777 Disembarking rear steps (Dublin 10th Sept)

castie

Wondering if anyone heard about this.

I was on the Emirates flight that arrived today and we were left on the plane for about 20-30 minutes because the air bridges were broken! (according to the captain)

They ended up getting steps to the rear of the plane to get us all out.
Emirates on the plane blamed the standard of equipment at Dublin.
Isn't that all new stuff?

First time I have left a wide body via stairs.

Dublinflyer

Hi Castie,

What the captain said was not exactly the truth! The flight arrived almost 45 minutes early as as a result their normal stand was not available. They had two choices, hold for the 45 mins for the stand to become free or request another stand. They decided on the latter and got another available stand. The air bridges on this stand were not set up for dual bridging ops and the handler was made aware of this but for some reason they tried the second bridge anyway but it would not work. The fitters were able to extend the bridge beyond it's normal range and get it to dock but the pax were all off at that stage.

Jhcx

the airbridge at gate 410 is working grand usually used for first and business class the bridge from gate 408 used for economy has been a bit on and off the last 3 days. Strangely we used it last night but not yesterday morning. I'm wondering if it is out of action for the remainder of the day? would make our lives so much easier.

Reading poster above I'm taking it emirates didn't come to 410?
None the less I prefer only the one airbridge no need for 2 on the a330 *from a workers perspective

castie

Cheers!

That makes sense then.
I knew Id get the correct story here . (Not quite as fast as I did though!)

I was up front so one of the last off the plane down the back and yeah by the time I was out it looked like the middle bridge was indeed attached.

Front one had a pretty big gap between it and the front door. I saw them trying that one for a bit as well.

castie

Jhcx wrote: »

the airbridge at gate 410 is working grand usually used for first and business class the bridge from gate 408 used for economy has been a bit on and off the last 3 days. Strangely we used it last night but not yesterday morning. I'm wondering if it is out of action for the remainder of the day? would make our lives so much easier.

Reading poster above I'm taking it emirates didn't come to 410?
None the less I prefer only the one airbridge no need for 2 on the a330 *from a workers perspective

Captain at one stage said they were trying to reset to power on the bridges

It was 777-300ER not the A330.
But suspect your comment still stands.
Front one is used for at max 42 people.

Dublinflyer

They were at 422 today at the far end of the pier. I can't remember them using that before but they may have. They have just taken off again.

Jhcx

castie wrote: »

Captain at one stage said they were trying to reset to power on the bridges

It was 777-300ER not the A330.

I know im just saying about X they use the Triple 7 in the morning and an A330 at night.

I dont know whats up with the bridges because yesterday morning it was connected to the plane but no one was allowed to use it. And last night it was grand. Oh well i'll see what i can find out in a few hours if im talking to one of the ramp agents

eusap

I was sitting in the gold circle lounge yesterday 09/09 and the emirates flight was parked at the usual gate beside the lounge and people were also disembarking via the rear steps which i thought was odd as i have never seen them using it for passengers normally just for cleaning crew

eatmyshorts

It's done to speed up boarding and disembarking. The same thing is done in BHX and GLA.

Jhcx

eatmyshorts wrote: »

It's done to speed up boarding and disembarking. The same thing is done in BHX and GLA.

Ya but thats why we have the 2 airbridges. very rare for pax to be using the steps for boarding and disembarking. Its not part of the 5 star product Emirates and Etihad are aiming for. Its all about customer satisfaction. they pay big bucks just to get to gate 410 so that the guest doesnt have to walk far and is in easy reach and view from the lounge.

Im surprised they have been allowing for steps. Its usually only ever used on cleaning staff. but airbridge for 408 has been temperamental last few days so in order to speed up using the steps. haven't seen X resort to that. But both bridges have been working.

Dublinflyer

From what I have heard they overshot the hammerhead so was considerably out of position when it stopped and that is what caused the problem with the airbridge.

