Originally Posted by
jimquan
Hi
This happened to me on a Delta / Skywest flight yesterday at BTM but it's really a general aviation issue. Butte, MT is a mile high btw.
The afternoon flight on a CRJ200 barely made it in ahead of a powerful snow squall. One minute overcast and whiteout the next. Then clear just as suddenly.
The flight was lightly loaded, only about half full.
They had to ask for three volunteers due to w/b why? Was it because the temp dropped or the plane got wet / snowy and weighed more? I thought colder temps increased performance / lift. The plane was only half full and waited for ATC clearance. We had to deice before taking off "number one for departure" with no other active aircraft <G>.
The only reason I can think of is a last minute heavy cargo bolus but CRJ's really can't carry much cargo. They didn't ask people to move forward in the cabin for example.
Have at it avgeeks.
They were offering $400 Delta dollars but stressed they were not required to offer compensation. I learned this is true if due to weather / operational issues or downgrade of aircraft. I had not interest in volunteering because I wanted to get home to my Honey.
Jim
Suggestions up-thread seem most likely, absent other info about the flight.
The pilots wouldn't try to take off with the aircraft laden with snow - that's why you went to the de-ice/anti-ice spray down before departing.
Operational issues and weather aren't exemptions from the IDB rules
per se. For aircraft with fewer than 60 seats, including the CRJ200, compensation isn't due if the passenger is bumped due to safety-related weight & balance issues. Of course weather conditions can be the reason behind weight & balance changes which end up in an IDB, but bad weather alone that doesn't cause w&b problems isn't an exception.
Substitution of a smaller capacity aircraft for safety or operational reasons is another exemption, maybe that's what you heard regarding "operational reasons". (And there are other exemptions too.)