Thread: Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
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Old 11-29-2012 | 04:44 AM
  #116604  
orvil
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Decoupled
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Originally Posted by FmrFreightDog
At which point, the good Captain got on the PA, told the passengers we had a mechanical situation that required us to change airplanes, and then proceeded to tell them everything they did not EVER need to know about back up hydraulics, engine failures, gear retraction, and second segment climb requirements. I wish I could say I was making this up, but the words "flaming ball of wreckage" were actually spoken....

The original plane was full. The replacement plane was not. Good times.
You have to be careful with PA's. Here is my true story.

I'm an FO on the 727. Captain's leg into MIA. Anti-skid inop.

He has a very firm landing. Felt like we blew the left side main mounts.

As we are taxiing off the runway at significant list, tower contacts us and says "Delta, you may be on fire."

I suggested to the the Captain that he stick his head out the window to look, I thought we had just blown some tires.

As I was talking to tower, the Captain began to make a PA. From a distance I think I hear him say "Ladies and Gentlemen, we may be on fire."

I got off the radio and said "What did you just say?"

The SO (that's second officer or flight engineer for you youngsters) tapped me on the shoulder and asked "What are those people doing on the runway?"

We realized that the F/A's had only heard "fire" and started the evacuation. All the engines were running. I don't even think the brakes were set.

On the bright side, the slides weren't sucked into the engines. We opened the cockpit door and the airplane was empty. We shut the engines down. Maintenance came out and changed two tires.

We taxied to the gate. Empty. Turned the airplane and went back to DFW.

I got a phone call.

Moral of story. Be careful with PA's. This policy is disaster.