Some type of maintenance test flight.

(Written on 2014/10/30)(Permalink)

The first cockpit crew communication to ATC (Ground Control) concerned getting help for the tug driver, concern for the person's safety. The cockpit crew had not requested pushback, so I don't think the tug/towbar/aircraft connection had ever been made. Tug seemed to just run into the plane, unless the tow bar kicked to the side when they were trying to connect the tug to it.

(Written on 2014/02/17)(Permalink)

N499AA shows a delivery date of 9/89, so that doesn't help its chances for returning to service. The ex-TWA MD-80s are the newest in American's fleet delivered up to about 2000. If it's any structural damage beyond just replacing the radome, I'd say it's bye-bye. Nose gear looks like it got twisted, maybe by the tug hitting the tow bar and kicking it around. Damage to it?

(Written on 2014/02/17)(Permalink)

What was his specific complaint? Easy to make a sweeping generalization. Nothing's perfect.

(Written on 2014/02/09)(Permalink)

737-700s routinely land and takeoff from Santos Dumont Airport in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. Runway length 4300+ feet.

(Written on 2014/01/31)(Permalink)

Air Tran pilots would have known where to land!

(Written on 2014/01/13)(Permalink)

What about the 10 737-700's? Plans for them?

(Written on 2014/01/08)(Permalink)

That was a real loser of a flight. Carry only 18 passengers plus get your aircraft damaged.

(Written on 2014/01/01)(Permalink)

I understand the airline may have given him $250 for some type of compensation. But probably wants more. I don't see that he deserves any compensation because he should have been awake for the landing, and he's not a baby. People need to grow up.

(Written on 2013/12/09)(Permalink)

As far as whether the Captain of the flight was a female--the initial ATC call-in to the Tower was a female so we can probably say she was the pilot not flying at the time. So, since the Huffington article said of the copilot, "he's logged about ___ hours . . ., we can easily deduce that the Captain was a female who took over the controls for the landing.

(Written on 2013/08/11)(Permalink)