Thursday, May 12, 2011

Seniority helps

Day 3 and 4 of my trip went normally for the most part. Day 4 was one leg and done. Blocked out early...then tower called. There was something hanging out of our cargo hold. I called company and we waited for the message to be passed down to the rampers. They came out. We shut down the engine and they fixed the issue...luggage strap was hanging out of the door. Now we were late.

We flew fast. Fast enough to be 35 minutes early. Blocked in at 6PM. There was a 6:45PM flight I could commute home on. After my post flight I headed straight to the crew room and stashed my kit bag. On my way up the stairs a Captain I knew stopped me, "If you're trying for the 6:45PM flight don't bother, it's delayed till 8:20PM." Nice. While I was inbound a flight had cancelled. The flights were now all overbooked.

I made my way through the terminal. My phone rang. It was a buddy who is also based here and commutes. He has been commuting for 2 years.

I met him at the gate. He wasn't too happy to see me as I am senior to him by 9 numbers. Same hire date. Being senior meant I had jump seat priority. We chit chatted as we kept an eye on the standby list. Wasn't looking good.

Departure time came. It was a lucky day for the both of us as we somehow scored seats in the cabin. At least two other pilots junior to us had to "duke it out" for the jump seat. Three and a half hours later we were home. Both of us commute back Friday.

2 comments:

  1. I'm curious about the luggage strap hanging out of the cargo hold.  What would the consequences have been if you had taken off with that present?  It seems like it could have affected the seal and thus pressurization of the plane?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Likely would have pressurized fine as it was likely a small strap. The bleed valves could likely have compensated for any leak caused by the strap. Likely would have pressurized fine as it was likely a small strap. The bleed valves could likely have compensated for any leak caused by the strap.

    ReplyDelete

If you are a spammer....your post will never show up. Move along.