Unusual disembarkation procedure on LATAM

[Mattg]

I flew LATAM yesterday into ASU on an Airbus A320. After parking at the gate, we were told to remain seated as disembarkation would be done by rows to maintain the correct weight & balance of the plane. We were parked at a jetbridge and only the front left door was used for disembarkation.

Once the door was opened, rows 1-3 (Premium Economy) were invited to leave first. Followed by rows 4-7, then 27-30, then 8-11, then 23-26, and so on. This was strictly enforced with crew in the aisle blocking the way and asking people who weren't in the right rows to sit down.

Wasn't a problem, just found it interesting as I haven't seen this before.

 

[pblackie]

Tiger used do this in Perth. It's was to do with the cargo in the rear hold and the ramp being on a slight angle. Fight crew were worried that if too many Pax got off the front of the aircraft before the cargo was removed from the rear the aircraft might tilt and spil their coffee.

 

[Cynicor]

There are photos of this occurring somewhere, IIRC. some plane topped up during boarding or disembarking

 

[dylarr]

I'd sort of noticed something kind of similar with Jetstar a couple of years ago that I posted a thread about:

Approval to disembark

For a while now, I’ve noticed that a lot of JQ flights (especially those arriving at SYD) require approval from the ground crew to disembark. The plane will arrive at the bay with aerobridge connected and doors open then the crew will make a PA advising they need approval before anyone can...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Although they definitely never do the by row thing... I'd noted a few instances where disembarkation was subject to waiting for approval from the ground crew... even after the aerobridge was connected and doors open.

 

[muppet]

Don’t airlines usually have some kind of prop for the tail for aircraft with this balance issue?

 

[AIRwin]

JetBlue plane tilts back while unloading at JFK Airport, no injuries reported | CNN

A JetBlue passenger jet lost its balance and tipped like a seesaw while unloading Sunday at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to the airline.

amp.cnn.com

 

[jb747]

Don’t airlines usually have some kind of prop for the tail for aircraft with this balance issue?

On some freighters, not passenger aircraft.

 

[muppet]

On some freighters, not passenger aircraft.

Apparently Delta does:

https://global.discourse-cdn.com/in...afef7e81c8ec1c842629062c76fa395046e08f73.jpeg

Working in an A320

@Toon They are very similar in size, and as far as loading them no real big difference. The only difference is the height off the ground (A320 Family sits much higher off the ground than the 737 does) Unloading the 739 however is a bit different, because it is tail heavy. For that reason we use...

community.infiniteflight.com

 

[jb747]

Apparently Delta does:

https://global.discourse-cdn.com/in...afef7e81c8ec1c842629062c76fa395046e08f73.jpeg

Working in an A320

@Toon They are very similar in size, and as far as loading them no real big difference. The only difference is the height off the ground (A320 Family sits much higher off the ground than the 737 does) Unloading the 739 however is a bit different, because it is tail heavy. For that reason we use...

community.infiniteflight.com

Well, there you go. Wrong again. Interesting that the CofG is so far aft. Must make for some interesting flight calculations.

 

[justinbrett]

I think most 737-900s use them