At my previous airline minor maintenance issue at outstation (LAV)...

1) Call MX
2) Write up LAV
3) Pilot defers LAV, places sticker in cockpit, locks LAV and tells PAX to take care of business prior to boarding

2 minute process

Same issue at DCI carrier at outstation (LAV)...

1) Call MX
2) Write up LAV
3) MX tells pilot that mechanic has been called and will be there in 1.5-2 hours to defer LAV, place sticker in cockpit, lock LAV and tells PAX to take care of business prior to boarding

2.5 hour process with entire flight missing connection.

:mad: Got to admit, makes everybody think twice about calling MX.

I agree with you. Even our scope is hard to enforce when the company just chooses to ignore it.

Point being, "they aint our passengers... who cares, maybe the next flight will cancel and I can go home early. Hey, did you hear Wendy's is hiring? They pay fifty cents more per hour."

Candidly, who can blame them? Pinnacle's in bankruptcy. Colgan's departed. Expressjet is losing money, Skywest is picking a fight with Delta, Republic's got no clear future, management will barely commit to Comair for the next 60 days. What motivation do these employees really have?

Clean employment history to get hired at mainline? :rolleyes:

As for SKW, we will see if its a real fight or a point of opportunity for both parties. Time will tell.

Bad day at UCH, stock down 7% on failing to meet analysts' expectations (expecting $1.60/share, earning $1.40/share). Add to that a crew force that's voted overwhelmingly to go on strike.

:D :D :D

Funny, but true! Hope you enjoy it Bill!!

From a secret company manual at an unnamed DCI carrier:

In response to Delta's continuing efforts to improve the customer service experience and build on its commitment to its customers, (secret airline's name here) new guidelines concerning passenger comfort restrictions on the aircraft are as follows:

• Minimum Lavatory Deferral Standards - No flight may depart with less than one operative lavatory on a flight exceeding 60 minutes without prior coordination and approval from SOCC...

If this is the official Delta edict, then ASA was just following orders.

60mins block or enroute?

I'm sure SOCC approval would take 10 seconds and not a single thought. They care about performance not passengers.

It's block in secret regional company's manual, but who knows what Delta's official marching orders are?

It's probably somewhere between "the law of unintended consequences" and "last time we tried to adapt/improvise/overcome we got spanked, so just wait for MX"

Not questioning the crew. Captain was doing all he could to get things moving. I just got the feeling that he was stuck working within a very poor system without much help.