Quoting atcsundevil (Reply 27): Quoting PHX+Flyer" class="quote" target="_blank">PHX Flyer (Reply 26): Where exactly is the East Cargo area? I did not even know of any cargo facilities on the eastside ... A look at the FAA airport diagram will answer your question.

It is actually called the West Air Cargo area   Home to WN Cargo, AA/US cargo, DHL and Swissport cargo which handles DL,BA,HA,AS,B6, and AC.

There are alot of empty cargo bays and alot of old GSE out there.

Quoting atcsundevil (Reply 11): I don't have any info on BA cargo, but my understanding is that they operate the 747 in large part due to the cargo capacity they carry, which would indicate they do quite well on their cargo loads. That's purely conjecture though, but I'm sure someone else here has some more concrete information.

From what I've SEEN (no numbers) seems like they fill up that 747 to the brim with cargo, except during the summer.

Quoting PHX787 (Reply 51): From what I've SEEN (no numbers) seems like they fill up that 747 to the brim with cargo, except during the summer.

British Airways accounts for 1.2% of the annual cargo volume at Sky Harbor, which is quite significant, given that they have only one flight every day.

Quoting dlramp4life (Reply 50): It is actually called the West Air Cargo area

For you, perhaps. There is a distinction between East Cargo and West Cargo on the FAA diagram for a reason, and it is referred to as such by ATC.

Quoting PHX Flyer (Reply 52): British Airways accounts for 1.2% of the annual cargo volume at Sky Harbor, which is quite significant, given that they have only one flight every day.

Well you got yourself one huge 744 and a daily operation. I'd say that's either significant, or we simply just don't fill up those Fed Ex planes i see flying in every hour or so.

AN-124 inbound to IWA this morning! Arriving at 08:09. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/VDA1907

Does anyone know what happened with BA-288 on 6/27/14? I went to the airport to drop a friend off and do some spotting and when I left I saw the tail sitting at the gate at 8:15am. Also who does the MX for BA at PHX?

Quoting Aztrainer (Reply 56): Does anyone know what happened with BA-288 on 6/27/14?

Mechanical cancellation. The plane wound up departing about 3PM on 6/28.

Quoting Aztrainer (Reply 56): Also who does the MX for BA at PHX?

BA has their own in-house maintenance and engineering staff at PHX.

Quoting Maverick623 (Reply 57): BA has their own in-house maintenance and engineering staff at PHX.

Thanks for the info, I never knew that they would have staff for just one flight. I am surprised with this, but they are the only operator of regular 747 service to PHX.

Another quick question is do they have parts on hand or are they sent over from a bigger location (LAX) or on the next plane? Obviously it would not be the next flight in this case as it departed before the next plane landed.

Quoting Maverick623 (Reply 57): BA has their own in-house maintenance and engineering staff at PHX.

Didn't they outsource to TIMCO a while back?

Nice article about the MPD and their aviation unit. There is also a brief synopsis of Phoenix PD, DPS and MCSO

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/...-cuts-response-time-risk/11898641/

Quoting wn676 (Reply 59): Didn't they outsource to TIMCO a while back?

Yes. TIMCO handles BA MX

Dust storm! PHX is experiencing some delays, with several flights then diverting to TUS. Most are trying to hold over PHX, but most likely running into minimum fuel barriers.

On 7/4/14 @ 07:59 while watching Flightradar24 there seems to be an emergency with a G4 flight (148) 159 people and 2.5 hours of fuel when they started their approach.

(Listening to LIVEATC and they stated a possible bird ingestion. They also stated that the controllers said that the aircraft did not sound correct when it left IWA.) Landed at 1,000lbs over max landing weight.

