UNSAFE. This is unsafe regardless of policy. This is especially dangerous when the a/c is in close prox to others, fuel is being delivered and total reliance is being placed upon systems and "redundant systems".
There was absolutely no crew on board - I watched them leave the plane and heard the inbound crew for the plane (45 mins later) call in-range.
Ted - I walked over to the a/c and verified that the crew had left the a/c (the CA had a flight to catch - I assume to go home due to what I heard on his in range call). I watched the FA and FO leave and close the a/c. The reason that I noticed the situation is because appx. 15 mins after the crew left, I noticed a blinking yellow light in the cockpit on the glareshield. My crew thought it was a fuel truck rotating beacon reflection. Then I noticed exhaust fumes from a running APU. That's when I walked over to the a/c, flagged down a Ramp Super and queried.
Poor - I talked to ops and no one responded back to me when I let them know the a/c was still powered up.
FmrFrieght - I am not second guessing the crew. I am second guessing the saftey of a decision or a policy you FUKC. I will worry about my own stupidity and continue to follow my better judgement and my GOM/FAR's in that order. Safety, Cerificate, Company is what I've practiced for 14 years. It's worked so far. Regarding "calling the crew out by tail number on a public forum is a good way to get someone in trouble with management", if they deserve to get in trouble - so be it. My allegience is not with the company or with management or with any pilot individually. It is with the pilot group as a whole. And the pilot group as a whole should always be on the side of safety as well as policy. I question the SAFETY of the crew/airline on their "procedure" or the shortcomings of the crew if it was an "error". If it was a shortcoming, I hope that bringing attn. to it will rectify this situation. You, my friend, if you believe that quality evaluation and assurance of performance doesn't belong on a forum, are the "Idiot". Regardless if the crew was indirectly identified or not. PM me and we can chat more freely about it if you want.