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"I Just Want To Get To Chicago!"

rstark
Adventurer B

Oakland to Chicago, July 2008.
 
Like nearly every morning before a flight, I check the weather data for my series of flights that day. This day, I see a band of moisture up near Minneapolis, but that is two states away from my leg into Chicago. Things should be fine. We should handily beat the weather into Chicago.
 
On the second leg of the day, we arrive in Oakland, and I again check the weather. The mass of moisture has moved a little but, based on my hourly summary, it still looks like we will beat the weather into Chicago by a few hours.
 
Then, just prior to pushback for Chicago Midway, we notice the fuel gauges winding up as more fuel is pumped onboard. The Operation Agent brings us the final weight and balance paperwork along with a new flight release to account for the extra gas Dispatch has added to our flight. We push back with 2,000 pounds more gas than originally planned, “just in case.”
 
The flight is smooth as we cross the Sierras and cross the barren northern Nevada ranges. Crossing just south of the Great Salt Lake, we head into the western Rockies, crossing the Front Range just north of Denver. All the way it is clear and smooth.
 
Passing Omaha, we start to see clouds approaching from over the horizon. We now begin to see the weather is moving much faster than expected. Over Iowa, we inquire as to what is going on with Chicago arrivals and the Controller replies, “Stand by for holding instructions.” Hokey-dokey.
 
We are still up high (33,000 feet) where holding is the most efficient. Holding at lower altitudes consumes more gas, and we pass on to Air Traffic Control (ATC) our desire to stay high, “as long as possible.” In flight, fuel is time and time offers options. I fire off a message to the SWA Dispatcher watching our flight informing him of our fuel remaining and Expected Further Clearance (EFC) time. (This is the time ATC expects to clear us into our destination.) Our Dispatcher has already seen us circling and sees those in front of us holding at holding fixes closer to Chicago.
 
Because of the possibility of weather at our destination, we designated a good-weather alternate of Milwaukee, about 70 miles north of Chicago. If you have looked at a SWA cocktail napkin lately, you will notice Milwaukee is not on the SWA route system. I confirm with the new Dispatcher who has taken over for our original Dispatcher, whether or not they want us to possibly proceed to an “off-line alternate.” It’s safe, but once you land, you are on your own. There are no Company resources there to help you get airborne again to your destination.

Our new Dispatcher agrees that Indianapolis would make more sense so we change our alternate and work up a new “bingo fuel.” This “bingo” number is how much gas we need to depart the holding area with to be able to fly to our alternate and land and still have 45 minutes of reserve fuel left. In other words, it is an absolute minimum amount we want to depart from holding with. 
 
In holding, the Boeing 737 uses about 4,000 lbs of fuel per hour. (About 1,000 lbs of fuel every 15 minutes.) In holding, we advise ATC that we are now about 15 minutes from diverting to Indy. Almost immediately, he informs us Chicago Approach is now taking planes into Midway. We coordinate with our Dispatcher, and he confirms the worst of the weather is now past Chicago so we depart holding and head to a closer holding location for a few turns. Just in case, I tell Dispatch via typed message: “MKE hip-pocket alternate.” Dispatch responds “Roger.” If something goes goofy getting into Chicago, we will still bolt for Milwaukee (MKE) with enough gas to land with our required 45 minutes of reserve fuel.
 
We are finally descending in to Chicago, and on the radar, we can see vast bands of rain moving to the east. By the time we reach Joliette, we can see the skyline of Chicago and laying before it, the Midway Airport. Out both sides, the passengers only see darkening skies. Running the latest weather information through our landing performance computer, we realize we will have to ask for a runway different than what the controller wanted us to use.  The controller grants us the runway we need.

We fly an approach to the advertised runway, and then circle to use the runway that affords us the best performance margins based on the runway surface conditions and wind direction. As we cross the runway threshold I duck under glideslope a tad and firmly plant the tires at the start of the touchdown zone to ensure spin-up on the wet surface to allow the brakes to work. Deploying the reversers right at touchdown, I beat the auto-brakes and slow the plane to near taxi speed about halfway down the runway. No hydroplaning or traction problems today, and we exit the runway with over 1,000 feet to spare.  About 45 minutes late, we pull into our gate in Chicago. To the Passengers, it seemed an unnecessary delay. A few deplaning Passengers look back in surprise as I tell the oncoming Captain, “We almost went to Milwaukee, then Indy, and then Milwaukee again.” To the Passengers, it was just another airline delay.

8 Comments
jhhaile
Explorer C
Capt Ray, thank you for being so caring. Those of us who only fly SWA are truly blessed to have pilots like you who care so much. Jim
Speed1
Explorer C
For those used to buying gas in gallons (and dollars) ... a gallon of jet fuel weighs about seven pounds so while holding at altitude this 737 was burning about 570 gallons per hour.
CaBa
Explorer C
You -should- fly to Milwaukee, though!
joedal
Explorer A
Ray, Thank you so much for publishing this. I am a young pilot and being able to see things that actually happen and how things work in the flight deck is always fascinating. Please keep sending in your adventures of Luv!

Joseph R. Meyers

Dallas, Texas

rich824
Explorer C
Captain Stark, When reading your blog posting, I just have a question regarding landing at an “off-line alternate”, how would you be able to provide services for the aircraft? Would there be use of a Jetway, would you be able to load fuel or provide any aircraft services? I understand that MKE is very close to MDW, but assuming that you could not depart for several hours, how would services be provided? Thank you, Rich
rstark
Adventurer B
Rich, While SWA doesn't serve Milwaukee, some off-line alternates have accommodations for airstairs or jetway use for special occurrences. Some alternates are refuel-and-go locations that have pre-coordinated fuel arrangements where we plan to be refueled and airborne again in as little as 30 minutes. In those cases, no deplaning is required. A SWA jet suffered an engine failure after takeoff from Midway. Rather than land a heavy jet on the shorter runways at Midway, the pilot elected to land at O'Hare and the passengers were taken care of once the plane arrived at O'Hare (Deplaned by jetway or airstairs and I believe by bus in this example -back to MDW). Luke Air Force Base in PHX is another example. They don't mind if weather causes a few orange jets to drop out of the sky unexpectedly. (Many of our pilots are or were Luke based so it's familiar territory for them.) Commercial jets are parked on their generous ramp space as they await refueling and the weather improvements. Boeing Field in Seattle is a similar airport (gas 'n go) offline alternate for SEATAC. Ray
Carl
Explorer C
Captain Stark As a companion pass holder living in Oak Creek, WI I think you guys need to START flying into Milwaukee. I wouldn't mind avoiding the regular drive thru construction so I can fly my favorite airline. Carl
Anonymous239
Explorer C
It's Joliet, IL, not Joliette. 🙂 And it's just "Midway Airport." We don't call it "The Midway Airport," or ever refer to "The O'Hare Airport." 🙂