Things line people do that drives you nuts

[BCTAv8r]

What are some things that line people do that you don't like or should be done?

[TFaudree_ERAU]

I've come across a couple of guys that go from signaling "pull forward" to "stop" in 0.00374 seconds flat. Don't forget we've got people in the back.

Also, if you don't know how a single point refueling system works in a Lear (not sure if its different in other airplanes)...ASK! Don't just start pumping fuel and then say to me "sir, I could only get 12 gallons in and then it stopped."

[Big Tex]

Also, if you don't know how a single point refueling system works in a Lear (not sure if its different in other airplanes)...ASK! Don't just start pumping fuel and then say to me "sir, I could only get 12 gallons in and then it stopped."

When the guy pulled up to fuel he probably thought..."Im not sure its different than other airplanes".

[fishrichard]

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

What are some things that line people do that you don't like or should be done?

Pull the power cart and just drive away.

[stoki]

How about the stuff pilots do that drives line people nuts? hehe I can think of like 50 things off the top of my head.

[FutrLftSeat82]

Are you sure you guys want to open this can? LOL...I work the line. I can go both ways, in the respect that I see things from both ends. I'll start with a reply to each comment so far.

[mikecweb]

Not pulling the GPU on start, Jet Av. at Teterboro is famous for this.
Spraying de-ice fluid on our windshield. De-icing us 2 hours before departure because they figured it would be a good idea.
Not using lighted wands at night and expecting us to see you a 1/2 mile away.
The only time you'll see a line guy run for a freight dawg is to make sure they park no where near the building.
Asking us to move the jet after they were too lazy to come out and show us where to park. They usually get the option of doing various things to our body parts after they tell us that. It's 330am I'm pretty sure we're not going to get in anyones way.
And the number one thing I hate.......treating us like scum on earth but then saluting us when we leave.

[TheOneMarine]

I know this isn't the line guys so much as the companies policy, but I hate it when the jets are all parked right next to the door and us little guys get sent out halfway across the airport to park and then have to hump it back with no electric cart.

[FutrLftSeat82]

Originally Posted by TFaudree_ERAU

I've come across a couple of guys that go from signaling "pull forward" to "stop" in 0.00374 seconds flat. Don't forget we've got people in the back.

Also, if you don't know how a single point refueling system works in a Lear (not sure if its different in other airplanes)...ASK! Don't just start pumping fuel and then say to me "sir, I could only get 12 gallons in and then it stopped."

The signaling thing goes both ways. BUT, bear in mind that the guys/gals who are giving you abrupt signals are usually relatively new. If you were to scoot past 'their" stop point by a foot or so to make a smooth stop...they probably won't notice . On the other hand, you won't usually get the 'stop' signal so erratically from someone who knows what's going on. Take this as a hint...(if you're placing a fuel order maybe). I know that where I work, unless you come in after like 5pm, we only have a line hostess taking orders on the front line. She strictly parks aircraft and takes the order, then its passed off to the front desk, and dispersed via radio to the "service" line crew.

As far as the fuel thing, same kind of thing. You won't get a guy/gal who gives you the "I could only get in 12 gallons" line, if they know what they're doing. If you get it, I guess it would be your call to maybe supervise in the best interest of both parties (or the FO, lol...).

I guess the key here is, you've been doing your job for a long time, more than likely...a few years at the minimum. A lot of those folks haven't. Some details, are perhaps..."Nature of the Beast".

[FutrLftSeat82]

Originally Posted by fishrichard

Pull the power cart and just drive away.

Our company policy is that we are required to marshal you out, for sake of other aircraft parked on the line. Sometimes if it's REALLY slow, or O'Dark-30 and you're the only one on the ramp, we won't bother you. Or if someone does, DECLINE the option. Unless you're in deep between some other aircraft, we'll accept the decline and be on our way.

[FutrLftSeat82]

Originally Posted by fishrichard

Pull the power cart and just drive away.

Oh yeah, and not to bash a certain airline (most of you won't even know the name unless you're out of Denver or western CO)...but KEYLIME AIRLINES...is notorious for driving off...WITHOUT letting someone pull the power cart, lol. Some of them in the past have thought this was an "automatic" process...LMAO. (Few busted up GPU cables later........LOL) (J/K...not really)...

Sometimes it's best that we're around.

[FutrLftSeat82]

Please don't think that I am strictly taking the line crew side. Some of the people that I work with (when I'm flying) tickle my nerves sometimes. I've been that C172 parked next to a Citation Bravo and nearly been blown sideways because the line hostess thought it might be fun to park be next to a jet. In this instance, I'd rather be parked a little ways away and have to walk back. Of course, that was no help from the pilot in the Cit. who thought maybe it would be fun to goose the thrusters a bit on his way out. (Goose 'em when no one is behind you then retract the claws and gently roll out!!! PLEASE!!) Some of the "corporate/charter" guys think nothing of the little guys when they're on the ramp...please be courteous.

[FutrLftSeat82]

Originally Posted by TheOneMarine

I know this isn't the line guys so much as the companies policy, but I hate it when the jets are all parked right next to the door and us little guys get sent out halfway across the airport to park and then have to hump it back with no electric cart.

