the dot didinterview mesaba ops and came to that conclusion. EVERY conversation between xjt dispatch and mesaba was recorded. XJT has a pretty thorough recording policy. If you are talking to scheduling, dispatch, chief pilot, etc... it is recorded.

 

Both airlines I have worked at have similar practices, I don't think that's something unique to XJT. Obviously everyone screwed up in this situation, I agree with the view that the captain probably failed to exercise enough authority but the thing we're not talking about is.... everyone is just worried about getting in trouble. From the captain's point of view, she can't get people off without airstairs(maybe someone could have commandeered airstairs but honestly I wouldn't know how to drive or work them... so I don't assume her FO did) The ground crew doesn't want to get in trouble, they're not sure what to do with a continental flight... they don't have tickets or information on continental passengers, there may or may not be a jetbridge that will work with an ERJ since I don't think delta flies any erjs in that area... so they're not sure if they can do that and are afraid of getting in trouble... Bottom line, there's plenty of blame to go around but just like an aviation incident.. it's a chain of events any one break in the chain causes a different outcome.. let's all just learn from this.

 

...and if you are unwilling to make a command-decision in the face of possible criticisms, then I'd say you are not fit for such command.

 

That's a pretty easy statement to make. But just for a frame of reference here for all the 3 1/2 stripe/right seat CA's out there.

How much time do you have in the PIC/AC seat that deems you eligible to make that criticism? Did you listen to the recordings? When you go for your type ride, if EVERYTHING you did on that check was flawless and without error, or could not have been handled better, I'd love to hear about it.

Were you not the one that put out a post wanting to talk to Hornet pilots because you were "sure" that was the platform you were going to get, now it says "future C-130". What happened?

 

For clarification probably C-130 vs Hornet would mean Marines. It's my understanding that the Marines assign equipment based on the needs of the Marine Corps, perhaps you're thinking more along the Air Force model where equipment is assigned by class standing. If I'm wrong someone correct me... but if your unstated accusation is that he failed in some way, that's not necessarily accurate.

 

compadre of mine back in the Corps was top of his class at P-cola and went Hercs, God bless him,and you are right,the needs of the Corps trump all !

 

Well said. At the end of the day, this should stand as a learning opportunity for all, not a blame fest. The Feds will, and have already, dole out plenty of that along with whatever sanctions they deem appropriate to the responsible party(ies). It's a shame that we have to resort to calling coworkers names and looking down our noses at them. there's really no place for it, especially given that, as near as I can tell, no one that has posted here to date was personally involved, and therefore not personally offended.

 

True enough, but speaking from experience, if they did have someone on duty, they should have been monitoring the weather. My experience has been that when NOTAMS &/or PIREP's were issued for airfields within 100 miles of PBI, we were put on alert for possible diversons. But even so, Mesaba could have done more in terms of contacting airport ops personnel through an emergency phone list of some sort.


atp

 

Nope, but for your clarification, click here;

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mi...t-drivers.html

Seemed pretty sure he was getting Hornets, and not in the USMC.

Not at all, I was simply curious how a guy goes from being sure he's getting the Hornet to being "future C-130".

 

You are absolutely correct. 100%. Safety of your passengers is your number one responsibility as a captain. Those of you who compromise the safety of your passengers just so you won't face criticism shouldn't be in that position.
Yes I'm an FO with no captain experience. Thanks for all of the previous posts reminding me of that. I say there are always a few pilots in captain upgrade class who slip through the cracks.
I wonder where the airport manager was. How can a Mesaba gate agent make such a decision? Did she have the authority to let everyone off the plane to hang out in the gate area? I DID listen to the recordings posted on XJT's website. The Mesaba station ops person on the phone did not help things. But it seems like her hands were tied. The Mesaba ops lady should have transfered the XJT's hub manager to HER supervisor WAY sooner than 4 hours after the fact.