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Airline Pilot Attempts Working The Ramp | Throwing Bags + More!

2021-12-04 · 16:00 UTC ·Swayne Martin ·2 min read

Brief

Swayne Martin, an airline pilot, records a field-demo at Chicago O'Hare (published 2021-12-04) shadowing ramp crews through short-turn workflows: parking, applying external power and air, unloading and reloading bags, and marshaling pushback. He highlights the physical, weather-exposed demands on agents and features Travelpro — a 30-year-old pilot-founded luggage brand that subjects bags to over 15 durability tests.

Why it matters

Swayne Martin (airline pilot) shadowed ramp crews at Chicago O'Hare in a field-demo published 2021-12-04, observing short-turn tasks: parking, applying external power, unloading and reloading bags, plugging in external air, and marshaling pushback.

Key details

  • Travelpro, founded 30 years ago by a commercial airline pilot, subjects its crew luggage to more than 15 durability tests (handle strength, zipper reliability, sub-zero cold-drop) to withstand heavy airport handling.
  • Ramp work is fast-paced and team-driven: crew chiefs coordinate turns under extreme weather, and Martin attempts hands-on duties (including marshaling a pushback) to highlight the physical, time-sensitive nature of the job.
Source evidence

As an airline pilot, I don't get to see what's going on below the wing when we park at the gate. It's about time an airline pilot tried working the ramp! These crews have a lot to do during short turns to get airplanes out on time. I wanted to find out what it takes, so I shadowed some of our crews in Chicago O'Hare. Long story short, this isn't an easy job and I want to give a huge shoutout to our agents all across the country who work through extreme weather to help our planes depart. You guys are awesome!

Founded 30 years ago by a commercial airline pilot who created the original rollaboard, Travelpro makes crew luggage for airlines around the world. Taking what they learned from flight crews, they also focus on crafting the most durable and stylish bags for everyday travel, too. Due to the pace at which thousands of bags are handled and loaded onto airplanes all around the airport, wear and tear is unavoidable. During the design process, bags go through more than 15 types of durability tests to ensure things like handle strength, zipper reliability, and even a sub-zero cold-drop test pushing structural integrity to the limits. Long story short, these bags are tough.

Fly with the best luggage and travel like a pro: https://travelpro.com/

Video Chapters:
0:00 Ramper For A Day
1:03 Here's What Ramp Agents Do
1:39 Inbound Flight 10 Minutes From Touchdown
2:13 Parking, External Power, Unloading Bags
3:24 Travelpro Bags Are Tough
4:15 Crew Chief: Working Through Extreme Weather
4:49 Plugging In External Air
5:13 Halfway Done! Time To Re-Load
5:54 Turning A Plane Is Team Effort
6:21 I Tried Marshaling A Pushback
6:47 Thank You Ramp Crews!

If there's something you want to learn about becoming an airline pilot, shoot me a message on Instagram @swayne.martin or leave me a comment below!

(Cockpit scenes filmed under Part 91 with approval of Envoy Air, Inc. Footage not recorded in chronological order.)

Follow Me On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swayne.martin/
Pilot/Travel Gear YOU Should Use: https://www.amazon.com/shop/swaynemartin
My Filming Gear: https://www.amazon.com/shop/swaynemartin?listId=2LFVZ7XTZEVAU

Content Credit:
-@ohareaviation has a great YouTube for planespotting (credit for the B-roll shots of our Envoy Embraer 145s)
-Check out @SamEckholm videos here.
-Music Licensing: Artlist

Thanks for watching!
-Swayne

Channel: Swayne Martin
Published: 2021-12-04
Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMMtUOTs0Mc