Walkarounds required every leg now

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04-12-2023, 11:46 AM

#11

Smooth at FL450

weekends off? Nope...

Joined APC: Apr 2014

Posts: 2,021

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lewbronski

Don’t know all the details in terms of how it was handled with the FAA, but in a nutshell, our ramp personnel were allowed to visually inspect the jets between flights. We had to do them for the first flight in each jet (starting the day or tail change) and at the end of the day when not terminating at a maintenance base or when the next crew wasn’t there to meet the jet.

I haven’t seen the new guidance yet to know if all of that is now changed, but it sounds like the big change will be having to do walk arounds between flights even when keeping the jet.

when keeping the jet AND when on a swap and the new crew isn’t there to meet you…good luck with those tight commutes!

04-12-2023, 11:49 AM

#12

Lewbronski

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Joined APC: Feb 2018

Posts: 1,264

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excargodog

So was this a NEGOTIATED change in the CBA? Just asking, because you guys are - you know - NEGOTIATING, and even just discussing working just to the contract and not taking premium pay would get you guys taken to the RLA woodshed…

Nope, not negotiated. Directed by management. I think this would fall under “right to manage.” The CBA doesn’t specifically address operational issues like this. Does it at other places?

The funny thing is that they’re claiming part of the reason they’re doing it is to align us with industry standards. Which is funny because one of the few areas we led in was number of exterior inspections required by pilots per flight. I didn’t think industry standard was something the company cared about here.

Does that mean they’re also going to start bringing all the ways we still lag up to at least industry standard? Are we soon going to be getting industry-standard or better career compensation, disability, and B-Fund contributions? Or does it mean they’re going to bring the one or two ways we still have an edge over the industry (like our zero-dollar monthly deductible Regular health care plan) down to industry standard or worse?

04-12-2023, 03:12 PM

#13

tm602

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Joined APC: Dec 2014

Position: Just a pilot

Posts: 762

They told us in CQ that it was because some dents got by and the two stations were pointing at eachother over who missed it. So…pilots can catch it now.

04-12-2023, 03:19 PM

#14

Smooth at FL450

weekends off? Nope...

Joined APC: Apr 2014

Posts: 2,021

Quote:

Originally Posted by tm602

They told us in CQ that it was because some dents got by and the two stations were pointing at eachother over who missed it. So…pilots can catch it now.

Sounds to me like they want the walk around to be the last item accomplished before closing the door, once all equipment has cleared. Whats the point of doing it any earlier?

04-12-2023, 03:22 PM

#15

journeybird

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Joined APC: Mar 2018

Posts: 101

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooth at FL450

Sounds to me like they want the walk around to be the last item accomplished before closing the door, once all equipment has cleared. Whats the point of doing it any earlier?

So two walk arounds then. A post to catch inbound issues AND preflight once equipment is clear prior to push.

04-12-2023, 03:58 PM

#16

Zard

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Joined APC: Dec 2017

Position: 737 FO

Posts: 989

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooth at FL450

Sounds to me like they want the walk around to be the last item accomplished before closing the door, once all equipment has cleared. Whats the point of doing it any earlier?

When the lights for the doors are all out and I hear the ding, I'll be hopping up to do a thorough walk-around. No point in doing it early.

I don't think the outcome is going to help their darling on-time departure metric.

04-12-2023, 06:04 PM

#17

Psycho18th

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Posts: 252

I read it. Worded Just like the preflight, it’s usually accomplished by the FO, but either pilot can do it.

04-12-2023, 06:37 PM

#18

Smooth at FL450

weekends off? Nope...

Joined APC: Apr 2014

Posts: 2,021

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zard

Exactly my plan. Doing it earlier defeats the purpose.

04-12-2023, 07:25 PM

#19

e6bpilot

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Joined APC: Apr 2013

Posts: 3,670

Quote:

Originally Posted by tm602

They told us in CQ that it was because some dents got by and the two stations were pointing at eachother over who missed it. So…pilots can catch it now.

I was told about a year ago from a standards check airman that this was coming. He said it was to align us with IATA practices so that we can become a member airline. I am not sure what that entails or what IATA even does.
Granted, most check airman rumors are complete BS, but he actually called this one, so maybe a grain of truth to it.

04-12-2023, 08:31 PM

#20

AirBear

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Position: Retired NJA & AA

Posts: 2,009

I'm surprised SWA didn't already have this. I was a F/E on the B727 at USAir back in the 90's. Flew a short trip CLT-AVL. I did the walkaround at AVL and noticed the hydraulic service panel cover was "gone with the wind". Mx had been working on it when I did my walkaround in CLT. They signed the logbook and off we went. At AVL the return flight was cx. They had a sheet metal shop cut a cover to fit and then speed taped it on for the ferry flight back to CLT.