I know for us, unless the ramp is swamped...they'll park you pretty close to the front. The big reason we can't do that with a ramp full of jets is for few reasons. Big one, (if they're a good line hostess)...we don't want your plane blown sideways or away!! (See above post^^^). Also because we don't have room on the front line for anything else! LOL. And if for whatever reason you DO have to park by the tie-down area, if you ask for a power cart...we'll get it to you.

[FutrLftSeat82]

Originally Posted by mikecweb

Not pulling the GPU on start, Jet Av. at Teterboro is famous for this.
Spraying de-ice fluid on our windshield. De-icing us 2 hours before departure because they figured it would be a good idea.
Not using lighted wands at night and expecting us to see you a 1/2 mile away.
The only time you'll see a line guy run for a freight dawg is to make sure they park no where near the building.
Asking us to move the jet after they were too lazy to come out and show us where to park. They usually get the option of doing various things to our body parts after they tell us that. It's 330am I'm pretty sure we're not going to get in anyones way.
And the number one thing I hate.......treating us like scum on earth but then saluting us when we leave.

You're serious? WOW. That would definitely go against EVERYTHING they were formally taught! Geez. No de-ice until RIGHT BEFORE departure!!! Or else, what's the point?!?!?

[BCTAv8r]

I hate it when I'm marshalling in an aircraft and I have a designated spot I'm going to stop them at, but instead of turning earlier so they can come straight in, they do a 45 degree turn and have to go past the said point in order to park straight. Did that make any sense?

[FutrLftSeat82]

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

I hate it when I'm marshalling in an aircraft and I have a designated spot I'm going to stop them at, but instead of turning earlier so they can come straight in, they do a 45 degree turn and have to go past the said point in order to park straight. Did that make any sense?

Yeah, lol. It means they're probably not doing what you ask them to do. Or they don't know the turning abilities of the aircraft they're flying...maybe?

[dc3flyer]

Hey FutrLftSeat, I was in GJT yesterday... were you working? I felt really sorry for the line guys and the "line hostess" because it was COLD!!!! I really have to say, I am glad I don't have to work in that weather everyday.

[Mark815]

Originally Posted by FutrLftSeat82

Are you sure you guys want to open this can? LOL...I work the line. I can go both ways, in the respect that I see things from both ends. I'll start with a reply to each comment so far.

lol same here, i work at a Class D so no scheduled carriers coming in, but alot of corporate and other GA traffic.

But just for fun, going the other way, I've had pilots yell at me because i didn't hear their fuel order as they were rushing out the door to eat, and get very upset because their Bonanza wasn't fueled while they were gone. I don't touch an airplane unless i know exactly what it needs.

[deek]

I use to be a line guy for 3 years (KPSM & KBCT) and it was the most fun I've had at a job. But the complaints go both ways. Most pilots follow the line guy signals, some could care less if a line guy eats a prop. Also some corporate aircraft (hawkers and gulfstreams 200) have amazingly loud and annoying APU's, I'm surprise I can still hear anything. But most pilots are cool, and wouldn't mind if I took a peek inside the cockpit or asked them a few questions. Also, biggest peeve, was an aircraft that had to be parked in the back of the hanger behind 8 other planes, asked to be towed out, and then canceling 10 minutes later, ALL THE TIME.

[BCTAv8r]

I'm not by any way suggesting that pilots should rush through their checklists, but it would be nice if after shutting the door and starting the engines, the pilots wouldn't sit there for 20 minutes before taxiing out. I had a crew do this last week while spooling up the engines every couple of minutes so that I'd start motioning for them to come forward with the wands and since they wouldn't move, I'd just look like an idiot. I'm gonna start taking down tail numbers.

[FutrLftSeat82]

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

I'm not by any way suggesting that pilots should rush through their checklists, but it would be nice if after shutting the door and starting the engines, the pilots wouldn't sit there for 20 minutes before taxiing out. I had a crew do this last week while spooling up the engines every couple of minutes so that I'd start motioning for them to come forward with the wands and since they wouldn't move, I'd just look like an idiot. I'm gonna start taking down tail numbers.

It can get a bit unnerving when you're sitting there for 15 or 20 minutes. I've had a lot of pilots that are pretty good at giving you the motion for how long they might be...and when they're ready to go, most are really good about flashing their landing lights as a signal. A little bit of courteously goes a LONG ways in this industry. Line Technician...and/or Pilot.

[cmsuav8r]

I just give a thumbs up to the line person when I'm ready to go. I really haven't had any line people do anything annoying since we don't rely on them at my airport and I only make contact with them when I fly on XC's.

[n57flyguy]

Originally Posted by stoki

How about the stuff pilots do that drives line people nuts? hehe I can think of like 50 things off the top of my head.

Hahaha

Brain is one of us.

[ghoster]

Serious question, how do you , in a nice way, signal the line person that you dont need to be marshalled? I feel sorry sometimes when they are standing there in the cold and you dont really need them.

[MichaelCPS]

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

What are some things that line people do that you don't like or should be done?

Making you go outside after you are comfortable in your office. You go outside with them into the freezing cold weather so they can tell you that your parking brake is set and they can't push the plane into the hangar. But the real reason the airplane won't move is that it is frozen to the ground because they took three hours to get out there to move it in the first place.