SWA tactics on the ramp and taxiways

[TWA Dude]

That "fast taxi" rumor is another myth that has been going on for ever, and threads like this just keep it alive.

I have no interest in bad-mouthing anybody but the prevalent fast-taxiing of SW planes is no myth. Five years of seeing confirms it. In fact, when I've commuted on y'all I liked it. The only cut-off maneuvers I've ever witnessed were committed by legacy carriers.

 

[Falcon Jet 1]

And how do you know that the two SWA jets werent told to follow the airbus on tower freq. Ive had citrus at Bwi holding number 1 at rw 28 and we pull up 30 sec later, tower tries to clear citrus 3 times for t/o with no reply, then they clear usto t/o. A few secs later Citrus is whining like my wife and tower says you need to be on the correct freq for a clearance to t/o. **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** happens, and i really doubt that you needed to slam on your brakes, but it would make for a good story in the bar that night that we were almost hit by swa and through my great airmanship i saved your life Miss 20 year old, and then you might get laid or something to that effect. We are all not perfect, chill out and Ty give up on those anal beads for a stress reliever

 

[atldc9]

When I did my intial fed ride after upgrade, the Fed told me, taxi a little faster then Delta, and a little slower then SWA, and you will be just fine!!

As for the myth about fast taxiing at SWA, look at the DOT numbers for reported taxi times per airport. You can find them at the DOT t100 forms. SWA has the lowest taxi times of any carrier. Not that that is a bad thing, it just a thing.

By the way, not everyone at FL is a whiner.

One last thing, if that story works on a 20 year old at the bar, I'm giving it a try.

 

[LJDRVR]

Please!

If I had experienced what Ty claims happened, I think I would be spending my time on ASAP reports, phone calls and letters to the facility supervisor. I would find out what actually happened instead of posting non-substantive accusations anonymouslly on flightinfo.

Ty's post is nothing but good old-fashioned flame-bait, and not worthy of a resp........Dang too late! I've been suckered in! Come on Ty, get real. Do you really have a safety concern here? Honestly, man.

 

[WillowRunVortex]

I dont care if SWA taxies fast or not,,,makes no difference to me personally. However being a student of the universe I do find it interesting that all the other carriers,,,legacy's, low cost, regionals, freighters, etc. all taxi at relatively the same speed... 15KTS is our SOP,,,and believe me we are not "waiting for the numbers" as an earlier post suggested. SWA is the only carrier (that I have seen) that consistently VISIBLY taxies faster than everyone else. Do they know somthing that the other pilots for these other carriers do not?

 

[tz800ca]

SWA is the only carrier (that I have seen) that consistently VISIBLY taxies faster than everyone else. Do they know somthing that the other pilots for these other carriers do not?

Every second counts, it is that simple. Every minute (or even second) longer it takes the gate agent to get the jetway off the aircraft, the tug driver unhooked from the aircraft, the F/O to call for taxi, and Captain to get the aircraft to the runway leads to missed opportunities for departure. That one or two minutes you do not capitalize on at the beginning of the day ends up costing you an hour or more at the end. You can be highly efficient and safe at the same time.

 

[WillowRunVortex]

Every second counts, it is that simple. Every minute (or even second) longer it takes the gate agent to get the jetway off the aircraft, the tug driver unhooked from the aircraft, the F/O to call for taxi, and Captain to get the aircraft to the runway leads to missed opportunities for departure. That one or two minutes you do not capitalize on at the beginning of the day ends up costing you an hour or more at the end. You can be highly efficient and safe at the same time.

Its been my experience that the best way to end up late is to show up early,,,and have to give em the "well folks it looks like we took em by surprise" riga-ma-roll,,,and sit on the holding pad or at a different gate with the door shut.

 

[SWA/FO]

Ty,

Why not call SWA professional standards? They will look into it, launch a full investigation. Maybe Kenneth Starr will help out?

I thought about calling Delta's professional standards when one of their pilots' call me an "idiot" on the radio (Denver Center) a few months back. True Story. I decided, he was having a bad day and left it at that.

 

[RJones]

Recently I've noticed UAL taxing faster than SWA...just saw it today in SEA.

Times are changing I guess.

 

[Huck]

Pickin Pete the Booger Man, no doubt about it __________________

Man I started to call him that but then I chickened out. Thanks for a good laugh....

 

[J Dawg]

Havn't any of you guys ever been to O'Hare? What is considered being cut off at any other airport is normal ops at ORD. Hell, even half the traffic on the same taxway is on another frequency (inbound and outbound ground frequencies).

