New SWA chief of training, a good thing?

[humveedriver]

Not being defensive at all. Just love how some of the AAI jokers think that one of their technological geniuses will lift this place out of the 70's. It's not the person, it's the mindset in Dallas. Will he be willing to TELL the brass how to do things HIS way, or will he just fold like a card table and shut up to ensure his longevity in Dallas? Time will tell, apparently the AAI crowd are confident he will do the former, I'll be waiting.

Baby steps. The fact that they offered any of our guys some sort of a position of responsibility tells me that some of that mindset in Dallas is starting to change. Who ever on the SWA side that is responsible for that is the key. I don't think any of the AT guys SWA has picked to help out on the other side if the partion are "my way or the highway guys". They were all worker bees who replaced their former bosses on the flight ops side. SWA also picked up our former VP of customer service ( which include the ramp and the gate). I see slowly adopting a more rigid approach to first flight of the day on time performance and hopefully adjusting the pax count working the ramp. Time will tell.

 

[humveedriver]

I have to agree with Canyonblue.

I'm glad to see progression toward the Ipad. W&B via ACARS will be a step backward. If we go that route, then you can expect to pull into the hammerhead and wait for your numbers. You'll be running one engine, but waiting long enough that it will burn down to the two engine (taxi-out) level in the end. So where's the savings?

You won't leave the gate without your numbers. It's called aerodata. Fully automated. Takes 20 secs. No waiting.

*you can leave the gate and still get your numbers, just to clarify. Those situations are few and far in between. Normally gate to antennae issue. Ramp throws 5 extra bags on? No problem. Add them in and resend. Once you see it, you will appreciate it. Like using a printer for things like atis or the pax count.

 

[redflyer65]

You won't leave the gate without your numbers. It's called aerodata. Fully automated. Takes 20 secs. No waiting.

Sounds good Humvee. I want our profit sharing higher, so if it works that way...I'm on board.

 

[Ty Webb]

I have to agree with Canyonblue.

I'm glad to see progression toward the Ipad. W&B via ACARS will be a step backward. If we go that route, then you can expect to pull into the hammerhead and wait for your numbers.

Come on, Red . . . . When have you ever seen an AirTran plane pulled over "waiting for the numbers"?

In 9 years on the 737, I don't believe I've ever had to do that, unless it was something extremely unusual.

 

[Ky.BrownBourbn]

He's a good guy, and knows what he's doing. Real good with technology.

Yeah but once he gets use to the way we do things he'll be saying "Fly it like the 200" in no time!

KBB

 

[27 driver]

If true I personally think its a good move. He is a great guy and has done really well for AAI. Give him a chance and I think you guys will like him. I believe his initials are G C.

edited for stupidity

 

[j41driver]

W&B via ACARS will be a step backward.

AT uses ACARS...its not "we're-waiting-on-our-numbers" ACARS like you're thinking of. Once you have he pax/bags info from the agent at the gate you have the numbers in 30 sec or less. They're all loaded in the MCDU prior to push just like here with the OPC.


....see, what those guys said.

 

[SWA717]

You won't leave the gate without your numbers. It's called aerodata. Fully automated. Takes 20 secs. No waiting.

*you can leave the gate and still get your numbers, just to clarify. Those situations are few and far in between. Normally gate to antennae issue. Ramp throws 5 extra bags on? No problem. Add them in and resend. Once you see it, you will appreciate it. Like using a printer for things like atis or the pax count.

+1. We never wait for numbers. It literally takes seconds to receive your requested data. And if you need to add last minute bags, it's a one minute change. Also, changing runways takes about 5 seconds. It's literally a matter of pressing a couple buttons and it is done.

 

[redflyer65]

Sounds like a good system.

 

[airbaker]

Hold on, I'm putting 2 and 2 together...JetBlue just transitioned to Aerodata last week. Is merger mania done with?!

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

You won't leave the gate without your numbers. It's called aerodata. Fully automated. Takes 20 secs. No waiting.

*you can leave the gate and still get your numbers, just to clarify. Those situations are few and far in between. Normally gate to antennae issue. Ramp throws 5 extra bags on? No problem. Add them in and resend. Once you see it, you will appreciate it. Like using a printer for things like atis or the pax count.

Keep in mind, this works well because we usually have a pax and bag count 10 mins prior to push and f/a pax count to verify numbers about 5 prior to push. This works because we're provided all the info in the cockpit and not waiting on load planners in BFE.

If WN decides to change this, it could effect timeliness. In the last year, my f/o's have only done 2 manual wt. and balances. Both due to system wide outages.

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

BTW, open seating may provide a challenge as aero data is very precise in cg loading and we use 3 zones. I'm sure a work around has already been figured out, it'll be interesting to see what that is.

 

[humveedriver]

Like any project, you fix one thing and it opens up a bunch of others that either need to be fixed too or have to be changed in order to make everything work. That's why I hate remodeling. It never ends.

 

[StopNTSing]

I'm all for some new outside blood infused into our way too insular training center. Everything I have heard about GC from those who knew him in a previous life has been overwhelmingly positive. Like Canyon, I just hope the Old Guard will let him make the changes that we need.

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

We have had plenty of fresh voices and ideas in the training center. The old heads don't listen to them.

 

[ATLplt]

We have had plenty of fresh voices and ideas in the training center. The old heads don't listen to them.

Hopefully this signals the beginning of change for the better. There's a lot of things AT does well, procedurally speaking, the SWA powers that be could possibly adopt. Any procedure or policy change that makes life easier for pilots is a win for all of us.

 

[freightdogfred]

I have to agree with Canyonblue.

I'm glad to see progression toward the Ipad. W&B via ACARS will be a step backward. If we go that route, then you can expect to pull into the hammerhead and wait for your numbers. You'll be running one engine, but waiting long enough that it will burn down to the two engine (taxi-out) level in the end. So where's the savings?

Have you ever seen a FL flight pull into the hammerhead to wait for numbers?

 

[Mach 80]

So he's not like the AT C/A who gave a guy a hard time on a PC because the guy had earlier critiqued the C/A's girlfriend's flying abilities?

 

[SWA717]

So he's not like the AT C/A who gave a guy a hard time on a PC because the guy had earlier critiqued the C/A's girlfriend's flying abilities?

Girlfriend or wife? Their little dynasty is quickly coming to an end.

 

[redflyer65]

Have you ever seen a FL flight pull into the hammerhead to wait for numbers?

TWICE now, I said the system sounds good.

Read the thread.