Airline Pilot Central Forums - World MD-11 on its tail

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Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyBoyd (Post 1291675)

Yes, the nose gear is tethered down to the ground or a weight cart is tethered to the nose gear.

That's not true. UPS does not use a nose tether. World usually doesn't unless the customer provides one (ie flying for FedEx). Otherwise there's a sequential load/unload procedure that requires certain weight stay in the nose at all times.

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCFLYR (Post 1291682)

Are the crews responsible for any portion of the loading/offloading of the aircraft in these ACMI operations or are they already off site when loading/unloading usually occurs?

USMCFLYR

World, and most ACMI carriers, use a loadmaster to handle all this. Usually the crew is long gone to the hotel, or doing the preflight for the next flight.

The problem with using one loadmaster is they can't be watching everything at all times, and some overzealous contract ground crew may start unloading the forward bellies before they should while the ops rep is on the main deck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palmtree Pilot (Post 1291689)

Not the flight crews. There are trained ops reps/load masters on the aircraft that are responsible for loading and unloading. Some get the $h!t worked out em and worked fatigued. I've seen MX and OPs guys on the plane for 46 hours before. Unfortunately the management at World has turned the place into a bottom feeder quality outfit from all of the corner cutting. :mad:

I was going to ask if there were loadmasters, but I figured that they wouldn't have extra bodies assigned to the crew and would just let some type of local operation (not necessarily 'locals') handle the loading and unloading - but company cargo handlers based at these outstations who would handle those chores.

USMCFLYR

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deespatcher (Post 1291690)

True statement! Sequential loading...ooops!

Not like it's the FIRST time it's ever happened.

GAC, KAL air cargo, Varig,

Ah the good old days of onload offload operations.....always leave a can or pallet in the door.

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCFLYR (Post 1291697)

At K4 for our Afghanistan ops we have station loadmasters that are assigned in country at 4 of our 5 destinations.

Depending on the load we may carry a LM as part of the crew as well.

FedEx don't tether at Bagram either. Charter flights carry a loadmaster for sequential loading.

I remember flying Metroliners out of Palm Springs filled with Marines and their duffle bags. The only thing stopping it from falling on its tail was to keep the fat a$$ Captain in his seat.:rolleyes:

Glad no one was hurt. That must have been quite the site to see....

Could have ended very badly if someone was between two cans. Glad nobody got hurt.