Plane is an A319 (N301NV)

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/A...8/history/20140704/1440Z/KIWA/KRFD

[Edited 2014-07-04 08:01:16]

[Edited 2014-07-04 08:04:27]

Quoting Sevensixtyseven (Reply 62): Dust storm! PHX is experiencing some delays,

I was watching one of these National Geographic (or something of the such) channels the other day on TV...... and it showed how these dust storms form and get going over the Phoenix area...... and some of these dust storms can get absolutely VICIOUS!

Pretty smart not to attempt any airport ops while in the path of these dust storms.

 

Quoting point2point (Reply 64): Pretty smart not to attempt any airport ops while in the path of these dust storms.

It's not the dust that causes the delays. It's the winds. The storms are caused by outflows from thunderstorms which cause all sorts of windshear and microburst warnings.

I've been at PHX a couple times during these haboobs and two things happen: everyone runs to the windows (or to the top of the parking garage) to shoot photos and you see people try to scramble to get flights out before they get too close.

They are an absolute bitch to drive in--I've raced one out of Tucson before (beat it by 10 minutes)--and they make everything a mess. I just got back to town this morning and my car was a disgusting mess.

Here's a shot of one from Sept 2012.

The good thing about haboobs is that your fan blades are shiny if you fly thru it.   

I have lived in Arizona since 1972 and worked at Sky Harbor among other places in the Valley and I always felt that Phoenix Aviation Dept had no forward looking vision. I think they made some short term decisions that we now pay for. T-2 should have been gone a long time ago. Now that t-3 south is nearly empty they should entice UA and AS to move there. IMHO I really don't see it a big deal for WN to use the North side for international flights, however it could end up being a limiting factor for WN in PHX as far as expansion of international service is concerned.

As far as Tempe is concerned its a collection of "Good Ole Boys" that don't want to change. I hated working in that city

Quoting chrisair (Reply 65): It's not the dust that causes the delays. It's the winds. The storms are caused by outflows from thunderstorms which cause all sorts of windshear and microburst warnings.

Actually, it can be both. The last one I saw at PHX was last summer and I was one of the last planes to land. Shortly after, it was below ILS minimums on visibility.

-DiamondFlyer

Quoting travaz (Reply 67): T-2 should have been gone a long time ago. Now that t-3 south is nearly empty they should entice UA and AS to move there.

The airport approved a plan to tear down the south end of T3 to build a whole new concourse which will house 15-20 gates. UA,ZK,and AS will all have a new home in T3 once it is built and T2 will be moth balled.

Quoting travaz (Reply 67): ow that t-3 south is nearly empty they should entice UA and AS to move there.

There isn't enough room. Besides T2 is the best terminal at PHX for O&D pax. My new record of wheels down to car time is 10 minutes.

Quoting DiamondFlyer (Reply 66): Shortly after, it was below ILS minimums on visibility.

You're right. I forgot PHX doesn't have the extra fancy ILS equipment like other airports.

That haboob made some serious news here in Tokyo lol I hope everyone didn't blow away over in PHX!

Quoting travaz (Reply 67): The good thing about haboobs is that your fan blades are shiny if you fly thru it.

That would be if it was sand or volcanic ash. I'm not a mechanic, but my understanding is that the dust here has no effect on aircraft. If it polished fan blades, then it would ruin paint -- which it doesn't (or at least not significantly).

Quoting chrisair (Reply 69): You're right. I forgot PHX doesn't have the extra fancy ILS equipment like other airports.

PHX has ILS Cat III on every runway in both directions (except maybe 25R). That's all the fancy equipment you need. Whether or not controllers can remember their IFR phraseology is another matter though! It's tough to remember when things are VFR here 360 days a year.

Visibility rarely precludes operations at PHX during dust storms -- the vast majority of the time it is due to high winds, but even then, pilots are generally welcome to try. Usually a handful of WN guys give it a shot after the window shuts (with varying degrees of success) before climbing out to hold or divert. If the visibility does drop below minimums, it only lasts a few minutes, and at that point, the winds would be strong enough that an approach wouldn't be possible anyway.

