Airline Travel...What You Really Need To Know!!!

LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 767-300 Makes Gear Up Landing

2011-11-06T16:49:00.000-07:00

LOT B767-300 Not the Accident Aircraft

Hello All BlkAv8tor Checkin In!!!

On Nov. 1, 2011 a LOT B767 (Flt LO-16) had to make an emergency gear up landing in Warsaw Poland (WAW) after flying from Newark, NJ. (KEWR) The landing was flawless and textbook if one could ever be.

The captain had plenty of time to prepare for the landing after noticing the problem with the center hydraulic system after leaving Newark.

Many people have wondered why the captain chose to fly all the way to Warsaw with a known problem instead of turning around and returning to Newark. Well there are many more factors that come into play when planning for an air return to the departure airport and this captain I'm sure with some consultation with his company and FAA officials here in the U.S. they all detrmined coming back to Newark would not be a wise move and here is why.

Airport layout must have come into play as well as how busy the airport of choice is normally. Newark, like JFK is very busy day and night and an emergency with a possibility of a gear up landing would cripple the Northeast airport and connecting flight as well. Newark is a major connecting and originating city for the major U.S. airlines and if it goes down or has a runway closed due to a disabled aircraft, that would shock the system here in the U.S. Going on to Warsaw was a good move in the sense that the traffic there is not as heavy but busy none the less.

LOT B767-300 Belly Landing

Emergency services wise both airports could handle the emergency if it went wrong and there were injuries but Warsaw could deal with a runway out of service for at the most one day better than Newark. That being said Warsaw was the best option and it gave the airport and emergency services time to prepare. With excellent airmanship this accident is compared to the US Airways flight that landed in the Hudson for a flawless "planned" ditching which was the first of it's kind in U.S. history.

Captain Tadeusz Wrona

Captain Tadeusz Wrona and First Officer Jerzy Szwarc, an experienced crew with the captain having more than 20 years of experience on the Boeings are in an elite fraternity that all us pilots hope to never join but if we do then we all hope for the same outcome! As updates become available I will post them here.

Bravo gentlemen for a job well done!!!

As always Be Proactive Not Reactive and Enjoy Your Flight!!!

Blkav8tor2003

Below is an excerpt from avherald with some video from youtube of the landing. the full technical report can be read there as well.

LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 767-300, performing flight LO-16 from Newark,NJ (USA) (KEWR) to Warsaw (Poland) (WAW) with 220 passengers and 11 crew, was on approach to Warsaw's runway 33 when the crew aborted the approach at 3000 feet reporting an unsafe gear indication for all three gear struts at about 13:10L (12:10Z) and entered a holding to troubleshoot the problem for about 80 minutes.

The airline reported the aircraft was piloted by Captain Tadeusz Wrona and First Officer Jerzy Szwarc, an experienced crew with the captain having more than 20 years of experience on the Boeings. About 30 minutes after departure from Newark the crew reported the failure of the center hydraulic system. It is unclear why the gear could not be lowered, this is being investigated.

BlkAv8tor Returns to The Blogging World After A Lengthy Hiatus

2011-11-05T22:04:00.001-07:00

Hello All Blkav8tor Checking In!!!

Hello all, I am back from a bloggers break since work and family come first! So I think I have a little bit of time here and there to share some of the news events and my knowledge as things take place with the world.

So I figured I would jump in feet first with a few things that happened recently in the aviation world close to home and also a far.

My first story happened in my neck of the woods right here in Phoenix with the death of a US Airways flight attendant. For those of you that may not know what happened click here and I also want to pay my condolences to a fellow flight attendant that I never new or flew with. His friends and family here in Phoenix and throughout the world have commented on a monumental loss to the airline world and aviation community!

His name was Nick Aaronson, I feel a loss for a fellow flier and I would have been honored to have made his acquaintance! Nick enjoy you final flight, you touched so many and you will be missed by all!!!

Nick Aaronson

Here is a brief video of the send off from his fellow employees at US Airways from

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport!

United Agents Forget About Unaccompanied Minor In Chicago

2010-07-27T09:23:00.003-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

Here goes another blunder by the airline and it's irresponsible employees that just sends chills down the spine of anyone who is a parent that may fly by themselves!

