Lady and the Ramp pushes back an Airbus A321 on an endgate at Sky Harbor airport in Phoenix, Arizona. I wasn’t very happy with this push. Can you tell why?
WE all have bad days. I've had my share as an Air Force NCO ground maintenance crew doing push backs on C-5's and other big airframes. From what I see when you progressed past the 1st hold line you oversteered the nose gear just a bit which pushed the mains off line that resulted in the nose gear not resting on the centerline. This pushed the port wing too far left into potentially striking ground equipment. Thankfully, there wasn't anything nearby. BUT you saved it by repositioning the tug and tow bar near the centerline giving the pilot a good view for taxing. You're doing a great job !
Any pushback you can still fly the aircraft is a great one. I had a Captain tell me, "Just get me close to the center line, I get paid the big bucks to do the rest".
I've always been told, if you get it out in one piece, facing the right way with the main gear either side of the centre line, then it's a good push. We just can't help aiming for the perfection of dropping the nose gear right on the centre line as well, though, can we? 😊
I know you enjoy your job, and you're very good at it, just because you care enough to not be perfectly happy with that one! Well done, love your videos!
Btw. Decades ago. Early 1970’s My dad was an executive with a solid waste management company that would eventually be merged with Waste Management. I remember a tense conversation he had on the phone where as “allegedly’ one of they’re front load garbage truck drivers was emptying a dumpster somewhere in proximity of parked commercial jets and was accused of sticking the forks of the truck literally into part of the fuselage of one of them…. It gets better. The damage wasn’t discovered till the plane had left the airport and reached its destination where the damage was discovered …No video existed showing it happening but the measurements pretty much pointed to it.. I’m sure many people ended up on the hot seat on that one. I know my dad did…
Oh no!! 😧 that is crazy! Things have changed a lot since then! Maybe the redundancy that we have now, is from similar situations like that. That is cool that you remembered that! Good memory :)
Did a Pushback Once where the Captain (British Airways) Asked Dispatch if I had been Drinking Given that it was Xmas, it was just a Bad Push and I don't Drink Alcohol. Some of us used to Chase the Line but most of us just used to get it out Safely without Clouting Anything.
I was having trouble lining up a 320 on the centerline once at KPVD and kept trying to get it exactly right when the captain finally said "We're going to have to stop the puchback soon, we haven't been cleared into Boston's airspace yet"....
Just recently subbed into your channel. Kuddos for a video showing the ups and downs of ramp life. On the bright side, no airplanes got bent and nobody got hurt. Looking forward to the rest of your videos.
I don't know what went wrong, my ramp awareness isn't that good, but when I heard the engines spin up at the end, I was thinking "Hold on a minute, Captain".
Nothing went wrong , not easy coming off an end gate and finding that line . Did it perfect . Most importantly you took your time and didn’t panic. Good job 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Yes! I try to split the main gear wheels over the center line. And usually need to start coming back around when the outer wheel starts to go over the line. But obviously I did it too late! :) I will post another video out of an interior gate that is close to the terminal. I definitely need my wing walkers to show me the depth of the plane. The tail is what I am most concerned about in that video :)
Yeah No Still great job! When I worked for COEX I could never Push because I have Hand to 👁️ Eye coordination issues! Everyone understood and made Reasonable Accommodations! Just one of many reasons it was a great company to work for!
Like backing a really large trailer except facing rearward. Fascinating to watch. I know when I’m backing a trailer my total focus is on the inner trailer tire, so I’d imagine the main landing gear would be something to watch, although I could see how the tail would be a consideration too. Very cool process.
Yes! I still am very aware of the engines! You start getting accustomed to listening to them as well. You can hear when they spool down or when they start up! There are lots if different types of noises on ramp…but you have to atune your ears to the engines! Develop good habits early on and that will keep you safe! Good luck out there! It is a great job! Stay safe! ✈️😁
@@ladyandtheramp Thank you for the reply! It relaxes me when someone else is as anxious about it, I know safety comes first but cant help but be a little nervous lol
Just read the comment about you not being able to see the tail of the aircraft, hence the importance of wing walkers. You always know where the tail of the aircraft is by glancing down the centerline of the fuselage while you scan the areas left, right and center. Again, you're doing a great job !
It is very cool. Question: why is there a person accompanying the tip of the wing? Not all airports do. Here in Belo Horizonte, for example, there is no such professional. Thanks.
It is procedure with our airline that there must be 2 wing walkers present. To make sure the aircraft does not hit anything and that others are aware that the aircraft is moving. The wing walkers are the eyes 👀 of the push tug driver that cannot see the tail of the aircraft. If the driver gets too close to other aircraft’s, buildings, equipment, etc…the wingwalker will place a “x” with their wands to tell the driver to stop ✋ the push.
You are correct. The bolts or sheer pins can break. We have such mild winters, that is typically not a concern for us :) I can’t imagine being outside in the Netherlands during winter 🥶
Just bring constructive and being an experienced tug driver , it did look slightly too quick. Once the push goes wrong, it's very difficult to get back, especially if surrounding stands are restricted for movements.
I had to watch it twice. The first time I didn’t see your helper pull the steering pin. Could you have just backed up to center the plane instead of making that second turn and taking the plane deeper into the tighter area. I’m a pushback operator for UPS
@@ladyandtheramp Normally we just push out and make one turn, left or right to the line, but I’ve been ask to push up to a half mile between a remote ramp we use and our main operations ramp
You are supposed to disconnect the tow bar from the tug first and then disconnect it from the nose gear to avoid any abrupt swing of the tow bar that can cause injury to the ground staff or damage to aircraft or equipment.
