Southwest terminal at Las Vegas has outdoor video boards with all the flight info for the ground crew and pilots
Posted by avboden@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 55 comments
Just thought this was neat. Haven’t noticed it at other airports though I’m sure others have it somewhere
Bob-Ross74@reddit
I once asked a ramp agent if these boards were helpful or not. His reply: (sarcastically)”Yeah when we are running behind it comes down and helps us load bags.”
Semeron@reddit
Very original quote.
https://old.reddit.com/r/SouthwestAirlines/comments/1k2uvnx/i_never_saw_this_electronic_sign_before_on_ramp/mnx47gh/
Bob-Ross74@reddit
No one said it was original. Does repeating it make it less valid/funny. How about you just MYB.
Semeron@reddit
You said you asked a ramp agent though, implying it's original.
Fisheye4848@reddit
They are at every major airport. Most are on the outside wall of the terminals
smcsherry@reddit
Yes, however, not all are full color or this big. There’s plenty of the old style ones that are about 1/6 to 1/4th this size and just monochrome yellow with much lower led density.
Flightyler@reddit
Delta has ones this big with just as much if not more info at their hubs
Fisheye4848@reddit
They are at every major airport. Most are on the outside wall of the terminals didn’t know color made a difference. Just need to display the flight number, destination, and how long you have until you push
smcsherry@reddit
I was more just mentioning it, bc the older style doesn’t stand out as much.
277330128@reddit
There is more info on here than at other airlines / airports - namely the checklist of stages of the turn.
Flightyler@reddit
Delta does the same thing with all of this info plus number of pax and bags remaining and time till departure
cyberentomology@reddit
These ones are specific to (and owned by) Southwest. Some other airports and airlines have something similar (AA at DFW has had such a system for ages).
errosemedic@reddit
Back when I worked the ramp at terminal D the boards only showed the destination (or the departure point if the flight hadn’t deplaned yet), estimated departure time and boarding status.
avboden@reddit (OP)
Guess I’ve just not noticed until now.
cyberentomology@reddit
It’s relatively recent, they just started rolling them out when I left WN 2 years ago (I was tangentially involved)
iPhones_cameras_suck@reddit
Man rough game for C8, losing 742 to 2380
timbea12@reddit
I wish my airport had these. Might put a little pep in everyone’s step. Prevent a couple delays and get ground crew to work a lil quicker
Icy_Huckleberry_8049@reddit
EVERY airport has this and it's been around for 50+ years
Markus__F@reddit
FRA also has displays. On arrival, they replace the marshaller, and guide the pilot to park in the perfect position for that aircraft type.
Before departure, it doesn't show the boarding process though, but stuff like what runway and departure route ATC plans for them, at what time they are expected to get pushback clearance and when their departure slot ends. So it is more of a info from airport/ATC to pilots, not ground crew to pilots.
RadosAvocados@reddit
Pretty sure the ones at my hub haven't worked in well over a decade. Unsure why but I assumed the software that supported them no longer works with the software the company uses or IT hasn't/couldn't get it synced. We had a brand new concourse completed (from the dirt up) just 2 years ago and they don't have these.
DoomWad@reddit
We have those at most of our bases 👍
TheMeltingPointOfWax@reddit
Plus, STL, inexplicably. Definitely not going to be a base though. For sure.
nednoble@reddit
STL is a major focus city for SWA, they don’t do hubs but STL is as close to a hub as SWA gets.
SkippytheBanana@reddit
They use to be quite simple! I’d would have love to have something like that. This is all we had about 10 years ago but we did find it useful!
swakid8@reddit
This has been around for a long time in the US at major hubs. Likely new for WN. But they have around forever…
avboden@reddit (OP)
These have way more info on them then any I’ve seen before though, boarding process , passenger count etc
iaflyer@reddit
Go to a Delta hub like ATL or SLC.. screens like that have been in place for years with all sorts of info for the crews.
eagleace21@reddit
So do most major airports
CrossBamboAtTen@reddit
I’m guessing more for the ground crew because as a pilot I don’t look at these things at all.
BassetCock@reddit
As pilots we use them a lot at Southwest. Lets us know when the last passenger has been scanned and the countdown timer is convenient. Lots of slightly useful information.
CrossBamboAtTen@reddit
That's all in our EFB where I'm at.
Can see how many passengers left to board, etc.
MJC136@reddit
I just look at them to know when it’s time to get the clearance!
Alternative-Yak-925@reddit
The handheld scanners have more, and more accurate information than the boards. Plus, there's a feature that basically has a group chat specific to the flight with the tower, load, pilots, FAs, gate agents, ramp, and operations at the main office.
CantDoThatOnTelevzn@reddit
Operations at the main office?
cyberentomology@reddit
Assuming the scanners can find a usable cell signal without my old department calling firstnet and giving them an earful
Alternative-Yak-925@reddit
Facts
swakid8@reddit
As a pilot, they are handy… Ramp stays such as open or closed with lighting. High winds. It’s good for SA with what’s going for ground ops.
Helpful_Squash2414@reddit
This is not special.
mylefthandkilledme@reddit
Too bad the southwest gates are a complete shitshow. No seating but plenty of room for slots and a bar
avboden@reddit (OP)
Meh that’s just Vegas
ShutterTorque@reddit
LAX and SLC do too
I_love_my_fish_@reddit
Dtw has something similar on the walls, they’re suppose to help us ramp guys with timing and so we know if we need to rush to finish up to get the plane out in time.
Also if you’re ever delayed because of the fuelers we’re sorry, the equipment never feels fast enough even though we’re pumping at like 100-700 gallons a minute usually. Rate all depends on equipment and aircraft type
Albort@reddit
those would be helpful back when i worked at the airport. the airport once assigned 3 planes to the same gate at the same time. haha
Proxxos@reddit
Prepare to be amazed by A-VDGS
Hank_moody71@reddit
This is typical in Europe. Glad to see we’ve adopted it
Quick_Cup_1290@reddit
PHX has them and a pretty awesome terminal at that…
cyberentomology@reddit
These are a WN-specific thing, not the airport. There was considerable discussion about putting wi-fi in them for the folks working below the wing, as WN’s baggage scanner devices are cellular, but I don’t know if they ever did that.
gavriellloken@reddit
We have them on the AA side too, they just look slightly different. And new version at a30 that you'd only be able to see on pushback as a pax
cyberentomology@reddit
Yep, Southwest deployed those about a year and a half ago.
DeadEndTimes@reddit
RIDS - Ramp Information Display System
DeadEndTimes@reddit
RIDS - Ramp Information Display System
ashtonpar@reddit
You’ll find this at every major airport in the world!
Conpen@reddit
These are installed in lots of newer terminals now. JFK T4 has something similar. LGA as well.
avboden@reddit (OP)
Neat! Thanks
triviajason@reddit
BWI too! And San Juan.