Flight 1852 SJO-CLT

[dariencc]

We have a problem at both GUA and SJO when the winds go bad for the runways and obstacles in the flight path. This Winter so far the winds have been unfavorable for days at time. The 757 usually can handle almost anything but is limited to 10 knot tailwinds..Airbus 15 knots..but even that has been out of limits recently.

The bus limit of 15 kt tailwind is for takeoffs only. For landings it is still 10. This is a recent change. I would hope the numbers crunchers are looking into a change for the 75 as well because of these kinds of special circumstances.

 

[ganesha]

A/C are carrying min fuel, I'm not a pilot, but any pilot can confirm this.

Why carry min fuel? A/C weighs less, therefore burns less fuel, plus, Tempe doesn't have to pay for the excess fuel right now. So, we will be seeing many, many fuel stops in the near future until they change this procedure.

One dash-8 landed with 150 lbs of fuel the other night, not even enough to divert if they had too.

 

[Travelpro72]

This airline has turned into such a trashy operation. Just read any thread and you'll see. Dumpideeeee dump, dump, DUMP.

 

[soc-hpjester]

See this problem for once can't be blamed on the infamous "CLP". An airbus 319 (a-5 eng) can't even get out of there with a full load when the wind is over 15 kts out of the east since rwy 7 is obstacle limited, you either have to wait for the wind to die down or bump pax or stop in ACA which would blow all the conx anyway.
Oh and for going trans-con below fl29 have you ever heard of pack mel ?

 

[LGA / 037]

US1852 was in the DOT "critical list", dont know if that had any direct connection with the problem, but just an added thought.

 

[tadjr]

I wasnt at work on the day of this diversion, but we were talking about it at work tonight and was told that DL had a flight divert to TPA as well enroute to ATL because of fuel needs the same night (employee bus talk). Seems like it wasnt just a US thing.

 

[Bitman]

Very interesting that I googled the flight number and got this forum as a hit!

I was a passenger on this flight with my wife and 4 year old daughter, and I will avoid US Air from now on.

The flight was late leaving SJO, and then there was the stop in Tampa for fuel. By the time we got to Charlotte, our connection was leaving in 5 minutes, certainly not enough time to get through Customs and Immigration and make it. Most of the other passengers were connecting (New York, Toronto, Australia...). US Air had to know that a lot of people were going to be stuck in Charlotte when we left Tampa, which was supposed to be a 30 min stop, not over and hour as it was. I think in cases such as this, a company needs to put forth an effort to "soften" the blow to its customers. Maybe the crew should make some trips up and down the aisle, offer some water, pillows, blankets, etc. Make people feel comfortable and try to assure them that everything is being done to get them home as quick as possible.

Instead, I felt like they were just trying to sell their credit card (right after takeoff), sell the duty free items (right after the credit card) and sell the snack pack (they didn't have any other food). The flight crew looked like they were gathering around a water cooler, and a touchy-feely male flight attendant was flirting continuously with 2 female flight attendants.

When we got to Charlotte and cleared Customs and Immigration, the connection desk was packed, of course, and everyone was informed that the delay was beyond the control of US Air, and everyone was going to have to pay for their hotel! They handed out a blue sheet of paper with a phone number and that was it! There were some very pissed off people. One of the agents at the counter began making very snide remarks to travelers, some of whom were not even at her counter. I can understand the employees have been put in a very difficult situation by the policies of US Air, but that is no excuse. Since some people were doing the complaining for me, I got to the counter, booked my flight for the next day, and with the blue sheet of paper, departed the area with my family and luggage. Hertz was still open so we decided to drive to our final destination since it was only 3 hours away.

Not good.

 

[Planemx]

I have taken my family to Europe (not non-rev) and know how you feel - it took 24 hrs to get coast to coast just to catch the flight across the pond.

 

[ringmaruf]

Most of the other passengers were connecting (New York, Toronto, Australia...).

Australia??? Who would fly SJO-CLT-Australia? I smell some embellishment here, and I'm hardly one to defend the idiots in Tempe.

 

[Bitman]

Australia??? Who would fly SJO-CLT-Australia? I smell some embellishment here, and I'm hardly one to defend the idiots in Tempe.

It was just what my wife heard from another passenger, not directly from the Aussies themselves! But I did talk to the couple from Toronto, and everybody at the ticket counters got to know the two girls from New York!!

As far as the rest of the story, I actually held back some of the details that may have sounded more like I was embellishing: on the way to rent the car, we passed a girl my wife had briefly talked to. She was young, maybe 20 years old and returning after serving in the peace corps in Costa Rica. She was sitting on one of the seats near the car rental counters, crying her eyes out. I am not sure if it was because she was stuck in Charlotte, or she could not pay for a place to stay, or she just wanted to get home.

Reading through this thread, I am a little confused. Was the delay the fault of US Air, or not??

 

[tadjr]

It was because of the winds in San Jose and runway configuration limiting the amount of a.) Fuel or b.) Customers and baggage that could be flown on the flight on the day in question. Instead of limiting the number of customers or leaving bags behind, they took less fuel and made a stop for more fuel in TPA (just like the DL flight to ATL did the same day). We havent had a visit this week from the flight so it appears it was just the 1 day that the winds were bad.