My company has been trying to emulate the success model of a particular airline with the initials SW. Known for the ability to turn a flight on a dime we strive to match their efficiency. Our initiative is called a Goal 25. It used to be a Goal 20 but nobody could ever achieve that one so they made it a Goal 25. The idea is that from the time that the aircraft pulls into the blocks – disgorges passengers, bags unloaded, serviced, re-fueled, provisioned to when the door is again closed and ready to depart with a new load of people – that no more than 25 minutes elapses. Hustle.
Well, kudos in regards to the Goal 25. Apparently, HP had something other than that in mind when we made an emergency landing at ORD last Thurs. After taking off the ill passenger, we sat for over 2 hrs. whilst some fool ran up and down the aisle…ostensibly, he was to refill the used oxygen bottle but flying up and down like Tinkerbelle didn’t accomplish much. It was also amusing to see the plethora of emergency vehicles that greeted us as we were taxiing to the gate. Four fire engines…what were they going to do, water us down? The woman had an MI, she didn’t need a shower. And what was with five ambulances? It was ONE pt. Would have been somewhat less amusing if we had been in coach.
Actually, RTF, when the flight crew declares the medical emergency the folks in the air traffic control tower push the ‘big red button’ and all the CR trucks race out from the firehouse. There really is no distinction between a tinsy weensy emergency and one full blown. After they roll — then they establish radio contact and get briefed. It’s A) good practice for them B) they were bored in the firehouse C) it’s an adrenalin rush to barrel out to the plane with the sirens at full wail D) they get paid either way E) the guys in the tower are mean.