Quoting PHX787 (Reply 70): That haboob made some serious news here in Tokyo lol I hope everyone didn't blow away over in PHX!

Yeah it was really bad.....I had to clean the skimmer in my pool twice.....


When a Haboob (I am old school and I grew up in AZ. We used to just call them dust storms....BIG dust storms.) comes rolling in, I can ascertain that it will effect landing and taking off due to the winds, but can/does it cause a ground stop? I know they are normally limited to excessive temperatures (like when it hit 122) and lightning.

Quoting atcsundevil (Reply 71): PHX has ILS Cat III on every runway in both directions (except maybe 25R).

Untrue. PHX does have an ILS to all runways except 25R, but they are all CAT I. In fact, with the latest Jepp revision 25L is the only published approach that will actually get you down to 200-1/2. The others are slightly higher. If you care to see the certification data for the individual LOC/GS it can be found in the AFD, with data given for accuracy of each runway's installation (loc guidance good to threshold/end of runway/3000', etc.)

Regards,

phxpilot

Quoting phxpilot,reply=73Untrue. PHX does have an ILS to all runways except 25R, but they are all CAT I. In fact, with the latest Jepp revision 25L is the only published approach that will actually get you down to 200-1/2. The others are slightly higher. If you care to see the certification data for the individual LOC/GS it can be found in the AFD, with data given for accuracy of each runway's installation (loc guidance good to threshold/end of runway/3000', etc.):

If that's the case, then my mistake. I don't exactly deal with that type of info on a daily basis and thought I recalled there being Cat III hold lines, but I suppose I am mistaken. Regardless, as I said, visibility hardly ever drops below minimums, so the very presence of ILS systems is often unnecessary for most users. Only BA consistently takes advantage of it regardless of conditions. On the rare occasions when visibility does drop below minimums, the winds are too high to allow for operations anyway, and storms generally move through very quickly. That was more the point I was trying to make.

It's been awfully quiet on here recently.

Anyone have any interesting photos they took from PHX recently?

I know there was one Allegient flight that diverted to Sky Harbor last night, and then made the long 9 minute flight to IWA. Were there any notable diversions from yesterday's storms?

Quoting 4holer (Reply 76): I know there was one Allegient flight that diverted to Sky Harbor last night, and then made the long 9 minute flight to IWA. Were there any notable diversions from yesterday's storms?

I flew in about 6:40pm. It seemed like the first wave of storms blew through really quickly. I saw the allegiant parked over at T3 and that took me off gaurd. Over at T4 it seemed like everything was delayed about an hour.

Quoting 4holer (Reply 76): I know there was one Allegient flight that diverted to Sky Harbor last night, and then made the long 9 minute flight to IWA. Were there any notable diversions from yesterday's storms?

It looks like Skywest 2917 ELP-PHX diverted to IWA last night. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/S...7/history/20140714/0551Z/KIWA/KPHX

IWA getting a flight to CVG via G4...not exactly the CVG-Valley flight I was hoping for.

Quoting PHX787 (Reply 79):

Better than nothing for most of the year.

Quoting PHX787 (Reply 79): IWA getting a flight to CVG via G4...not exactly the CVG-Valley flight I was hoping for.

Seems like a long way to fly on G4. No thanks.

Quoting 777stl (Reply 81): Seems like a long way to fly on G4. No thanks.

I flew them once from IWA-LAS, and even that was too long for me to fly on G4. Rude/unconcerned FAs, obnoxious pax who clearly never fly...just not my idea of flying. I think I'd permanently lose my sanity (and all feeling below the waist) on a flight to CVG.

Quoting atcsundevil (Reply 82): I flew them once from IWA-LAS, and even that was too long for me to fly on G4. Rude/unconcerned FAs, obnoxious pax who clearly never fly...just not my idea of flying. I think I'd permanently lose my sanity (and all feeling below the waist) on a flight to CVG.

