Captain Charm School Impressions
02-21-2018, 11:30 AM
#81
Pilot Response
Joined APC: May 2011
Position: A320 Captain
Posts: 479
Sometimes there is a work around, if you are so inclined to try something outside the box.
Twice in IAH in the last 5 years I've had a jet with inop APU that would not cool down on the gate in the summer time.
Hot sunny day, VFR all the way to destination (domestic).
Ordered extra 1000 lbs gas.
Told gate if they want the plane to depart, to,collect all carry-on that might be gate checked and send them down prior to boarding.
Once the bellies were loaded and closed up, we would start right engine at gate, cool down jet, board, push, crossbleed, depart.
Gate and ramp agreed. Added about 20 minutes to departure dance at gate.
Everybody happy,... including flight attendants who didn't have sweat stained necks during boarding.
Unfortunately, Boeing did not design the 57 to be cooled with ground air on a sunny day when it's above 85 and humid.
Twice in IAH in the last 5 years I've had a jet with inop APU that would not cool down on the gate in the summer time.
Hot sunny day, VFR all the way to destination (domestic).
Ordered extra 1000 lbs gas.
Told gate if they want the plane to depart, to,collect all carry-on that might be gate checked and send them down prior to boarding.
Once the bellies were loaded and closed up, we would start right engine at gate, cool down jet, board, push, crossbleed, depart.
Gate and ramp agreed. Added about 20 minutes to departure dance at gate.
Everybody happy,... including flight attendants who didn't have sweat stained necks during boarding.
Unfortunately, Boeing did not design the 57 to be cooled with ground air on a sunny day when it's above 85 and humid.
02-21-2018, 12:03 PM
#82
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,244
Sometimes there is a work around, if you are so inclined to try something outside the box.
Twice in IAH in the last 5 years I've had a jet with inop APU that would not cool down on the gate in the summer time.
Hot sunny day, VFR all the way to destination (domestic).
Ordered extra 1000 lbs gas.
Told gate if they want the plane to depart, to,collect all carry-on that might be gate checked and send them down prior to boarding.
Once the bellies were loaded and closed up, we would start right engine at gate, cool down jet, board, push, crossbleed, depart.
Gate and ramp agreed. Added about 20 minutes to departure dance at gate.
Everybody happy,... including flight attendants who didn't have sweat stained necks during boarding.
Unfortunately, Boeing did not design the 57 to be cooled with ground air on a sunny day when it's above 85 and humid.
Twice in IAH in the last 5 years I've had a jet with inop APU that would not cool down on the gate in the summer time.
Hot sunny day, VFR all the way to destination (domestic).
Ordered extra 1000 lbs gas.
Told gate if they want the plane to depart, to,collect all carry-on that might be gate checked and send them down prior to boarding.
Once the bellies were loaded and closed up, we would start right engine at gate, cool down jet, board, push, crossbleed, depart.
Gate and ramp agreed. Added about 20 minutes to departure dance at gate.
Everybody happy,... including flight attendants who didn't have sweat stained necks during boarding.
Unfortunately, Boeing did not design the 57 to be cooled with ground air on a sunny day when it's above 85 and humid.
02-21-2018, 02:02 PM
#84
Stuck Mic
Joined APC: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,059
02-21-2018, 06:26 PM
#85
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,253
Sometimes there is a work around, if you are so inclined to try something outside the box.
Twice in IAH in the last 5 years I've had a jet with inop APU that would not cool down on the gate in the summer time.
Hot sunny day, VFR all the way to destination (domestic).
Ordered extra 1000 lbs gas.
Told gate if they want the plane to depart, to,collect all carry-on that might be gate checked and send them down prior to boarding.
Once the bellies were loaded and closed up, we would start right engine at gate, cool down jet, board, push, crossbleed, depart.
Gate and ramp agreed. Added about 20 minutes to departure dance at gate.
Everybody happy,... including flight attendants who didn't have sweat stained necks during boarding.
Unfortunately, Boeing did not design the 57 to be cooled with ground air on a sunny day when it's above 85 and humid.
Twice in IAH in the last 5 years I've had a jet with inop APU that would not cool down on the gate in the summer time.
Hot sunny day, VFR all the way to destination (domestic).
Ordered extra 1000 lbs gas.
Told gate if they want the plane to depart, to,collect all carry-on that might be gate checked and send them down prior to boarding.
Once the bellies were loaded and closed up, we would start right engine at gate, cool down jet, board, push, crossbleed, depart.
Gate and ramp agreed. Added about 20 minutes to departure dance at gate.
Everybody happy,... including flight attendants who didn't have sweat stained necks during boarding.
Unfortunately, Boeing did not design the 57 to be cooled with ground air on a sunny day when it's above 85 and humid.
02-22-2018, 01:44 AM
#87
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2015
Posts: 293
One of my last trips to MEX, we were brought a plane with an inop APU. I ran down to the ramp and implored them to get air hooked up ASAP.
Guess what? No conditioned air in MEX. I then asked them to hook up the huffer so that we could at least keep the packs running for the hour the plane sat on the ramp. Guess what? The huffer in MEX is barely capable of starting an engine, let alone run the packs. So, they refused our request. It was in the middle of the summer. Once loaded and hooked up, it took three tries to get an engine running with their crapped out huffer. What do you suppose the temp was in the cabin that day?
So, for all who claim that troublemakers are refusing reasonably airworthy planes, here is my anecdotal evidence that suggests other guys are carrying trash because they think....well hell, I don't know what they were thinking other than "Gosh, I sure don't want to take a call from the CP!".
Boy, we really shined that day. I wonder what Oscar would have said if he knew the whole story?
Stupid is as stupid does. And that was off the chart stupid.
Could we have refused the plane? Of course. And how would that have looked? Guys on APC would be giving us the giant (female canine) slap for buffoonery. "Why, I used to fly Twin Otters! We could only DREAM of an APU!"
Was the company better off getting it back into service, where it could be properly serviced? Of course. But that plane should never have been dispatched to MEX with an INOP APU.
Some hard decisions are easy.
Guess what? No conditioned air in MEX. I then asked them to hook up the huffer so that we could at least keep the packs running for the hour the plane sat on the ramp. Guess what? The huffer in MEX is barely capable of starting an engine, let alone run the packs. So, they refused our request. It was in the middle of the summer. Once loaded and hooked up, it took three tries to get an engine running with their crapped out huffer. What do you suppose the temp was in the cabin that day?
So, for all who claim that troublemakers are refusing reasonably airworthy planes, here is my anecdotal evidence that suggests other guys are carrying trash because they think....well hell, I don't know what they were thinking other than "Gosh, I sure don't want to take a call from the CP!".
Boy, we really shined that day. I wonder what Oscar would have said if he knew the whole story?
Stupid is as stupid does. And that was off the chart stupid.
Could we have refused the plane? Of course. And how would that have looked? Guys on APC would be giving us the giant (female canine) slap for buffoonery. "Why, I used to fly Twin Otters! We could only DREAM of an APU!"
Was the company better off getting it back into service, where it could be properly serviced? Of course. But that plane should never have been dispatched to MEX with an INOP APU.
Some hard decisions are easy.
02-22-2018, 04:01 AM
#89
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2014
Position: Head pillow fluffer, Assistant bed maker
Posts: 1,315
02-22-2018, 05:00 AM
#90
Banned
Joined APC: May 2014
Position: Tom’s Whipping boy.
Posts: 1,182
Soon will be 40 years of flying without a bruised passenger or a scratch to a plane.
Thanks to a couple of you who responded just as I would expect... ME FIRST, My wallet, my comfort, my schedule-forget those people in back depending on you to get them to that wedding, funeral, dream vacation flight connection ,......
Good examples of the culture of "ME" that has persisted so long and helped drive away customers.
Funny, as an aside I called the FODM back later that afternoon to ask about engine run pay. He said "already done".
Not everyone here is a self absorbed jerk.
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