Not really the pilots fault. Blame the boneheads in the tower or the guys on the ground.

Sinister Steve: Not really the pilots fault. Blame the boneheads in the tower or the guys on the ground.

Sounds more like it. The guys flagging the aircraft in and out are there so this doesn't happen.

No rear-view on those big planes. Gotta trust the controller when he clears you to push back. Not the pilots' fault at all here, but that ground controller is going to get a hefty talking-to.

Since the "not the pilots' fault" angle has been covered so well, I'll just note that ever since I found out my spring internship was in Seattle, I've noticed Seattle has been in the news a hell of a lot -- partly because I found out around the time the big snow started a week or so ago, but things like this... Yeesh... Either I'm bad luck, or you guys suck. ;-)

I wonder if they do power backs at SeaTac or push backs.. Either way, the marshallers and apron contoller should've prevented this.

Push-backs only. And mandatory ground guides, who should now be looking for a new job.

I bet you the ground controller is a Muslim. They are slowly wrecking our air travel one damaged plane at a time.

Pushback drivers, subby, pushback drivers. Ever heard of them? I have. I actually am one, and I'm consequently getting a kick out of these replies.

daychilde: Either I'm bad luck, or you guys suck. ;-)

I lived there for a couple years. It's not you, trust me.

Best comment ever (from TFA):

These clowns are taking the merger of NWA and Delta a bit too seriously.

Quote from that page: "These clowns are taking the merger of NWA and Delta a bit too seriously."

Wish I'd written that.

sckonkh: I bet you the ground controller is a Muslim. They are slowly wrecking our air travel one damaged plane at a time.

God knows why, but the thought of this had me laughing pretty hard.

Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.

Cubist Robot Party: No rear-view on those big planes. Gotta trust the controller when he clears you to push back. Not the pilots' fault at all here, but that ground controller is going to get a hefty talking-to.

Actually, you don't trust the controller. The people on the ground pushing the plane back should be making sure the path is clear as they are moving the aircraft.

As a private pilot, I know that a controller giving me a clearance doesn't mean it is safe to proceed; it only means I have permission to proceed. On one occasion I was cleared for takeoff when another aircraft was on about a 1/2 mile final - controllers are human, mistakes happen, and my flight instructor was always adamant that I look at the approach course after accepting a clearance but before rolling onto the runway.

When an airplane is being pushed back from the gate, it is customary to have a number of ground crew watching the plane to make sure there are no obstacles in the way. Otherwise, the plane may strike an object, causing damage and unnecessary delays.



/When an image is linked from another webpage, it is commonly said to be "hot," which is a slang word for "stolen."

Was a ramp agent (guy on the ground) once upon a time. It happens. If you work for Mesa Airlines in Phoenix, it happens a lot.

In 4 months, we had so much aircraft damage - bent gear from bad pushbacks (Don't go past the red line. No, really.), failing to insert the "Dash Gate" in the tug that protects the nose gear from being damaged, forgetting which pedal is the break on the belt loader ($4M in damages, IIRC), running air carts into the wing (supervisor), failing to disconnect the lav cart before driving off (whoops), etc.

Somehow, they still managed to make a profit. Their premiums must have been insane.

Sinister Steve: Not really the pilots fault. Blame the boneheads in the tower or the guys on the ground.

This. The pilots don't push back from their respective gates unless they're given the go-ahead.

Not the pilot's fault. Those things have a HUGE blind spot.

getwired: Not the pilot's fault. Those things have a HUGE blind spot.
Was flying non-revenue (free), and the pilot got on the PA. He asked everyone to slouch down so he could look out the rearview mirror.

The look on the passengers faces were hilarous.

I did this on flight simulator earlier tonight.

Isn't this a Brady Bunch episode?

I'm sure its not the first time pilots have banged rears...

/seriously, have you seen the flight attendants these days?

tillerman35: Isn't this a Brady Bunch episode?

I remember that one...it was all Jan's fault, right.

getwired: Not the pilot's fault. Those things have a HUGE blind spot.

Exactly. That's why they need the loud beepers like delivery trucks and the electric carts in Walmart have.

Duh subby!! Airplanes don't have rearview mirrors! Get a clue!

/had to join in

If you read the comments from TFA, apparently some Farker's jumbo jet goes "Boeing" when there's a story about Northwest and Delta.

Just popped in to say that the pilots were not at fault.

I blame the pilots, they should have used their reverse radars. If they didn't have them on, then it's their fault.

Planes should reverse into their gates so they can pull out facing forward. End of problem.

From the Comments:

fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap... Posted on December 28, 2008 at 7:32 PM by FapFap.

God Damn you, Farker, I spit Diet Coke on my keyboard. Out thyself.

Cerebral Ballsy: From the Comments:

fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap... Posted on December 28, 2008 at 7:32 PM by FapFap.

God Damn you, Farker, I spit Diet Coke on my keyboard. Out thyself.

+1 who the heck was this?

Isn't this what the guys with the orange sticks are for?

/always thought those guys were useless
//this proves it
///gratuitous slashie

jth9945: Cerebral Ballsy: From the Comments:

fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap... Posted on December 28, 2008 at 7:32 PM by FapFap.

God Damn you, Farker, I spit Diet Coke on my keyboard. Out thyself.

+1 who the heck was this?

I've been seeing that on comments on the linked pages of many articles.

Oh, Farkers.

