PHL problems and solutions (equipment)

[TheNewLowFare]

What is up with the shortage of ground equipment in philly? We don't hear this kind of stories in our hub in Phx. Have you guys thought about writing an email to the company instead of posting it here?

 

[libertybell]

What is up with the shortage of ground equipment in philly? We don't hear this kind of stories in our hub in Phx. Have you guys thought about writing an email to the company instead of posting it here?

Its been done from what I have been told and there are flyers up in the crew rooms and breakrooms with email address for doug parker to tell him to correct the pending meltdown.

But posting here puts the public on notice of the problems so the workers in Philly will not be blamed.

Last Christmas meltdown was blamed on the workers and was later proved thru Goverment investigation as not true some 6 months later.

The workers just want the problems fixed and fixed right give us the tools now!

 

[Breath_of_Fresh_USAirways]

I believe that the Equipment in the Outsourced Stations was sold to the Contractors. I know that in my former Station that the sale of the GSE was a requirement for the vendor to swallow if they wanted the contract.

So, if US ever wanted to work that station themselves again, they'd have to buy new equipment or buy it back from the contractor? Hmmm....

...

Mr Parker if your reading this blog;
Equipment is needed and lots of it in not later but in Philly tommorow before a meltdown happens again.

Your the NEW CEO dont let the workforce down, give them the tools to do there jobs and Philly will make a ton of money this season!

Oh, yes, DP has lots of time to read this board! 🙄

He gets all his advice and information here. Especially new route suggestions and financial advice. 😉

I know this is a "rant", but the complete lack of logic and reasonability that Doug might actually be reading this just floors me! :rant:

Does anyone else read these boards for their shear entertainment value? :mf_boff:

 

[MarkMyWords]

Libertybell.....

I have a question for you.....I realize that equipment and staffing have been a problem in PHL for a long time. What has changed (equipment wise) since the peak pax loads of the summer? The bookings for a holiday week in Nov and Dec are not much different from a Fri or Sun in the summer. A 90% load factor is a 90% load factor. We didn't have a total melt down this summer, so why would we have one over the holidays.

I am not trivializing the equipment shortage - I know it is real - I just want to understand what has changed so drastically from July and Aug to Nov and Dec.

 

[LGA777]

From what I've heard since US started working the HP flights in PHL things are going well up-stairs but very poor with lots of delays on the ramp. And it is from no fault of the US PHL ramp agents but shortage of equipment and man-power. Hopefully this will help to enlighten Mr.Parker and others in PHX to help them see the urgency and severity of the problem.

Regards

LGA777

 

[tadjr]

I know this is a "rant", but the complete lack of logic and reasonability that Doug might actually be reading this just floors me! :rant:

You might just be surprised at who is actually reading this board. Perhaps you've forgotten Zeus, real world, TheTruth, Hawk, etc ???

 

[D M G]

I am not trivializing the equipment shortage - I know it is real - I just want to understand what has changed so drastically from July and Aug to Nov and Dec.

The shortage of tugs and beltloaders becomes worse as the temperatures drop. Most of the equipment won't start due to dead batteries and diesel fuel that has gelled.

Carts become more scarce because of the increase in mail (holiday). Every time a cart of mail has to be scratched from a flight, for whatever reason, that's one less cart available to use on your next flight. You could have 100 carts, or more, of scratched mail sitting at the post office unavailable for use.

 

[bwipilot]

Add in the fact that people who travel during have more luggage than summer travelers (heavier clothes, presents, etc.) Luggage carts get a bit more full around the holidays.

 

[US1YFARE]

Add in the fact that people who travel during have more luggage than summer travelers (heavier clothes, presents, etc.) Luggage carts get a bit more full around the holidays.

Well what about this time of year. Once again, I unfortunately needed to check a bag this week and waited over an hour after my flight arrived for my bags to come down and it was an HP flight arriving in PHL. There were a lot of other US flights with similar problems. A SJU flight had a maintenance issue with the door and they told pax just to go home and the bags would be delivered. It is ridiculous that you have to wait that long for bags in PHL.

In LAS, whenever I flew US prior to the merger, I had to wait a long time also--a long time is more than 30 minutes in my book. However, when I fly HP, the bags are delivered very quckly. I don't understand it. It always takes a long, long time to have bags come out in PHL. I'm thinking of just going to the CSR and telling them to deliver my bags because I'm not waiting around. Something needs to be done.

 

[libertybell]

Libertybell.....

I have a question for you.....I realize that equipment and staffing have been a problem in PHL for a long time. What has changed (equipment wise) since the peak pax loads of the summer? The bookings for a holiday week in Nov and Dec are not much different from a Fri or Sun in the summer. A 90% load factor is a 90% load factor. We didn't have a total melt down this summer, so why would we have one over the holidays.

I am not trivializing the equipment shortage - I know it is real - I just want to understand what has changed so drastically from July and Aug to Nov and Dec.

