NUAir From Malaysia, joined Jun 2000, 1181 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 21061 times:
Not sure what happened to the previous discussion (google indicates it was deleted) but it appears to be common knowledge now so I thought it might be worthy of re-posting since an airline employee did lose his life.
Washington Post
Quote: A Southwest Airlines employee died overnight after an accident at Dulles International Airport, according to a spokesman for the facility.
The authority did not release a name for the worker who suffered injuries after an accident that occurred about 7 a.m. Thursday on the tarmac near the B concourse.
Robert Yingling, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, said the worker was piloting a baggage cart when it collided with one of the Dulles people movers.
No passengers were injured, Yingling said, but the worker was airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital.
Maverick623 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 4744 posts, RR: 6 Reply 1, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 20232 times:
Once again we are reminded that the ramp is a dangerous place.
My condolences to his family, friends, and coworkers that will enjoy one less smile in the break room.
737tdi From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 464 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 19946 times:
Although I did not know him it is heartbreaking to lose a fellow employee in a tragic accident. Condolences to his family.
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 3, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 19639 times:
Quoting Maverick623 (Reply 1): Once again we are reminded that the ramp is a dangerous place.
This is why I never, ever bring friends or family out on the ramp. It is NOT a playground, period.
Condolences to the family.
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
JAAlbert From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 1189 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 16827 times:
working2gether From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 83 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 16299 times:
Quoting JAAlbert (Reply 5): I have not been to IAD. What is a people mover?
SXDFC From United States of America, joined Dec 2007, 2000 posts, RR: 20 Reply 6, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 14891 times:
Quoting 737tdi (Reply 2): Although I did not know him it is heartbreaking to lose a fellow employee in a tragic accident. Condolences to his family.
Couldn't agree more! RIP.
ALL views, opinions expressed are mine ONLY and are NOT representative of those shared by Southwest Airlines Co.
cainanuk From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2002, 547 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 11813 times:
Condolences to the family and prayers for the lost rampie.
That said, I have often wondered why we still allow open cab tugs and why doesn't our ramp equipment have seatbelts? I am assuming this to be the case as that is the case over in the UK. When you think about it... belt loaders easily do 25mph... At EGCC where I work, the ramp speed limit is 20mph... A guy hitting a bus coming the other direction is then involved in an open cab, unrestrained accident with a combined 40mph impact. That will result in serious if not fatal injuries almost every time. It is high time that the industry as a whole raises the bar on MHE safety. Seatbelts and enclosed cabs should be a minimum.
atcsundevil From United States of America, joined Mar 2010, 665 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 11714 times:
Those people movers are big freaking vehicles. They're large enough to hold around 80-85 pax with luggage. The tires on them are huge too. People mover vs. baggage cart can never go well for the cart. It would be like crashing into a monster truck, except people movers are heavier. I just hope this poor guy didn't suffer too much -- that's the worst part about some traffic collisions is if someone is critically injured but dies anyway. People underestimate the dangers on the ramp and forget that most of the risks are not even posed by the aircraft, but from other equipment. Although, the biggest dangers are those which we can control...avoiding complacency and maintaining situational awareness. I know things like this happen, but it's always a damn shame when it does. Unfortunately they serve to remind us all how dangerous this industry can be.
Maverick623 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 4744 posts, RR: 6 Reply 9, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 11240 times:
I can't speak for completely enclosed vehicles, but I know that when it comes to open tugs, I'd want to be thrown well clear rather than have it on top of me in an accident.
kpitrrat From United States of America, joined Oct 2011, 133 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 9220 times:
Quoting Maverick623 (Reply 9): I can't speak for completely enclosed vehicles, but I know that when it comes to open tugs, I'd want to be thrown well clear rather than have it on top of me in an accident.
Yeah I never held much faith in the idea that a seatbelt was going to save me in the event I was hit by a larger vehicle. The majority of the tugs are open air and if I were hit by, say a fuel truck or other type of GSE I would want to get out of there as fast as possible. Most all of the WN tugs in PIT are the type with the detachable canopy, which all of the tugs are equipped with. Does anyone know if this is the same type at IAD? I would imagine that would provide more protection in the case of a collision with a people mover.
C680 From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 531 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 7512 times:
Quoting JAAlbert (Reply 4):
I have not been to IAD. What is a people mover?
From 1962 to 1983 it was the primary way to load and unload airliners at IAD. They were used instead of jetways.
virginvsbritish From United States of America, joined Oct 2010, 36 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 6771 times:
How sad. My condolences to the family. I am flying in 6 days from Dulles on AA, I wonder if any temporary memorial will be made at the airport to remember the worker?
nwaesc From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 3324 posts, RR: 9 Reply 13, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 6109 times:
Quoting cainanuk (Reply 7): have often wondered why we still allow open cab tugs and why doesn't our ramp equipment have seatbelts?
Most all of the tugs and belt loaders in my station have seat belts. I honestly can't remember ever seeing them used.
"Nothing ever happens here, " I said. "I just wait."
aerorobnz From Rwanda, joined Feb 2001, 6324 posts, RR: 14 Reply 14, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 6093 times:
Quoting AirframeAS (Reply 3): This is why I never, ever bring friends or family out on the ramp. It is NOT a playground, period.
How could you even if you wanted to?? The ramp is secure and accessible to those who work there - you could be fired for taking a non-screened person airside..
aztrainer From United States of America, joined Oct 2011, 400 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 5915 times:
Quoting Maverick623 (Reply 9): I can't speak for completely enclosed vehicles, but I know that when it comes to open tugs, I'd want to be thrown well clear rather than have it on top of me in an accident.
