5 flights on tarmac more than 3 hours in May

[ISP Pilot]

5 flights on tarmac more than 3 hours in May, month where airlines' on-time performance falls

http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel...,2045675.story

"United Airlines operated four of the five flights that were stuck this May. One of those United flights stayed on the tarmac for almost five hours. All four of the United flights were bound for Denver on May 26 when severe thunderstorms and hail swept through Colorado. Denver International Airport had 30-to-60-minute delays on average that day and limited use of runways."

"The fifth was a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Dallas-Fort Worth on May 28. That flight sat for two hours in Atlanta when the tarmac was closed for lightning. Delta spokesman Anthony Black said air traffic control denied the pilot's request to turn back to the gate, and the plane sat on the tarmac for another hour before it ultimately took off."

If it's true that ATC denied Delta's request to return to the gate, they should not pay. The gov't should pay DL instead!

[hiss srq]

No one can bew faulted in the case of Delta. Each airport based on region has a distance limit in their rules for lightning... Once l;ightning strikes inside that distance all ground personell are required to take shelter... No matter what you are doing.... You might be fueling an airplane... No matter. Disconnect... Remove the static line and take shelter... The Delta flight had no options.