Jun 8, 2021, 10:33 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the active thread is United Pilot Q & A thread
United Pilot Q & A {Archive}
Nov 22, 2018, 1:36 pm
#6691
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,044
How often do towbars break during pushback?
Nov 22, 2018, 2:15 pm
#6692
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,185
It happens occasionally. They are quickly replacing tow bars with tugs that capture the nose wheel and lift it off the ground for pushback.
Nov 23, 2018, 7:44 am
#6694
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: In between IAD and DCA
Programs: UA Plat 1.1MM , Marriott Gold Elite, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,262
Nov 23, 2018, 7:53 am
#6695
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,185
Nov 23, 2018, 8:02 am
#6696
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: DCA, IAD (not BWI if I can help it)
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, status-free on AA, AS, B6, DL, WN, Amtrak, etc.
Posts: 1,481
A tug driver at ORD last September was not so smooth releasing an E175--the drop knocked the FA off her feet and into my lap. All involved could only laugh at the situation.
Mar 4, 2019, 9:14 pm
#6697
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
This is an archive thread, the active thread is United Pilot Q & A thread
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 6, 2019 at 1:53 pm
Mar 5, 2019, 7:12 pm
#6698
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,044
Can a pilot work a flight on any aircraft they are type rated for and current on? Or are they restricted to the aircraft type they are currently assigned to?
Mar 5, 2019, 9:03 pm
#6699
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,454
At United, as with most commercial airlines, pilots are only current on one type. They may hold other type ratings, but aren't actively flying other fleets and thus do not remain current. For instance, the 757/767 is one type rating, so with required differences training completed, a pilot on the B756 fleet can flow across the 757-200/300 and 767-300/400, but can't also fly the 777 or 737, even if previously type-rated in those fleets.
Mar 6, 2019, 9:42 am
#6700
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: In between IAD and DCA
Programs: UA Plat 1.1MM , Marriott Gold Elite, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,262
At United, as with most commercial airlines, pilots are only current on one type. They may hold other type ratings, but aren't actively flying other fleets and thus do not remain current. For instance, the 757/767 is one type rating, so with required differences training completed, a pilot on the B756 fleet can flow across the 757-200/300 and 767-300/400, but can't also fly the 777 or 737, even if previously type-rated in those fleets.
Do they fly both the 757 and 767 in the same month or even the same trip? Or is it like one month for 757 and the next 767, and so on?
Mar 6, 2019, 10:00 am
#6701
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: KEWR
Programs: Marriott Platinum
Posts: 794
To answer your question we interchange aircraft frequently. I’ve had a few trips lately to Europe outbound on 763, inbound on 764.
The cockpit layouts in the B757/B763 are similar. 764 is very different though. That plane goes most senior in the fleet.
Mar 6, 2019, 10:16 am
#6702
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,454
Mar 7, 2019, 8:59 pm
#6703
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: BOS/SIN
Programs: DL PM, OZ Diamond Plus, BA Silver
Posts: 1,803
EWR 756 has about the most diverse flying in the system, with domestic/Caribbean day turns, two-day transcons, Europe, all-nighters to South America, Hawaii, charters, etc. The only thing it misses are the super high-time Asia trips, but those aren't for everyone. And, as @clubord points out, the fleet gets top-of-the-scale pay on the 764.
Also about halfway through the flight a pilot came on the PA and announced "flight attendants please check in", and repeated that again about 5 minutes later. Same announcement happened ~30 minutes after that as well — so what does "checking in" mean, and why would such an announcement be made? Have never heard that one before in any of my flights.
Mar 7, 2019, 9:26 pm
#6704
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, UA GS/1Mil Flyer, Pond scum on everything else.
Posts: 68
I flew LHR-EWR about a month ago on the 764 and the pilots were based out of IAD (and the crew LHR) — thought it a little odd to have an IAD flight crew fly into EWR (and then presumably have to deadhead back to IAD), especially since I guess there should be way more 757/67 pilots based in EWR than IAD. Also presumably the pilots were sUA, so was interesting to have an all-UA crew on a CO plane.
Also about halfway through the flight a pilot came on the PA and announced "flight attendants please check in", and repeated that again about 5 minutes later. Same announcement happened ~30 minutes after that as well — so what does "checking in" mean, and why would such an announcement be made? Have never heard that one before in any of my flights.
Also about halfway through the flight a pilot came on the PA and announced "flight attendants please check in", and repeated that again about 5 minutes later. Same announcement happened ~30 minutes after that as well — so what does "checking in" mean, and why would such an announcement be made? Have never heard that one before in any of my flights.
Mar 7, 2019, 9:30 pm
#6705
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: BOS/SIN
Programs: DL PM, OZ Diamond Plus, BA Silver
Posts: 1,803