AA's non answer is why people avoid flying them. I thought there was a policy to limit seat sales, try to keep middle seats empty, and require masks, temp checks, or some combination of all? Sounds like typical "love it or leave it" U.S. airline response.

(Written on 2020年04月24日)(Permalink)

I am not making an empirical numerical comparison of a standard deplaning to an emergency. I am just observing the difficulty of getting that many people of all ages, sizes, and physical abilities off of a crowded plane. My technical analysis may be flawed, but no more so than the FAA standards are: !0% of exits blocked in a crash scenario? passengers compliant with not taking luggage? elderly, handicapped, children, flight attendants possibly incapacitated? I hope I am wrong. Pax comfort can be optional based on fares with each flyer free to choose cramped or roomy, etc. Safety should not be an option.

(Written on 2019年12月06日)(Permalink)

The other day I was seated near the back of a loaded LH 747 into MCO from FRA. It took at least 45 minutes before folks near me started to even move, much less exit the aircraft. I counted at least 50 wheelchairs waiting on the jetway to transport physically challenged pax. Sadly, it will require an horrific scene of pax dying from fire in an otherwise survivable crash because they couldn't get out. The FAA tests are not realistic for many reasons. Likelihood of disaster has increased as seat pitch,etc have decreased.

(Written on 2019年12月06日)(Permalink)

Very unlikely. Absent a contract provision awarding fees to the winning party, US courts only award fees n the most extreme cases.

(Written on 2019年11月01日)(Permalink)

Thanks for the full prelim. Strange incident given good weather, winds, etc. Perhaps just a case of not recognizing 'too high and hot' ?

(Written on 2019年08月30日)(Permalink)

I fly to and inside China rather often. As a retired pilot, I carefully note the condition of the craft and the actions of the crew. Generally, both seem to be on par with what I see in the States, particularly with the regional air carriers operating under a legacy name, i.e. "commuter or regional airlines". However, the very rapid growth of the Chinese middle class and affordable airfares, among other things have dramatically increased the number of carriers and the frequency of flights. The airspace is very crowded, ATC seems chaotic and experience lacking, so I would have expected more serious incidents than reported to date. Time will tell.

(Written on 2018年11月26日)(Permalink)

I guess Miami is not on this list, because it was limited to amateur awfulness, whereas MIA has been at the top of the professional third world airports for years....

(Written on 2014年11月28日)(Permalink)

Great, as always. As someone who flies in congested NE airspace, how do you allocate your attention between in cockpit tasks and visual traffic separation? Or do you rely mostly on TCAS and ground radar advisories for traffic avoidance, esp. below 10K?

(Written on 2013年12月07日)(Permalink)

Henry, You are entitled to your opinion on Daly and Meigs. I am a Chicago pilot with an office in the Loop and live on the lakefront. You are adamant about the benefits of more park space. I am adamant about the unique benefits that an an airport amidst the already magnificent Chicago lakefront had. The Midnight Blitz of Meigs, however, is indisputable and indefensible. In a city where you need a permit to paint your garage, how can that selfish, heavy-handedness be perpetrated, except by a corrupt man who was more a dictator that a democratically-elected official.

(Written on 2013年04月06日)(Permalink)