I am an ops agent. Thanks for letting the public know that we do alot more than just take boarding passes. My job in a nutshell (ha ha) is to make sure that the plane is safe and legal before "pushing back" from the jetway. Yes we use computers and calculators. We "preplan" the flight before it gets to the airport. That means plugging in estimated numbers so we can make any necessary adjustments in advance. Yes there are formulas for the weights, but we also count all those gate checked bags, strollers, all that stuff that we have to take from you in the jetway. When I turn my paperwork into the Captain, I am confidant that everything is accounted for and that the plane is safe and within legal limits for flight and landing. A tablet pc would be great, cause I figure I run up and down the jetway maybe 20 or so times per flight. The computer does make our job easier, but I miss the #2 pencils and the original forms!!!!
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