While working Ground Control at MEM recently, I saw something that really got my attention: a string of four dollies with cargo containers rolling across the ramp WITHOUT A TUG PULLING THEM!

This aircraft destruction device was moving along at a rather quick pace, when a tug driver with his own string of dollies saw the damage that was about to take place. He gunned his tug (is that possible?), caught up with the unescorted dollies and slammed his tug into the lead dolly. The entire string turned towards left and driver was eventually able to position his tug between the string of dollies and the parked aircraft.

Sheesh... I saw arms waving and fingers pointing, but I wonder what the conversation was like?

I suppose that one guy got a "save" for his quick actions, while the other guy was issued "walking papers".

MEM_ATC

 

I'm sure there were some excited folks, but I doubt there was a guilty party identified. It's an incredibly busy industrial zone out there. Aircraft strikes occur rather frequently. Frankly, I'm surprised we don't kill somebody at least once a week.

Too bad you didn't capture the action on video!





- The truth only hurts if it should -

 

Hands down, the most dangerous parts of my night (day) are
A. Driving on I-240 to/from work
B. Riding the crew bus to/from the aircraft

But then I haven't flown with MM either!

 

As long as you aren't married to MM, I think you are safe.

 

fedex99999 does MM own an RV?

 

The ramp at night is a crazy place. The activity going on around the aircraft really makes me dread going up to the cargo ramp for an uplift. When we fuel you guys earlier in the evening we don't have an issue with loaders, people, and strings of containers while we're trying to back the truck under the wing to fuel up.

Please get your dispatchers to give a minimum of 40 for DC-10s out of STL, unless there's bad wx along the route, we will rarely have to uplift with this amount. I think Tony C or somebody told me it had to do with filing an alternate that is close to MEM and not realistic to use if you had to divert.

 

Damn....I don't work at FedEx and I know who that is. I wonder what it's like to fly with this person. Wasn't he a scab too?

 

Yep, still a non-member....

 

Standard FedEx alternate for MEM is NQA (Millington Regional Jetport) located 20 miles north of “Elvis Town”. NQA has an ILS; 8000 foot runway; extra large ramp, and FAR 139 certification. The NQA control tower and fire department are open until 2 AM Monday though Friday. These times are for the arrival of the FedEx inbound fleet. FedEx pays for this extra service and it has a tangible cost benefit. It allows FedEx the ability to carry a reduced fuel load on their aircraft and more cargo. This is when the weather is good. If the weather is not good, then FedEx typically uses alternates such as LIT, BNA, STL or BHM and carries extra fuel. Again it is a realistic alternate for good weather only. Some will say that NQA stands for "Not Quite an Alternate". This connotation was not envisioned when it was assigned to Naval Air Station Memphis back in the 40's.