W&b

[SoftLanding]

LUV pilots



what hand held devise do you use for w&b?

How do you get the number of bags etc.?

Can you leave the gate before all the numbers are crunched?


Reason I'm asking is US Airways is talking about installing printer on the jetways, and we'll have to stay at the gate until all is done. (Now we're getting numbers from a centralized location in PIT).

Thanks.


SoftLanding

 

[diverboy]

We don't use a handheld device.. We use OTIS (Operations Terminal Information System) installed on the gate readers for w/b. The ramp recieves manifests at the time the bags are run to the gate as to the # of bags going where (local bags from the # of bag tags printed) and a manifest regarding cargo info as well as the cargo is run. I don't think the system accounts for transfer bags yet so those as well as special needs items (carseats strollers w/c) need to be accounted for manually. These are recorded on a bin slip which the ops agent then inputs into OTIS. W/B is calculated before the aircraft door is closed for departure.

Hope this makes sense.

 

[SoftLanding]

We don't use a handheld device.. We use OTIS (Operations Terminal Information System) installed on the gate readers for w/b. The ramp recieves manifests at the time the bags are run to the gate as to the # of bags going where (local bags from the # of bag tags printed) and a manifest regarding cargo info as well as the cargo is run. I don't think the system accounts for transfer bags yet so those as well as special needs items (carseats strollers w/c) need to be accounted for manually. These are recorded on a bin slip which the ops agent then inputs into OTIS. W/B is calculated before the aircraft door is closed for departure.

Hope this makes sense.

[post="311243"][/post]​

Thanks for the explanation, makes sense.

Sounds like it will be a similar system we'll be using at US Airways in the future.

SoftLanding

 

[corl737]

We don't use a handheld device.. We use OTIS (Operations Terminal Information System) installed on the gate readers for w/b. The ramp recieves manifests at the time the bags are run to the gate as to the # of bags going where (local bags from the # of bag tags printed) and a manifest regarding cargo info as well as the cargo is run. I don't think the system accounts for transfer bags yet so those as well as special needs items (carseats strollers w/c) need to be accounted for manually. These are recorded on a bin slip which the ops agent then inputs into OTIS. W/B is calculated before the aircraft door is closed for departure.

Hope this makes sense.

[post="311243"][/post]​

While the weight and balance is initially computed at the gate there is also a handheld computer used in the cockpit on which we, the pilots, can modify w&b info as it applies to the calculation of aircraft performance data. Called the "OPC" (Onboard Performance Computer) we start with the OTIS-generated load sheet. Then, adding current weather/runway info we get the numbers needed to safely operate the aircraft.

The OPC allows us to make changes on the fly without having to go through a centralized (time-consuming) process. If there's a last minute addition of passengers, we can add them through the OPC without having to regenerate an entirely new OTIS document. If the winds shift and the departure runway changes, within a minute or two we have new data right at our fingertips. Voila! That's called efficiency!

 

[diverboy]

And isn't the OTIS w/b "eventually" going to be transmitted directly to the flight deck computer without paper printout.. haven't heard about that since they first announced the electronic w/b..

 

[corl737]

And isn't the OTIS w/b "eventually" going to be transmitted directly to the flight deck computer without paper printout.. haven't heard about that since they first announced the electronic w/b..

[post="311380"][/post]​

??? Don't know. I'd expect it's possible but it's got to rise above the cost/benefit threshold. It would be nice to expedite the process, especially since the OTIS printers are often quite a distance from the flight deck.

 

[wnbubbleboy]

While the weight and balance is initially computed at the gate there is also a handheld computer used in the cockpit on which we, the pilots, can modify w&b info as it applies to the calculation of aircraft performance data. Called the "OPC" (Onboard Performance Computer) we start with the OTIS-generated load sheet. Then, adding current weather/runway info we get the numbers needed to safely operate the aircraft.

The OPC allows us to make changes on the fly without having to go through a centralized (time-consuming) process. If there's a last minute addition of passengers, we can add them through the OPC without having to regenerate an entirely new OTIS document. If the winds shift and the departure runway changes, within a minute or two we have new data right at our fingertips. Voila! That's called efficiency!

[post="311366"][/post]​

Plus you can play mine hunter or solitare on it as well.

 

[WNjetdoc]

Plus you can play mine hunter or solitare on it as well.

Or if you're bubbleboy you can play the same games, plus a million more, on a 21" screen at work....however only while on official breaks or on lunch, but of course.