I was actually going to give them a shot on our next trip to Vegas, ironically. I think I can tolerate just about anything for 40 minutes. But 3+ hours to CVG? Nah. I'm not that adventurous. With club access and elite status on AA now, I'm somewhat of a captive audience as long as they keep supplying me with upgrades.

Quoting PHX Flyer (Reply 26):

on paper yes. But the Pentagon still calls the shots .they run the show. Governors just are a small cog in the system, the have very limited powers they can only do so much. Contrary to popular belief

Quoting 777stl (Reply 83): With club access and elite status on AA now, I'm somewhat of a captive audience as long as they keep supplying me with upgrades.

This is exactly my problem. I'm a longtime CO thence UA elite (now 1K), and although this is my last year with them because they've turned into a complete piece of crap of an airline, I'm still used to lounge access, upgrades (or failing that, E+), free bags, first class lanes, etc. I am by no means a snobby DYKWIA flyer that can't fly with the "common folk" -- but that doesn't mean I have to like it!

Even without elite status, I simply prefer whatever remains of the more traditional full service airlines. I always really liked AirTran, but they're the only exception. I love JetBlue and they'll probably be getting most of my flying from now on, but I wouldn't put them in the same category. But, I'd rather eat my face than fly Spirit, and a 3+ hour flight on G4 to CVG sounds comparable...not that I'd ever have a reason to go to CVG.

Quoting 777stl (Reply 81): Seems like a long way to fly on G4. No thanks.

Do the G4 A320 seats recline?

Quoting PHX787 (Reply 86): Quoting 777stl (Reply 81): Seems like a long way to fly on G4. No thanks. Do the G4 A320 seats recline?

No, none of the seats on the Airbus fleet recline. I've flown G4 IWA-FAR a few times, which is around a 2:50 flight, and I can tell you those seats are terrible.

Quoting atcsundevil (Reply 85): This is exactly my problem. I'm a longtime CO thence UA elite (now 1K), and although this is my last year with them because they've turned into a complete piece of crap of an airline, I'm still used to lounge access, upgrades (or failing that, E+), free bags, first class lanes, etc. I am by no means a snobby DYKWIA flyer that can't fly with the "common folk" -- but that doesn't mean I have to like it!

What are your routes? I've had good luck on AA (the real AA, not the USAIr AA) going east. AS is my go to airline going north and you can still use the awesome T2.

Quoting atcsundevil (Reply 85): not that I'd ever have a reason to go to CVG.

Skyline Chili is about the only reason to go to Cincy. Even that is a marginal reason.  

Quoting chrisair (Reply 88): What are your routes? I've had good luck on AA (the real AA, not the USAIr AA) going east. AS is my go to airline going north and you can still use the awesome T2.

Mostly east coast and pretty much always requiring a connection through one of UA's lovely hubs, but occasionally to Europe/Middle East/Asia. I've thought about status matching to AA, but I'm not entirely thrilled to be apart of another merger and all of the "new opportunities" it brings to take away benefits and raise thresholds. I've only had maybe one or two flights ever that have stayed on the west coast, so AS doesn't do me much good.

Quoting chrisair (Reply 88): Skyline Chili is about the only reason to go to Cincy. Even that is a marginal reason.

I only ended up there because DL said so, but they don't say so anymore, so I don't go. Same goes for CLE with UA. I can't say that I'm terribly disappointed to avoid the great state of Ohio (nor THE lovely university bearing its namesake) -- the only mild disappointment comes from both CVG and CLE being two of the easiest airports to transit. Oh well.

Quoting atcsundevil (Reply 85): I am by no means a snobby DYKWIA flyer that can't fly with the "common folk" -- but that doesn't mean I have to like it!

Yeah, likewise. I prefer OW, I've been loyal to AA for almost a decade now, and now that I live in PHX and they're merging with US, it just makes sense for me. I fly mostly to ORD and STL, with an occasional trip to Australia thrown in, so the combined AA/US is really the best for my business for operational reasons as well. The fact that I get upgrades and benefits above the common man is just icing on the cake.  

