There are some carriers who call for taxi, get into sequence, and then not be ready for takeoff. Happens a lot in BOS and LGA.

 

Don't get me wrong, I've heard it said, it's just that it's always been at an airport with the ability to have them sit a few out while the planes that were ready got launched. AT LGA and BOS, I can see how it happens because of the airport layout for the normal departure configurations. What the controllers should do with those guys is taxi them down the runway to the back of the conga line and have them try it again after everyone who was ready when they were supposed to be departs. In any event, it doesn't sound like that was the case here.

 

Boo hoo, cry us a river.

 

I used to experience the same thing in MIA following the silver jets who did not have their numbers and could not takeoff. Oh well... wasn't my gas, and I got paid whether I was on the ground or in the air... at the end of the day... didn't make much of a difference to me.

 

I've been on two or three AA planes where we've had to sit at the end of the runway for 5-10, even 15 minutes once to get our numbers. Never really understood it.

 

The controllers in JFK are usually very good about keeping everyone informed if there's two lines.

 

At UAL, I have had to taxi back to the gate on more than one occasion due to improper loading. With a full pax load, bags have to be moved.

On one occasion, the bag loader put the paperwork into his pocket, and went home at the end of his shift. Nobody knew what was in that pit, so we had to taxi back and look. Turns out that pit was empty, but we still had to verify it.

On several occasions, we were scheduled with light pax loads, and ferry fuel, but the previous flight canceled, and Pax service loaded the extra on our flight without mentioning it to the crew. This put us over max landing weight. As long as we had enough fuel to manage the weight this was workable, but we had to coordinate with dispatch as to how we planned to burnoff the excess fuel to get down to max landing weight. This took time, and was not part of the normal pre-takeoff flow.

Joe

 

I heard about some mysterious clouds… and how they seem to suck a few tons of fuel out of the wings.

 

All of us have made mistakes and had operational problems. If it happens, fess up. To expect the world to revolve around you with no explanation is simply arrogant.

 

AA usually gives us our #s on the taxi out. VERY rare to get them before pushback. Occasionally there is a snag at loads or the crew chief and we have to delay takeoff waiting for them. Just the way it is... I'd rather have them at the gate.