Everyone on duty that night did exactly what their airlines and their government have conditioned them to do when on the job - they covered their asses.
Granted, if I'd been responsible for that flight, that door would have been opened. I'm just not sure anyone's considered how thoroughly airlines have been set up for just this kind of situation.
Actually, it seems to me that the ExpressJet and Mesaba both did what they did because they were afraid to incur the wrath of The Blueberry Police. Given the frightening amount of power given to those waddling idiots and their tendency to redefine their own rules and methods on a near-daily basis, I'm inclined to look at this mess from a slightly different angle:
Gate agent doesn't know the TSA rules for this situation, so plays it safe in the interest of keeping his/her job. Nobody else involved in the evening's debacle knows the TSA rules well enough to educate the gate agent. Suppose the people involved in this mess let the pax off the airplane, and the TSA shows up in the morning and throws a tantrum because they weren't able to oversee the whole process? Or, God forbid, one of the pax wanders outside the "sterile area"? Everyone on duty that night did exactly what their airlines and their government have conditioned them to do when on the job - they covered their asses.
Granted, if I'd been responsible for that flight, that door would have been opened. I'm just not sure anyone's considered how thoroughly airlines have been set up for just this kind of situation.
Sorry, I listened to all your explanations and i still don't agree that Mesaba should be fined. I am not sure why Delta isn't fighting this. Probably being politically expedient.
Why did TSA have to be present to deplane the aircraft? Why did the Captain not deplane anyway? Were was Express Jet SOC? What happened to all the NWA diversions on the ground? They went back to MSP. Express Jet couldn't because the crew was illegal. Maybe the flight should never have departed Houston?
Still a BS fine. Accountability sure. Who is holding the DOT and the FAA accountable for ATC delays and lack of infrastructure?
I agree with you, there was more to the problem, someone had to get punished though. And I guess that was us.Sorry, I listened to all your explanations and i still don't agree that Mesaba should be fined. I am not sure why Delta isn't fighting this. Probably being politically expedient.
Why did TSA have to be present to deplane the aircraft? Why did the Captain not deplane anyway? Were was Express Jet SOC? What happened to all the NWA diversions on the ground? They went back to MSP. Express Jet couldn't because the crew was illegal. Maybe the flight should never have departed Houston?
Still a BS fine. Accountability sure. Who is holding the DOT and the FAA accountable for ATC delays and lack of infrastructure?