SFO_Runner

I would have been really impressed if the FO would've jumped off into a waiting ground vehicle (or horse) to make the whole event transpire quicker.

fastair

Actually, UA was the model for many other airlines when it came to CLT/CLR communication from the cabin crew to the flight crew. I have sat in on numerous sessions where pilots and flight attendants teach each other about the hazards of failing to notify the cap'n of things (like ice building up on wings or flaps in wrong position for takeoff.) Both of the examples are given citing specific info where planes have crashed due to either failure to notify the PIC or failure to act on information from the cabin staff.


The open door policy analogy is not something that gets given lip service in a safety sensative position, or at least not at UA. (ask the FA or FO next time you fly about their class.)

jsgoldbe

Too late! Ted is already getting this this "feature". See the thread on automatic dual jet bridges. RAR.

JS

What safety procedures were violated?

schwarm

If the copilot was Roger Murdock, that drop wouldn't have been too much of a problem.

GPS123

I have encountered many many times where the plane was just sitting there for more than 10 minutes, waiting for someone to operate jet bridge. Most pilots/ copilots don't seem to care. Perhaps that copilot in OP was in a hurry himself.

PremEx

See Post #17.

Lurker

I agree with JS. I don't believe that we have yet heard what saftey procedure/s was/were violated. Certainly we know that only one pilot need be present on a fully loaded plane (while parked at the gate) since they do their ground safety check and leave the planes for other things as a matter of routine. I have even been on board and had a whole flightdeck crew board after most pax due to their own late arrival. The door also appears to have been unarmed before it was opened since the slide did not "explode". Although perhaps not unarmed by the supervising FA, surely, a FO has the right to disarm a door?

The only thing I can think of is some sort of worker's compensation issue as the FO would be more likely to injure himself during this dismount than using the standard jetbridge retreat!

Where are our resident FAA safety experts? Isn't that UAL 995's (I may have the handle a little mixed up) specialty?

Lurker

cur

The co-pilot was unprofessional as all hell, but it must have been quite funny to have witnessed that.

glg

I'm pretty sure the CR-700 does too.

Bear96

You completely missed the point of my post. I clearly said I was not referring to the specific situation here, but I was commenting generally on your feeling that F/As should be seen and not heard. My point was not that a specific safety procedure was or was not violated in this instance, but rather that F/As certainly should speak up to say, "Ummm, I don't think that is a very good idea," when they feel it is appropriate to do so.

As to safety procedures here, I can't tell if you are serious or not about wondering if procedures were not violated. Assuming you are being serious, without having a complete list of all UA safety procedures in front of me to cite by page and rule number (and I have no doubt that is the only thing that will satisfy you ), general safety procedures are (and common sense would dictate) that normal egress and ingress should be accomplished through a jetway or airstairs connected to the plane, and one should only jump from the door if there is an emergency. I doubt a 10-minute wait would count as an "emergency."

Or are you suggesting that if the F/As just started saying, "OK, we're tired of waiting for the jetway; everyone will have to jump off!" that would be accepted by everyone on the plane (and their lawyers in the ensuing lawsuit should someone get hurt) as no violation of procedure?

Fly

Good thing you posted this thread.

Now United will be able to figure out which pilot did it and he'll be fired. There is NO WAY they are going to let this one go. He violated just about every FAR and United rule all in one stupid move. Unbelievable. One more furloughed pilot should be called by weeks end.

Fly

Armed with the information of the flight # and the name, it took me less than 1 minute to see the names of all the crew involved. This is very sad but this man took his job into his own hands when he chose to do that. Shame

Skiff

I've got to agree. It's not that I think that the F/O did anything wrong, per se, but it just seems...foolish. Frankly, I don't want foolish people flying me from point A to point B (or trying to taxi around ORD, for that matter).

ualsfo2sin

But we all do foolish things at some time in our lives. "One foolish act, does not a fool make"

What I do think sad is that the F/O may loose his job because of a forum posting. (I know - take responsibility for your actions, but he was only putting himself at risk).