Land at unserviced airport?

[PhatAJ2008]

What if an airliner has to divert to an airport at which their airline is not represented at? Who marshalls them, where do they park, who deals with baggage if it has to be unloaded? What if the airport is not an airline location for anyone, how do they deal with the passengers?
I'm sure this has happened before...
-AJ

 

[khsgt]

Not that I fly for a major, but did have to land B1900 at a off system airport with passengers on board....no charts and 700 ovc shooting an ILS. Went straight to the local FBO.

 

[skiandsurf]

What if an airliner has to divert to an airport at which their airline is not represented at? Who marshalls them, where do they park, who deals with baggage if it has to be unloaded? What if the airport is not an airline location for anyone, how do they deal with the passengers?
I'm sure this has happened before...
-AJ

I was on a UAL A320 from LAX-IAH. Weather was getting bad (t-storms). We held for a bit, did a couple of missed approaches, then eventually went to HOB (not served by UAL). They parked on the ramp, not a gate. Refueled, never opening a door, then took off about an hour later back to IAH. All of the paperwork came thru the ACARS printer. Never got off the plane for a post flight (or a preflight) inspection.

If a gate was needed, the airlines would have borrowed (or pay for) a gate from some airline.

 

[AA717driver]

In my previous life, we had a list of approved alternates (and their varying levels of functionality) in the Op Spex. The airline had contracts for servicing with FBO's at each approved alternate.

We HAD to be able to exit the aircraft to supervise fueling or do a walkaround. Once a 767 diverted to ICT and found they don't have stairs high enough to accomodate that size of aircraft. They used a de-ice bucket or cargo loader.

Just because the runway can accomodate you doesn't mean the airport can. TC

 

[NEDude]

At one airline I was at, there was a Multiservice credit card on the airplane for paying for gas and services should we have to land at an offline airport with no contracts.

 

[JediNein]

A long time ago . . . sitting in ramp rat HQ, we got a call on the company radio that another airline's aircraft was ten minutes out, a 767, and they'd need to have customs, deplane, refuel, and rebook as many pax as possible. "All right!!!!" yells the head rat as all three of us book it to the ramp to stage the equipment. It seems the company got paid loads of dollars to assist the other airline's aircraft and we had the contract (and equipment and training), not that company's regional carrier ground crew.

Any port in a storm, even if that means calling Domino's to get a dozen pizzas delivered to the plane.

 

[runwayjockey]

You find a spot to park that is out of the way. Then contact Dispatch to get a game plan together. If you informed them where you planed to divert, they may have a plan of action together before you even land.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

It IS unusual, and there are procedures to get it done.

At my airline, that's what we do everyday, so it's business as normal for us.

I had one flight where I was diverted more than 3 times before the company finally figured out were they wanted us. Center did a great job, as they alerted us way early that our international destination was not practical (weather). Then they coordinated with our company via phone to figure out where we should go.

cliff
YIP

PS-My first trip to MIA:
Customer service told me they didn't know where I was to go on the airport, and that I should just ask tower/ground where to go!!! I told them I wan't leaving until I knew where I was going. They then told me to go to the "cargo ramp". I responded that there were numerous cargo ramps in MIA, and I needed a specific ramp and location, which they finally got for me. Nice.

 

[RJAA]

I divert B777/B767/B757s to an offline station which provides better service than some of the airlines on-line stations. In/out in 30 minutes. We divert there all the time, so I think the FBO thrives on our diversions. Probably a big business.

 

[ultrarunner]

What if an airliner has to divert to an airport at which their airline is not represented at? Who marshalls them, where do they park, who deals with baggage if it has to be unloaded? What if the airport is not an airline location for anyone, how do they deal with the passengers?
I'm sure this has happened before...
-AJ

An 'off-line' divert can be a pain. I did it once. Parked at the FBO. We didn't have to deal with bag issues, as we didn't take any off....and no pax got off.....

But it was a long couple of hrs with everyone on board while we got fuel, new paper work, etc....

 

[lostplnetairman]

Planes are diverted to ACY all the time because it's not part of the PHL-EWR-LGA-JFK traffic control. Ususally it's not too long. Not sure what happened last week though:


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/busines...un29,0,5569676.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

HRDiva

 

[blueridge71]

What if an airliner has to divert to an airport at which their airline is not represented at? Who marshalls them, where do they park, who deals with baggage if it has to be unloaded? What if the airport is not an airline location for anyone, how do they deal with the passengers?
I'm sure this has happened before...
-AJ

That is the difference between the "nearest suitable airport" and the "nearest airport."

FBOs are at almost any airport where you could land an airliner. They can martial and fuel you.

Bags will probably not be going anywhere quickly. Neither will the pax. At least not if they want to go with the airplane when it leaves. If you don't have the normal airline services, you probably don't TSA screeing either.

 

[CKJET]

At one airline I was at, there was a Multiservice credit card on the airplane for paying for gas and services should we have to land at an offline airport with no contracts.

At Tower Air we had Capt.'s checks.
Food,Fuel parking, Capt. would just write a check.

As far as real world flying today, it is a pain but someone will let you use a gate for some $$ etc..

 

[Flys4Fun]

That is the difference between the "nearest suitable airport" and the "nearest airport."

Depends on the drink specials.

They can martial and fuel you.

Martial? Like ninjas?