Airbus A319 unable to unload due to the wind?
Discussion
Not a regular poster, more a reader but I'm in need of a little advice for those a little more knowledgable than myself. Recently I was dispatched off to Bristol airport to collect my younger sister who'd was inbound from Edinburgh courtesy of Easyjet. Given the weather was particulary windy (they were estimating gusts of 60mph) I wasn't convinced they'd schedule the flight.
Alas, they did and upon landing she was was informed it was too windy to unload the baggage from the hold on the standing and instead told to go home and they would send her luggage on in due course. Ie, when the wind had dropped. Being somewhat upset (she had another 4hrs to travel following and overnight stay at my house and literally, nothing) and with teh easyjet desk deserted I rang customer care only to be met with no end of automated responses before being pitched into silence.
So, as you do I leaned over the desk, found an internal number for Easyjet oppeartions and rang them opting for option three - opperations. A surprised chap answered and immediately demmanded to know how I obtained his number. Still, to be fair he listened to the situation and then proceeded to explain "somebody" had made the decision that it was unsafe to open the hold doors, plus teh ramp/lift/stairs/whatever they used was too light and would be blown away, perhaps damaging the airline. Weird given the steps they use to unload passengers at Bristol are as structurally sound as those used to gain access to a loft. Equally weird in my eyes was how a plane could land in the wind, taxi in teh wind, offload passengers in the wind but not unload a few suitcases in the wind? I did put this too him, but seems there is no design flaws with the aircraft.
Having promised to have somebody from the airport ground staff come over to speak to the know growing crowd of people at the desk, the call ended. Enter stage left a ladt from Menzies, the ground opperations people and who then told us that it was too windy and dangerous to unload the baggage and they woudl do it when the wind died down. Given the flight was the last of the evening (time now 11pm) and five easyjet flighst were scheduled to leave between 6am and 7am then next day, I assumed this unloading would need to be done before this or it woudl be eitehr going with said plane to Turkey or similr, or one of said flighst would be cancelled?
Unfortunately, her response was cut short by the arrival of another carrier from Egypt. You can imagine the surprise as teh Egypt passengers strolled past, complete with suitcases. On challenging the lady from Menzies, she informed us it was indeed due to the wind but quickly changed her mind after I'd again pointed out the fact a flight that had arrived 20mins later had been unloaded. Same wind, same airport. The only difference, that flight was handled by Servissair... I can only assume they have fatter staff who aren't as suseptable to the wind?
So to cut a long story short, we were sent home and told to return to Bristol the following day where the case would be waiting having been unloaded. After a 80 mile round trip, more parking charges and a 30min wait the suitcase arrived at the desk without so much as an apology or smile.
So, I'm looking for some advice regarding this from those in the know or with a little more experience of this than me. It just strikes me as a little farcical to be fair, guy feeling says Menzies knocked off at 11pm and couldn't be arsed unloaded all of 10 bags or so but that's unfair of me to pressume, so can any of you good folks offer any suggestions or is this fairly common practice.
I'm not a letter writer, but would quite like my parking (x 2) and fuel costs back from either carrier or the ground opperations people. An apology and an understanding smile wouldn't go amiss too!
Best regards
Alas, they did and upon landing she was was informed it was too windy to unload the baggage from the hold on the standing and instead told to go home and they would send her luggage on in due course. Ie, when the wind had dropped. Being somewhat upset (she had another 4hrs to travel following and overnight stay at my house and literally, nothing) and with teh easyjet desk deserted I rang customer care only to be met with no end of automated responses before being pitched into silence.
So, as you do I leaned over the desk, found an internal number for Easyjet oppeartions and rang them opting for option three - opperations. A surprised chap answered and immediately demmanded to know how I obtained his number. Still, to be fair he listened to the situation and then proceeded to explain "somebody" had made the decision that it was unsafe to open the hold doors, plus teh ramp/lift/stairs/whatever they used was too light and would be blown away, perhaps damaging the airline. Weird given the steps they use to unload passengers at Bristol are as structurally sound as those used to gain access to a loft. Equally weird in my eyes was how a plane could land in the wind, taxi in teh wind, offload passengers in the wind but not unload a few suitcases in the wind? I did put this too him, but seems there is no design flaws with the aircraft.
Having promised to have somebody from the airport ground staff come over to speak to the know growing crowd of people at the desk, the call ended. Enter stage left a ladt from Menzies, the ground opperations people and who then told us that it was too windy and dangerous to unload the baggage and they woudl do it when the wind died down. Given the flight was the last of the evening (time now 11pm) and five easyjet flighst were scheduled to leave between 6am and 7am then next day, I assumed this unloading would need to be done before this or it woudl be eitehr going with said plane to Turkey or similr, or one of said flighst would be cancelled?
