United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Computer glitch causes overweight takeoff at the new UA

It's no longer just a convenience issue; UA now endangers passengers and crews with their IT incompetence:

United Overweight Takeoff on Computer Glitches Prompts Changes

A computer breakdown caused a United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL) flight to take off earlier this year about 20,000 pounds (9,071 kilograms) heavier than pilots believed, prompting the carrier to add extra checks to ensure accurate weight calculations.

United sent pilots a weight estimate that assumed the coach section of the Boeing Co. (BA) 737-900 was empty when it was full, according to three people familiar with the incident who asked not to be named because they weren’t authorized to speak about it.

While the pilots, who didn’t catch the mistake, had difficulty getting the jetliner airborne, the plane wasn’t damaged and the flight was completed without incident, one of the people familiar with the event said. The pilots reported the trouble to a United program that encourages employees to identify safety issues, according to another person.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-11/united-overweight-takeoff-on-computer-glitches-prompts-changes.html?cmpid=yhoo

One of the helpful UA pilot posters alluded to this or something similar recently, and this incident is disturbing.

As an IT guy I take umbrage at the suggestion that this was an IT error. Sure something went wrong and sure United, by and large, has crappy systems. However, there is no indication that this was a system error. Perhaps the person entering the data was the problem.

Besides, the pilots should have known that they didn't have an empty plane.

As an IT guy I take umbrage at the suggestion that this was an IT error. Sure something went wrong and sure United, by and large, has crappy systems. However, there is no indication that this was a system error. Perhaps the person entering the data was the problem.

Besides, the pilots should have known that they didn't have an empty plane.

Totally agree.

Although it is highly possible that SHARES has become self aware and is now trying to kill all of humanity. :)

As an IT guy I take umbrage at the suggestion that this was an IT error. Sure something went wrong and sure United, by and large, has crappy systems. However, there is no indication that this was a system error. Perhaps the person entering the data was the problem.

Besides, the pilots should have known that they didn't have an empty plane.


From the article:

“Earlier this year, we experienced technology issues in capturing correct passenger counts on a small number of our flights,” Megan McCarthy, a spokeswoman for the airline, said in an e-mail yesterday.

Techology issues would certainly include incorrect data entry.

This probably has nothing to do with Shares, but an input error.

Yet, IT could prevent such issues by red flagging if there are 20 pax total on the plane, which this would probably be if coach was empty but you have 200 bags or proportionately more than the one bag per pax average or whatever it normally is. In this case, it might have been 10 bags per pax, which should raise a red flag and require another employee to investigate before a flight can be released.

In addition, common sense would have made me go back and look to verify, if I was sent paperwork showing 0 pax in E.

Techology issues would certainly include incorrect data entry.

Passenger counts are in the system and should not require data entry.

Listen to these over-entitled passengers expecting to be counted in the weight and balance calculations.

Considering that it is possible that if weather conditions or winds had been unfavorable, this could have resulted in a major accident, someone needs to lose their job over this. Absolutely inexcusable. This is the kind of stuff you read about in the newspaper just below the list of dead passengers.

The 737-900 is like a pig trying to fly. Its the worst take off airplane around. Good job to the pilots for getting that thing up.

The plane wasn't overweight just a poor trim setting. An issue but not that dangerous. The pilots don't get a pax count only weight and balance data which might be unusual but can't be checked by looking in the cabin.

Unimatic stikes again! (remember the article states PSS and Maintenance software not weight and balance system which is PMUA owned)

But all in all sounds like input error in combination with pilot error as they are given passenger count before door is closed.

The plane wasn't overweight just a poor trim setting. An issue but not that dangerous. The pilots don't get a pax count only weight and balance data which might be unusual but can't be checked by looking in the cabin.

dunno but "had difficulty getting the jetliner airborne" sounds dangerous to me

Totally agree.

Although it is highly possible that SHARES has become self aware and is now trying to kill all of humanity. :)

Off topic, but United's internal Intranet site is called Skynet, for those of you who remember the computer system made famous by the Terminator movies.

:D:D

The plane wasn't overweight just a poor trim setting. An issue but not that dangerous. The pilots don't get a pax count only weight and balance data which might be unusual but can't be checked by looking in the cabin.

dunno but "had difficulty getting the jetliner airborne" sounds dangerous to me

And to me as well. The Bloomberg article does mention one fatal accident involving incorrect weight entries and another near-disaster where the tail scraped the ground on take-off. (Though FWIW, neither involved UA.)



Although it is highly possible that SHARES has become self aware and is now trying to kill all of humanity. :)

Judgement Day is approaching...

Off topic, but United's internal Intranet site is called Skynet, for those of you who remember the computer system made famous by the Terminator movies.

:D:D

Are you serious???

lol, yes, UA's internal website is called "Skynet".

Are you serious???

Yes.

lol, yes, UA's internal website is called "Skynet".

No, it's not. It's called "Flying Together."

The plane wasn't overweight just a poor trim setting. An issue but not that dangerous. The pilots don't get a pax count only weight and balance data which might be unusual but can't be checked by looking in the cabin.

Actually we do get pax count with our final weights, and we do compare what the gate agent gave us to what load planning sends over. Part of our safety check with how things are going right now. And being out of trim is a big deal and should not happen.

No, it's not. It's called "Flying Together."

Well, that's what they changed it to. No one calls it that, it's still called Skynet by everyone I know.

As an IT guy I take umbrage at the suggestion that this was an IT error. Sure something went wrong and sure United, by and large, has crappy systems. However, there is no indication that this was a system error. Perhaps the person entering the data was the problem.

Besides, the pilots should have known that they didn't have an empty plane.

Depends on if they put 0 in the coach section of the load planning document. If so, yes I would catch that. If they put in the correct number on the form but inputed the wrong numbers for the calculations, I would never have a clue with the wt and bal numbers. Sometimes we have to trust those hired to do their job.

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Well, that's what they changed it to. No one calls it that, it's still called Skynet by everyone I know.





Epic. :D

Anyone remember the picture if the FedEx MD11 @ LAX pointing up at the sky (still on the ramp)? They loaded cargo in the back but not the front and the plane just tipped up on its tail :)

Anyone remember the picture if the FedEx MD11 @ LAX pointing up at the sky (still on the ramp)? They loaded cargo in the back but not the front and the plane just tipped up on its tail :)

Here....http://www.aviationpics.de/ramp/ramp.htm about halfway down the page along with a bunch of other pictures, several similar.

Off topic, but United's internal Intranet site is called Skynet, for those of you who remember the computer system made famous by the Terminator movies.

:D:D

That is amazing. I may just adopt that as a collective term for UA IT/SHARES/intranet in general.

Off topic, but United's internal Intranet site is called Skynet, for those of you who remember the computer system made famous by the Terminator movies.

:D:D

Great. And we're left now with an older, out-of-shape Arnold who I'm sure will no longer be able to save us from the machines.

Q: What will happen to my UA miles if I'm terminated by UA?

Sometimes we have to trust those hired to do their job.

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I do this with regard to you pilots, each time I board, my friend!