SWA starts proviing runs to SJU

[GIZMONC]

All this week SWA is flying from various cities to start proving runs for service to SJU. Yesterday a flight had the following routing: DAL HOU SJU MCO. Due to storms in SJU it was delayed until leaving DAL late in the day. Following runs are as follows: Day 2 MCO -SJU-BWI. Day 3 BWI -SJU -MCO Day 4 MCO -SJU -MCO
Day 5 MCO -SJU -DAL. Just wonder how long before SWA starts service there are no slots to aquire just red tape.

 

[Just thinking]

Yippeeeeee how exciting..... now you just have to figure out what happens in case of a divert into a foreign country!

 

[Lear70]

Yippeeeeee how exciting..... now you just have to figure out what happens in case of a divert into a foreign country!

Nah, STX is just right down the road.

Most of the time the heavy weather stays south of the approach for Rwy 10, might have to cut right to the marker and just tell them that's what you're going to do when the one girl is working who doesn't speak English fantastically and gets flustered.

In the event (I go down there 9-10 times a month every month for the last two years) that you HAVE to go somewhere else, the odds of STX (only 25 minutes or so max) being socked in for weather also is pretty nil.

All in all, it's just a long flight where you're not talking to a whole lot of people most of the way and it happens to be surrounded by water. Last I heard they plan on putting it on the schedule for March with a complete take-over by September.

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

This is news?????

 

[Dumb Pilot]

Yippeeeeee how exciting..... now you just have to figure out what happens in case of a divert into a foreign country!

So what? A diversion to the Bahamas or Dominican Republic is being done many times, the A/C remains as technical stop and just refuels and departs again, there are procedures for this in place and it is done regularly, don't know why you assume it is an issue.

 

[Ty Webb]

So what? A diversion to the Bahamas or Dominican Republic is being done many times, the A/C remains as technical stop and just refuels and departs again, there are procedures for this in place and it is done regularly, don't know why you assume it is an issue.

I'm sure for your carrier, it is no big deal, and it isn't for any international carrier, but for an airline with no International Ops, it presents a few difficulties.

Let's see . . . for starters, no International Ops Specs, No International dispatching software. No ACARS. No international procedures training, no approach charts . . . No ground handling contracts in place. No fueling contracts. No approved weather sources.

Other than that, it's a breeze.

 

[ATLplt]

This is news?????

Exactly

 

[IAHERJ]

Proving runs to SJU? Didn't Pan Am, Eastern, and Trans-Caribbean take care of this in the mid 1950's? Lots of 737's in and out of SJU daily(although the smaller of the jets serving the airport). It is not ETOPS unless you are flying from the Northeast when Bermuda is closed so why again does this route need a proving run? FA's practicing the life vest/raft demo? Use of long range navigation for the pilots? "This guys, is an HF radio. These were used during WWII to communicate great distances".

Meanwhile our guys are doing real proving runs on the 787 this week. Proving runs that make sense.

 

[Ty Webb]

"This guys, is an HF radio. These were used during WWII to communicate great distances".

Now, THAT'S funny. :laugh:

 

[ATLplt]

You have to remember that this is from an airline that believes getting the -800 is akin to the second coming of Christ.

 

[Bill Nelson]

This is news?????

The proving runs are a formality for class II nav and flag operations. All companies that conduct international ops did them at some point. SJU was just the easiest destination to do them on.

You guys yuck it up, your company boss' are crapping themselves because just like the Domestic markets, SWA is about to serve up a healthy ass whoopin only this time it will be on your profitable routes.

Good luck.

 

[Ty Webb]

The proving runs are a formality for class II nav and flag operations. All companies that conduct international ops did them at some point. SJU was just the easiest destination to do them on.

Except for that "flag" thingy . . . . .

 

[Dumb Pilot]

I'm sure for your carrier, it is no big deal, and it isn't for any international carrier, but for an airline with no International Ops, it presents a few difficulties.

