B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 291; Flight Crew Type 17000
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Security; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
I arrived at the aircraft at over 10 minutes early. I found all of the Passengers lined up and some had already gone down the jetway. I asked the Agent; 'Why are the Passengers lined up'; and she said that she was told by her Supervisor and Manager to line them up and start putting them on the aircraft. Then the Agent told me there was an FAA Inspector on the aircraft and would be riding in the cockpit. I told her to stop the boarding immediately. That I needed to brief my Crew; to make sure the security checks were completed and the aircraft was ready to fly. I went down the jetway and the Ground Operations Supervisor was letting the Passengers on the aircraft. I told her to stop and she got upset. I then introduced myself to the FAA Inspector. I then got all three of my Flight Attendants together at the back of the aircraft (away from the FED and Supervisor) and asked them what was going on. The A said the Ground Operations Supervisor just starting putting the people on; they barely got their checks done. I briefed them on the flight (did not even get a chance to look at the weather but would tell them later). I then tried to call my Chief but could not get through. I then went back to the cockpit; checked my logbook and started my checks. The Ground Operations Supervisor started again to hassle me about boarding (still 35 minutes before push). The Ground Operations Supervisor then started arguing with me and I told her 'I am the Captain and once I determine the aircraft is safe THEN the Passengers can board.' The Ground Operations Supervisor then started arguing with me and I went to the jetway phone. The Supervisor then said 'I already called your CP and the phone number is XXXX'. I called my Chief Pilot (name) and asked him to please come to Gate XXX we had an issue. I went back to the cockpit. Once I finished my checks; I then told my A they could board. The Chief Pilot came up and was told by the Manager that we start boarding originators 45 minutes early due to the (Company ontime initiative)! Also; he told them that I just happened to be here 10 minutes early. That is not what the program said and none of us are even supposed be there yet! Ground Operations [at this station] is out of control and is putting my FAs and Pilots in a dangerous situation by not letting us perform our checks and procedures in accordance with the FOM. What made this worse is that an FAA Inspector witnessed this whole event and is familiar with our operations.
B737 Captain reported arriving at the aircraft for the first flight of the day to find the Gate Agent had already started boarding well before the normal time. The Captain had the boarding stopped until he and his crew were ready.