TomTom1963

The captain over shot the correct parking position for his type of aircraft. This ment the safety limits on the air bridge would not allow it to be moved to the incorrect position. Each type of aircraft stop in different positions with markings called hammer heads painted on the ground the handling agent Servisair signal to the captain the correct stop position. It was the fault of either the emirates captain or Servisair not the equipment at Dublin Airport. Typical of Servisair blame other people.

Jhcx

TomTom1963 wrote: »

The captain over shot the correct parking position for his type of aircraft. This ment the safety limits on the air bridge would not allow it to be moved to the incorrect position. Each type of aircraft stop in different positions with markings called hammer heads painted on the ground the handling agent Servisair signal to the captain the correct stop position. It was the fault of either the emirates captain or Servisair not the equipment at Dublin Airport. Typical of Servisair blame other people.

Who they blaming? No one has said its the fault of the DAA, Servisair or Emirates. Unless someone can speak to the captain and the ground handling staff on duty that day no one knows what happened 100%.
I myself can only go on what i know and that is, that equipment is a bit funny lately. Just like the OP who was sitting in the back getting bits of what's happening.

TomTom1963

Jhcx wrote: »

Who they blaming? No one has said its the fault of the DAA, Servisair or Emirates. Unless someone can speak to the captain and the ground handling staff on duty that day no one knows what happened 100%.
I myself can only go on what i know and that is, that equipment is a bit funny lately. Just like the OP who was sitting in the back getting bits of what's happening.

Trust me it is between the captain and Servisair. I know I was there. Also. You state the airbridges are acting very funny lately the log files from any air bridge can be view by Dept of Transport to verify availability. You are talking RUBBISH. Get your facts right before you reply.

Jhcx

TomTom1963 wrote: »

Trust me it is between the captain and Servisair. I know I was there. Also. You state the airbridges are acting very funny lately the log files from any air bridge can be view by Dept of Transport to verify availability. You are talking RUBBISH. Get your facts right before you reply.

Well that's grand. Thanks for that. But you can't say it's typical of Servisair blaming others. So what if they can be verified all I know is from when I've been at the airbridges which is everyday. we couldn't use one of them prior to the ops thread. We were told that it was out of action. What more can I say. So I'm not talking rubbish I'm stating what I have been told by the agents operating the airbridge and by the supervisors. There grand now we used them this morning. But yesterday There was a hold on it then was ok and the morning prior to emirates arriving we were only able to use one as we were told the other is out of operation. Maybe there is nothing wrong with them maybe they were doing an inspection. But I don't have the answer as to why.

TomTom1963

Jhcx wrote: »

Well that's grand. Thanks for that. But you can't say it's typical of Servisair blaming others. So what if they can be verified all I know is from when I've been at the airbridges which is everyday. we couldn't use one of them prior to the ops thread. We were told that it was out of action. What more can I say. So I'm not talking rubbish I'm stating what I have been told by the agents operating the airbridge and by the supervisors. There grand now we used them this morning. But yesterday There was a hold on it then was ok and the morning prior to emirates arriving we were only able to use one as we were told the other is out of operation. Maybe there is nothing wrong with them maybe they were doing an inspection. But I don't have the answer as to why.

Quote
As previously stated. Emirates captain and Servisair were to blame for the use of the steps. They could of pushed the plane back to its correct position before trying to dock the airbridges. END OF. You need to get your facts corrected and verifies before you randomly quote other people. Yes you were talking rubbish.

andy_g

Guys no naming and shaming of companies please! Company X,Y and Z to be used instead, as we wont be removing comments for people if they are found out to be staff in other sections of the airport.

Also to point out to the many reported posts. The mods do not read all of the threads at various times,

And thus dont allow naming and shaming it may mean we have not seen it. As all mods here are volunteers and do not work for boards.ie Ltd
In future report the post and dont attack the mods.

Dublinflyer

Wow, that escalated quickly

pclancy

Yeah my days of deleting posts are over, if you dont want to stand up to what you post if the company in question takes offence then you better have your facts straight....

flazio

Question, do the planes get guided into the gates by Electronic screen or by a worker with florescent Ping Pong bats?

Shamrock231

I'm pretty sure it's still the ping pong bats in Dublin.

