When the power went out the FBO lost it's radio AND telephone. There was no way to call them. The JetBlue flight was also blocked in by other airplanes and couldn't taxi. If they could taxi, much of the airport was unplowed, taxiiway signs covered, and visibility so low that the tower couldn't see them.

The Dispatch Release is a planning tool. One in flight is the PIC's call subject to the usual monday morning quarterbacking. I doubt the FAA has a dog in the fight unless the alternate used is not an approved airport as listed in the Ops Specs. Even then it may not be a violation if emergency authority is used.

That being said, there is no way I would want to go off the reaervation with a plane load of passengers and crew.

Exactly. Had to divert from ATL one night. (Actually, the same night FTB was talking about above.) Holding east of Atlanta. Storms rolling through. AGS was our dispatch alternate. Sitting in the holding pattern, heard a bunch of guys heading to AGS and SAV. Called the dispatcher with our plan to go to JAX. He agreed, it being south of the line and no one heading that way. We lead the pack into there and got a gate. Others had to park at the remote stand.

Lesson learned: Pay attention to what is going on, Make an INFORMED decision, and don't hesitate.

I agree. This is a good lesson for all of us, even if it may not apply specifically to JB's situation: pay attention to the BIG picture and plan and ACT accordingly.

Sorry, a Delta flow chart and KC10 is a Delta pilot so that's why I brought it up.

It'd be nice to find but I don't think there is a generic Part 121 regulation that states: No PIC shall initiate a divert to an airport not listed as an alternate without first contacting dispatch or using their emergency authority...

Although there is this but I need to research it more, I guess as always it all falls back to what is in the airlines Ops Specs:

Here is a thread on the subject:

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/ma...under-far.html

Imagine the difference if you're sitting up there with an ipad and the weather channel app?

I kind of remember being told that night that MGM and BHM were saturated but as has been mentioned before who cares if it's saturated if it's in the clear?

That was just the damnedest thing watching one line after another come through. And we just sat there waiting and waiting and then ended up flying into DCA with 1/19 closed and a full airplane at 3 in the morning. I watched the sun come up and then went to bed and then came back after 8 hours away from the plane and got an FAA Inspector in the JS. Who btw, was very cool. Learned a lot about what's going on at Delta.

Soo...are you going to tell the rest of us, "what's going on at Delta"?

Because from what I've seen, nobody managing Delta knows what's going on at Delta!

Ha, nobody may know what's going on but the FAA know whats gotten off the drawing board and is being requested. :) however it wasn't insider NDA stuff.

Hey, does the FAA have a rule for airports that says if you are an alternate airport or have XX amount of gates that have airstairs accessible to all airlines to use and/or buses or if large enough a people mover.

I mean I've been in ATL when there are no gates for a long time for inbound flights. They could use people movers from a designated area to get people off, crews and bags will follow later.

Except they don't have any people movers, or people mover drivers. That would take time and money, and you know they aren't going to spend any of that.

What they do have is plenty of miss-connected pizz'd off People, who sat on an airplane for 20-30 minutes waiting for a gate!