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Photo of the Day (1.11.11) {Gadling}
Jan 14th 2011 3:42PM The BAE T-1 Hawk may be able to achieve Mach 1.2, but they don't do it in formation flying. Neither do the Blue Angels in their FA-18's, or the Thunderbirds in their F-16's. Context is everything.
Man Sues United Airlines, Claiming Injuries Resulted from Open Aircraft Door {AOL Travel News}
Dec 1st 2010 1:59PM Sorry, that should have been HNL-AKL. (See, Libby? This is how you add a correction.)
Man Sues United Airlines, Claiming Injuries Resulted from Open Aircraft Door {AOL Travel News}
Dec 1st 2010 1:55PM Todd's right. The cargo door on the SFO-AKL was a failure that was attributed to the manufacturer, Boeing, not to United maintenance or procedures.
Perhaps you meant the cabin door. The odds of that happening are astronomical. It is a priority safety check on every carrier, worldwide.
This lawsuit is going to go nowhere fast. Somebody needs to slap the attorney who filed it.
Who Flies the Friendliest Skies? {AOL Travel News}
Apr 21st 2010 7:05PM Harold, I think I have a pretty good idea what my wife does for a living. While I respect your right to have an opinion, it is just that.
Safety is their #1 priority. Everything after that is secondary.
Who Flies the Friendliest Skies? {AOL Travel News}
Apr 21st 2010 4:09PM Here's a novel concept. Why not fly as you normally would? Why make multiple requests unless you really need something? Remember, flight attendants aren't flying food servers. Their primary responsibility is getting you off that plane in case of an emergency.
For those who sang the verses of foreign carriers, remember you're paying out a significant amount of money for being pampered. And if that emergency ever happens in flight, give me a US trained air crew anytime.
Confessions of a Retail Manager OR I am a Professional Tongue Biter {AOL Jobs}
Feb 6th 2010 3:23PM My "retirement" job is in the food service business. Most of the people who come in the restaurant have no idea that I taught in public schools for decades, and I'm probably better educated than they are.
Like the person in the original story, the things I don't say to rude, or just ignorant, customers could fill volumes. I've even had someone insist they ordered something in our restaurant that has never been on the menu. Maybe they thought they ordered it last week, but I can guarantee it hasn't been on the menu in the 3+ years I've been there.
I have refused service to particularly nasty people. At least I have the luxury of showing people the door if they're jerks. My wife doesn't have that option. She's a flight attendant. It's a little harder to do at 40,000 feet.
Potent Quotables: Grammys Backlash {Spinner}
Jan 31st 2010 2:26PM I'm a musician, and I think there's room for any and every kind of music. I don't necessarily listen to some music because it just doesn't appeal to me, and that's OK. What I do may not appeal to you.
First of all, the Grammys are awarded by the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. There are more awards for technical stuff than what most would consider "music" categories. Heck, there's even a category or spoken word.
If some people are worried about whether their category gets air time, be prepared to sit in the audience or in front of the TV for 8 hours if you want them all aired. A huge majority are awarded off the air.
For those truly interested, here's a link to the process of nomination and voting.
http://www2.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Voting/
Galley Gossip: A question about turbulence and being scared at work {Gadling}
Mar 18th 2009 1:57PM My lovely bride is an F/A for a major carrier. While most turbulent flights are more of a nuisance than anything, there have been times where she got pretty banged up. Once, on a Trans-Pac from New Zealand to LAX, she hit her head on the ceiling of a B747, then landed on her tailbone. They were only an hour or two out of Auckland, and she spent the rest of the 14 hour flight off her feet in the crew area. That one cost her a few months on occupational leave. She's also been injured on a LAX-HTR flight in clear-air turbulence over the Dakotas.
The first time our little one flew, we were returning to LAS from OAK and hit some turbulence associated with a thunderstorm over Death Valley. It was enough that the SWA crew were in their jumpseats. While most of the PAX's were white-knuckling it out, our then four-month-old just giggled away in her carrier.
One other thing - turbulence in and out of Las Vegas is not unusual, and it happens year round. It can be worse in summer when the aircraft encounters thermals rising over the desert, or in the late summer/early fall monsoon. Other desert cities, like Phoenix, experience similar problems.
Potent Quotables: Rivers' Backup Plan {Spinner}
Feb 15th 2009 12:27PM Heh! That's what I was thinking! Band directors have to be great musicians. Not only do they have to perform the regular duties of teacher, they also have to be knowledgeable about many types of instruments and styles of music. Been there, done that, got the director's jacket.
Oh, and I can rock, too!
Galley Gossip: A question about being a flight attendant on reserve {Gadling}
Feb 15th 2009 12:19PM Sometimes when I read this stuff about "flying waitress", and ignorant people who think they understand what an F/A's job description is, I just want to tell them to get on, sit down, shut up and hang on. Or use alternate transportation. No one's holding a gun to your head and making you get on the plane. I wouldn't even recommend you take a train or a bus. You'd probably expect the Greyhound driver to serve you drinks.
Here's an idea. Pack snacks and drinks and drive.
If you're a jerk in my restaurant I can ask you to leave. You wouldn't want that option at 40000 feet.
Here, let me put a real damper on your day. Do you know who the first victims of 9/11 were? I'll give you one guess.
