LCC's -- turnaround times and taxi speeds

[shon7]

Is the turnaround time for an aircraft inclusive of the taxi time or not?

Also, it seems that Southwest 737s taxi at a rather quick pace at MDW as compared to say anything at ORD. Is this a part of the Operating procedures -- because it would add up in terms of aircraft utilization (if weighted out over the entire fleet and system).

 

[Ih8AFYesmen]

I'm pretty sure SWA jets can't go slower than V1, period.

 

[Ty Webb]

Hmmmm . . . Turn times at my airline can vary from 35 mins to 45 or 50 mins. Anything more than that, and you are usually changing airplanes.


The general principle is that you make up time on the ground, not in the air, but obviously, that needs to be tempered with the realization that you are much more likely to be violated for a ground incursion than for anything that happens in the air.

While some "Legacy" pilots taxi like they are trying to get every last penny out of the deal, some SWA pilots seem to taxi "like they stole the thing". There should be a happy medium somewhere.

 

[Wiskey Driver]

Hmmmm . . .

While some "Legacy" pilots seem to taxi like they are being paid by the inch, some SWA pilots seem to taxi "like they stole the thing". There should be a happy medium somewhere.

What!!! we are not paid by the Inch????

WD.

 

[Ty Webb]

What!!! we are not paid by the Inch????

WD.

WHile I hate to be the "bearer of bad news", you are also not at a "Legacy Carrier".

Wait- that may NOT be bad news after all. Film at 11.

 

[FLB717]

Ty if "YOU" put "SOME" words is caps "YOU" could be PJV.

 

[Ty Webb]

Ty if "YOU" put "SOME" words is caps "YOU" could be PJV.

No, If I were Professor Joe Vee I would have to live in my parent's basement and spend a lot of timepunishing the monkey.

 

[SWA/FO]

25 minute turns baby!!! Sometimes with an a/c change.

 

[mnboyev]

Well... If we cross seat belts, pick up trash, empty the garbage, and get the clearance, do the walk around, grab the captain's coffee, snatch a trash bag for the cockpit, help with the wheel chairs, and grab the Flight Attendants something to eat.... we could probably do it in 15 minutes.... (Wait... what do they do ?... ) Did it get easier at SWA after your back end crew recieved a TA ?? I sure hope so... Its been a long summer so far over at the Green Tail penny pincher camp..... I'm sure its rosy over at the Orange Belly money making camp.... Ahhhhh the glory of the airline industry...

Eric V

 

[NuGuy]

25 minute turns baby!!! Sometimes with an a/c change.

Do the ground service guys still do the walk arounds at SWA?

Nu

 

[canyonblue]

Do the ground service guys still do the walk arounds at SWA?

No, with new technology it's all done via satellite.

 

[English]

At Aloha, we do 20-25 minute turns, unless we are running late, then we do 10-15 minute turns.

 

[SWAdude]

We could do turns in 10 minutes everytime if it wasn't for the PAX. It takes at least 25 minutes to deplane 137 pax and then board 137.

The taxi speed reputation that SWA has humors me. In the last couple months i've seen both a Delta 737 and USAIR A320 taxi faster than i've seen any of our planes. It was to the point that the ground controller in both cases told them to slow down.

SWAdude

 

[flx757]

At Alaska, we don't turn, we TANGO!!

 

[RJones]

Spinners, wheel chairs, and looking for the Captain who shot off the plane as soon as we got to the gate ... we could get back to the 10 minute turn days.

RJ

 

[SWAdude]

Spinners, wheel chairs, and looking for the Captain who shot off the plane as soon as we got to the gate ... we could get back to the 10 minute turn days.

RJ

Funny. In my time the only pilot delays I ever have seen is the FO not calling flow on time. And she can be a biatch.

SWAdude

 

[Juniority]

and looking for the Captain who shot off the plane as soon as we got to the gate ...

RJones, I agree... I've always called it "Captain's Alzheimers" As soon as the jet noise stops they wander off like an Alzheimers patient.

 

[SWAdude]

RJones, I agree... I've always called it "Captain's Alzheimers" As soon as the jet noise stops they wander off like an Alzheimers patient.

Ah..its good to be King.

Don't forget to call flow.

SWAdude

 

[canyonblue]

Don't forget to call flow.

SWAdude

Wasn't she the waitress on Alice?

 

[SWAdude]

Wasn't she the waitress on Alice?

Yes she was! The series was canceled and she got a job during the controllers strike in 81' giving time slots into high congested airports during peak times.

Who would have thunk it? Aviation is a small world, isn't it.

SWAdude