Quoting kpitrrat (Reply 10): Yeah I never held much faith in the idea that a seatbelt was going to save me in the event I was hit by a larger vehicle. The majority of the tugs are open air and if I were hit by, say a fuel truck or other type of GSE I would want to get out of there as fast as possible.
Also, just time of belt on and belt off when you are moving can become annoying and will often simply not happen.
As for the enclosed cab, it is interesting, but in a place like PHX you would also need to have a way to ventilate them as in the summer it could/would reach 140 degrees in the cab.
Maverick623 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 4744 posts, RR: 6 Reply 17, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 5293 times:
Quoting aerorobnz (Reply 14):
How could you even if you wanted to?? The ramp is secure and accessible to those who work there - you could be fired for taking a non-screened person airside..
Certain authorized people are allowed to escort non-badged persons.
Quoting aztrainer (Reply 15): but in a place like PHX you would also need to have a way to ventilate them as in the summer it could/would reach 140 degrees in the cab.
More like 170-180. It's possible to cook an egg on the ramp.
nwaesc From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 3324 posts, RR: 9 Reply 18, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 4963 times:
Maybe a roll cage type of thing? Most of our (NW) pushback tractors were retrofitted with them after an accident awhile ago. Not sure how practical that is for a tug, but...
"Nothing ever happens here, " I said. "I just wait."
hiflyer From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 2118 posts, RR: 4 Reply 20, posted (1 year 3 months 2 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 4589 times:
The mobile lounges run their own roadways at IAD...on the taxiway side of the assigned vehicle lanes. The lounge is driven from either end so it does not have to back up unlike the newer planemates at IAD for the widebodies which must back out of the docks. The lounges are used for main terminal to concourse d and councourse D to A. Planemates are used to bring pax to the International Arrivals Building for Customs and are the only ones that can still mate with an aircraft. The mobile lounges lost that ability when the twin catwalks were removed.
Rough first look at the posted photo appears that the lounge is on the taxiway side of the vehicular roadway and the tug was crossing from right to left with a string of of three open carts with the middle one being stuck and appears to have baggage on it. Ramp looks with some standing water in places.
aerlingusa330 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 347 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (1 year 3 months 2 weeks 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 4175 times:
This picture is being looked at incorrectly. The plastic-enclosed tug and the two bag carts with bags on them is a "relief" tug..that one was not involved in the accident. It is either a passer-by or was called over to retrieve the bags that were on the tug that was involved. From other pictures I've seen, the damaged tug & carts are just on the other side of the tug in this picture and can't be seen from this angle. The damaged equipment is between the front and rear wheels on the mobile lounge. A cart was wedged underneath the frame of the lounge and the tug was unrecognizable. Let's see if we can get the other pictures on here - they may have been removed already.
Shamrock 136 heavy cleared for takeoff runway niner.
holzmann From United States of America, joined Jan 2011, 96 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (1 year 3 months 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 3937 times:
IAD is my local international airport as a DC resident.
I often feel embarrassed by the people movers. They are archaic and inefficient; a symbol of a nation addicted to foreign oil. I don't see why they weren't removed completely last year when the train became operational. I also don't understand why the train system was not built in a circular fashion to connect TB and TD. As it is, the train travels in two directions from the main terminal: to TB or to TC via TA. Whomever made that decision now has blood on their hands. This accident could have been avoided.
seabosdca From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 4277 posts, RR: 4 Reply 23, posted (1 year 3 months 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 3763 times:
Quoting holzmann (Reply 22): I don't see why they weren't removed completely last year when the train became operational.
Two reasons:
1) The train doesn't connect to Terminal D
2) Some international flights still use hardstands
Quoting holzmann (Reply 22): I also don't understand why the train system was not built in a circular fashion to connect TB and TD.
The master plan envisions a circular train system, but that won't happen for a very long time. The master plan envisions building three new terminals out past C/D (sort of ATL-style) with a circular system connecting all of them. For the moment, the existing train corridor was what could be built and operated on MWAA's budget.
Quoting holzmann (Reply 22): Whomever made that decision now has blood on their hands. This accident could have been avoided.
It's a horrible accident; unfortunately, such things happen. There was no money in the budget to build more train tracks or to build a new terminal to replace the hardstands.
Most gorgeous aircraft: Tu-204-300, 757-200, A330-200, 777-200LR, 787-8
gigneil From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 16215 posts, RR: 88 Reply 24, posted (1 year 3 months 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 3763 times:
Quoting holzmann (Reply 22): I also don't understand why the train system was not built in a circular fashion to connect TB and TD.
It is being built in a circular fashion.
Quoting holzmann (Reply 22): Whomever made that decision now has blood on their hands.
No they don't.
NS
25 Maverick623: Dude, reply 1: I just witnessed a pretty serious OJI today involving a SkyChef employee. Does the person who decided to outsource catering now have b
26 aerlingusa330: Here's another reason: There is no way for international arriving pax to get to the IAB from the gate via the train. Int'l arriving passengers cannot
27 Maverick623: Not to hijack this thread, but technically not true. They are secured as part of the FIS, and most firmly on US soil.
28 gigneil: You ALWAYS must go through security again after customs when arriving in the United States. At every single airport everywhere in the United States.
29 ARFFdude: Usually, but not always. It depends on how the airport's security plan is structured. I've worked a smaller regional airport where employes could bri
30 zippyjet: I thought the "People Mover/Plane Mates" were phased out and IAD had underground trains like ATL. Condolences to his family, friends and co-workers.
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From Malaysia, joined Jun 2000, 1181 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 4744 posts, 
This is why I never, ever bring friends or family out on the ramp. It is NOT a playground, period.
From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2002, 547 posts, 
From Rwanda, joined Feb 2001, 6324 posts, 
It's a horrible accident; unfortunately, such things happen. There was no money in the budget to build more train tracks or to build a new terminal to replace the hardstands.
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