Unfortunately, her response was cut short by the arrival of another carrier from Egypt. You can imagine the surprise as teh Egypt passengers strolled past, complete with suitcases. On challenging the lady from Menzies, she informed us it was indeed due to the wind but quickly changed her mind after I'd again pointed out the fact a flight that had arrived 20mins later had been unloaded. Same wind, same airport. The only difference, that flight was handled by Servissair... I can only assume they have fatter staff who aren't as suseptable to the wind?
So to cut a long story short, we were sent home and told to return to Bristol the following day where the case would be waiting having been unloaded. After a 80 mile round trip, more parking charges and a 30min wait the suitcase arrived at the desk without so much as an apology or smile.
So, I'm looking for some advice regarding this from those in the know or with a little more experience of this than me. It just strikes me as a little farcical to be fair, guy feeling says Menzies knocked off at 11pm and couldn't be arsed unloaded all of 10 bags or so but that's unfair of me to pressume, so can any of you good folks offer any suggestions or is this fairly common practice.
I'm not a letter writer, but would quite like my parking (x 2) and fuel costs back from either carrier or the ground opperations people. An apology and an understanding smile wouldn't go amiss too!
Best regards
Edited by Davie on Wednesday 17th November 15:35
Appreciate that, however I'm a bit bewildered by the fact they felt it was safe enough to land and then unload the passengers but then decided the bags were a bit risky so didn't bother. My limited knowledge of all things aircraft/handling related would lead me to think they drive a conveyor belt truck/steps/one of the lift trucks to the hold door, open it and take the bags off. Doesn't strike me as being anymore threatening than taking the mobile stairs to the doors which must stand what, a good 25ft above the tarmac (and above the level of the hold door) and then unload passengers.
Just struggling to get my head round their thought process.
Just struggling to get my head round their thought process.
Edited by Davie on Wednesday 17th November 15:52
Davie said:
Appreciate that, however I'm a bit bewildered by the fact they felt it was safe enough to land and then unload the passengers but then decided the bags were a bit risky so didn't bother. My limited knowledge of all things aircraft/handling related would lead me to think they drive a conveyor belt truck/steps/one of the lift trucks to the hold door, open it and take the bags off. Doesn't strike me as being anymore threatening than taking the mobile stairs to the doors which must stand what, a good 25ft above the tarmac (and above the level of the hold door) and then unload passengers.
Just struggling to get my head round their thought process.
Unloading (and loading) aircraft can be quite a tricky business as the aeroplane is essentially a neutrally balanced see-saw. If the loadmasters get it wrong during the loading or unloading process (or during refuelling) the plane can sit back on its tail. This could be exacerbated in windy conditions. Also, ground equipment can move around and crash into an aircraft in gussty conditions. Fixing a dent in an airliner is an expensive business coupled with the fact that the plane won't be earning any revenue whilst under repair.Just struggling to get my head round their thought process.
Edited by Davie on Wednesday 17th November 15:52
Eric Mc said:
Unloading (and loading) aircraft can be quite a tricky business as the aeroplane is essentially a neutrally balanced see-saw. If the loadmasters get it wrong during the loading or unloading process (or during refuelling) the plane can sit back on its tail. This could be exacerbated in windy conditions. Also, ground equipment can move around and crash into an aircraft in gussty conditions. Fixing a dent in an airliner is an expensive business coupled with the fact that the plane won't be earning any revenue whilst under repair.
Unserstood, appreciate your input. But would this be the case on an Airbus with say the 10 or so cases that were in the hold of the flight in question? And again, I'd have thought there would be as likely a chance of the mobile stairs blowing into the aircraft as the baggage unloading 'contraption' although ultimately, another carrier and ground team deemed it perfectly safe to unload their hold luggage on the same hard standing in the same conditions. But again, appreciate different companies have different policies. Guess Easyjet are just overcautious. Maybe a good thing. ThanksJonny671 said:
Surely if they were unloading your baggage and the wind blew hard enough and blew cases etc off the ramp, damaged your goods you'd be fine with it?
Being fair, I'd be more upset if they were unloading my sister and the wind blew hard enough and blew her off the top of the stairs, damaging her brain. Davie said:
Jonny671 said:
Surely if they were unloading your baggage and the wind blew hard enough and blew cases etc off the ramp, damaged your goods you'd be fine with it?
Being fair, I'd be more upset if they were unloading my sister and the wind blew hard enough and blew her off the top of the stairs, damaging her brain. Eric Mc said:
Davie said:
Jonny671 said:
Surely if they were unloading your baggage and the wind blew hard enough and blew cases etc off the ramp, damaged your goods you'd be fine with it?
Being fair, I'd be more upset if they were unloading my sister and the wind blew hard enough and blew her off the top of the stairs, damaging her brain. Anyways, think my question has been answered. Seems it comes down to two seperate ground opperations providers and perhaps their different policies or Easyjet have stricter guidelines for unloading aircraft in windy conditions.
Regards
If it had been me you rang, then I'd have told you to go whistle!
Aircraft have strict limits on door opening speeds. If it is above that, then you don't do it. Simple as that.
I've landed at airports before and had to sit and wait for a while until the wind subsides.
