As some of you may remember, back in March I had a horrible experience with Delta concerning what I perceived as safety violations and barbaric customer relations.

I made a formal complaint with the FAA.

As Gomer would say:
Surprise!
Surprise!
Surprise!

I got the last of several phone calls from the investagator yesterday. The FAA actually had been going over to Delta's operations facility and has been monitoring all the flights to make sure they are in compliance and to ensure that the safety envelopes weren't exceeded.

Delta,voluntarily, with the urging of the FAA, has made some changes on loading criteria, fuel reserves, decisions on when they'll leave the gate, etc. Good for them!

It seems that the "new" criteria, has been used on three occasions (from April to yesterday) and that the JNB-ATL flights have been delayed to insure safety... flights that would have gone before and would have been legal, but pushing the limits more than really necessary.

The FAA guy also told me that he was quite aware of the pressures put on the pilots to perform and the pressures put on them by operations in ATL. That matter was also addressed along with crew rest requirments, etc. I don't know the details of those discussions or any remedies.

I am amazed that the FAA actually took my complaints seriously. They didn't blow me off. They made a dozen visits to Delta's operations. They called me four times to define and understand my concerns. The called me twice to tell me their progress and e-mailed me once with confirmations of their actions.

I have no idea if all this will made a difference, but hopefully, when whe have to get on the 777 for that long and boring flight, we'll be a bit safer.

As an aside, the FAA told me what details he discovered about my March flight that was cancelled. While awaiting takeoff, the wind (both headwinds in flight and lack of it down the runway), weight of the plane, crew rest, etc. all were about to reach no-go criteria at the same time. We had waited 2.2 hours on the tarmac buring fuel (and needed to burn only 900 lbs more to be legal... but that would have made the divert fuel at minimums... and the crew had only 20 minutes before they couldn't make the 16+ flight).

It was the captain, not operations, that decided that he just wasn't going to press all those limits and decided to go back to the gate. Good for him!

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:

I am amazed that the FAA actually took my complaints seriously. They didn't blow me off.

Perhaps the word of a judge carries more weight than a joe schmuck like me.

Are you flying Delta in September? If so, they may have your name on one of their "lists"...not the no fly list but the "don't piss off" list.

Delta and I came to an accomodation as to future flights. I'll leave it at that.

I understand....I guess we'll see you at Vic Falls or Sijirira on the 10th of September, Dr Scott and I are so looking forward to being at Chete. We'll try and leave Lou in a good mood for you.

The FAA takes safety violations very seriously. If a flight has to divert to Sal Island because of insufficient fuel reserves, then it reflects badly on their oversight.

You don't have to be a judge to file a safety of flight complaint with the feds.
Anyone can do it, and it will be scrutinized.

You'd better have your ducks in a row, though.