Kids fly all over the airlines and you would think that the airline employees would pay a little more attention to them because they are children, well that doesn't always seem to be the case and it's starting to happen more often than not. Airlines are losing kids left and right, sending them to the wrong destination or just leaving them behind. I bet they don't have a problem letting you know that you owe extra money for baggage, sodas or food when your on the plane.

Here is the latest incident to add in the "UM Woes" from United Airlines in Chicago (United's Corporate HQ). Agents failed to get a UM to his flight and fed him the wrong food and I'm sure the best thing that United will do is say "were sorry" and here is a future travel certificate for next time in the future!!! So read along and I have inserted my comments in Italics and hopefully United will evaluate their procedure when handling UM's and make some changes pretty quick!!!

Original Story Below

A nine-year-old boy was forgotten in a Chicago airport waiting room Saturday for nearly eight hours after an airline representative failed to put him on a connecting flight, the Ottawa Citizen reported.
Julien Reid was headed home to Ottawa on a United flight after visiting his dad in San Francisco, a trip he makes about six times a year.

The agent slipped up on this one for sure! How do you forget a child in the process of working flights especially when they are usually logged into a waiting room for unaccompanied minors and flight info is tracked so that they can be taken to their flight for pre-boarding.

He left San Francisco at 6 a.m. and arrived at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport at 11 a.m. He was supposed to catch a connecting flight from Chicago to Ottawa at 1:50 p.m., which would have put him in Ottawa at about 4:45 p.m.

The agents working the minors flight to Ottawa didn't check their Special Services list to see if they had any special customers to be on the lookout for ie UM's, wheelchairs, blind passengers etc. The agents working the flight failed to stay ahead of their flight and all important items which is unacceptable. The agent working where the minor was being held between flights also failed to call or message the departure flight agents to advise them to be on the lookout for a UM before they started their boarding process. The ball was dropped here in several areas which are designed to prevent such a thing from happening.

His mother, Genevieve Harte, checked online and saw that Julien's flight was delayed until 5:35 p.m. When she arrived at the airport to pick him up, she noticed other passengers had disembarked but that her son was nowhere to be found.

Then she got a call from Julien, using his own pre-paid cell phone. He said he was still at the Chicago airport in a "tiny, little room cramped with kids," where they played the same video on a loop all day, the Ottawa Citizen reported. The only food he'd been given was McDonald's, but Julian is a vegetarian. He said the other children were yelled at to "stop being kids."

He was in the UM room which most if not all airlines have at least in their Hub cities. The little boy was able to call his mom and let her know that he was still in Chicago from his personal cell phone. Why didn't the agents keep up with this minor? He was in a room playing video games and he was obviously being watched...sort of anyway and he was fed.

Now why was a child that is vegetarian fed McDonald's and I'm sure if he is 9 and smart enough to call his mom and tell her he was still in Chicago he probably told someone that he didn't eat meat. If he was Muslim, Jewish or just didn't eat pork would they have listened to him or would they have dismissed his dietary request? This is a little slip up on the parents part because they depended on the airline to feed their child while he was enroute.

He has special dietary restrictions so the parent should have made sure he had carried his own food so that this would not be a problem. That being said I would be highly upset that someone gave my child food that he could not eat! How much does the airline employees really care about your child when they are in the airlines care???

Harte, 36, asked Julien to put her on the phone with the United attendant who was watching the children. That's when the attendant let it slip that no one had come to fetch Julien to put him on his connecting flight, she told the Ottawa Citizen.

Fetch Julian??? Is he a dog??? No, the agent should have called the departure flight agents and told them she had a UM for their flight like I said above. She should have called for a supervisor if there was not someone who could take him to his connecting flight ie "UM Runner", extra agent or something. Checking for Special service request before a flight boards is required for an agent to do every flight. It's like going to the bathroom, it must be done or the consequences can be bad on so many levels!

This is why I always say that airline employees need to care more about what they do and take a personal stake in what they do when at work otherwise find another job where you don't have to care about anything and you can still get the job done!

