Question for Dash-8 Drivers
 

I am needing to get from GUC-DEN and was wondering if the Dash-8’s have weight restriction problems as far as taking a jump-seater is concerned? Also, GUC is a mountainous area so specifically for you Mesa guys who operate the flight: Do the mountains put a weight restriction on the flight that would no allow a jump-seater to get on? It’s scheduled to be a full flight so just trying to figure out whether or not I need to make alternate plans.

Thanks in advance

Depends on what type of Dash 8 it is. Usually the 100 is the most restricted because of the underpowered engines. The 200 is better because it has the 300 type engines on it. For example, with Piedmont, we can fill all 50 seats in our 300 plus a jumpseater. The most we can get in our 100s with no kids is 35 ish.

pretty sure mesa operates only dhc8 200s so the jumpseat weight shouldn't be an issue.

I have never operated a flight where we had to leave a jumpseater, if it comes to the worst we will move a bag or four out of the baggage compartment and put it up front with the pax.

t207.... Maybe your company doesn't operate the same as mine.. but we are prohibited by TSA/FAA security regulations from bringing carry-on bags up from the cargo bin once they have been put there as this poses a possible security risk as they have now been with unscreened checked bags and out of possession of the owner. And checked bags can, of coures, never be brought to the cabin because they are not security screened. Not saying anyone likes leaving people behind, but the day a person looses their career for breaking federal regs .. that's the day that person will regret choosing to perform illegal actions just so a stranger can catch a ride 3 hours earlier. It's just not worth ruining your career to try to get that extra person on. Ask the guys who have tried it and are now jobless... i know one personally. Be safe out there all.. and use your heads.

Yeah you don't want to mess with that stuff. Couple of people have gotten fired for doing that stuff at Piedmont

Umm...how is moving carry-on bags from the cargo pit to the cabin a security risk? If they stayed in back, those same "tainted" carry-on bags will be handed back to the passengers at the end of the flight.

I guess some evil genius could train a monkey to hide in their checked bag, wait for their carry-on the be put in the back, transfer the weapon of choice to the carry-on & hide again in the checked bag. Then when weight and balance is a problem the "tainted" carry-on gets put in the cabin. Brilliant!

We are able to move carry-ons back into the cabin to help with weight and balance. Your FOM may not allow it but I don't think it is breaking a FAR.

I remember bringing bags up front pretty regularly, never was an issue. When I was at Mesa GUC, DRO, ASE and HDN all seemed to have weight restriction issues but it was hit and miss depending on the day but we always did seem to work it out with jumpseaters, I would definitely plan for the worst though.

Are we mixing up checked luggage with a green/orange tagged carry on at the plane side?? I can see the argument for checked luggage.

Thats what it was! Many people just throw their luggage on the cart even if its a purse.