Ramp Automation

Waiting ... and waiting ...  35 minutes for my checked bag yesterday to finally show up at Logan got me thinking about a comment two blogs ago from a reader.  He mentioned that a decrease in workers on the ramp was attributable to automation.  My experience with checked bags on this and other flights (especially the last flight of the night) makes me wonder whether we haven’t cut too many ramp jobs, especially with baggage handlers. I won’t even think of checking a bag from Boston to DC, because I’ve had to wait longer for my bag at times than the flight took Surely automation of baggage handling has made the loading of wide-body aircraft faster and more efficient.  There’s no question that the container system used to load these aircraft has dramatically improved the loading of these aircraft.  However, it has not done anything for the loading of narrow-body aircraft such as Boeing-737s, MD-80s and Airbus A320 series that have not yet been outfitted with a container system. Those aircraft still must be loaded manually, one bag at a time.  The work is difficult — tight quarters, heavy loads, and heat all contribute to the fatiguing of baggage handlers.  Add to the usual causes of fatigue, a cut in workers and the remaining workers may not be enough to get the job done timely, especially when airline scheduling does not take this factor into account.  A couple of narrow-body aircraft coming in or departing at the same time can really slow things down.