I guess one of the most important things is that everyone learns something from this.
On a turnaround in Sydney on sunday, with all passengers on board we were in the middle of a paperwork delay (50mins) waiting for the load and trim sheet from a fairly new inexperienced loadie. Keeping the passengers happy was one thing - they had been boarded 30mins early and had now been sitting on the ground for 1hr 20m!
I had done a similar pattern on Saturday, and experienced the same thing. On both days, the rampies had been loud, abusive and impatient - insisting they had to knock off by 4pm. (As if it were the crews fault we were waiting for the paperwork).
On saturday, they pulled the stairs away while there was no one at the door, or in the galley. The load controller was still in the flight deck. I gestured for them to return the stairs - which they did while calling me a 'whiney f**k', and a 'fu**ing fag'... The number 3 came into the galley to ask what it was all about, as she had heard it 4 rows down into the cabin...
Sunday, they did the same thing, different rampies, different abuse, however when I asked them to return the stairs, they held them 2ft away from the door - refusing to put them back in. Subsequently the load controller had to jump the 2ft gap, and once again, the stairs were well and truly gone before the thumbs up, ok to close signal had been given.
I have worked on the ramp, I also knew a person who has had a fall from the aircraft door (only a Bae146, but enough to make it difficult for him to do simple things anymore).
I have printed out a copy of this thread to take into our fa manager. I think that its important that everyone be made aware the danger of open doors with no stairs/guard strap, and the dangers associated with the removal of the stairs... Otherwise, one day, it will happen again.
