9-28-02 gadv visit

[jetsfan]

Just got back from gadv. What a day it was. The best yet this year. It was empty with beutiful weather. Every coaster was a walk on except rolling thunder(5min wait due to 1 train going). Only viper and the right side of rolling thunder was closed , all the other coasters were in operation. Viper was test ran at times , but was not opened. Most of the flats were running as well. I saw no new construction going on for superman. As for the track arrival in the employee's lot , thats a no as well. I had a clear view of the whole employee's lot from the top of nitro's lift hill , while sitting in the front car. The only thing I observed was a line of BLUE tractors for the hayrides , and the passenger carts which will be towed by the tractors.

[Robert_Strausberg]

Thanks for the update. Guess the rumor of track arrival was wrong.

At the end of the season....

-Rob

[DRAGON82487]

i am really begining to think that you rob, know [glow=red,2,300]ALOT[/glow] more than you make yourself out to know.

So rob, where in Six Flags Inc. do you work, PR, Matenince(sp?), year round employee? manegment? come on rob, tell us something.

[linkinpark]

speaking of employment at gadv, a dude in my health class worked there. didnt know what though. how old do you have to be to work there, cause i might wanna work there.

["Weatherman" Dan]

Some departments hire 14 and 15 year olds for manual labor.

Have to be 16 for rides.

18 for security, cash control, maintainance, etc.

~Dan

[linkinpark]

ooh so sexy, i'm 16 now... you have to get trained to operate a ride, right... do you have to take like a course or something, and if you do how long is it

oh oops sorry, i'm 15, i'm thinking of my brother... i could do manual labor if it isnt hard enough

["Weatherman" Dan]

Once again, here is a review of Rides Department Training Requirements:

1.) Park orientation: ALL Six Flags employees, including lessee employees, go through orientation, and you learn all those Guest First standards! No test. 3 hours.

2.) Department safety training: ALL Operations employees, including Park Services and Admissions will learn the safety requirements of the rides department. In this class, you even learn how to clean up *natural causes*, and the basic terminology and methodology to running the rides at the park. Very long multiple choice and essay test afterwards; as with all rides tests, you need a 90% to be certified. 4 hours.

3.) Attendant training: Once you have passed the Safety Test, and you're assigned to a section, you'll be trained for an attendant position. Attendant training includes an introduction to the ride, demonstration of how it works, hands-on cycles (20), and a review by checklist. Then you take a relatively short test. Can take between 2-4 hours.

4.) Operator training: At supervisor's discretion, you may then be trained for operator. This intensive program will make sure you theoretically know every aspect of the ride, in order to make instant, informed decisions about operation, in cases of emergency. Very intensive, and is sometimes spread out over a week. Test with multiple choice, and usually essays. 8-10 hours.

5.) Hands-on training: The best way to become "good" and "efficient" is to work the ride, with guests. There are a lot of guest related situations which regular training can not teach. This is on-going, and the only test is the occasional review by a supervisor.

6.) Lead's training: If you're promoted to a lead, there's a handbook which details every aspect of being a manager. No test, just a checklist.

So, as you can see, the rides training process is very long and very extensive. Remember, people's lives are at stake... well, not really, but we always want them to feel safe, and deal with situations professionally and efficiently.

~Dan

[WorkingatSFGAsucks]

Hey Dan. When i was in Admissions the safety test was added in with depatment traning and was not that hard of a test (if I can ace the thing for three straight years anyone can). now that I think about many of the tests are very easy at GA. The ride op/trainer goes over every thing about the ride with you, you intital each question on a hand out once you understand it and then you take a test about the same stuff 5 minutes later at the testing center. It only took an hour or two to get trained as an attendant / operator for flat rides (admission employes usually are not trained on major rides because they only go to rides when it is slow at the front gate).

["Weatherman" Dan]

True... I did make the whole process sound a little dramatic...

To revise your post, I would say a *good trainer* will do that... not every lead and every trainer can be called good...

Once you get used to the test-taking, it's very easy; most attendant tests have the same questions, every time... There are, however, trick questions, which lead to failures... Three failures on one test, and you're gone.

~Dan

[WorkingatSFGAsucks]

Weatherman said:

There are, however, trick questions, which lead to failures... Three failures on one test, and you're gone.

~Dan

Many employes in Admissions failed ride tests on purpose. If the failed a test three times they would not be aloud to work in rides any more but whould still have there jobs in Admissions. Many people in that department (not me) did not like going to rides.
The only thing I about rides is BBHELL (Bugs Bunny Land) and Loney Tune Seaport.

["Weatherman" Dan]

WorkingatSFGAsucks said:

The only thing I about rides is BBHELL (Bugs Bunny Land) and Loney Tune Seaport.

Yup... you gotta start somewhere! BBL sucks, unless you're in charge; then it's the best place to work. And, after thousands of coaster cycles, BBL can be OK for a while. Working there isn't really a great indication of how things work at the major rides though.

~Dan

[linkinpark]

it does sound hard geez

[WorkingatSFGAsucks]

linkinpark said:

it does sound hard geez

Linkipark it really isn't that hard.

I didn't put this in my earlier post so, Bugs Bunny Land is called BBHELL (and scratched into almost every operator stand) because one it is extremely boring, two the parents a real pain in the butt, and three you have to unlock the seat-belts on the rides with a little metal stick.

[linkinpark]

it does sound interesting... and what happens if the ride you are operating on has a person who dies, do you get fired?

[twistedrails2k]

I would sure hope you would get fired.......unless for some reason it isn't your fault... but most all rides in BBL are single operator so i would assume it would most likly be your fault in that case