The airline business is extremely competitive, just look at the number of mergers and number that are gone broke. Therefore, to airlines today everything is about the $ and every pound saved is a $ save or more importantly made. Airline insiders advise me that airlines prefer freight over passengers as the $ ratio to the pound is higher i.e. pounds/kilos x $per lb/kg = profits.

(Written on 01/20/2013)(Permalink)

There is really no such thing as a standard 747; 787; AB380 etc, as each airline fits the aircraft internals to their requirements i.e. the AB380 on average is around 500 +pounds heavier than the prototypes due to changes in the video systems. Consequently every pound saves is a bonus.

(Written on 01/20/2013)(Permalink)

You are correct when you say "Not yet", they are the key words. How many Toyota’s were there on the road; How many hours of driving did Toyota's have on the road; How many miles were drive before something occurred. The truth is you cannot in actual fact compare motor vehicles and aircraft due to the environment they operate in. But using your analogy, the Deamliner has essentially no time in service and their only a hand full of aircraft in actual commercial service compared to the thousands of Toyotas; nevertheless Dreamliner [Nightmare Liner] is failing on delivery, as well as during testing. Consequently, using your analogy, statistically the Dreamliner risk of causing a catastrophic accident with the capability to kill hundreds of people in one instance is far greater. We really need to put patriotism aside and look at the real facts and figures.

(Written on 01/17/2013)(Permalink)

I hope this is a tongue in cheek comment ""The cops are the Authority, and Authority can't be wrong." and not a true belief. I know some COPS think this way, but they are Law Enforcement not Law Makers.

(Written on 01/15/2013)(Permalink)

Hi! Joel! The answer is very probable. In my experience as a light aircraft pilot to have experience between 1,500 and 8,000 ft AGL turbulence etc from large metal building; Metal roofs (especially on finals) including farm sheds. I have also experienced mild bumps from turbulence's up to 3,000ft AGL whilst passing over sealed roads; highways etc. during summer. Actually whilst doing SAR one time I hit very severe turbulence's at 5,000 AGL as I passed over a major metal roofed infrastructure with the temp over 100 deg F (45deg C). On day where the temp is getting up into the 90+deg F (mid 30’sC) and above, whilst in circuit and on approach/finals it has gotten a bit bumpy, so I try to hang a little wide where legally possible. I have also experienced windshear because of the up drafts generated by new metal roofed concrete building built at the end of the runways. The thermals stop, you drop. :) I hope this helped Joel

(Written on 01/15/2013)(Permalink)

Rick you ask “What Engineering certifications and qualifications do you have to make such a judgement?” the same can be asked of you. YOU give the impression of have a vested interest by your statements. You stated “So in other words your stating someone else's opinion as a fact?” does this imply that you have first hand information, facts and knowledge that others do not have? a) Do you work for Boeing? b) What makes you such an authority on the 787? c) Are you part of the 787 team? d) What are your certification & qualifications? e) Or it just patriotism? For the records, I make no claims to notoriety other than having been a Maintenance Production Manager.

(Written on 01/14/2013)(Permalink)

Well the A380 Airbus is not looking so bad with the number of issues the Dreamliners (or is that the Nightmareliner)is experiencing. :(

(Written on 01/14/2013)(Permalink)

Mark. These are the questions: was there a cover-up/suppression placed on the local media? Where consequences from local officials if they ran the story. If Law Enforcement place conditions on the pilot, then who else have placed under caution? It would not have been put on the wire to other media outlet if the locals were silenced and would not have seen the light of day if AOPA had not published their article. When such a breach of Civil Rights; Usurping of FAA authority; etc goes unreported in the local media, raises questions as to else is not being published; what other breaches of jurisdiction by local Law Enforcement officer are not being reported. The facts are; Firstly, if nothing illegal had occurred in this incident then there would have been no requirement for the pilot to be forced to give up his civil right to compensation as there would have no case to answer. Secondly, in place conditions on the pilot the department clearly indicates that they know they would l

(Written on 01/14/2013)(Permalink)

Quote “eb-misfit.blogspot.com.au” Friday, January 11, 2013 The Double-Secret No-Fly Zone The cops in Darlington, SC arrested a glider pilot last summer for violating a "no-fly zone" over a nuclear plant. The pilot, age 70, spent nearly a day and a half in jail before he was released. Here is the thing: There was no such "no-fly zone". The cops made it all up. They lied about the facts and, after finding out that there was no national security violation, the cops charged him with breach of the peace (a catch-all charge that translates to "we know you done something, we ain't sure just what"). The cops in Darlington County knew they had fucked up, because the charges were dropped in exchange for a promise by the pilot not to sue them. Which is not only extortion, it's likely an ethical breach by the county prosecutor. What a fucking country we live in. http://eb-misfit.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/the-double-secret-no-fly-zone.html

(Written on 01/14/2013)(Permalink)

Not much seems to have said in the local media when you do a Google search. Most media outlets do not seem not interested in how their law enforcement works and just AOPA. Normally the media is all over breaches of Freedom of Speech! This raises the question did Sheriff J. W. Byrd or the mayor suppress the story?

(Written on 01/14/2013)(Permalink)