FAA Issues Ground Stop Advisory for Alaska Airlines

I was a C-130 loadmaster back in the 80's. I did almost all load planning and weight and balance by hand. We did have some software at larger terminals to assist aerial port in pre-planning, but in the end, it was just me in the cargo compartment with a weight and balance form and my Mark1A brain to make sure all was loaded accordingly and do all the calculations, and up to the A/C to sign off on it for every flight. I understand though, with a major airline operation, that's a lost art and not practical (if you want to make a profit). But anyway, I also hate the spin on this article, I was also an FAA air traffic controller for 23 years at a major Center, and the AIRLINES requesting a ground stop on THEIR own aircraft happened a lot, it wasn't ordered by the FAA themselves. While the NAS has definitely deteriorated since I retired, the fear mongering in the media is just getting ridiculous (he says as he swears never to set foot on a commercial airline again! LOL).

Weight and balance calculations software. Wow. Glad they caught it before.

Alaska Airlines ground stop lifted, delays ongoing
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/17/business/faa-ground-stop-alaska-airlines-flights/index.html

Hey guys, you're bringing up memories here. At my first commuter airline, (twin Cessnas) everyone would have to personally check in. Without their knowledge they were standing on a scale and their weight was being recorded. As the PIC, I received my load sheet with their weight. At boarding, I'd just eyeball them and board them accordingly.

At my next airline (Beech 99) we would do the same thing, but if you were full (15 pax), once you had loaded everyone's carry-ons into the belly compartment, you would stop the last two pax from boarding until the Captain had started the right engine and brought it out of feather. Sometimes, the Captain would start the engine early and you, the Copilot, would smell like Jet-A for the rest of the day. Those were the days!

This is not the first time that Alaska has encountered issues with its load and balance software. See https://www.flightaware.com/squawks/view/1/7_days/popular_new/95561/Software_bug_at_Alaska_Airlines_caused_2_tailstrikes
from February 2023.

back in"the good old days",there were charts that were used to calculate estimated passenger weights for adults and also for children,and approximate weights for bags within the limits..head counts were done,number of bags and any cargo (although on the smaller regionals that was not usually a problem)and then of course fuel.the captain was given a copy prior to departure,and if changes needed to be made,say,less fuel or moving passengers seats,it was done then..computers were used,but not to the extent they are now..as i said..this was in"the good old days"..!i am sure the passengers on alaska and horizon didnt understand exactly because everyone is still uneasy due to the issues with boeing aircraft..

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