Every airline has bad apples. But the cowboys at different airlines seem to be the worst offender for different reasons. In my experience, United would never give way to Atlantic Coast, first when we recieved the first RJs, then when we announced FLYi. United would probably still cut us off at IAD, but ground traffic moves so slow there that it is impossible for anyone to cut anyone off.

AA and Eagle seems like the worst in general at ORD, perhaps for the reasons given earlier. I've been intentionally cut off at ALB by Southwest as well. Have people at my airline done it? Absolutely, I'm sure it's happened.

"The aircraft on the other's right has the right of way". This rule applies on the ground as well, and seems to be long forgotten.

 

[SWAdude]

Personally I don't assume any right away unless it is clear between the controller and all the others involved.

 

[tz800ca]

Its been my experience that the best way to end up late is to show up early,,,and have to give em the "well folks it looks like we took em by surprise" riga-ma-roll,,,and sit on the holding pad or at a different gate with the door shut.

You must work for ATA

Sure it does happen, but when you have a whole company pulling in the same direction with the same attitude, it rarely does. I would luv to see more folks with that can do attitude over here on the dark side.

 

[HalinTexas]

A not so old joke heard at ORD:

American, you got your numbers yet?

United, I don't have time to argue with you right now.

Delta, do you know where you are? I said taxi.........

 

[AFcitrus]

Falcon Jet,


Could SW have been given clearance by tower to follow cactus. Entirely possible. But since they were on ground frequency I kind of doubt it - unless SW has a "special" procedure for calling tower as they leave the ramp (5000 feet from the departure end of the runway) and then switching back to ground for taxi out.

Secondly, yes the brakes were slammed, and needed to be to avoid ground mishap. I'm always amazed how people on this board seem to be all knowing about situations that they were not a part of. Falcon, can't you just admit that nobody and no airline is perfect. Every airline has its poor aviators (or taxiers as the case may be) and SW is no different. My comments were in no way meant to ensinuate that SW teaches its pilots to be dangerous. Fast maybe, but not dangerous and careless. I think that is pretty clear if you reread my post. But to assume that a pilot from another airline is wrong because he posts a comment about a particular SW pilot's carelessness (which is the subject of this thread) is rather ridiculous. If I had said it was two United airplanes that cut us off, I suspect you would have either agreed or not said anything at all. If you want to start a thread about AirTran pilots missing take-off clearances, then we could all talk about that on that thread, but for this thread it's SW's (or a few SW pilot's) careless taxiing that is the issue.

 

[Captzaahlie]

Nice can of worms that was opened here............ I just hope there is a little professional courtesy that gets displayed both here and on the line........ Ironically just yesterday a Mesa "e-jay" played the I don't see em game and cut us off on the ramp after being told to follow us,the female (easy! I just mention the gender so they know we knew what they were up to) FO was looking at us when she replied that we were not insight only 20 feet away) it wasn't that close , I didn't even have to really touch the brakes. More amazingly I didn't mouth my usual sarcastic verbal display on the radio, I just bit my tongue knowing what comes around goes around. We taxied out to 18L and sure enough got a departure from the bypass leaving them holding short behind one of their company at full length. I'm just blabbing all this to show that it all even s out in the end..... One day you are the cat , another day you are the litter box! (a small percentage are the pieces of $#it that are left behind in the litter box) I hope junior in the "e-jay" grows up and/or wises up so that he can enjoy his privilege to fly another day. More importantly, I hope his immature actions don't cause an accident involving any of my family, friends or co-workers! Keep in mind that some of us are trying to mke up time, catch a tight connection to commute home after being out for 6 days, or just in a hurry to get a bite to eat between flights duing a long day with no breaks.......... that may be the only reason for a fast taxi. As long as you don't have to slam on your bakes or cause anyone else to do the same I don't see a problem with someones taxi rate as long as won't affect me or others. Play nice out there because it's not smart to piss anyone off in the aviation industry, remember?
PS: i really enjoyed the SW conspiracy stuff............ I know it's true because i read it on flightinfo.com
Future SW upgrade classes are being held in Roswell (ufo land) too............................

 

[Ty Webb]

Easy . . . don't want to attract the wrath of the "Corn Dog Cult". . . . .

 

[T45Flyer]

Ty,

You say "Corn Dog" like its some kind of insult. We love our flying corndogs! I hope we keep a few of or classic colors as our fleet gets repainted. Those "corn dogs" are money makers!