Frist off equipment problems rise dramaticly with cold weather. Ramp equipment doesnt start or run well.

Second I believe the problem is the luggage during Nov and Dec its seems to be a real problem with all the passengers bringing 3 bags plus with the cold weather people bring cold weather jackets which fill the over heads and that brings more bags down to the cargo bins. As far as summer meltdowns they happen its just not as media worthy and not as often and not as great. All I can say is come to Philly and see for yourself walk the ramp take a look around count the tugs and beltloaders. Each gate should have a tug and 2 beltloaders and 4 carts for the gate crews. Then go to Transfer bag runners the ABR room and see if there are agents waiting for a tug to run bags there should be at least 40 tugs in this depts to run the main line bags from plane to plane. Then go to the bag room carousels and then to International and look around. I think you will begin to see what a cluster "F" Philly really is. Its funny so many people transfered in to Philly from other stations and they are amazed how bad this place runs from lack of equipment.

 

[EricLv2Fish]

From what I've heard since US started working the HP flights in PHL things are going well up-stairs but very poor with lots of delays on the ramp. And it is from no fault of the US PHL ramp agents but shortage of equipment and man-power. Hopefully this will help to enlighten Mr.Parker and others in PHX to help them see the urgency and severity of the problem.

Regards

LGA777

In yesterday's issue of "about US" DP was featured asking questions of folks in Philly. I was hoping to read questions concerning equipment, but none we published. I emphasize "published". If DP came away from Philly without the knowledge of the poor status of equipment there then managers, supervisors and others failed in their duty. Not saying they did fail, because I'm sure not every questions was published. I would like to add the culture out West here has been very open and honest, and front line employees have been made very comfortable asking DP the tough questions. DP truly encourages us to be upfront and really wants to hear from us. I know that our western culture may take time to catch on back east (if it hasn't already been that way), but being open and honest about situtations is his style and he really believes in his people. During the unveiling of the new US Airways paint scheme, the festivities were winding down and Doug was walking off with his family into the night. As weary as Doug was, my co-worker asked him if he could get a picture of himself with him. Doug politely asked his family to continue walking, sat his luggage down and put his arm around my co-worker and smiled for a picture. Now that was priceless. Those are the facts...no kool-aide here but if you got some I'm thirsty 😉

 

[MarkMyWords]

DMG, bwipilot, libertybell -

Thanks for the info.....I realize that cold weather is a strain on equipment, forgot about the mail.

Hopefully they will be able to pull some resources from somewhere to help get us through the holidays.

 

[D M G]

D.M.G,

Why does the company buy #2 that is NOT winterized? can they be that stupid to take that risk for a few cents per gallon if that?

As for the mail, is ANYBODY awake in Operations Management??? This isn't brain surgery here. Christmas happens each year so there is historical data on which to base plans and proper allocation of carts and spares.

Even the winters in PHL while not all that harsh can play hell with hardware that is old and in need of regular maintenance. I'd be very interested to see a report contrasting the PAWOB numbers of customers who pass through PHL versus Customers who connect through other hubs.

I'll be honest with you, I never knew there was diesel fuel that was winterized. If it's available for U to buy and use in the ramp equipment during the winter months, then it should be bought. Not that I'm complaining about overtime, because there are a lot of nights when U would spend thousands of dollars in OT for FSA to park all the equipment in the belt areas and tunnels to prevent freezing. The money is nice, but adequate operating ground equipment is better.

All the equipment has to be driven to one location to be fueled, parked indoors, then pulled back outside for day work to use. Other times the equipment was kept outside, but left running all night. This doesn't work well with the beltloaders because the micro-locks would freeze, and then you couldn't move the beltloader. And the most common scenario is that U management does nothing, even when pressed to by FSA, and 90-95% of the equipment is a no-start in the morning. They're the mornings when you have one beltloader and two tugs to work 15 gates.

As far as the carts go, there just aren't enough. I've seen well over 100 carts filled with mail sit for days and days with no room on the A/C to put it. We've actually filled Post Office tractor trailers full of this mail just to get it out of the city. The P.O. trucks it to other cities to be resorted and put on flights that can handle it.

The lack of equipment has been a serious problem for over a decade now.

 

[700UW]

In CLT the Diesel fuel is the offroad use as is dyed red.

 

[PITMTC]

OK now, several posts on "winterized" fuels. What is everyone talking about? We ask that our equipment be parked indoors to keep the engine, oil and coolant water warmer. Diesel vehicles have glow-plugs that assist in starting the engines in cold weather, but we still have always practiced keeping them indoors to be safe. Gasoline engines have no protection,hence why do it. The fuel in the vehicles have nothing to do with it.
I read a lot blaming and complaining about our business accumen and corporation, but I don't read any knowledge. What do you people put in your fuel tanks all winter? Give me a break. It's the sludgy oil and cold engines that are the problem. :down: