Who's record? Aside from the Russian allegation, I haven't read that. I'm not being cynical - if there is a record of that I'd appreciate a link or posting the article.

(Written on 2015年10月18日)(Permalink)

I'm an aircraft and powerplane mechanic with an FAA Inspection designation, and I'm skilled in maintenance of aviation items. Regardless of the witnesses, who could all have been right for all that I know, there is an indsputable fact, and that was that there was arcing between the 120 volt entertainment system wiring and the 12 volt wiring from the fuel selectors, and this would have caused a flash ignition in the tank. There is no question that was occurring. The explanation of why it happened at that moment was that the fuel was boiling in the center tanks and turning to gas, and the happy point between bubbling/gassing fuel and the available O2 is 16,000 feet, which is where TW800 blew. I'm not getting into a debate about TW800, other than to say that I accept that arcing was occurring between the 120 and 12 volt wiring, all bundled togather in the same wiring harness.

(Written on 2015年10月17日)(Permalink)

Yes, you probably do stand alone on disregarding the Dutch decision. It was thoughtful, analytical, and balanced. The audio of the cell phone calls between the separatist military was damning for their involvement. Russia sourced the weapon. What more do you need? You must have seen the video of the truck entering Ukraine with a load of missiles and then the same truck returning to Russia two days aftefr the downing of the aircraft less one missile.

(Written on 2015年10月16日)(Permalink)

It's simple. Airbus finances airlines that can't win conventional financing and can't buy from Boeing. Bottom feeders like Spirit Airlines couldn't qualify for much - yet they bought Airbus. Boeing didn't even try, and now Spirit is a loyal, long term Airbus customer. It's all about financing.

(Written on 2014年09月12日)(Permalink)

You can't schedule weather and winds aloft - the planes fly at best fuel (unless they are behind schedule and need to go faster) so they typically cruise at the same speed at cruise altitude and arrive at the destination when they get there - and the controllers have to deal with it.

(Written on 2014年09月06日)(Permalink)

Go sit in a crowded movie theater for 15 hours - probably sitting next to a person who hasn't bathed in days - eat fatty, poor food, sleep sitting bolt upright. Then pretend you are dealing with baggage claim and customs/immigration for an hour or more, then deal with getting a taxi and getting to a hotel. That's equivalent to flying on an Airbus A380, and less expensive. Airbus has enhanced the term 'cattle car' with the A380. It looks good in the advertisments but the reality is very different.

(Written on 2014年09月06日)(Permalink)

The result of airline consolidation is that fares and fees go higher, yet the majors (Delta, UA, AA) hide the bag fees and change fees, all unethical fees, designed to 'hook' a customer. How about the stunt where a passenger arrives early and could go on an earlier flight where seats are available and the majors want a few hundred bucks for the privilege of filling an empty seat earlier? The remaining airlines have no loyalty to their customers, so why should we have loyalty to them? SW, on the other hand, doesn't hook for bags, and allows a change without a direct penalty (they require that you pay the going rate for the alternate date). SW is an ethical carrier - they don't lie, they don't 'hook, and I like their service. So I skip the others. As for the fares narrowing, I just had a last minute trip - on Kayak UA and AA were over a grand for a west coast to Little Rock - SW had a senior fare for $330. I'm staying with SW.

(Written on 2014年05月23日)(Permalink)

Is that a real aircraft? It looks like a hang glider with a canopy over it.

(Written on 2013年09月06日)(Permalink)

A new roof - as long as it isn't a Chinese roof? 2 airline tickets/ Maybe look at this video first http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKSjs9sPNC0

(Written on 2013年05月24日)(Permalink)

Well, I'm one of the 1% that has had a vacuum failure in IFR, and it was a white knuckle experience. I used the whiskey compass to confirm whether the wings were level. It's a long story and I'll skip it, but the gyro driven artificial horizon failed and I had a backup instrument, but what to trust? No horizon, grey outside. The whiskey compass told me that I was 60 degrees wings over and I clicked off the erroneous autopilot, returned to wings level, and I did what we all train to do - I FLEW THE PLANE! I was at 13,500 over 12,200 terrain in Nthn Idaho, so I couldn't descend below as this pilot did, so I knew that Salmon was near and I navigated to Salmon, outbound then on a heading that took me over a valley, and I descended through a sucker hole to VFR below. I flew the plane! That's what this pilot should have done, and did when his parachute failed.

(Written on 2013年05月20日)(Permalink)