I have no idea what the limitation is for an A319, but I can bet that it's above the limit in many places today.
Aircraft have strict limits on door opening speeds. If it is above that, then you don't do it. Simple as that.
I've landed at airports before and had to sit and wait for a while until the wind subsides.
I have no idea what the limitation is for an A319, but I can bet that it's above the limit in many places today.
IforB said:
If it had been me you rang, then I'd have told you to go whistle!
Aircraft have strict limits on door opening speeds. If it is above that, then you don't do it. Simple as that.
As said in the original post, the fact a second aircraft unloaded yet the Easyjet flight in question didn't/couldn't/wouldn't was what aggrivated alot of people. Hence I was trying to establish why one airline design/carrier would differ from another. Or indeed it ground services had different policies. Seems that may ultimately be the case here. Aircraft have strict limits on door opening speeds. If it is above that, then you don't do it. Simple as that.
Regards
Davie said:
IforB said:
If it had been me you rang, then I'd have told you to go whistle!
Aircraft have strict limits on door opening speeds. If it is above that, then you don't do it. Simple as that.
As said in the original post, the fact a second aircraft unloaded yet the Easyjet flight in question didn't/couldn't/wouldn't was what aggrivated alot of people. Hence I was trying to establish why one airline design/carrier would differ from another. Or indeed it ground services had different policies. Seems that may ultimately be the case here. Aircraft have strict limits on door opening speeds. If it is above that, then you don't do it. Simple as that.
Regards
Davie said:
IforB said:
If it had been me you rang, then I'd have told you to go whistle!
Aircraft have strict limits on door opening speeds. If it is above that, then you don't do it. Simple as that.
As said in the original post, the fact a second aircraft unloaded yet the Easyjet flight in question didn't/couldn't/wouldn't was what aggrivated alot of people. Hence I was trying to establish why one airline design/carrier would differ from another. Or indeed it ground services had different policies. Seems that may ultimately be the case here. Aircraft have strict limits on door opening speeds. If it is above that, then you don't do it. Simple as that.
Regards
Eric Mc said:
Davie said:
IforB said:
If it had been me you rang, then I'd have told you to go whistle!
Aircraft have strict limits on door opening speeds. If it is above that, then you don't do it. Simple as that.
As said in the original post, the fact a second aircraft unloaded yet the Easyjet flight in question didn't/couldn't/wouldn't was what aggrivated alot of people. Hence I was trying to establish why one airline design/carrier would differ from another. Or indeed it ground services had different policies. Seems that may ultimately be the case here. Aircraft have strict limits on door opening speeds. If it is above that, then you don't do it. Simple as that.
Regards
They don't do it to annoy passengers, they do it because it isn't safe to do so.
You won't get dick from Easyjet. You'll just get told to f off and frankly they'd be right to do so.
I fricking hate know-it all pax, especially when they haven't got the foggiest about what they are moaning about. Easyjet WANT your bags unloaded. It causes them a shed load of hassle and money to sort out, you think they did it purely to p*ss you off? Seriously, how daft are you?
Edited by IforB on Wednesday 17th November 18:11
IforB said:
Eric Mc said:
Davie said:
IforB said:
If it had been me you rang, then I'd have told you to go whistle!
Aircraft have strict limits on door opening speeds. If it is above that, then you don't do it. Simple as that.
As said in the original post, the fact a second aircraft unloaded yet the Easyjet flight in question didn't/couldn't/wouldn't was what aggrivated alot of people. Hence I was trying to establish why one airline design/carrier would differ from another. Or indeed it ground services had different policies. Seems that may ultimately be the case here. Aircraft have strict limits on door opening speeds. If it is above that, then you don't do it. Simple as that.
Regards
They don't do it to annoy passengers, they do it because it isn't safe to do so.
You won't get dick from Easyjet. You'll just get told to f off and frankly they'd be right to do so.
I fricking hate know-it all pax, especially when they haven't got the foggiest about what they are moaning about. Easyjet WANT your bags unloaded. It causes them a shed load of hassle and money to sort out, you think they did it purely to p*ss you off? Seriously, how daft are you?
Edited by IforB on Wednesday 17th November 18:11
but I agree
My money's on the baggage handlers had gone home.
I flew from Liverpool on easyJet - 3.5 hour delay (they give you your money back at 4hrs). Got on the plane to see bleary eyed cabin staff and the pilot came on, apologised, and said the reason for delay was that easyjet forgot to roster a crew.
I flew from Liverpool on easyJet - 3.5 hour delay (they give you your money back at 4hrs). Got on the plane to see bleary eyed cabin staff and the pilot came on, apologised, and said the reason for delay was that easyjet forgot to roster a crew.
Sounds like they had gone home,I worked on the ramp at Heathrow for 3+years for American Airlines,we never failed to unload an aircraft,and once when the forward freight door failed to open we unloaded a full pallet of perishable fruit through the front equipment bay in a human chain.
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