Originally Posted by
Bluto
The thing that bugged me is the tone of SD's weekly update which seemed to suggest that we could solve the D-0 problem with briefings, planning, and leadership. When in reality, with the vast majority of departure delays, the only thing we can choose is whether to comply with policy (beacon on at push clearance) and worsen our already less than stellar on-time performance, or ignore the policy to reward the hard work of the rampers, agents, and everyone else whose fault ramp congestion is not.
I don't think he is suggesting that at all, but he can't sit in a inter-departmental meeting and just say we are doing nothing. SD knows where most of the problems lie but he needs to reassure the other depts that we are doing our part. They have come a long way in the last year toward better inter-departmental cooperation in this issue. Flight Ops formed a special project team to make a presentation to upper management outlining the various issues between Load Control, Gates, Ramp Control and us pilot people. I think all they are doing now is capsulizing our process.
Originally Posted by
iceman49
Loved the part about using the D7 to start the APU, sat on a 75 in ATL the other day, everyone was cooking in the back...don't want to cool it down in the back for the paying pax...gotta wait for the D7
My take is that the D7 event is just a good time to start the APU, if you have not already started it for a/c. There have been lots of written documents telling us to start the APU if needed earlier than D7.