We have already seen where an airline has put Um's on the wrong flights to the wrong destinations and to be as irresponsible as to forget the child all together is flat out wrong! if the airlines don't have people in position that care about what they do especially when it comes to someone else's child then they need to get rid of them and find somebody that really does care.

I'm a parent and a 23 year airline profession working on the ground and in the air and this is something I would not allow if this is what I need to expect out of airline employees. They need to be doing it better because they are dealing directly with someones child and I only hope that Julian's parents blast United for this mistake and make it a big deal and not let United just give them a free ticket for the trouble!!!

Remember To Be Proactive Not Reactive and Enjoy Your Flight!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

United Flight Kicks Off Passengers Who Paid Least for Tickets

2010-07-26T19:59:00.003-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

So now you can get bumped for being cheap with your money??? What is up with that??? A weight restricted flight causes a denied boarding situation and a situation that could scare many passengers into not flying or at least being extremely selective when and who they fly.

Here is what happened in the words of one of the passengers and i added a few comments and they are in Italics.

What happens when a small United Airlines flight from Burlington to Washington DC oversells its cargo capacity and ends up with a weight problem? Well, when this exact thing happened today for @brucepoontip's flight, the gate agents announce that the passengers who paid the least for the flight will be removed.

How unfair! But even more—how embarrassing, to be punished for scoring a deal perhaps months in advance when someone who paid top dollar the day before gets to remain on the plane. Then you're stuck back in the terminal, without a guaranteed flight for another two days and no hotel allowance from the airline.

So if you shop the airlines for a low priced fair you give yourself the open chance to be bumped from a flight because you were penny pinching! Is this the next wave of new things on the horizon coming from the airlines? I hope not but anything is possible these days!

This is why Twitter sometimes becomes a priceless tool for customer service. Bruce, Founder of Gap Adventures, began tweeting the drama:

United Airlines Service. Just announced they have a weight problem and have to remove 20 ppl in order of how much you paid for your ticket!

...and continued to relate the ridiculous actions of the United crew:

So uncomfortable with United Airlines removing families and older couples who bought cheap tickets. Sad frankly.

I've now missed my connection in Washington but they said they can only guarantee me a flight out in two days! I can't stay here two days!

[Gate agent] said if we don't get two more [volunteers to get off the flight]... I am going to get a list of the last people that checked in! All passengers sitting nervously!

We managed to reach Bruce via Twitter during the drama to ask about the mood of the kicked-off passengers, and he responded:

It's funny, there is no anger really. People are embarrassed. [The gate agent] has announced that you will be thrown off based on how much u paid. "Thrown off the flight!" What kind of customer service is that considering that is not how you handle a denied boarding situation!

To see the entire series of tweets about this drama, check out @brucepoontip. We can happily report that United is now reviewing the mess, as their @UnitedAirlines customer service finally noticed and responded to the situation. It will be very interesting to see if anything comes of this. Nightly news?

This is a black eye for United even though this was an express carrier and not main line United. It sounds like inexperience played a major roll in this even and lack of tact if nothing else. This is definitely not the norm and even though I haven't seen any follow up info I hope at least that the denied passengers were compensated. When I talked to Bruce just after it had happened via Twitter he said that they were not compensated at all but just put onto a later flight. Hopefully united makes a mends with the little incident!!!

Remember to Be Proactive Not Reactive and enjoy your Flight!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

Original Link:

http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/7/13/12710/3098/travel/United+Flight+Kicks+Off+Passengers+Who+Paid+Least+for+Tickets

Southwest: A Mechanical Is An Act of God and It Always Has Been

2010-07-25T00:42:00.008-07:00

"If there's a God who controls floods and earthquakes, does the deity also have a hand in an airline's mechanical problems?"

If that is not the statement of the decade and maybe the history of the airlines as we know it!

Southwest comes out and says "mechanicals are an act of God" and with that statement they are re-writing the history of airline delays as we all know it. Passengers usually don't have a clue about their flying rights and they usually never read the back of their boarding envelope to find out what the "contract of carriage" to find out either.

