Originally Posted by
SharkyBN584
Here we go:
Our weights are actually FAA standard. We did a measurement...but of course it was done in the northeast where everyone is fatter and in MCO where everyone is traveling with everything they own for the 3 month vacation at Disney world. In the end...it back fired. So, we have the FAA standard weights...which suck. A lot.
My gripe with CAL hardstand is not that we can't operate there...it's the Ramp/Gate Agents don't want us there. Trust me, they are less than enthusiastic to get us what we need to get out. Every other carrier has no problem handing us the W&B paperwork we need 5 minutes prior...in IAH you're lucky to get it by departure time. We don't have ACARS on the 145, which means we're spinning the wheel by hand. Also, asking for anything like...oh...i don't know...semi-accurate counts for PAX and Bags beforehand is like apparently akin to asking them to make the earth spin in a different direction. Also, their ability to due simple math (i.e. 1 PAX = 6 bags) to get them to remove either some bags or people is a 20 minute ordeal. Even when just say "Hey, do this..." it takes 30 minutes to get it DONE. Our operation starting there was definately a cluster, and to a certain extent still is...but somehow we operate with above average completion and on-time performance with EVERY OTHER CARRIER than Continental AT IAH....170 included (which does have ACARS and it's not our "own BS times").
Well boo fricken hoo
The reason the ramp and gate agents are not all warm and fuzzy to you guys (yet) is that you DO create some major headaches for them. Imagine having 10 angry pax show up at your counter who aren't going where they want (and paid to go) because the airplane simply isn't capable of carrying them (not the pilots' fault, this was a management decision made by CHQ and CAL). I bet that makes their day. Who cares how many pax are supposed to get on the plane? The agents are usually off by at least 4 or 5 anyway. I usually plan on 50 and work back from there. Want a semi-accurate bag count? Ask the ramper loading the bags or get good at looking at the bag cart and estimating. We regularly don't get the bag sheet until right before they close because of the gate checks and pax showing up at the last minute. Whats y'alls problem? On the rare occasions where we've had to bump someone it also takes 10 minutes or so because they have to offer compensation to volunteers. If that doesn't work they have a system for determining who gets pulled off. They don't just grab whoever is closest to the door. Oh, and ACARS doesn't spin the wheel. Its just a calculator for showing you what weights are in what zones. We're all wheel spinnin SOBs.