MSGID: 2:292/854 16294d1b
REPLY: 1:135/250@fidonet 6944bc54
TZUTC: 0100
RR> That is a long time to taxi.  I wonder how they handled the contingency
RR> fuel for that.
 
These things do happen. I flew an awful lot on business. and have some
interesting experiences:
 
First. At JFK right after a severe storm with no departures for a long time.
JFK-BRU on Delta. "Ladies and gentlemen. From the cockpit. We are #83 for
departure and will be queueing for at least 2 hours prior to take-off. The
dinner meal-service will be offered during taxi".
 
Then ... DCA-MSP on Northwest in the 70-ies. Enormous thunderstorm right after
pushback. Visibility near nothing. Stood there idling on 1 engine for over
3hrs. Meal service on the ground.
 
And ... MSO-DEN on United in moderate snow. Pushback at MSO and a DL A319
skidded off the single runway. We sat at the apron for de-icing. They needed
to organise a bus and stairs for people to deplane the DL-aircraft, which took
an eternity. Then gently pull the plane back on the runway and tow it to a
maintenance hangar. Took about 4 hours. No meals, just bottled water. Flight
to DEN. In DEN the fueling system had broken down and they could not fuel
airplanes, which meant no planes were departing, no free gates. We stood
another 2+ hours out in the field before we could deplane. Flight to FRA gone.
They offered luxury meal vouchers plus $600 if we did not ask for a hotel
room. So we slept on the carpet in an unused gate.
 
Plus ... MSP-MSO on DL. Couldn't land, too much snow. After an hour divert to
FCA for refueling. "Ladies and Gentlemen, the refueling truck driver went
home, we're calling him now". After refueling, de-icing "Ladies and gentlemen,
the de-icing crew went home, we're calling them now" ... Here's the de-icing
truck ... "Ladies and gentlemen, the de-icing truck broke down, we need to get
the spare-one but the liquid needs to be warmed up first. That'll be 40
minutes" ... OK, de-iced .... "Ladies and gentlemen, the control-tower has
shut-down for the night. We now need to call SaltLakeCentral on the phone to
get take-off clearance by phone" ... OK, flying. After 2 more attempts at
landing at MSO pilot slammed the plane on the runway. All other airports in
Montana to divert to had closed....
 
One of the lessons I learned in my many years of flying ... airline people are
service-minded, they will try to help you whenever they can, Always say
"Please", "Thank you for helping me" ... you willget good deals, upgrades,
meals, hotel rooms ...
 
There are always solutions, they plan for contingencies, also fuel ... I've
been in some weird situations, never an emergency.
 
 \%/@rd

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