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US Airways pilot escorted out of airport by security for not wanting to fly unsafe A330

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Would any commercial pilot here on FA fly a jet who's APU and hot battery bus have failed? (www.thestreet.com) More...

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alistairm
alistairm 0
Please, i want feedback on this from commercial pilots so as to gauge whether or not this was as serious as the article makes it out to be. Thanks for your time
HunterTS4
Toby Sharp 0
hmmmmmmmm
andrewderr
andrewderr 0
Reminds me of the JOKE, "We're sorry for the delay, The captain seemed to think there was a problem with one of the engines and it took us a while to find a new captain."
HunterTS4
Toby Sharp 0
HAHAHAHA
PA28Aviator
Jimmy Reekes 0
Another example of pilots being given a bad name because they ch
PA28Aviator
Jimmy Reekes 0
Stupid smartphone keypad. Another example of pilots getting a bad name because they chose to make the safe decision. The apu being inop domestically would not be a bigissue. I have no idea about on an international flight. I would think it would have to be working to provide backup electrical energy if an engine failed. The hot battery could be a big issue because the emergency lights at typically on that bus. I probably would have made the same decision.
Fleagle
Fleagle 0
An AIRBUS. The Famous Airbus, yet!( again )
Everything Electric. Everything Computerized and backed up, by Backup Computers that are backed up, by another.
No Manual Override in the front office as in Douglas,Boeing,Lockheed Equipment. Even Fokker,& SAAB.
The "chief" Pilot should 'grow a pair'. Nice...Political Call on "his" part - entreating her to: "Fly the TransLant" (with downing discrepancies)
Professional Call by a PROFESSIONAL Skipper(ess)in my opinion.

A sage Captain;'stand up'type.. that doesn't/didn't look forward to any 'additional' mechanical Drama with An Airbus on a lengthy trip; and MADE___A Decision . Then - a humiliating escort? from The Terminal?
What's That all about?

Gambling and complacency (spit) has no place in Air opns.
It is demonstrably,historically, Deadly. Read COSTLY, Accountants.
c.e.o. ISOM: If SAFETY was "unequivocably,The Top Priority" ( Isom is quoted as saying )..this Scene shouldn't Be NEWS.
It's One thing to have a malfunction,even multiple malfunctions Enroute; that's what Pro's Train for.
It's 'another thing' to embark / airborne, with Downing Discrepancies when there is No pressing urgency as in an Emergency to get Underway.
There's no doubt in my mind the Passengers and their Families have quiet appreciation for Captain Wells' decision; in spite of Any annoying Inconveniences.
Hope there is Cohesion( one mind ) among the Drivers, and this "Union" in the face of alledged? unreasonableness when it comes to Aviation Safety.
IF THAT BE, - the Case.
Good Pilots Aren't: 'A DIME A DOZEN'. Neither are conscientious, stand-up Aircraft Cmdrs.that don't look left `n right when it comes to Aviation Operational Safety.
andrewderr
andrewderr 0
Amen to that. 2 major faults would lead almost anyone to conclude that there is signifigant mechanical issues that need resolve before the a/c is airworthy. Had it been my butt in the back seat I would have agreed with her decision.
JetChaser
JetChaser 0
Not sure how comfortable I would have been on that flight despite the "rigorous" inspection.
clanky2
Cormac Clancy 0
I wonder what Capt. Sullenberger would have done ?
I seem to recall that he kinda wanted the APU started after his A/C
hit the birds - and don't forget he had barely left New York !
Just wondering what PA28Aviator means about "not a big problem domestically"??
dodger4
dodger4 0
You mean to tell me that the failure of the hot battery bus is MEL-able on a 330??
PA28Aviator
Jimmy Reekes 0
Sully wanted his APU started to provide electrical power because his only source of electrical power were the batteries as well as to provide bleed air pressure to attempt to restart his engines. On a domestic flight an inoperative APU is not a big deal. Most of the planes I fly don't have an APU and the ones that do have them are just as safe when they are inop. I guarantee you that if have flown on an airliner domestically more than once or twice that you have flown on a plane with an inoperative APU.
captainmoe
Maurice Cote 0
I am proud of you Captain Wells for making that very professional decision. Congrats ! Keep up the good work, for we need more conciencious knowledgeable and safety oriented pilots in command like you. Let's just hope that future aviators learn from that particular event, specially now that we take ( C R M ) much more seriously when flying that new breed of aircrafts with glass cockpits and everything pertaining to the so called (flybywire)which all require proper electrical power hence APU. Chao...
JReinertsen
An answer to the original question given : no
captainmoe
Maurice Cote 0
I believe that my comment speaks for itself for the flying part of the equasion, now, the escorting out of the airport I won't even touch....
RRKen
I am wondering if there was a "Rest of the Story" that was not published.

It seems a bit over the top to escort a crew member out of the terminal for reporting safety issues. Err on the side of caution I say.
sandylns
Brian Lager 0
US Air should be booted up the backside for this. First, the APU being out is not by itself a big deal. Even on overseas flight. However, the hot battery bus being down IS a big deal. Having two problems compromises safety. The pilot did a good job by leaving. The second flight crew also refused the aircraft. Good for them.
This problem is NOT exclusive to Airbus aircraft. Boeing and MD have similar systems and pilots on their aircraft would also refuse to fly with this system out.
captainmoe
Maurice Cote 0
ROGER that...and kuddos again to Captain Valerie Wells....
MichaelMcCarthy
Assuming that's all there is to this story , Capt. Wells deserves a clap on the back . Shame on US Air .
chrislaing
chris laing 0
I wonder how this incident would pan out under a fully integrated SMS system that requires a Risk Assessment and Corrective Action Plan...would it provide a vehicle for pilots to funnel data relating to safety and overall operations to management? Would such as system force managment to recognize safety (and operational) issues and clearly define their action plans and if there is no action, justify that as well....
captainmoe
Maurice Cote 0
Good thinking Chris! Airlines have such a system that provides data from the aircraft to the ground or vice versa, it can be auto or manual. I recommand that you read up on ( ACARS ). Wikipedia gives a thorough explanation of a whole bunch of systems related to the idea that you brought forward. Good reading to you....

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