Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
The Ops Agent (SWA's version of the gate agent) prepares a loading form which is printed off and given to the flight crew. The info is entered into the OPC . The OPC (On Board Preformance Computer) is bascially a tablet PC which has the performance models for all the aircraft along with the MEL and is stored behind one of the seats. The OPC displays a data screen of takeoff data after the final load numbers are entered. The pilots don't fill out a load sheet like some airlines have; it is filled out by the Ops Agent and then the data is checked by the pilots for right tail number, fuel load, pax, etc. It is part of the process to make things go a little faster at departure time.
Very cool tool.
The best part of the OPC is that you'll never hear a Southwest guy say "We're still waiting for the numbers"
"We at SWA would like o apologize for the delay, as the computer we use to load the W&B data and perform our T/O data is broken and we're trying to secure a replacement."
No, you probably wouldn't hear that either. when an OPC is MEL'd then dispatch sends the numbers via acars. I guess in that case you might hear an SWA plane that was 'waiting for the numbers' but since it doesn't happen that often, the dispatchers are usually pretty quick about it. In my almost 6 years here, I don't remember ever waiting for the numbers or hearing another SWA guy doing it.
now, waiting for someone to marshal us into a gate or for bags to get loaded or for ground air or ground power to get connected, every single day I fly.
No, you probably wouldn't hear that either. when an OPC is MEL'd then dispatch sends the numbers via acars. I guess in that case you might hear an SWA plane that was 'waiting for the numbers' but since it doesn't happen that often, the dispatchers are usually pretty quick about it. In my almost 6 years here, I don't remember ever waiting for the numbers or hearing another SWA guy doing it.
now, waiting for someone to marshal us into a gate or for bags to get loaded or for ground air or ground power to get connected, every single day I fly.