Just another day at the airports seems to be the norm instead the exception
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=...&id=4391999
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=...&id=4391999
US Airways Taking the Heat from Passengers
- Thread starter john john
- Start date
AstroLounge
Veteran
- Oct 10, 2005
- 1,491
- 213
saw MAJOR PROBLEMS over the Th-F-Sat period....and they were NOT all weather related. And as far as people being upset over a late running flight on Saturday evening due to thunderstorms- THAT Storm was NOT just A-N-Y Storm....major downpour, lots of flooding and downright scary. (If the travelling public can't see the need for our ramp workers take cover to protect themselves, BE MY GUEST, TAKE GREYHOUND!)
Welcome to just about ANY afternoon in Florida in the summertime. This past week alone (save yesterday) we were shut down part of the day anywhere from 1 to 4 hours. My favorites line is "just let me on the ramp, I'll get my bag myself" as the crash and boom of lightning/thunder lands all around you. Um, sure go ahead, we need one less a**h*l* in the world..... 
Singleflyer
Senior
- Mar 27, 2003
- 466
- 6
Tadjr,
I was there Thurs night, and was VERY glad the ramp was closed. I did not want to be in a metal tube with that light show. And for the safety of the workers I don't mind waiting a bit. I got home that night safely, a bit late. But everyone was safe and that is the bottom line
I was there Thurs night, and was VERY glad the ramp was closed. I did not want to be in a metal tube with that light show. And for the safety of the workers I don't mind waiting a bit. I got home that night safely, a bit late. But everyone was safe and that is the bottom line
Most people are understanding when they can see the lightning and hear the thunder (THANK YOU!), but the lightning meter isnt just for on airport property. There is a fairly large area that they cover, but then again, lightning can strike miles away from the actual storm too. Its when its sunny outside and storming at the edge of the detection area that there's usually a problem. The airport is the one that controls the meter too. When it goes off, its supposed to be for the entire airport. How long things stay shut down are up to each airline and contractor. Of course, you see certain airlines/contractors out there right after the thing shuts off without any countdown time (and even sometimes with the light and siren still going off). When someone asks me why XXX is still working, I just have to say I guess they dont care about their employees getting hit as long as the plane leaves.
We've actually had a couple people in station (and by other carriers/contractors) struck by lightning. Thats one of the reasons the airport finally (about 2-3 years ago) set up its own meter. Before then it was up to each airline to decide when to close the ramp. (I also remember a FA and UMNR hit by lightning in JAX many years ago walking across the ramp on a PI Shuttle flight. She was out for quite a while.)
Lightning Article on Florida
We put an article similar to this up in the baggage area so people could understand a little better if they werent from the area why we take the ramp closure so seriously. Management said to take it down. :down:
We've actually had a couple people in station (and by other carriers/contractors) struck by lightning. Thats one of the reasons the airport finally (about 2-3 years ago) set up its own meter. Before then it was up to each airline to decide when to close the ramp. (I also remember a FA and UMNR hit by lightning in JAX many years ago walking across the ramp on a PI Shuttle flight. She was out for quite a while.)
Lightning Article on Florida
We put an article similar to this up in the baggage area so people could understand a little better if they werent from the area why we take the ramp closure so seriously. Management said to take it down. :down:
