SouthWest - Virgin (testy pilot exchange)

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[Alexx1401]

I have read a few times that there has been several "too close for comfort" things going on at airports for a while now. Some are "claiming" that "woke" is being used to hire for these jobs now too. If this is true its only a matter of time before we have some major disaster of course.

 

[Nosferatu]

If the Hatfield's & McCoy's owned airlines....

 

[Provincial]

The ground controller didn't communicate to Virgin that there was potential conflict at the ramp. Bad training or bad procedure policy.

Virgin probably was probably late departing, and this added delay would make it even worse. He will have to explain the delay, which will be more paperwork. "I will be filing" an empty threat to SW, because SW was following proper procedures. Perhaps the controller will get a talking to, or ATC will have to change local procedures. Both of those will be improvements.

Snippy comments by the bystanders probably didn't help Virgin's attitude, but are a tradition in ATC communications. The game is to not say enough to be interfering with necessary communications, and also not identify yourself. One technique is for the comments be made by the pilot who is not doing the regular communicating, so the voice is unfamiliar. In this case the commenter refrains from any further transmissions until at least two ATC sectors away. Controllers can also participate, but since they are readily identifiable, they have to be very careful. Usually their comments are communicated by tone of voice, or other subtleties.

All this involves maintaining a high state of professionalism, conscientiousness, and safety, while keeping a level of humanity. It gets a little looser late at night and when traffic is light.

 

[Provincial]

To follow up on my comment about ATC having to be subtle in what they say, and keep a level of professionalism while getting the point across:

One evening on a flight from Portland to Spokane, I heard a plane check in to the Sector controller "heading 290 for Portland, level 8,000." The controller replied, telling him "(flight ###) continue heading 290, 8,000." The next communication was "Seattle Center (flight ###), it looks like heading 270 will take us direct Portland. Requesting heading 270." The controller replied "(flight ###) heading 270 will take you direct Mount Adams, fly heading 290." Mount Adams is about 10,000 ft. high.

 

[Bacchus]

Some are "claiming" that "woke" is being used to hire for these jobs now too. If this is true its only a matter of time before we have some major disaster of course.

Then the airlines should post warning signs that some of the crew were not hired on a basis of merit. That way the customers can choose what they prefer.

Better yet, force the woke customers to fly woke. That way everybody gets what they want … and deserve.

 

[DirectDrive]

Screwed up system.
ATC isn't controlling ground traffic and wants to leave it up to the captains to sort it out.
They at least need a ground man to maintain order.
Instead we have a Colonist backing up without a spotter and a snarky Redcoat driving into the colonist's maneuvering space.
Two ya-hoos vying for the same piece of tarmac.

 

[Provincial]

Screwed up system.
ATC isn't controlling ground traffic and wants to leave it up to the captains to sort it out.
They at least need a ground man to maintain order.
Instead we have a Colonist backing up without a spotter and a snarky Redcoat driving into the colonist's maneuvering space.
Two ya-hoos vying for the same piece of tarmac.

The pilots have no control over the pushback once they tell the ground crew that the airplane is ready. It is the ground crew that determines if it is safe to push back. And they assuredly did have a spotter, since the airplane was not allowed to move without one, based on Airline and FAA policy. The FAA ground controller was very clear that he did not have control over that ramp area. Either Virgin hadn't come up on ground frequency when the smaller aircraft called ground to report their pushback and the ensuing discussion, or Virgin wasn't paying attention to what was going on ahead of their position.

It sounds like Virgin felt that they should have had the right-of-way since they were bigger. Actually, it you watch the diagram representing the location of the airplanes, the smaller airplane needed to be moved because it was impeding traffic to several gates. Virgin just ambled into a temporary congestion and had to wait until it worked itself out.

The snippy comments from other pilots tell you what real professionals thought about the incident.

 

[DirectDrive]

The pilots have no control over the pushback once they tell the ground crew that the airplane is ready. It is the ground crew that determines if it is safe to push back. And they assuredly did have a spotter, since the airplane was not allowed to move without one, based on Airline and FAA policy. The FAA ground controller was very clear that he did not have control over that ramp area. Either Virgin hadn't come up on ground frequency when the smaller aircraft called ground to report their pushback and the ensuing discussion, or Virgin wasn't paying attention to what was going on ahead of their position.

It sounds like Virgin felt that they should have had the right-of-way since they were bigger. Actually, it you watch the diagram representing the location of the airplanes, the smaller airplane needed to be moved because it was impeding traffic to several gates. Virgin just ambled into a temporary congestion and had to wait until it worked itself out.

The snippy comments from other pilots tell you what real professionals thought about the incident.

Looked to me that they sided with Virgin and that Southwest has a "me first" culture.

 

[Provincial]

Every parent has experienced what happens when an adult isn't around.

 

[DirectDrive]

Every parent has experienced what happens when an adult isn't around.

Next time I see feral kids running wild I'll see future Southwest employees.

 

[Descendant]

Does the ground crew have mandatory drug testing? That did not look safe from here on my throne of ammo.