Air Wisconsin Ramp+UAX+Dulles=Chaos

[VATechPilot]

Yeah, the takeover of DGS's ramp service of United Express at Washington Dulles (IAD) by Air Wisconsin is chaotic. 1/2 of the ramp agents do not have sida badges and have to be escorted everywhere, 1/2 of the equipment seems to work, and it seems like no one knows what the hell is going on. I feel bad for any UAX pilot who has to fly into IAD. Its probably why I have so many of them bitching at me alllll the time. DGS always sucked too, but I have hopes AWAC will be better. But right now, it SUCKS! Anyone familiar with this situation?

[Copperhed51]

I'm just familiar with how impossible it is to get anything done in IAD. Gotta call multiple times for everything. Waiting 20 minutes for a push crew there is not uncommon. Listening on the ops frequency, all you hear is angry pilots that have delayed flights due to ground crew issues. It's great when you have to tell the pax "Sorry it's so hot back there, but our APU isn't working and we can't start the engines because our ground crew ran away and is nowhere to be found. Sit back, relax, and sweat your balls off until they come back, which could be a while."

Hopefully things get better there but as of now, it's not so good.

[VATechPilot]

Originally Posted by Copperhed51

I'm just familiar with how impossible it is to get anything done in IAD. Gotta call multiple times for everything. Waiting 20 minutes for a push crew there is not uncommon. Listening on the ops frequency, all you hear is angry pilots that have delayed flights due to ground crew issues. It's great when you have to tell the pax "Sorry it's so hot back there, but our APU isn't working and we can't start the engines because our ground crew ran away and is nowhere to be found. Sit back, relax, and sweat your balls off until they come back, which could be a while."

Hopefully things get better there but as of now, it's not so good.

Sounds exactly correct. Had it happen tonight. I had gate A-1 tonight, I was taking care of 2 flights with 2 others, while my lead and 4 others was taking care of two other flights. The FO of one of his flights asked my lead for an airstart when he came in. 30 minutes later (already delayed 10 minutes) with no airstart he tells him again and finally goes off on an adventure trying to find an airstart. Meanwhile, on top of the 2 flights I already am doing, I have to take over this flight and continue to apologize to the crew for not having any idea where the lead was with the airstart while still trying to find where the hell he was. Bout 15mins later he finally shows up to find out he doesn't really know how to use one. Luckily another dude and my myself who were pretty much the true leads but with no radios and sida badges, actually know what we're doing. It's only my 3rd day on the ramp with them, and already I wanna quit. Well there's my rant for the day. If any of yall coming through Dulles sees a short white dude with shorts, a VT lanyard and who seems like he knows somewhat of whats going on, come say hi!!! Oh and I'll give a pre-sorry to for what crap might happen out there...SORRY!!!

[akrand]

I think I mentioned this in another thread you had, but, not sure if you saw it. But, love the Avatar. My husband and I worked at ACA/Independence Air.

[VATechPilot]

Originally Posted by akrand

I think I mentioned this in another thread you had, but, not sure if you saw it. But, love the Avatar. My husband and I worked at ACA/Independence Air.

Oh yes you did! It makes me miss working with flyi so much as I work at our old A terminal that is now replaced with this chaos where no one who knows what they're doing. I actually ran in to a gate agent today who used to work with flyi and we were talking about how great it was, how much smoother things ran and how much better we were treated as employees. We both agreed that we'll probably never find a company who will treat you as well as they did.

[akrand]

Originally Posted by VATechPilot

Oh yes you did! It makes me miss working with flyi so much as I work at our old A terminal that is now replaced with this chaos where no one who knows what they're doing. I actually ran in to a gate agent today who used to work with flyi and we were talking about how great it was, how much smoother things ran and how much better we were treated as employees. We both agreed that we'll probably never find a company who will treat you as well as they did.

We both miss them. We both really enjoyed our time there. I go back a few times a year since I still have family in NoVA (i grew up in Herndon), and its so strange to see no J-41's at the A gates and to see a different airline doing UAX flying out there.

[cencal83406]

If it gets too hot - I'd have pax de-boarded until they hooked up ground air. That's ridiculous.

[VATechPilot]

Originally Posted by Copperhed51

I'm just familiar with how impossible it is to get anything done in IAD. Gotta call multiple times for everything. Waiting 20 minutes for a push crew there is not uncommon. Listening on the ops frequency, all you hear is angry pilots that have delayed flights due to ground crew issues. It's great when you have to tell the pax "Sorry it's so hot back there, but our APU isn't working and we can't start the engines because our ground crew ran away and is nowhere to be found. Sit back, relax, and sweat your balls off until they come back, which could be a while."

Hopefully things get better there but as of now, it's not so good.

It happened again last night. After about 30+ mins of sitting in a hot 700, the captain finally made the decision to deboard as pax were literally about to faint. This time it wasn't due to missing ground crew, but instead broken ac units and air starts. In the end, after reboarding once a storm passed and found operable equipment, the flight was pushed back, but returned after a German woman passed out, probably due to stress. In all, the flight was delayed 3 hours I would guess.

[wheelsup]

I'm not defending the ground crew, but I don't think AWAC has anything to do with the equipment there. They just staff it. And they pull from the same pool of applicants every single ground service company has had.

[RWH1986]

AWAC has always been horrible on the CS side but now since they have taken over the ramp its twice as bad. Same people new uniform. I am mainline United and its a disgrace to have these idiots wear the same uniform as us. We just sit back and laugh at them. It's like a comedy routine. Take a look at these pics:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...6b&id=68100491

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...ad&id=68100491


Two Accidents In Two Days!

[VATechPilot]

Originally Posted by RWH1986

AWAC has always been horrible on the CS side but now since they have taken over the ramp its twice as bad. Same people new uniform. I am mainline United and its a disgrace to have these idiots wear the same uniform as us. We just sit back and laugh at them. It's like a comedy routine. Take a look at these pics:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...6b&id=68100491

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...ad&id=68100491


Two Accidents In Two Days!

It's really sad when even a supervisor backs a plane into a belt loader.

[Flightfollowing]

ZING!