Comments on: DOT has just guaranteed absolute bedlam for future weather events http://project7alpha.com/2009/12/dot-has-just-guaranteed-absolute-bedlam-for-future-weather-events/ American Airlines in Burma 1942 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:47:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Chip http://project7alpha.com/2009/12/dot-has-just-guaranteed-absolute-bedlam-for-future-weather-events/comment-page-1/#comment-388 Chip Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:55:51 +0000 http://project7alpha.com/?p=1081#comment-388 Rick; I have seen hundreds of aircraft in line at big airports. If one per aircraft wanted to come off it would require a lot of trucks. And if ten or twenty wanted off. It would take a bunch of buses. Also don't forget, a lot of the aircraft out there don't have steps. So you would have to have trucks with steps. AND it is going to be snowing/icing etc. Now you have a bunch of people going down exposed steps in the snow then walking around a taxiway with engines turning. The liability alone would prevent it IMO. I'm afraid what we will soon see under the threat of 27K fine per pax (probably more than most airlines make per flight) is mass cancellations. The risk/reward would not be worth it. One last thing. All this is for 1/100th of a percent of flights. I came down hard on the crew of the last flight this happened too. They were responsible for the welfare of their passengers. They can blame the company, airport, whatever; but ultimately they failed. Rick;
I have seen hundreds of aircraft in line at big airports. If one per aircraft wanted to come off it would require a lot of trucks. And if ten or twenty wanted off. It would take a bunch of buses. Also don’t forget, a lot of the aircraft out there don’t have steps. So you would have to have trucks with steps. AND it is going to be snowing/icing etc. Now you have a bunch of people going down exposed steps in the snow then walking around a taxiway with engines turning. The liability alone would prevent it IMO.

I’m afraid what we will soon see under the threat of 27K fine per pax (probably more than most airlines make per flight) is mass cancellations. The risk/reward would not be worth it.

One last thing. All this is for 1/100th of a percent of flights. I came down hard on the crew of the last flight this happened too. They were responsible for the welfare of their passengers. They can blame the company, airport, whatever; but ultimately they failed.

]]> By: Rick http://project7alpha.com/2009/12/dot-has-just-guaranteed-absolute-bedlam-for-future-weather-events/comment-page-1/#comment-387 Rick Sun, 27 Dec 2009 02:29:30 +0000 http://project7alpha.com/?p=1081#comment-387 Chip, That is a Hobson's Choice. With much respect, I don't think that is a good one. Who would not board the airplane in their zeal to "get there"? Everbody will take a chance "it'll be o.k.". IMHO there needs to be practical problem solving on the ground. Ergo, a service vehicle that can access a plane in line, and have onboard MRE food service, and toilet facilities, even if they can only serve 5 or 6 passengers at a time. I really feel a tactical and strategic direction like that needs to be looked at. Kinda like, "pullin' over on the shoulder" on a highway. Chip, That is a Hobson’s Choice. With much respect, I don’t think that is a good one. Who would not board the airplane in their zeal to “get there”? Everbody will take a chance “it’ll be o.k.”. IMHO there needs to be practical problem solving on the ground. Ergo, a service vehicle that can access a plane in line, and have onboard MRE food service, and toilet facilities, even if they can only serve 5 or 6 passengers at a time. I really feel a tactical and strategic direction like that needs to be looked at. Kinda like, “pullin’ over on the shoulder” on a highway.

]]> By: Chip http://project7alpha.com/2009/12/dot-has-just-guaranteed-absolute-bedlam-for-future-weather-events/comment-page-1/#comment-386 Chip Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:21:58 +0000 http://project7alpha.com/?p=1081#comment-386 Rick; Agreed and an even easier fix is to put some of the burden on the individual. i.e. "All flights will be delayed; if you do not want to sit on the ramp for X amount of hours do not board.". chip Rick;
Agreed and an even easier fix is to put some of the burden on the individual. i.e. “All flights will be delayed; if you do not want to sit on the ramp for X amount of hours do not board.”. chip

]]> By: Rick http://project7alpha.com/2009/12/dot-has-just-guaranteed-absolute-bedlam-for-future-weather-events/comment-page-1/#comment-385 Rick Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:28:30 +0000 http://project7alpha.com/?p=1081#comment-385 don't know how "plane" became "okabe", but I guess it was a typo. don’t know how “plane” became “okabe”, but I guess it was a typo.

]]> By: Rick http://project7alpha.com/2009/12/dot-has-just-guaranteed-absolute-bedlam-for-future-weather-events/comment-page-1/#comment-384 Rick Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:27:20 +0000 http://project7alpha.com/?p=1081#comment-384 Well, I don't know how many times I've gotten stuck parked "in the ballpark" at EWR,or on a side taxiway or ramp anywhere else, and sat there for a few hours waiting for a clearance. A bus that could access that okabe would have come in handy many, many times. I've thought about this a million times. It's a deliverable item...it should be on the table. Rick Well, I don’t know how many times I’ve gotten stuck parked “in the ballpark” at EWR,or on a side taxiway or ramp anywhere else, and sat there for a few hours waiting for a clearance. A bus that could access that okabe would have come in handy many, many times. I’ve thought about this a million times. It’s a deliverable item…it should be on the table.
Rick

]]> By: Chip http://project7alpha.com/2009/12/dot-has-just-guaranteed-absolute-bedlam-for-future-weather-events/comment-page-1/#comment-383 Chip Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:58:57 +0000 http://project7alpha.com/?p=1081#comment-383 Rick; They will need one with a ladder/steps. New aircraft don't have self contained steps, they need a jet bridge. I agree it would be easier/cheaper. However I suspect the TSA would not like the concept; makes too much sense. Rick;
They will need one with a ladder/steps. New aircraft don’t have self contained steps, they need a jet bridge. I agree it would be easier/cheaper. However I suspect the TSA would not like the concept; makes too much sense.

]]> By: Rick http://project7alpha.com/2009/12/dot-has-just-guaranteed-absolute-bedlam-for-future-weather-events/comment-page-1/#comment-382 Rick Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:40:23 +0000 http://project7alpha.com/?p=1081#comment-382 I've been thinking about this a lot. I'm going to throw a SWAG here that there will be some thought given to the possibility of a vehicle fleet on site at airports that can address these issues while aircraft are in a departure or de-ice line. If I was an airport manager, I'd be giving some hard thought to a vehicle that can travel outside of the taxiway (rough terrain capability), and still reach an aircraft with MRE food service and in-vehicle toilet facilities. Those gigantic buses at Dulles come to mind. Just a wild thought, but that's a lot cheaper and more efficient than taking a plane out of line and going back to a gate for a potential cancellation. We'll see how this plays out. I'm not a futurist...just trying to think outside of the box. I’ve been thinking about this a lot. I’m going to throw a SWAG here that there will be some thought given to the possibility of a vehicle fleet on site at airports that can address these issues while aircraft are in a departure or de-ice line. If I was an airport manager, I’d be giving some hard thought to a vehicle that can travel outside of the taxiway (rough terrain capability), and still reach an aircraft with MRE food service and in-vehicle toilet facilities. Those gigantic buses at Dulles come to mind. Just a wild thought, but that’s a lot cheaper and more efficient than taking a plane out of line and going back to a gate for a potential cancellation. We’ll see how this plays out. I’m not a futurist…just trying to think outside of the box.

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