I flew the island hopper for four years in a B-727. I can only remember once not getting into Chuuk. The distances between the islands are so great you usually have time for only one approach then on to Phonpei and if Phonpei is down you go back to Guam. If you lollygag around Chuuk the crew will time out downline and not make it to Hawaii.
It's not like the US where you have an airport every 20 miles or so and can stop in and get some jet fuel if you get low. It's 632 miles from Guam to Chuuk and 456 miles from Chuuk to Phonpei and that's straight line and does not take into account the miles for following the airways and shooting approaches and then lollygagging. There are ZERO other options.
In the old days you could take a boat from island to island and be assured of getting there. Then Pan Am had the flying boats and it only took a week or so. Now you can do it in a day and you want to bitch! You know the rules before you leave. The airlines are not responsible for the weather. Flying the islands to this day, weather reports are mostly SWAG anyway.
We are the life blood of the islands and carry a lot of cargo from milk to groceries to hospital patients to caskets. There is zero maintenance on these islands. We also carry a mechanic and some parts like tires and tools so we won't get stranded. That stuff weighs a lot. We used to leave passengers behind on occasion because we were weight limited.
Recent changes to the Federal Aviation Regulations have decreased the amount of time a pilot may be on duty. No more 16 hour days and then trying to shoot an approach into Cleveland Hopkins at night in the blinding snow in a 40 knot crosswind. Fatigue has played a part in many aircraft accidents. In the old days it was each station keeping track of their times and if a minute or two was lost. Well, blind eye syndrome. Those days are gone. Now, with satellites and ACARS the Company and the FAA keep track of pilot and crew duty times to the second. If you go over by one second you could jeopardize your license and the company could get a hefty fine.
All that being said, Chuuck is the finest wreck diving I have ever done. I dive there whenever I can.
You make a lot of assumptions in your post. It would appear that you are a United Employee, pilot perhaps, as well as a diver. So ok you know the deal there, great!
We are mere passengers and know stuff all about rules, pilot issues, particular route issues. Nor should we as we do not own, work for an airline. We are customers and we have an expectation that if we pay for a ticket, then we get the service. Ok so airlines are not libel for flight issues relating to weather, we all get that and understand, bad weather happens and its no ones fault and better safe on the ground than dead because we flew. On our particular flight we had additional pilots on the flight, so perhaps they could have handled the extra flight time if it were incurred? Not sure so perhaps not and maybe they were just in transit so not available to fly. Whilst this is all frustrating to the customer and not normally understood, most accept that weather can and will cause an abort, delay or flight to somewhere else. Yes I accept that United don't have heaps of planes hanging about just in case, if they did they would be broke. I get all of that. Just don't promise a flight that does not exist just to try and keep people happy, a lie does nothing for the credibility of the company.
What is NOT acceptable is the poor service in dealing with customers who have been dumped at the next port of call. It doesn't cut it to say they are less than a third world country. Does United employ monkeys so they keep costs down, no. They are people and just need training in how to deal with this event. I don't actually blame the locals, I blame management in not providing them with the skills to deal with clearly a common occurrence. They said it has happened quite regularly in the last few months, so a common enough occurrence to plan for and keep the customers informed and happy enough. I actually felt very sorry for the local manager, clearly he was under the hammer and had no support.
I am not suggesting red carpet hotels and drinks, I am talking information and direction. Many of the customers don't know the area, may not have travelled much so are not only lost but feel abandoned. Please forget the rubbish about Truk making it worth while sleeping on concrete floors until a flight is available. You are trying to trivialise the trauma that many feel. For some it was their first dive trip overseas. As I said, I am not suggesting huge costs, I am suggesting good information and emotional support. Often the only cost associated with this is training for the employees, and it generates a power of good will.
Read my previous post below!
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I am not upset with United that they had to drop us at Pohnpei, that's just bad luck. I understand that they didn't have sufficient seats for everyone the same day. I also understand that the next day they could not get everyone on. They however promised to look at a rescue flight given the number of passengers (70) and the remoteness of the place and few flights, however I personally don't believe this ever was a serious option that was going to happen. Its not that the disaster happened, its how you handle the aftermath that matters most. The reps first words were to convince everyone that the WERE NOT paying for accommodation.
How about something novel, the truth and some reassurance that they are doing something. We stupidly made the assumption the airline would take care of us by providing direction on what to do etc. After all its not the first time this has happened I am sure.
I would try something like this;
1. Rebook for future flights (locals did and got the few seats on the next flight)
2. We will keep you informed and your contact person is ???
3. We are looking into a rescue flight however its very remote as we just don't have planes laying about spare, they all fly to be profitable so usually non available.
4. There is a flight tomorrow and then non until Saturday,then one sunday evening, but spare seats are limited.
5. We can assist in getting you accommodation (however we will not be paying for it under the airline rules of bad weather).
6. For those who have not yet gotten a new flight, come down to the airport tomorrow at 9 for us to rebook
etc etc.
What people need is certainty, even if its the fact there are no seats for 2 days. At least then people can go find accommodation and shower and relax. To be in a hot humid small airport after being awake for 26 hrs, with no certainty of anything, and to be kept there for hours being strung along on the perhaps chance there might be a flight is a poor way to deal with people. Just cut the bull, be honest and let people move on to the next issue.
We then had to face the fact that there was no accommodation available for Friday evening as they are having a convention here. So are we to all sleep on the concrete floor with no food, no showers, nothing? We suggested to them that whilst they have no legal obligation to do anything, but perhaps a moral obligation given the circumstances and 70 people. They should be prepared for this given the location and risks. Its not huge cost in any way at all and certainly would be good for PR. Very easy for a bean counter in Chicago to make decisions about people stuck on a remote island with nothing available.
As I said, all of the people I spoke with had the same comments. Its how you deal with the event that matters most.