Ground staff

[paulkinm]

Hi all,

I was wondering what the chap, who is connected to the front of the aircraft while being pushed back, is doing? He seems to be wearing a pair of head phones with a mic attached to it.

Is he in direct communication with the pilot? If he is, what are the talking about? (not about the last episode of Eastenders I presume!)

Thanks.

[Trash Hauler]

Talking to the pilots - YES
To ensure the push back and subsequent disconnect is performed safely etc.

TH

[Holryn]

Originally Posted by paulkinm

Hi all,
I was wondering what the chap, who is connected to the front of the aircraft while being pushed back, is doing? He seems to be wearing a pair of head phones with a mic attached to it.
Is he in direct communication with the pilot? If he is, what are the talking about? (not about the last episode of Eastenders I presume!)
Thanks.

Paul,
Firstly, hello from another, albeit former, Chigwellian!
I worked at London City as a Ground Services Agent and part of our duties included the 'start-up' of the aircraft. We stand at the nose of the aircraft and talk to the flight deck. We have a brief to tell the crew that all the hold doors are closed and secured. The crew then ask to start the engines, if the area around the aircraft is clear then we give 'clearance' for the relevant engine to be started.
Once all engines have been started the flight deck request us to remove chocks/0disconnect ground power and clear the equipment from aircraft.
The procedure at LCY is different to most major airports as the aircraft are not pushed back.
If you're interested in seeing this in action take a look at some of the ITVV flight deck videos. One in particular is the Debonair 146 Luton to Rome and shows the headset start quite nicely.
H

[paulkinm]

Thanks for that guys! I have often wondered what they were doing.

Thanks for the advice Holryn, where do I purchase these video's from? I have just did a quick google but all I can find is American suppliers. How's life down at City airport? It's getting busier these days isn't it? I heard that they managed to get an Airbus in there a couple of months back!

[Silacoid]

Most importantly, this person is a 'communication link' between the pushback tug operator (hand signals) and the cockpit (headset) and also the outside set of eyes for the cockpit crew. Naturally, any abnormalities during engine start must be reported to the crew.

In standard pushback procedures, normal verbiage will form cues to release and set the parking brakes and to confirm when it is clear to start the engines (mind the jet blast risk to other ramps on tight taxiway turns). In the company I work for, it is also common for this person to disconnect the towbar from the nosewheel and tug (in case of a towbar tug; towbarless is much safer though).

In some cases the tower may instruct the cockpit crew to deviate from standard pushback procedures, for instance to do a long push-pull, or to push the aeroplane abeam a specific ramp. This must of course be relayed to the pushback tug operator.

[Holryn]

Originally Posted by paulkinm

Thanks for that guys! I have often wondered what they were doing.
Thanks for the advice Holryn, where do I purchase these video's from? I have just did a quick google but all I can find is American suppliers. How's life down at City airport? It's getting busier these days isn't it? I heard that they managed to get an Airbus in there a couple of months back!

I have bought them direct from their website - google 'intelligent television and video' it should be the first link. You can get them from ebay as well. PM me if you have any problems.
LCY is getting busier. Have a look at the Flight International website for pics of the airbus. Sadly I wasn't there the day it came in.
H