TIS THE SEASON

[DCD]

PHL Airport Authority has awarded the contract to operate it's Centralized De-iceing facility to a new to PHL vendor, ServisAir/Global Ground. With a lot of flights to protect in PHL and in the other Hubs this winter, how is it looking? USAirways was the operator of the facility for the first four years of the CDF's existence.

 

[AstroLounge]

Thanks for enlightening me on the latest drama at PHL......it takes everything in me to navigate that place in summer let alone winter. I am thoroughly convinced that place JUST DOESN'T GET IT!

 

[dc3fanatic]

Last year, there was a de-icing event (wide body boom broke) and someone was severely (?) injured (as I recall).

Have all of those booms been inspected? Has a failure analysis been completed and what was the conclusion, result and action taken to prevent a future occurance?

 

[delldude]

Last year, there was a de-icing event (wide body boom broke) and someone was severely (?) injured (as I recall).

Have all of those booms been inspected? Has a failure analysis been completed and what was the conclusion, result and action taken to prevent a future occurance?

well,they were going to but the money was allocated at the last minute to help those overworked U senior level managers stick around. 😱

 

[DCD]

Have all of those booms been inspected? Has a failure analysis been completed and what was the conclusion, result and action taken to prevent a future occurance?
[/quote]

The two booms on slot #3 where the incident occurred are still stripped of their arms. From what I have been told by the contractor who is tasked to maintain them, all remaining booms have been modified with extra welds and stiffening plates and one boom stress checked to verify the efficacy of the mod. From what I understand a large percentage of the new recruits who will operate these booms and the eight of ten trucks leased to Servisair/Global ground from USAirways have no prior aircraft de-icing experience.

I hope USAirways and the other carriers serving PHL have contingency plans in place. And I wonder if USAirways decision to not continue to operate the CDF proves to be a wise one?

 

[Hope777]

I dont know about PHL, but as of November 1st EWR was contracted out for De-Icing. This was the FSA's work for the last two years. The first day an aircraft asked for Deicing, the Vendor wasnt aware of the Contract. The Aircraft returned to the Gate waiting for the Sun to Rise and clear the frost. SAD, U Mangement is still very screwed up.

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

A BIT off topic, but informative, none the less.

"What do you feel are the chance's, of the #### hitting the fan in Philly, this holiday season" ?????

With loads soon to "be off the walls", a LARGE understaffing problem (STILL), a severe ramp equiptment shortage, NO "tip-top" ramp managers (STILL), it almost seems that ALL the ingredients are in place for ANOTHER PHILLY(holiday(s) MELTDOWN !!!!!!!

(Keep those doctors notes handy, gents )

NH/BB's

 

[Dog Wonder]

crossing fimgers until they are needed for pointing may be the strategy

 

[Jonnyd]

I know a whole bunch of FSA's at PHL who just got second jobs with Servisair doing the de-icing because they're paying about 15/hr. Basically they give you a beeper and page you whenever they have work.