Quoting atcsundevil (Reply 89): I've thought about status matching to AA, but I'm not entirely thrilled to be apart of another merger and all of the "new opportunities" it brings to take away benefits and raise thresholds.

Ironically, it's been the premerger AA elites that have been making out like bandits so far while the premerger US elites have gotten the curb. I'm not a US elite, but from what I read on FT, they still haven't figured out how to give US elites op ups on AA metal due to IT related issues..

I tend to avoid US metal when I can, unfortunately the only direct flight(s) to PHX-STL other than WN, is operated by US.

Quoting 777stl (Reply 90): they still haven't figured out how to give US elites op ups on AA metal due to IT related issues..

  
I recall there being a similar issue after the UA/CO merger. Reciprocal E+ benefits for elites on both sides kicked in almost immediately, but I remember upgrades for CO elites on UA metal getting wonky for a while. Things seemed to settle down after the switch to Shares, but a few months later, I went through a stretch where I got slammed on every single complimentary upgrade...not even on the page. Everyone on FT complained about it too. Turns out they were selling upgrades to kettles for as low as $10. That was AWESOME. They fixed it and things improved, but even this year as a 1K, I'm maybe only 75% at best on upgrades on flights to/from PHX. When I was a Gold just two years ago, I never missed an upgrade out of PHX. Ever. I think the merger created 50 billion elites, and the endless United MileagePlus Visa "Get it, and You're In!" folks don't help. You should see the "Priority Access" lanes on a weekday IAD-SFO flight. Last time I flew it, there were less than a dozen people in groups 3-5 on a full 752 with 160 on the upgrade list.

I know the AA/US merger will create as many, if not more elites. Hopefully the same thing won't happen to you! If I can give any advice, I would say that when you see the first signs of trouble, RUN AWAY! I gave UA way too many chances to straighten out, and now I'm completely miserable. They've ruined the concept of elite status for me, and that seriously pisses me off. I would assume that Parker has taken note of the endless stream of failures at UA and will try to avoid them, particularly when it comes to treatment of elites. Smisek is an asshole and thinks kettles pay the bills. Since a huge number of 1Ks and Global Services matched to AA a year or two ago when they knew what was good for them (obviously I don't fit that bill), Parker would be foolish to throw away a chance at retaining a massive number of high value flyers from essentially three airlines. They may turn out to be the best airline for elites as long as they don't sink to UA's and DL's level.

Quoting atcsundevil (Reply 91): They've ruined the concept of elite status for me, and that seriously pisses me off. I would assume that Parker has taken note of the endless stream of failures at UA and will try to avoid them, particularly when it comes to treatment of elites. Smisek is an asshole and thinks kettles pay the bills. Since a huge number of 1Ks and Global Services matched to AA a year or two ago when they knew what was good for them (obviously I don't fit that bill), Parker would be foolish to throw away a chance at retaining a massive number of high value flyers from essentially three airlines. They may turn out to be the best airline for elites as long as they don't sink to UA's and DL's level.

I'm just worried Parker is going to squeeze blood out of the AA turnip until you won't be able to recognize it anymore. Starting with the elite program and AAdvantage.

Several years ago, I had no problems booking mileage tickets. First class to Tokyo? No problem. First class to Hawaii? Sure! Now, I can't find availability to save my life. I'm looking for tix to Europe for next February. Not a busy time of the year, it's cold there, should be plenty of inventory, no problem, right? I can't find availability anywhere, unless I want to pay BA $600+/ticket in YQ taxes which sort of defeats the purpose of using miles in the first place.

My ultimate fear here is that Parker turns AAdvantage into another Skypesos. We'll wait and see I guess. There are some rumors that some big changes are going to be made to AAdvantage some time this fall. Hopefully they're not moving to a revenue based system like DL.

