Code 99...
 

Delay code 99

The "If nothing else fits delay code". Has any dispatcher ever used this? And what for? And what is the strangest, most bizarre delay you have ever had happen to you?

RTG!

Giraffe ate cargo!!

Many moons ago on AN124:uhoh:

Now frowned upon! I used this for a Shuttle last year (or OO... operations other, apparantly) and was told under no uncertain circumstances to ever use it again, as it was for Heathrow's use only!

I've used it umpteen times before working for The World's Favourite Airline, but I seem to recall the most bizarre was during severe snow at Glasgow during March 2006 when a Captain who shall remain nameless other than as "Delay 60", got into an arguement with his management as he was convinced he was going to AMS, not AGP, and that all the paperwork he was presented with was wrong...


... dunno what was more worrying to be honest, the fact he swore black was blue that he was right, or the fact that the airline let him go to AMS!

I think the best one I have seen (though it wasnt mine personally), but I saw the message.

DL99 - Operational Incompetance.

This was used, after a 4 hour delay on a (now defunct) charter company which could have had any of 20 different delay codes for everything from tech aircraft to baggage discrepancy, aircraft swap, incorrect flight plans etc....

It was sent, and the airline questioned it, and demanded the correct delay code. Which was then given as the mobile number of the captain who suggested it, no more was said!

RTG!

DL77 - Ground handling impaired by adverse weather
 

...with the SI...

SI DL77>UNABLE TO LOCATE AIRSTART UNIT DUE SIMILAR COLOUR TO FOG

Code 99

I used that when I have been chatting with Pilots on the flight deck without realising what the time was. I got away with code 99 because most of them I knew. Never had a Delay code 31 in all the 9 years in dispatch which is good going I would say....

So if you are up on the flightdeck jawjacking with the guys in the pointy end and caused a delay, you covered up YOUR 31 delay, so in fact you DID have a 31 delay in your illustrious dispatch career.... you just did not have the integrity to admit that you in fact caused a delay. I have been in the dispatch business for the best part of 20 years now and I can admit to several 31 delays. We are all human and even good dispatchers sometimes make mistakes.

99, covered by a decent SI entry on the signal usually results in OPS deciding upon the correct code and letting the stations know.
And the following days delay meeting usually ends in the code being changed again !
Ho hum.

delay 99
 

we had a DM who used to cancel the monday morning slot's as no chance of completing check in on time. the delay was then allocated to AT when the new slot came in. One capt got wind of this - contacted FMU at BRU to check how many occasions..whilst he was doing this he lost his own slot....couldnt make it up!:D

We used DL99 all the time at LCY. Usually because Codeco wouldn't accept more than 2 delay codes so we would enter say 93 and 99 and then split 99 in the SI field.

thats because you should not have more than 2 delays. I hate it when you have late cleaning AND late catering. they may have both been late but only one caused the delay the other managed to get off the aircraft before they caused the delay. and before some one else says it the last supplier off the aircraft is not always the one that caused the delay

OpsSix.

@kc/edl99 0000 98 0000 -hey presto, another 2 delay codes for you to baffle and bemuse! (edl = extra delay)

If there are more than 2 delays, you put down more than 2 delays. Who's to say it was for catering and cleaning?

Furrybeast - thanks for that, although it has been 6 months since I last dispatched. I decided enough was enough when the French thought they knew best where I was.

there is plenty of occasions where more than two delay codes can and should be used.

The full delay should be shown in the departure signal. So what happens if a plane is late off stand for example 30 mins.

Late Inbound 15 mins
Tech 20 mins
Passenger Convenience 5 mins

some airlines demand a full breakdown of all resons for the delay.

Occasionally 99 used while we await a report for the reason for the delay. New mvt message then gets sent with correct delay code.

99 code is very rarely used as any delay should be covered by all other delay codes.

in regards to the dly 31 comment, surely that is poor timekeeping skills if it's due to chatting on the flight deck? If they knew you that well surely they would agree to an on-time departure?

I agree that even the best of us struggle to get some a/c out within the turnaround time for one reason or other and no-one is indeed perfect.

DL99
 

I've had to use it cause reason not specified anywhere else. When pushed by operator for real reason I made the phonecall to their Ops and explained. Capt desparate for loo on turnround and took longer than expected. Delay code 99 accepted with exclamation and question marks afterwards.

:O

I have used it once because a ramp agent fell out of the hold and injured himself quite badly, so getting help for him was prioritised over the turnaround. It was accepted after a phone call to the airline ops.

we use Lufty's TANGO system and for some reason it only accepts 2 delay codes (even though it has boxes for EDL's) so we usually need to use 99 and an SI comment if 3 or more delays.

most unusual time ive used 99 was a PET getting loose in the hold and it took a few loaders to get it back in its box

The reason all these systems only accept two delay codes is that there are not supposed to be more than two delay codes per flight (see my reply 11)

....not according to IATA AHM780 (Aircraft Movement Message) 7.3 & 8.4

This allows for upto 4 delay codes.

I stand corrected then !! that said I still dont see the point in more than two