Some of these rampers actually get to keep their jobs after poking holes in airplanes. My friend witnessed a tug hit his airplane from the cockpit. The damage to the side of the airplane (Embraer 170) exceeded 1 million dollars. Five months later he saw the same ramper working his flight and asked the station manager why he was still allowed to work near an airplane or even drive a tug. The explanation involved some union bullshiat.

May not be related, but I flew in to Long Beach from SF yesterday afternoon, and our apparently newbie pilot had to make a double-left turn because...he couldn't find the airport. Yes.

They made a joke about it over the PA as we landed and of course everyone thought they were kidding, but I happened to be standing out by the pilots' shuttle a short time later when the pilots from our flight caught their bus; and discovered it was true.

There are places to make cuts in airline payrolls, but pilots are not among them. I do NOT want minimum-wage pilots flying my planes, thank you very much. And now, evidently, having non-English-speaking backout-drivers is a no-no as well.

"It was a funny angle!"

"A funny angle? Tyrone, when you're in reverse, things come from behind you!"

FTFA Comments:fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap... Posted on December 28, 2008 at 7:32 PM by FapFap. Jump to comment

OKAY. Which of you farkers posted that? Reveal yourself!!!!

almafuerte: jth9945: Cerebral Ballsy: From the Comments:

fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap... Posted on December 28, 2008 at 7:32 PM by FapFap.

God Damn you, Farker, I spit Diet Coke on my keyboard. Out thyself.

+1 who the heck was this?

I've been seeing that on comments on the linked pages of many articles.

Oh, Farkers.


I've noticed that myself. His Fark handle must be The Mad Fapper.

Fly United?

Gyrfalcon: May not be related, but I flew in to Long Beach from SF yesterday afternoon, and our apparently newbie pilot had to make a double-left turn because...he couldn't find the airport. Yes.

They made a joke about it over the PA as we landed and of course everyone thought they were kidding, but I happened to be standing out by the pilots' shuttle a short time later when the pilots from our flight caught their bus; and discovered it was true.

I'd bet a lot of money whatever they said to each other didn't mean what you think it did.

Gyrfalcon: thought they were kidding, but I happened to be standing out by the pilots' shuttle a short time later when the pilots from our flight caught their bus; and discovered

Depending on the size of the airport, this isn't as farfetched as it may sound. Have you ever tried to find a small airport from the air? Some of these airports have amazing camoflauge.

(Of course, when I was doing it, I was flying recreational, I didn't have GPS and the runway didn't have ILS, so I had a halfway decent excuse.)

It may not technically be the pilots' fault, but because the pilots were PICs (Pilot-In-Command) they are ultimately responsible for the safety of the aircraft and thus are at ultimate fault.

Anyone think commercial aircraft incidents have been on the rise lately?

daychilde: Since the "not the pilots' fault" angle has been covered so well, I'll just note that ever since I found out my spring internship was in Seattle, I've noticed Seattle has been in the news a hell of a lot -- partly because I found out around the time the big snow started a week or so ago, but things like this... Yeesh... Either I'm bad luck, or you guys suck. ;-)

It's the only major city (other than maybe Portland OR) in the whole NW. That's North of SF and West of Chicago. It happens that those types of areas become big-news.

costermonger: Gyrfalcon: May not be related, but I flew in to Long Beach from SF yesterday afternoon, and our apparently newbie pilot had to make a double-left turn because...he couldn't find the airport. Yes.

They made a joke about it over the PA as we landed and of course everyone thought they were kidding, but I happened to be standing out by the pilots' shuttle a short time later when the pilots from our flight caught their bus; and discovered it was true.

I'd bet a lot of money whatever they said to each other didn't mean what you think it did.

Pilot #1 to my pilot: "Hey, at least we didn't lose our airport!"

I'm open to other interpretation.

Mad Mark: almafuerte: jth9945: Cerebral Ballsy: From the Comments:

fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap... Posted on December 28, 2008 at 7:32 PM by FapFap.

God Damn you, Farker, I spit Diet Coke on my keyboard. Out thyself.

+1 who the heck was this?

I've been seeing that on comments on the linked pages of many articles.

Oh, Farkers.


I've noticed that myself. His Fark handle must be The Mad Fapper.

He's obviously speaking about Facility Alteration Permits. You need them to carry out construction, renos and demolitions at airports, universities and other public structures.

Subby, I have yet to be in an airplane with rear view mirrors.

Even the little cessna puttputt I flew didn't have one and I wish that it did.

fanbladesaresharp: FTFA Comments:fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap... Posted on December 28, 2008 at 7:32 PM by FapFap. Jump to comment

OKAY. Which of you farkers posted that? Reveal yourself!!!!

he he he

Ah but even more entertaining is (In link comments):

Routerman
Issaquah, WA
December 28, 2008 at 9:13 PM

fap fap fap ?????????

I lol'd and I feel silly for it.

Chokie Roberts:
"It was a funny angle!"

"A funny angle? Tyrone, when you're in reverse, things come from behind you!"

You like dags?

hienekenftw: Subby, I have yet to be in an airplane with rear view mirrors.

Even the little cessna puttputt I flew didn't have one and I wish that it did.

some of the ones i had did have mirrors on top of the panel and were so useless, i wonder why they put them there. besides, how often am i going to back up a 150.

but why in the hell do they have guys at each wingtip with the orange sticks? if they were doing the job they were supposed to, this would not have happened.