Quoting 777stl (Reply 92): There are some rumors that some big changes are going to be made to AAdvantage some time this fall

The question about changing AAdvantage to match DL's Sky Pesos was raised during the last earnings' call. Until the US IT change-over to Sabre we're not going to see major changes to AAdvantage, which is definitely not going to happen this fall.

Quoting treebeard787 (Reply 87): No, none of the seats on the Airbus fleet recline.

Dang it. I have a feeling i'm going to need a chiropractor if I ever fly G4

Quoting chrisair (Reply 88): Skyline Chili is about the only reason to go to Cincy. Even that is a marginal reason.

my parents ship me Skyline Chili to Japan  

Also, if you so happen to work for P&G or GE Aviation, you might end up in CVG somehow.

Quoting 777stl (Reply 92): I'm just worried Parker is going to squeeze blood out of the AA turnip until you won't be able to recognize it anymore. Starting with the elite program and AAdvantage.

I just have a bad feeling about everybody and their brother having miles, and "upgrades" will be considered a thing of the past...

Does anyone in the know have any idea why HA-35 diverted today? They were tracking over to the LA area and then made a turn to the north. They landed at Oakland at 09:42 and left Oakland at 11:00.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/H...5/history/20140724/1500Z/KPHX/KOAK
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/H...5/history/20140724/1745Z/KOAK/PHNL

Also would there be a reason why they would go to OAK and not LAX as they were a lot closer to LAX than OAK? Looking at flight aware it has LAX as a diversion point and then it changed to OAK. Also I cannot find the N number of the plane on flight aware or Flightradar24. I know it was a wingletted 763 as I saw it leave this morning and Flightradar24 (Normally really good with the N number) has it was unknown.

Quoting aztrainer (Reply 95): Does anyone in the know have any idea why HA-35 diverted today? They were tracking over to the LA area and then made a turn to the north. They landed at Oakland at 09:42 and left Oakland at 11:00. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/H...5/history/20140724/1500Z/KPHX/KOAK http://flightaware.com/live/flight/H...5/history/20140724/1745Z/KOAK/PHNL Also would there be a reason why they would go to OAK and not LAX as they were a lot closer to LAX than OAK? Looking at flight aware it has LAX as a diversion point and then it changed to OAK. Also I cannot find the N number of the plane on flight aware or Flightradar24. I know it was a wingletted 763 as I saw it leave this morning and Flightradar24 (Normally really good with the N number) has it was unknown.

That's probably too short to be mx related. Medical diversion, maybe? Not enough fuel taken onboard in PHX?

I'd be interested to know, I'm booked on that same flight in less than two months here.

Quoting 777stl (Reply 96): That's probably too short to be mx related. Medical diversion, maybe? Not enough fuel taken onboard in PHX? I'd be interested to know, I'm booked on that same flight in less than two months here.

The problem with a medical diversion would they not use ONT and LAX as they were closer and in direct line for a diversion. The only thing I can think of it was a way to get down to max landing weight.

I follow HA-35 for the same reason. I normally am on it twice to three times a year. Last time (One week ago) they flew the same 763 in as HA-35 and then back to PHX as HA-36.

Quoting PHX787 (Reply 94): Also, if you so happen to work for P&G or GE Aviation, you might end up in CVG somehow.

I don't. I end up in CVG once every three years or so. As if being in Cincy (or Ohio in general) isn't bad enough, I'm usually stuck there in January. About the only thing that makes that trip worthwhile is the stop at Woodford and the Four Roses distilleries. Gotta warm myself up somehow!

Quoting 777stl (Reply 96): Not enough fuel taken onboard in PHX?

Maybe the forecasted winds were higher than expected and OAK had gate space available?

Is the heat causing any load restrictions?

Quoting chrisair (Reply 98): As if being in Cincy (or Ohio in general) isn't bad enough, I'm usually stuck there in January.

Well hey at least the food in Ohio is good