 

[Captzaahlie]

Give me a double helping of SW, AT,or JB! I'll fly eat drink and fly; yellow and green, purple and tan, or blue an white any day.............. just get me away from this place that embarrasses me on a daily basis!

 

[Ty Webb]

Those of you that want to dine in the corn dog section, that's fine by me, just put the corn dog down long enough to pick up the mike and acknowlege Ground when they tell you to give way . . . . ..

That's all this whole thing was about . . . but you guys respond like the freakin' Scientologists. . . . the Church of Southwestology . . . .

 

[canyonblue]

All these airlines losing millions and their biggest concern is how Southwest taxi's. Pathetic. You want to taxi fast, taxi fast. You want to taxi slow, taxi slow. The tower runs the airport, not the pilots. Keep to a subject you have half a grasp on. And just for information, if you have to slam the brakes on and you're tossing F/A's around the cabin, guess what? You taxi too fast. Slooooooow Dooooooown.

 

[321 busdriver]

As a US Airways (Piedmont) guy for 19 years, I can honestly say that I have never noticed anything blatent. Maybe somewhat aggressive during taxi, but that's their style. I have found them to be professional and courteous. The fact that they have consistently kicked our butts is discouraging, but they have been professional in doing so.

 

[Captzaahlie]

if you have to slam the brakes on and you're tossing F/A's around the cabin, guess what? You taxi too fast. Slooooooow Dooooooown


Well said Canyon Blue!

One can be smooth and fast............it worked on my wife.

Don't even touch that one fella's

 

[Captzaahlie]

Hey Ty........
That Scientology stuff (not that I actually buy into it mind you) worked for Tom Cruise aka "mavrick" in Top Gun look how well he's down w/o even graduating from high school!
Only in America.....

 

[MAX ZORIN]

Guys,

I think things are blown out of proportion and are isolated incidents. The 10% rule applies. There are the 10% of pilots at EVERY airline that are jerks, or blatently bend the rules. Unfortunately, we all get stereotyped. FWIW.

Lately it seems like AirTran and Comair have sent their 10% directly to this website for self-esteem maintainence.
Ty, no amount of money or job security could get me in the right seat with a prick like you.

 

[saabcaptain]

I have no interest in bad-mouthing anybody but the prevalent fast-taxiing of SW planes is no myth. Five years of seeing confirms it. In fact, when I've commuted on y'all I liked it. The only cut-off maneuvers I've ever witnessed were committed by legacy carriers.

Every flight I ever took on SWA as well as years watching them confirms this too, SWA is faster than anyone else I see on a regular basis *by far.* IMHO *never* unsafe and never to cut anyone off or disregard ATC, just making things move because they can... and I like it.

 

[Captzaahlie]

Lately it seems like AirTran and Comair have sent their 10% directly to this website for self-esteem maintainence.
Ty, no amount of money or job security could get me in the right seat with a prick like you.

so much for the professionalism................

 

[Sy-bill]

Jeeze Ty baby. What is your beef with SWA?? What did they do to you? The only thing I can figure is they must have turned you down at some time. I am not part of the "cult" as you say and all I read and is that they have a great company that they are proud of. Yes I am envious of them but I don't let it consume me. They have more than I but I also have more than others. As well as you do.

Lighten up. If you haven't noticed you are losing a whole lot of respect from many on this board. I find that to be a very sad thing indeed for you seem not to care. Good luck to you man.

 

[Jack Schitt]

Let's cut Ty Webb some slack here. He still has his diapers on in the left seat and he's probably a little intimidated by the speed at which the professionals operate their aircraft. Being a corporate puke from Alabama, he's probably never taxied an aircraft at a major metropolitan airport before. I ask all SWA pilots to please refrain from using excessive speed whenever an Airtran 737 is nearby in hopes that Ty can soon gain confidence in his tiller skills. Thankyou.

 

[KC-10 Driver]

I've had enough of this. Let's turn this whole thread around...

I was holding short of 31L at JFK recently, an AA A300 was in position, but had a problem and was going to be delayed a minute or two. Tower told us there would be a delay while AA sorted out whatever their issue was.

Well, the AA crew offered to taxi to the first turn-off so we could depart, and then re-enter the line (which was only a couple of airplanes long). I thought it to be very cool of the AA crew to make the offer. Thanks AA for your professional courtesy.

Now, can't we all just get along?