Southwest has always been know for their leaps and bounds in the airline world by not totally following the "norm" and kind of trend setting or creating their own flavor within the airline world. Well this is a pretty extreme step as far as being different is concerned but I'm not sure if making such a bold statement as this is a power move. Now it will create publicity and a buzz amongst the passengers that fly Southwest Airlines with a cult like following but when it comes to Southwest i think they can experiment with just about anything and it would become a hit.

On page 11 of 32 pages of fine print called a "contract of carriage," which many passengers don't read, but which spells out their recourse in mishaps such as flight interruptions or baggage loss.

Mechanical difficulties - what type is not defined - now appears on a list of events such as wars, riots, storms, earthquakes and other acts of God that are "outside of (Southwest's) control." Now that being said Southwest has now changed the bar possibly and it may grab new passengers to fly their flights but it's still too early to tell.

Robert Mann, an airline industry analyst based in Port Washington, N.Y., called it "surprising" that Southwest, which has a reputation for stellar customer service, would make a change that puts passengers at a legal disadvantage if an aircraft breakdown delays their travel. This makes Southwest have the upper hand in many different situations and they can hide behind mechanical problems because they didn't list the problems protected under their newest policy announcement.

"I can see (carriers) saying, 'It wasn't our fault the airplane broke down,' and I also can see customers saying, 'I bought a ticket from you and I have reasonable expectation that the airplane is going to work,' " Mann said." The passengers are going to jump at this everytime there is a delay to get the real story on the delay.

Well everyone knows that the airlines play "Monkey See, Monkey Do" and now we all need to watch and see who will be the next airline to follow suit. I think they will wait a bit to see if Southwest catches any backlash from the rule but if they don't you could expect some of the airline to get on board and adopt some type of equal ruling or facsimile.

Now let's just wait and see what happens next!

Remember Be Proactive Not Reactive and Enjoy Your Flight!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

Japan Airlines Tries To Keep Uniforms Out Of Japanese Sex Clubs

2010-07-20T15:25:00.006-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 checking In!!!

In January, Japan Airlines went through a humiliating bankruptcy , with layoffs, pissed off customers and the poor view in the eyes of the Japanese public. Now they have a bigger problem to deal with and that is because of layoffs that include flight attendants there is a big surge for their flight attendants uniforms as a costume to be bought, sold and worn in Japanese sex clubs.

A new market has risen in fetish clubs and sex clubs not to mention just having a uniform fall into the wrong hands for potentially dangerous activities and a strong security problem around the world.

JAL fears the security issues that may rise if the uniforms hit the open market and someone may be able to pass into secure areas while wearing a uniform. They also don't want someone to further tarnish the image of the airline in some bad fashion.

Scott Mayerowitz of ABC News reports that "in Japan plenty of people are willing to pay top dollar for an experience with a club entertainer clad in an authentic Japan Airlines flight attendant uniform." He adds "people have been known to pay thousands of dollars for the outfits of JAL and rival airline All Nippon Airways, or ANA."

JAL has warned its staff not to sell their uniforms, and that laid-off air crew could try to auction their old uniforms on the Internet for profit. On the Internet such as Yahoo Japan, uniforms for sale could fetch as much as $3000.00 USD for a complete set.

JAL is planning on sewing tracking computer chips or RFID's into its uniforms so that they can be tracked but I'm not sure how this will work since flight attendants have already been layed off. All Nippon Airways (ANA) is also caught in the same type of problems minus the lay-offs and financial troubles that JAL has undergone and they currently track their uniforms before and after a member of their crew departs the companies employment.

JAL says they have ways of making sure it's impossible for a former crew member to hold onto their uniform after departing the company even though a few years ago a business class uniform hit the Black Market and was reportedly sold and the airline went out and bought the uniform back for a reportedly $2000 dollars to ensure they go it back.

Japanese flight attendants have always been viewed by the traveling world as very"uniform" and classy yet sexy and I could see how the look of the uniform could create a frenzy in the adult sex world.

As a former flight attendant and having flown many times out of Tokyo (NRT) and the South Pacific I can say there is a certain flair that the flight crews have for JAL, ANA and the other Asian carriers have that is noticeable from how their flight crews all look somewhat alike to how they really care for their appearance individually and as a crew when the move through the airport. I hope this doesn't hurt the JAL brand name and hopefully it is only a passing fad that won't produce any serious consequences.

