Originally Posted by
Burj
Have you had much experience with crash pads? I think this is one aspect that is pretty unique to airline employment.
I've seen little snippets about them here and there in the media and talked to a few pilots who discuss different setups, some where it is almost like a hostel where you "hot bed" (no pre-assigned bed/room)...etc... I met one family what lived next door to a suburban home used as a crash pad and their one complaint was seeing so many people come and go throughout the day and night...
What are the mechanics, how do you reserve a bed/spot? How much does it cost? Who actually RUNS the crash pad, pays the rent, utilities, mortgage, etc?
When I flew out of IAD, I lived 7 miles from the airport and I didn't know how good I had it. Commuting is a real "quality of life" hit. I had a crash pad in Queens NY when I flew the MD-88 out of LGA. I was paying $230/month for it when I gave it up 2 years ago (don't need it on the ER...trips are commutable).
The crash pad had 19 beds on 4 floors and I was in a room that had 2 beds in it. We didn't have "hot bunks" like some crash pads (I'm too old for that!); we each had our own bed with closet space and a dresser. I shared a room with an ER Captain and we were never there the same night, so I essentially had my own room.
It was a nice location and convenient to the subway. To go to work from there, I'd take the E train to Roosevelt and then take the Q47 bus to LGA. Total cost $2.
That crash pad was run by a fellow First Officer and for his efforts he paid no rent. It was well run and maintained. I can understand neighbors not being crazy about having a crash pad near them, especially if the pilots are all using a separate car to come and go. At ours, I think only one guy had a car and I don't think most people nearby even knew the house was full of pilots.
Originally Posted by
Compfreak
Which plane would you prefer to fly on? I understand that you currently fly the Boeing 767, so hopefully the answer won't be too bias.
Boeing 767 vs. Airbus A330 (I consider them rough equivalents since Delta switched the PDX/NRT route with the 767)
Airbus A330 vs. Boeing 777
Boeing 747 vs. Airbus A380
Boeing 787 vs. Airbus A350
The only Airbus models I've ever flown on are the 319 and 320, so I can't make any of the comparisons above. I've flown only as a passenger on the Airbus (with JetBlue, Independence, and US Airways) and I do find it to be a very comfortable ride.
Originally Posted by
Burj
Have airlines started discussing with their pilots the logistics of the new 3 hour limit for keeping pax on a plane? How do pilots generally feel about the new rule? It starts in April (right?) so that gives the airlines time to figure out how to make it work.
I have yet to hear any pilots discuss this. I think that, of the topics that are on our 'radar', this one is down in the noise.
We instituted something like this at Independence back in 2004. I can't remember the exact details but it was spelled out in our Operating Manual and gave passengers a right to return to the gate in a delay that exceeded some amount of time that I can't remember.
I had a shuttle flight in the summer of 2006 where we pushed back at 1:30 and then LGA went in to a ground stop. After about an hour we returned to the gate to let some people off and then went back out. After another lengthy delay we went back to the gate
again and let others off (and put some new ones on). At one point we had all four of the DC shuttle planes on the ground at DCA, which means that there were none of them at LGA. (We ran 4 planes for DC and 4 for Boston. If things were running normally, there would be one on the ground at either end and two in the air passing each other.) I think we blocked in at LGA around 7:30 pm! Worst single experience like that I've ever had.
The problem, of course, is that returning to the gate often means giving up your spot in line (not the case in the episode I related above). So the passengers who get off are happy, but anyone who simply
has to go is further delayed as we get back in the queue.
All in all, I'm glad to see this issue addressed and some guidelines (or even rules) spelled out.