Winter Ramps/Equipment advice

MNFlyboy

MNFlyboy

Well-Known Member
Ok for all of you northerners and guys who deal with snow filled and icy ramps, what do you do for red carpet treatment? Our products slip even on the light fluffy stuff that you would think it would sink into and stay, but these red carpets are only good for direct contact on the ramp surface and slide all over like a pig on ice. The slightest bit of wind sets it screaming across the ramp. Airport authority doesn't like it, nor does it look good.

Does anyone have a solution to this problem or have better products that they have used? At this point we make a CSR come out and put her foot on the corner because apparently chocks are too tacky.

Looking for ideas. Thanks
 
Get some rope stanchions.

redcarpet.jpg


The Stanchion Depot seems to have sets available all the way from $20 to $200.

If your shop doesn't want to shell out for 'em, maybe you could swipe one of those "Please Wait to be Seated" signs from a local restaurant and change the sign to say "Welcome to Stubbville."
 
I have no clue if there are different types of carpet available, but the ones that we use have a very heavy rubber backing and it takes a really good blow to get them to move. They are very heavy.
 
I don't really have anything to add other than how much I hated chasing after a mat that somebody left behind a King Air. Always felt so stupid trying to chase that thing down.

On an unrelated note we had a guy leave his toolbox on the horizontal stab of his 182 and do a run up. Not fun having to chase after some guys crap in the dark and almost killing yourself on a tiedown hook.
 
MNFlyboy said:
Ok for all of you northerners and guys who deal with snow filled and icy ramps, what do you do for red carpet treatment? Our products slip even on the light fluffy stuff that you would think it would sink into and stay, but these red carpets are only good for direct contact on the ramp surface and slide all over like a pig on ice. The slightest bit of wind sets it screaming across the ramp. Airport authority doesn't like it, nor does it look good.

Does anyone have a solution to this problem or have better products that they have used? At this point we make a CSR come out and put her foot on the corner because apparently chocks are too tacky.

Looking for ideas. Thanks
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We use heavy duty carpets. Whenever they won't stick to the packed snow/ice, we don't use them at all. We just tell people to be extra careful and be ready to catch them if they fall

P.S. Were you working last night or Thursday morning when a blue and white King Air 350 came in?
 
Must be nice. I'd give anything to get back into those birds. How long have you been with your company? How'd you get into that position? I did some work for an aerial photo company out of Hamilton, OH for a few months.
 
MNFlyboy said:
Must be nice. I'd give anything to get back into those birds. How long have you been with your company? How'd you get into that position? I did some work for an aerial photo company out of Hamilton, OH for a few months.
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Unfortunately I'm not on their payroll. Just a line guy like you and I occasionally get to ride with the base tennants (that plane being one of them).

Just got to know the guys really well and whenever one of them is out of town/sick I usually go in place of them. They're single pilot certified and they don't get a break on insurance, so I'm not taking someones job or anything.

Where's Hamilton at exactly? Southern, Ohio?
 
Hamilton is just on the NE side of Cinci. Little GA airport there. Flew a 150 and a 172 with my uncle who was a photographer for the company. I just flew him around 6-8 hours a day. Fun little job. Kinda wish I was still doing it. Glad you made connections with some of your based. I'm working on that as well. We have a company that does MX for Piper Malibu/Mirage/Meridian and I've tried bargaining for some time with them. I just have to not be working when they go do MX flights and such.

Glad you guys came in though, appreciate the business. Hopefully we'll see you out here again soon!
 
MNFlyboy said:
Hamilton is just on the NE side of Cinci. Little GA airport there. Flew a 150 and a 172 with my uncle who was a photographer for the company. I just flew him around 6-8 hours a day. Fun little job. Kinda wish I was still doing it. Glad you made connections with some of your based. I'm working on that as well. We have a company that does MX for Piper Malibu/Mirage/Meridian and I've tried bargaining for some time with them. I just have to not be working when they go do MX flights and such.

Glad you guys came in though, appreciate the business. Hopefully we'll see you out here again soon!
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Yeah, same here.

I saw you have some 1900 time. Have you tried applying with Menards? They run 3-4 1900s out of EAU. They were looking for some FOs late last summer I think with 800 TT mins.
 
No I didn't know they ran 'em. I see Marvin Windows running around with their 19's in and out of MSP up here all the time, I'll look up Menards. Know any specific contacts over there?
 
MNFlyboy said:
1No I didn't know they ran 'em. I see Marvin Windows running around with their 19's in and out of MSP up here all the time, I'll look up Menards. Know any specific contacts over there?
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I don't have any contacts there, but they come in here practically every day with their Citations and about once a week with a 1900. If they come in tomorrow, I'll try to get some information for you.
 
Most of the time we won't use the carpets in the ice because even with the heavy duty ones and with the little rubber bumps on the bottom for extra grip they still slip. I tell the pax to be careful and am standing by to catch them
 
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