Jhcx

Shamrock231 wrote: »

I'm pretty sure it's still the ping pong bats in Dublin.

I wonder why DAA didnt invest in electronic system?

Shamrock231

I think it was a union thing, same reason that even though there's pipes under Pier E for supplying fuel, they still have a truck bring it over. As far as I know anyways...

Jamie2k9

Jhcx wrote: »

I wonder why DAA didnt invest in electronic system?

They did but its not used!

But yeah I expect Shamrock321 comment has a role into why its not used.

daa should be telling airlines to use the fuel system and the automatic stand parking or hike up charges to get rid of the current out of date handing which goes on.

Jhcx

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

They did but its not used!

But yeah I expect Shamrock321 comment has a role into why its not used.

daa should be telling airlines to use the fuel system and the automatic stand parking or hike up charges to get rid of the current out of date handing which goes on.

Really? Cool never seen them must have a look out for them. Can't see why the unions get a say in what the DAA decide to do. That would probably be a good plan of action.

dubdaymo

So, you're saying that the underground fuel lines/automatic guidance systems were included in the cost of the construction contract for T2 and have actually been installed and paid for but they can't be used because the unions won't allow it. You're joking?

Shamrock231

That's what I'd heard anyways, which is a bit silly really seeing as you still need a fuel truck anyways, even if the fuel is supplied through the pipes, and you need someone to operate the electronic marshalling system, so it's not like jobs would be lost. I'm open to correction on that though.

Jamie2k9

I think the underground fueling system not being used may be more on the daa's part but the stand guidance system is not used by the airlines, I can't see the daa stopping them from using such a facility.

Roblestone

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

They did but its not used!

But yeah I expect Shamrock321 comment has a role into why its not used.

daa should be telling airlines to use the fuel system and the automatic stand parking or hike up charges to get rid of the current out of date handing which goes on.

I work for one of the handling agents up there and they 100% do not have the electronic visual guidance docking systems installed. They do have the underground fuelling system however as already mentioned they are not used. This is because there are so many fuelling companies up there (topaz, esso, BP, shell, texaco).... Which one puts their fuel in the system? These underground systems tend to only work when there is one company supplying fuel to airlines.

Jamie2k9

Roblestone wrote: »

I work for one of the handling agents up there and they 100% do not have the electronic visual guidance docking systems installed. They do have the underground fuelling system however as already mentioned they are not used. This is because there are so many fuelling companies up there (topaz, esso, BP, shell, texaco).... Which one puts their fuel in the system? These underground systems tend to only work when there is one company supplying fuel to airlines.

I see I just recalled somebody posting here that they have stand guidance installed.

As for the fuel thing, I am guessing that Aer Lingus use one company and if they do then that company should be allowed to use the system to fuel aircraft as they have 95%+ Flights at T2.

Roblestone

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

I see I just recalled somebody posting here that they have stand guidance installed.

As for the fuel thing, I am guessing that Aer Lingus use one company and if they do then that company should be allowed to use the system to fuel aircraft as they have 95%+ Flights at T2.

I'm not sure if they do use the same company. I'd imagine they change around companies on the basis of fuel price and availability. The handling agent I work for use different companies, as rates change daily and it may be the case that one company only has 2 or 3 bowsers/drivers on a particular day and you could end up waiting an hour for fuel, so its nice to have the option of ringing up another fuelling company and getting them over. Could be totally different for Aer Lingus though.

oppenheimer1

It could be the fuel companies that don't want to introduce it. As all planes are getting the same fuel, there would be no logistical problem with different companies pumping into the same fuel lines. It would increase competition though and the cheapest company on any given day would get all the business as there would be no wait for the cheaper companies tankers. Everyone would eventually fall back to the same rock bottom price and there would be no days where an individual company could charge high prices because they are the only ones with a tanker available.

Then there's the not insubstantial cost of charging the pipes with fuel. Who would pay for that?

Shamrock231

I'm just wondering though when I hear people say different companies charge more on the day if their truck etc. is available. Exactly how does that work with Airlines that hedge their fuel months or years in advance?