a pilot told me (I know) that even though we have switched from SABRE to SHARES for everything else that we still use SABRE for weight and balance. THAT switchover will take place on May 15th. If that is true look out!!
anyone know if this is correct?
May 15th would be a nice goal. However, in the other thread about ops using Sabre the best answer on when that switchover will happen is:
???????
Initially it was going to take place on April 19th. Then May 1st. Then May 15th. Now I'm hearing June, September, and October.
I'm not quite certain that we're switching to SABRE because of the RES migration if thats what you're implying...it's just that the SABRE method of doing W&B works better (with some minor flaws, but hey, who's perfect?). Note that I said the SABRE **METHOD** not the US Airways method.
The reason planes sit on the taxiway waiting for their W&B to be reconciled is an operational mistake. Either passenger services hasn't closed out their final passenger count or the ramp hasn't closed out their cargo loads in SABRE. Once these two sides are both finalized, the computer in Central Load Planning in PIT automatically sends the flight deck their final trim numbers.
This is a big change for the HP side because HP flights get their trim numbers from the ramp lead prior to push.
In my opinion...the HP method may be old but it works. HP aircraft don't sit out next to the runway waiting for their final numbers because the gate agent got caught up in conversation and didn't finish closing the flight. The only departure delays that occur with the HP method is if the final trim count in the computer varies by +/- 10 pax. That's typically because the gate did not cancel off misconx. All that requires is a quick cabin breakdown by the INF and off they go.
Now that we're all switching to the US method, Central Load Planning in PIT will plan the weight & balance for every flight at every airport across the country. For some reason I see this turning into a disaster, as we have a lot of "outside the box thinkers" who screw up loads big time. One of them in PHX thinks he can do whatever he wants. His nickname is derived from a tropical fruit. Aside from that, I hope CLP likes to answer their phone...agents will be calling from everywhere asking questions about their loads and from what I understand there aren't very many CLP agents working on a given shift.
Maybe we need someone on the inside of CLP to post here?
