Belgian Onur Air pilot dies after falling onto apron
Join Date: Dec 2005
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I had to think of this thread last week as I was waiting in BRU: on the opposite pier 9W aircraft were lined up to be serviced with all doors wide open:
What caught my attention was that on two aircraft the FA was trying to close the door after the catering truck had left. They struggled a few times, but then gave up and just put the little (fig leaf) strap.
What caught my attention was that on two aircraft the FA was trying to close the door after the catering truck had left. They struggled a few times, but then gave up and just put the little (fig leaf) strap.
Join Date: Jul 2011
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Those photos are eye opening. Not only is there a risk to personnel leaving cabin doors open, but it also adds risk when using high lift trucks to cater the aircraft. It's really not that difficult to bring the truck up a little too high and it would be very easy on a truck with a full width platform to nudge the bottom of the door, or worse. Hell, even on a very blustery day, it's possible for the door to contact the platform, which is allowed for by leaving the platform lower and slightly further away. I've seen aircraft bounce up and down 10-15cm relative to the platform before and yaw almost the same amount.
Even on a half cab truck, the safety rails could hook up under the door.
High lift trucks should never be driven up to aircraft with open doors, far too many risks involved for both people and aircraft.
I am really surprised that those catering trucks are operated by Lufthansa, I thought ze Germans would have had a little more common sense?
Even on a half cab truck, the safety rails could hook up under the door.
High lift trucks should never be driven up to aircraft with open doors, far too many risks involved for both people and aircraft.
I am really surprised that those catering trucks are operated by Lufthansa, I thought ze Germans would have had a little more common sense?
Join Date: May 2011
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There was a story several years ago about a elderly passenger boarding a CO flight at LIM or UIO and simply walking through the galley of a 757 and falling to his death through the galley service door. There is a reason why flight attendants aren't killed by "open door." They treat any door that is opened with respect. They look. We sometimes don't.
Re: photos... precisely why many operators have a policy whereby catering are responsible to close the doors when they leave, not fa's. I still hold the handle when standing by an open door, even with steps/truck in place
