B717 taxiway excursion Rockhampton
Originally Posted by Lead Balloon
So now marshallers are among the thousands of ‘turn up, no experience required’ aviation workforce? What could possibly go wrong…
(Saw some baggage handler contractor personnel at an airport the other day. They all looked about 17.)
(Saw some baggage handler contractor personnel at an airport the other day. They all looked about 17.)
There ya go, what could go wrong employing minimum wage unskilled in safety sensitive areas....
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I once had an Engineer (30 year veteran) stop my pushback mid-push. On the headset he mentioned that he heard an unusual sound. Seconds later an engine warning light lit up. I’ve never seen anything like it, but that’s experience for you. Now you have these kids or pizza shop workers aged 19 getting a job on the ramp and within 6 months they are head-setting aircraft and doing pushbacks. They wouldn’t have a clue as to what ‘sounds correct’ or even ‘looks correct’. I’m not trying to label all ground handlers here, but experience can be worth its weight in gold. My understanding is that ever since Qantas gave their permanent old timers on the ramp the flick, the number of GSE damage incidents occurring to aircraft has gone through the roof!
Originally Posted by Paragraph377
I once had an Engineer (30 year veteran) stop my pushback mid-push. On the headset he mentioned that he heard an unusual sound. Seconds later an engine warning light lit up. I’ve never seen anything like it, but that’s experience for you. Now you have these kids or pizza shop workers aged 19 getting a job on the ramp and within 6 months they are head-setting aircraft and doing pushbacks. They wouldn’t have a clue as to what ‘sounds correct’ or even ‘looks correct’. I’m not trying to label all ground handlers here, but experience can be worth its weight in gold. My understanding is that ever since Qantas gave their permanent old timers on the ramp the flick, the number of GSE damage incidents occurring to aircraft has gone through the roof!
I suspect this has occurred before. Perhaps a CRJ during Kendell airlines ops. Although grass was dry and hard so therefore barely made the news. What is latent is that the threat was never mitigated by airport design.
The crew didn't design a ramp area that put a sand trap in an awkward position, they are just the people that take the responsibility to make a design that isn't fit for a golf course and golf carts work reliably, all the time. Having a known bad design and sitting on your tail whinging about inconvenience probably looks like a poor option now. The crew can always get some reinforcement training by being put in a golf cart and running around some tracks somewhere, that should help.... 
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Anyway, you never know, this incident could be the catalyst for some design changes at that section of the aerodrome.
Reminds me of DCA (precursor to CASA), many decades ago. My predecessor engineers had been trying to get the 125 (CAO) upgraded from a -1B to -3B without much enthusiasm from higher management. Nice little wheels up at Avalon in early 1967 and it was a done deal.
This present mishap highlights a dreadful design "setting up the pilots to fail" situation (Stallie's layout in post 36). Sure, the Commander is the boss but it doesn't help if he/she is enthusiastically helped to fail.
Reminds me of DCA (precursor to CASA), many decades ago. My predecessor engineers had been trying to get the 125 (CAO) upgraded from a -1B to -3B without much enthusiasm from higher management. Nice little wheels up at Avalon in early 1967 and it was a done deal.
This present mishap highlights a dreadful design "setting up the pilots to fail" situation (Stallie's layout in post 36). Sure, the Commander is the boss but it doesn't help if he/she is enthusiastically helped to fail.
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Originally Posted by RickNRoll
Five days now.
Must’ve had a bit of speed up as the nose wheel got through ok 😳
Or did they think “Well the nose gear made it so let’s have a crack at the mains too” ?
Or did they think “Well the nose gear made it so let’s have a crack at the mains too” ?
Last edited by On eyre; 16th Jul 2022 at 09:57.
Originally Posted by RoundTheCorner
If they are still having trouble getting it out maybe someone should give George Kennedy a call.
Highly paid professional pilots who can’t read the Rocky airport chart. The aircraft captain is in charge so to blame marshalling of which there no hard evidence is folly!
Perhaps a contributing factor is that Brisbane is an airport with poor taxiway guidance after pushback to exit onto a Charlie taxiway from gates 24 - 19. It’s the only major airport where the lead out lines don’t lead to anywhere and you’re forced to make your own way over to the correct line. No doubt the crew had done a bit of this and it normalises not following the lines…..
Originally Posted by TBM-Legend
Highly paid professional pilots who can’t read the Rocky airport chart. The aircraft captain is in charge so to blame marshalling of which there no hard evidence is folly!
Welcome back.
Last edited by das Uber Soldat; 19th Jul 2022 at 00:27.
