U.S. Airlines and Mechanical Questions
It’s always risky to use anecdotes to suggest a trend, but delays due to mechanical failures seem to be happening more often these days. On both legs of a trip to London last week, flights on United were delayed several hours or more because of equipment problems — and in one case the plane we were scheduled to use was exchanged for another one. (On the return, the passenger next to me shrugged and said he’d just switched back to United because of a series of mechanical delays on American Airlines.)
A related story: A few days earlier, a friend on a United flight to Japan said her plane was four hours into the trip when it was diverted to Seattle overnight for repairs.
Now, international flights are usually the most reliable in my experience, because the hassles for passengers and airlines alike multiply when a carrier has one or at most two flights a day to a given destination — and with planes so full these days you might get stuck for several days or, if you’re lucky, in a middle seat in the back of coach on an alternative flight.
Some journalist who covers the airline industry should take a look at the U.S. carriers’ Department of Transportation reports, which give pretty detailed statistics on delays and cancelations. I’m wondering if I was experiencing trend, not just a coincidence.
Airplanes are very complicated equipment that require constant care and attention. The Governement has placed strict rules on all disciplines of flight including operational, mechanical and customer service to keep the flying public safe.
It’s difficult to understand as a passenger when your asked to wait or worse watch a flight cancel when you absolutely need to get from point A to point B.
An international flight is watched and checked closer due to the nature of no airport location over the ocean.
You are veiwing the problem from a probability aspect thinking that you are less likely to take a delay because of the low number of flights. That is not the case. You’re more likely to take a delay due to the tighter maintenance scruitiny.
The airlines are accountable to the government and numerous associations for their delays and provide that informtion on a monthly basis.
Please understand that airplanes are not busses or taxis, they’re complex and demanding and require much more than you may understand.
WM
Actually, my international travel has been almost entirely without delays or cancelations of any kind (other than weather) until quite recently. It’s only in the past year that this has been happening.
I agree that the carriers pay particular care with over-water planes. That’s why this series of anecdotes seems noteworthy.
As a 20 year mechanic at UAL the above isn’t always the case. I work the 777 crew and have been stunned numerous times at the importance of getting a 737 out of the barn over a 777.
Another point as long as I’m here… UAL Denver management wants all
deferred maintenance cleared every morning so they don’t get their collective asses chewed by the maintenance manager in the morning. The major problem is since bankruptcy we don’t stock alot of commonly used parts. i.e. more deferrals, down line down time. Possibly even on a through trip.
All the mechanics I know here do an A-1 professional job – when allowed. We do what we can with what we have.
Possibly write a complaint to our very rich but very worthless upper management in Chicago.
Rich, this definitely isn’t a slam against mechanics. You do important work. Thanks for the clarification of what sounds like a key part of the problem.
I had my flight a few weeks ago from paris to nairobi canceled on my due to mechanical problems. They routed me through AMS the next day and offered no compensation like a hotel. I was less than amused.
In reguards to Rich:
What do you mean by the deferred mantenance being cleared everyday? By not puting in the correct parts are they breaking some rules? Does this jeopardize the safety of the plane?
Thank you!
p.s. do you have an email I could reach you at?
just sitting here wondering if a comercial aircraft ‘ ie’ 757 on an international flight to the uk at 33000 ft could actually tow another aircraft ? probably a stupid question ? but if mid air hook up is possible i would be looking at fuel savings and obviously safety . the towed aircraft could be passenger or freight?.