stupid question(s)
Apr 28, 2016, 2:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: MAD
Programs: LATAMPass Gold, AA Gold, DL Silver Medallion
Posts: 456
stupid question(s)
So, I just had a flashback to some LAN flights (in particular GRU-SCL and EZE-SCL) where the captain made this announcement: Tripulación, prepararse para cruce transandino. and then the screens said something of like: Nos estamos preparando para .... Does someone knows why?
This is fuelled by the fact that in all my intraPeruvian routes I have never heard such a thing and you usually have to cross the Andes too (for CUZ, TPP, AQP, IQT, AYP). Is it a mater of the height of the Andes in Chile, a specific risks associated with the route, or just an old tradition that does not die, like the applauses when landing in Argentina?
Thanks!
This is fuelled by the fact that in all my intraPeruvian routes I have never heard such a thing and you usually have to cross the Andes too (for CUZ, TPP, AQP, IQT, AYP). Is it a mater of the height of the Andes in Chile, a specific risks associated with the route, or just an old tradition that does not die, like the applauses when landing in Argentina?
Thanks!
Apr 28, 2016, 4:40 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: LATAM Black; AA EXP
Posts: 262
After several incidents due to to unexpected turbulence it has been a company policy to have crew and passengers seated during the crossing of the Andes. I tend to agree with this policy, but 2 or 3 time flying to Madrid the captain has elected to make the northern crossing (approximately 1.500 km north of Santiago) and the crew has been seated for all this time.. meaning service start 2.5 hours after departure.. as it happens so often, no criteria used..
Apr 28, 2016, 5:48 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: LANPASS
Posts: 368
LAN has a strict policy regarding the Andes crossing, due to the high probability of encountering unexpected turbulence even in clear air.
For that, as a procedure all Andes crossings regardless of altitude require a strict adherence to a all-buckled-up policy, all crew elements secure, etc. The PA announcement is a heads up given 10 to 15 minutes prior to the beggining of the mountain crossing.
The policy is so strict that SCL-MDZ or MDZ-SCL have no in-flight service (not even a glass of water) as the mountain crossing leaves just 10 minutes of unbuckled time between takeoff and landing.
For that, as a procedure all Andes crossings regardless of altitude require a strict adherence to a all-buckled-up policy, all crew elements secure, etc. The PA announcement is a heads up given 10 to 15 minutes prior to the beggining of the mountain crossing.
The policy is so strict that SCL-MDZ or MDZ-SCL have no in-flight service (not even a glass of water) as the mountain crossing leaves just 10 minutes of unbuckled time between takeoff and landing.
Apr 28, 2016, 5:50 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: LANPASS
Posts: 368
For intra-peruvian routes you don't actually cross the Andes... it's the actual crossing all the way to the other side that's enforced by the policy
that said, there's other PA announcements you never want to hear on board of LAN (and if you do, there's a high chance that you'll overlook them)... but that's a story for a different post
that said, there's other PA announcements you never want to hear on board of LAN (and if you do, there's a high chance that you'll overlook them)... but that's a story for a different post
Apr 28, 2016, 6:00 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: MAD
Programs: LATAMPass Gold, AA Gold, DL Silver Medallion
Posts: 456
For intra-peruvian routes you don't actually cross the Andes.
Apr 28, 2016, 8:35 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: LATAM Gold, IHG Gold Ambassador
Posts: 55
There are a lot of routes that cross or land in an airport in the Andes but no announcement is made, i guest thats because peaks in the Chile-Argentina zone of the Andes are higher than the rest of LATAM, thereby much more chance of turbulence.
Apr 29, 2016, 7:51 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: LANPASS
Posts: 368
Well it is actually a more unstable zone, weather-wise.
A lot of climatological factors come into play to make central chile/central argentina zone a bit of a pain to fly across.
I once flew across on a small cessna. Nice day, clear air, but the bumpiest ride I've ever had on a GA aircraft. I still applaud those brave souls that have gone back and forth on sailplanes, talk about guts!
A lot of climatological factors come into play to make central chile/central argentina zone a bit of a pain to fly across.
I once flew across on a small cessna. Nice day, clear air, but the bumpiest ride I've ever had on a GA aircraft. I still applaud those brave souls that have gone back and forth on sailplanes, talk about guts!
Apr 29, 2016, 11:03 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: BOGish. VLCish. It's complicated.
Programs: BA
Posts: 667
I thought this particular idiocy was confined to Colombians, and even there it appears to be dying out.
But then I heard Bachata in Bs As as well.
