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Waiting in ATLANTA
How can Delta in ATLANTA, their major hub, allow a flight to delayed over 60 minutes when the plane is in the hanger waiting for a tug to transport to the gate. The GA states there is only 1 tug? Certainly sounds unreasonable? Delta #1752
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You expect DL to have dozens of extra DC-9-50's available?
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Originally Posted by UpgradeMe
(Post 20270362)
You expect DL to have dozens of extra DC-9-50's available?
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Originally Posted by DLdweeb
(Post 20270385)
No, but I expect they have more than one tug in ATL.
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Maybe they should get a hitch for the Porsche Cayennes and they can be used as "emergency tugs" when DYKWIA's are waiting for their aircraft. :p
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While I can't give a specific reason why the plane was "towed" to the gate late, towing planes from hangars or remote stands in Atlanta isn't easy.. The "tugs" are actually "super tugs" that have the ability to pull these aircraft across the airfield.. They must cross active runways, so coordination with ATC at all times is necessary, hence only certain people being certified for this job. If you've ever noticed, there are generally many aircraft sitting in a remote pad on the north side of the airfield, as well as the Delta hangars. This causes traffic jams with idle planes as well..
While there are quite a few more than "1" tug available, it's quite possible they were all being used on a Monday, when a full schedule is in effect after a reduced schedule Sunday where many planes were sitting idle. |
Here's a picture of one of the Goldhofer's (aka super tug's) --
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11511707@N05/4739361790/ |
Originally Posted by Josher747
(Post 20270763)
While I can't give a specific reason why the plane was "towed" to the gate late, towing planes from hangars or remote stands in Atlanta isn't easy.. The "tugs" are actually "super tugs" that have the ability to pull these aircraft across the airfield.. They must cross active runways, so coordination with ATC at all times is necessary, hence only certain people being certified for this job. If you've ever noticed, there are generally many aircraft sitting in a remote pad on the north side of the airfield, as well as the Delta hangars. This causes traffic jams with idle planes as well..
While there are quite a few more than "1" tug available, it's quite possible they were all being used on a Monday, when a full schedule is in effect after a reduced schedule Sunday where many planes were sitting idle. |
Originally Posted by Josher747
(Post 20270763)
While I can't give a specific reason why the plane was "towed" to the gate late, towing planes from hangars or remote stands in Atlanta isn't easy.. The "tugs" are actually "super tugs" that have the ability to pull these aircraft across the airfield.. They must cross active runways, so coordination with ATC at all times is necessary, hence only certain people being certified for this job. If you've ever noticed, there are generally many aircraft sitting in a remote pad on the north side of the airfield, as well as the Delta hangars. This causes traffic jams with idle planes as well..
While there are quite a few more than "1" tug available, it's quite possible they were all being used on a Monday, when a full schedule is in effect after a reduced schedule Sunday where many planes were sitting idle. In short, a tow at ATL isn't as simple as it sounds. |
Originally Posted by LBJ
(Post 20270801)
Here's a picture of one of the Goldhofer's (aka super tug's) --
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11511707@N05/4739361790/ Bob H |
It is a holiday technically, and also vacation week for many schools. Tugs may be busy and not all of them might be able to pull a DC-9-50 (not in the sense of weight but the actual attachment).
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A 60 minute delay doesn't mean that it will take 60 minutes to tug the plane to the gate. Even if the tug does make it in 20 minutes (not unreasonable imo), there still is paperwork, fueling, loading bags and so on, all with little to no advance notice, and potentially getting pilots unless the original aircraft was also a DC9.
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It looks like the delay somehow snowballed into a hair less than 2 hours.
https://www.delta.com/flifo/servlet/...3&request=main |
Originally Posted by bpe
(Post 20271928)
A 60 minute delay doesn't mean that it will take 60 minutes to tug the plane to the gate. Even if the tug does make it in 20 minutes (not unreasonable imo), there still is paperwork, fueling, loading bags and so on, all with little to no advance notice, and potentially getting pilots if the cancelled flight wasn't a DC9 as well.
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Originally Posted by udontknowme
(Post 20273394)
OP didn't mention any cancellation. Do you have additional info?
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