14 hours ago, ahsmatt7 said:

This seems like an insane waste of money. Then again, if they are advertising it, I can’t imagine how much money they are saving by not contracting it out.

It will have to be seen how well the Business Analysts of BA have evaluated this strategy initiative (and other available options). On the paper, things always look good, and here below is one way of looking at it:

"British Airways plans to recover the cost of its Chicago O'Hare taxi crew roles by eliminating costly passenger misconnections and improving operational efficiency. By moving aircraft from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3, they avoid disrupting passengers, improve punctuality, and avoid using valuable tug resources for terminal transfers.

• Operational Cost Efficiency: Instead of transferring passengers, moving the aircraft itself avoids delays that cost more than the fuel used in taxiing.
• Connecting Partner Support: As part of their transatlantic joint venture with American Airlines, moving planes to Terminal 3 streamlines connections for passengers who landed at T5 for customs but need to connect from T3.
• Specialized Staff Utilization: Hiring experienced, local, or retired pilots allows for faster, more precise taxiing of large aircraft like Boeing 777s and 787s without utilizing expensive, hard-to-source ground tugs."

There is no doubt, O'Hare is a tough (and unforgiving) test environment to put concepts and calculations into RW practice.

Time will tell.

Cheers...!

A bit more (O'Hare) airport chitchat...🙂...

While BA is (apparently) actively recruiting for the specialized "Taxi Crew" roles, I was looking today at the (typical) taxiway routes at O'Hare from the International Terminal 5 to the BA/AA (Departure) Terminal 3; along which path, the taxi crew pilots will navigate and maneuver the massive 777s/787s on a daily basis. 

One thing I recall now, is the dramatic sight of the airplanes (especially 747s) taxiing directly overhead on the (famous) roadway bridge in O'Hare while one drives underneath this bridge on the I-190 access road to the Terminals, in the final stretch to the Arrival/Departure points. The first time I had caught sight of it, I was frankly flabbergasted: What's the Jumbo doing just above my head on a (regular looking) roadway...🙂...is it lost...? This (atypical) taxiway bridge was built in 1966 allowing aircraft to move between runways and terminals, without stopping highway traffic...that wouldn't be good for sure...🙂...

If you are interested, search for the keywords, "Images of airplanes taxiing above the I-190 Access Road bridge at O'Hare" (on Google, click "Images" Tab, not AI Mode). You'll find some fascinating pictures there, including the United, Lufthansa and KLM 747s passing right over the vehicular traffic, barely 10 or so feet overhead. 

I was just now examining the FAA official Airport Data and Information Portal diagrams for (ORD) T5-to-T3 taxiway charts. Because the International Terminal 5 is isolated from the other 3 Terminals (1, 2, 3), the taxi route is seemingly complex and conducted under strict ATC guidance. 

I read (per on-line un-verified sources);

"Airplane taxi routes from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 at O'Hare typically involve crossing major runways and taxiing around the main terminal core, often taking ~30 minutes depending on traffic and construction. Common paths involve taxiing toward the center of the field, crossing runways (like 10C or 10L), and maneuvering along taxiways like Bravo or Echo, especially when the airport uses "end-around" routes to keep traffic moving. Arriving at T5, planes often taxi west or northwest, crossing central runways through routes around the central terminals to reach the T3. Alternative Routes are invoked if the main taxiways are blocked or under construction, so, airplanes may taxi a "clockwise" route all the way around the terminals."

Basically, due to O'Hare's (peculiar) terminal layout, this taxi can be long - sometimes over 30 minutes, or longer.

The area around Terminal 5 has recently gone through major renovation, including the (adjoining) new 6-storey parking garage. As far back as I recall, the (adjacent) parking for T5, was a ground level lot (loitering around there looking for a spot to vacate was the norm). When I recently visited the new Parking Garage, I was surprised by the state-of-the-art Park-Assist "smart-sensor" parking guidance system. You're now (effortlessly) led to an empty spot, on any level of the Garage, with (overhead) digital signs clearly indicating how many exact spots are available on each level. Of course, privacy concerns aside, I presume that surely your Car/Reg./location etc. are under surveillance and being tracked...Oh well...

Curiously, after I had written a post about O'Hare/United in the Screenshots Forum and had said a few good words there about the (new) parking garage, someone from TKH Security (the parent entity responsible for the Park Assist technology, a Dutch Company) had contacted me. The sales representative, from one of the U.S. offices, had created an Avsim Account just to contact me via PM ...🙂..., and to get a further opinion and (+ve) user feedback. I find that, TKH Security has implemented Park Assist system in many major airports around the world, including KMSP, KORD, KSFO in U.S. TBH, it's a rather modern (and smart) parking system indeed, capable of handling thousands of parking spots in a localized area.

Anyway, the (gate-to-gate) taxi routes for widebody 777s/787s from T5 to T3 through dense airport traffic across multiple active runways, will be surely an interesting (if not a bit exasperating) exercise, on a daily basis.

Maybe some (intrepid) virtual aviator here, would like to mimic the (T5->T3) ORD taxi route, if already conversant with O'Hare taxiways...🙂...I think the route will take your airplane across many active runways, and also on the (famous) taxiway bridge above the I-190 access road (vehicular) traffic.

Cheers...!

Edited May 9May 9 by P_7878