Let's see . . . for starters, no International Ops Specs, No International dispatching software. No ACARS. No international procedures training, no approach charts . . . No ground handling contracts in place. No fueling contracts. No approved weather sources.

Other than that, it's a breeze.

Make sure that what you are saying is correct before you post it, if the approval comes to do that route, you need to comply with all ICAO requirements to do it, if not it will not be approved. ACARS is not required for international flights, and you won't fly that route without proper charts and emergency procedures in place, international airlines don't have ground handling contracts nor fueling contracts in every country nor airport they overfly, there are contingency plans in those cases that are covered by ICAO requirements. The concept of losing an engine over the Bahamas and either continue to Puerto Rico or return to Florida as the only choices is non compliant with international requirements.

 

[Ty Webb]

Make sure that what you are saying is correct before you post it, if the approval comes to do that route, you need to comply with all ICAO requirements to do it, if not it will not be approved. ACARS is not required for international flights, and you won't fly that route without proper charts and emergency procedures in place, international airlines don't have ground handling contracts nor fueling contracts in every country nor airport they overfly, there are contingency plans in those cases that are covered by ICAO requirements. The concept of losing an engine over the Bahamas and either continue to Puerto Rico or return to Florida as the only choices is non compliant with international requirements.

I didn't say that ACARS is required, the underlying concept was that without it, you would need to get your performance numbers for an airport that isn't in your Op Specs as a Destination, Alternate, or Tech stop.

Yes, all that stuff needs to be established beforehand; that was the point I was trying to make. I guess you were to jet-lagged to get it. :laugh:

 

[Bill Nelson]

Every SWA A/C has ACARS.

 

[humveedriver]

Why do I keep getting this re-occurring vision of the first SWA 737 landing in San Juan for the first time; GK and all his staff in the SOC room nervously watching flight aware and getting ACARS updates on the aircrafts progress. Then when the airplane safely lands the entire SOC erupts, applauds starts crying and hugging like they just landed on the moon. SWA cracks me and probably always will. Whenever they start service to a new city, no matter where it is, they act like they are the first folks to attempt this monumental achievement of manned flight.

 

[labbats]

First ATL and now SJU? I hope the best for everyone but it seems Southwest is trying to find destinations where a 25 minute turn are impossible.

 

[Dumb Pilot]

I didn't say that ACARS is required, the underlying concept was that without it, you would need to get your performance numbers for an airport that isn't in your Op Specs as a Destination, Alternate, or Tech stop.

Yes, all that stuff needs to be established beforehand; that was the point I was trying to make. I guess you were to jet-lagged to get it. :laugh:

Not jet lagged enough to realize you don't know what is required for international operations under ICAO member states, first of all, you WILL require airport along the route that comply with the one hour rule on one engine at 10K, ring a bell? If you don't get those airports along the route and the charts for them, no certification of that route. Second, not all adequate airports along specify routes need to have ground handling nor fuel contracts, there are contingency plans for this, in our case we have several fuel and regular credit cards in case of a diversion to an airport along the route that is not either of the airports you discribed. In that instance, there are alternate procedures that will allow you to get all your data over the phone, in the case that not even a fax is available. The FAA as the regulatory agency of an ICAO member country WILL comply with the adequate diversion airports requirements before the start of operations for hire. Hence my original comment, if you have to divert due to WX or medical emergency, So what?

 

[nimtz]

The proving runs are a formality for class II nav and flag operations. All companies that conduct international ops did them at some point. SJU was just the easiest destination to do them on.

You guys yuck it up, your company boss' are crapping themselves because just like the Domestic markets, SWA is about to serve up a healthy ass whoopin only this time it will be on your profitable routes.

Good luck.

Yeah the Puerto Rican market is underserved and just stuffed with high ticket paying pax!

 

[Squirrel29]

Still don't get this "proving run" it isn't required as far as I know. Can someone explain why they have to do it?