I've never seen the position of duty manager as someone who is authorized to exercise operational control. This ultimately sounds like a loss there of. That or an informal hijacking.
Someone not authorized to exercise operational control, more or less seizing it, or attempting to is a pretty big deal. Operational control is a big ticket item for the FAA. I'd be curious what the FAA did in response.
However when I read the report I (and I think the rest of us) thought this of the whole situation
Technically duty managers are certificated dispatchers so they are allowed to take over operational control. They do it routinely when a dispatcher has to shift flights off to deal with an emergency with a flight or some other critical situation.Someone not authorized to exercise operational control, more or less seizing it, or attempting to is a pretty big deal. Operational control is a big ticket item for the FAA. I'd be curious what the FAA did in response.
Someone not authorized to exercise operational control, more or less seizing it, or attempting to is a pretty big deal. Operational control is a big ticket item for the FAA. I'd be curious what the FAA did in response.
The Duty Manager replied that they were taking operational control of the flight at that time. I was on the phone with the Captain and handed the phone to the Duty Manager.
Im guessing the exchange was like
DIS: Pop the slides? But they are only supposed to be used for Evacs. Also I have Op Control of this flight so Im responsible for it if something goes wrong.
DM: Ill take full responsiblity for the outcome of this situation. Note that I now am assuming full Op Control of the flight pass over the phone please.
*DM tells CA to pop slide, CA and DM debate about it. DM then personally sends ACARS to CA telling them to "DECLARE AN EMERGENCY AND BLOW THE SLIDE. YOU HAVE 1 MINUTE. EMERGENCY!"
I highly doubt the DIS who relinquished Op Control of the flight sent that ACARS and more likely the duty manager sent it.
I guess my joke fell flat.
I have seen it where the Duty Officer can exercise operational control.I've never seen the position of duty manager as someone who is authorized to exercise operational control. This ultimately sounds like a loss there of. That or an informal hijacking.
Screw it, at that point if it’s become this much of a chocolate mess, I’d blow all the slides, grab a beer and exit.I don’t care. I’m not blowing the slide to stop the 3 hr clock. There is no emergency. Facing a financial fine does NOT constitute an emergency on my plane to blow a slide. My firm answer as a Captain would be NO.
Im suprised the flight crew didnt just throw the mebasa crew to the wayside and get in the terminal on their own. Its NOT mebasas terminal its the airports. Also signature could have been a resource. Since the 145 is low enough they could have deplaned without airstairs by how they do it during evacs just at a slower pace then walk to the terminal and swipe inside somehow or use a jetbridge for access.
Cool story. Open your contract to section 19. We'll make this as fair as possible for you. Try to have an answer ready for "theres no safety issue blowing the slide I can think of, why were you so dead set against blowing the slide? The Company sent me the recording of their conversation with you over the phone explaining how it's a bad deal but theyd rather spend 15k on the slide, than be fined 30k for every single passenger in the back."The airline told them to.
My response back would been a simple... "No, you have 1 minute to find me a gate or remote parking spot that allows me to open the door without blowing a slide."
Dont you mean the door closed time? They only get paid flight hours between block out and block in.Mesaba told the xjt crew to hop out because the TSA was bailing, and mesaba people were leaving for the night, northwest and mesaba werent gonna approve the overtime for an airplane acting that stupid. Flight crew decided to stick on board and used "listened to the company" as an excuse to milk the clock at the flight hour rate.
Mesaba ground crew left the airport, they didnt hold anyone on, asked multiple times if they xjt would consider leaving and packing it in for the night. The captain didnt exercise any authority because the captain wanted to ride that door open time right to a new car.
Cool story. Open your contract to section 19. We'll make this as fair as possible for you. Try to have an answer ready for "theres no safety issue blowing the slide I can think of, why were you so dead set against blowing the slide? The Company sent me the recording of their conversation with you over the phone explaining how it's a bad deal but theyd rather spend 15k on the slide, than be fined 30k for every single passenger in the back."
Blow the slide, call the ALPA office, tell them you're looking for lawyer initials RP.
Cool story.Blowing a slide was never the intent of stopping the 3 hr rule for the DOT clock. And I'll gladly explain myself at any hearing for the course of action I took.
Well you're riding the cash register until the door opens there sweety. We're saying the same thing but you'd rather i said riding the door closed time hu? Tomato tomato.Dont you mean the door closed time? They only get paid flight hours between block out and block in.
Technically duty managers are certificated dispatchers so they are allowed to take over operational control. They do it routinely when a dispatcher has to shift flights off to deal with an emergency with a flight or some other critical situation.