47 CO Pax Imprisoned Overnight on Stinky E145 @ Rochester, MN
Sep 14, 2009, 4:38 pm
#661
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In the case stated here. There was an a/c occupying all available gates. And were already emptied and closed. Therefore the pilots of that a/c had went home. So there was no one to operate the controls of the a/c.
Sep 14, 2009, 7:41 pm
#662
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So do aircraft maintenance shops have pilots sitting around, or is this limited to aircraft with pax on board?
Sep 14, 2009, 11:34 pm
#663
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Mechanics have to be qualified to occupy the cockpit during towing. The qualification is only good for a specific type of aircraft so if the aircraft isn't one that the airline normally has at that station then the mechanics are not likely to be qualified in it. This was a Mesaba out-station so I doubt that Mesaba had any mechanics there. When something is broken they'd contract with a mechanic who worked for a local FBO and wouldn't be qualified to taxi or occupy the cockpit for towing.
Sep 15, 2009, 12:00 pm
#664
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Incident may boost the chances for Passenger Bill of Rights
Or so says a writer in the Economist:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulli...m?Fsrc=glvrnwl
If it is blocked for lack of a subcription, the author notes that the bill was likely doomed until the Rochester incident, but that incident has increased the chances of passage.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulli...m?Fsrc=glvrnwl
If it is blocked for lack of a subcription, the author notes that the bill was likely doomed until the Rochester incident, but that incident has increased the chances of passage.
Sep 15, 2009, 3:07 pm
#665
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Too bad none of the irate passengers had the stones to open the emergency exits. That would have gotten their plight some attention
Nov 25, 2009, 6:29 am
#666
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Now adays I think a simple tweet that got out there would take care of all this. Think if someone like a Jason Calacanis or even bigger... Rick Sanchez got a hold of this. I kind of wish I was put in this situation to see how long it would take before there was a sh*t storm so big ExpressJet would be boycotted.
Nov 25, 2009, 7:26 am
#668
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Nov 25, 2009, 10:55 am
#669
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Which makes the obvious fault here, failure to leave a gate clear overnight for potential redirects. It's not hard to predict that you might possibly have to use a gate for a redirected flight during off hours, and to allow all gates to be used as overnight parking was neglect on behalf of the airport management. Maybe 'keep at least one gate free overnight' should be a strong recommendation to airports if not a requirement.