Even though these flight attendants are seen as excellent in the service world, they are very well equipped to handle an emergency situation just like other flight attendants around the world and hopefully JAL will recover and be able to bring back all of their layed-off flight attendants to continue the western experience that so many are use to and accustomed to enjoying when they fly to the Pacific Rim!

Remember to Be Proactive and Not Reactive And Enjoy Your Flight!!!

Blkav8tor2003

Japan Express Crowns First Female Captain

2010-07-13T08:58:00.003-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

Here is a new bit of aviation history! Japan, which is very much a male dominated society has just made their first female pilot a captain of a Boeing 737 at Japan Express (JEX). This is ground breaking that she has qualified for the position and achieved the left seat. Being a pilot I know that is the dream of all aviators and to do it in their society is monumental.

They would not give her this position I think just because they didn't have one, Japan is world class when it comes to pilot training and procedures and being in a position of authority. Capt. Ari Fuji, 42, will make her first flight next week and she said she was nervous but excited and wanted to do a good job and command a safe flight. I think any pilot is a little nervous when the get the command position and that starts when you first solo an airplane or when you take a family member or friend flying once you have received your private pilots license. It never seems to go away and it happens at all experience levels.

Good luck Ari, from one pilot to another and remember to "Keep the Blue Side Up!"

BlkAv8tor2003

Remember to be Proactive and Not Reactive and enjoy your flight!!!

Below is the original story with a few pics I found and a translation in Japanese from the website and I left it intact with no editing so that it is translated correctly. I don't speak that much Japanese...lol and it's in Japanese script!!!

(Kyodo News International) -- A co-pilot of Japan Express Co. became Japan's first female airliner captain Friday after passing the government's qualification screening.
Ari Fuji, 42, is scheduled to make her maiden flight as a captain next Monday, from Osaka to Sendai, according to the airline, which is wholly owned by Japan Airlines (OOTC:JALFQ) International Co.

She was given a letter of appointment at the company's Osaka head office.
Fuji joined JAL Express in 1999 with pilot's licenses both for private and commercial aircraft and started flying as a co-pilot the following year, the company said.

She passed the screening by the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry earlier the month after promotion training with a license of airline transport pilot, which she obtained in February 2008, it said.
It usually takes 10 years or so for co-pilots to be promoted to captain.

Japan has had female passenger plane pilots since around a decade ago but had no female captain so far.
According to the ministry, there were 6,137 pilots working for major domestic airlines as of January, including 289 at JAL Express. Of the total, only three were female -- Fuji and two others.

Ari Fuji, the first female flight captain in a major airline group in Japan, holds up her appointment notice, in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, on July 9, 2010. (Mainichi)

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20100709p2a00m0na042000c.html

ジャルエクスプレス：国内大手初の女性機長

日本航空（ＪＡＬ）のグループ会社、ジャルエクスプレス（ＪＥＸ、東京都品川区）の藤明里（ふじあり）さん（４２）が国の機長審査に合格し、国内の大手航空会社で初めて女性機長が誕生した。
　９日に大阪府池田市の大阪本社で行われた辞令交付式で藤さんは「この道を目指してから、何万回とくじけそうなことがあったが、負けずにやっていれば実現できる。皆さんの支えをいただき、安全運航を求めていきたい」と決意表明。１２日の大阪（伊丹）発仙台行きが機長としての初フライトとなる。
　藤さんは大学卒業後、パイロットを目指して渡米。養成学校で操縦士免許を取得して帰国し、大手航空会社として初めてパイロットの公募を始めたＪＥＸに９９年に入社した。
　国内航空会社には約４０００人の機長がいるが、全員が男性。１２日は副操縦士も女性が務める予定で、藤さんは「女性が働きやすい職場になるように頑張りたい」と話した。

Arrest Threatened If Pilot Of International Flight Lets Passengers Off Aircraft

2010-06-26T19:56:00.011-07:00

HARTFORD, Conn. — The pilot on a Virgin Atlantic flight that spent several hours on the tarmac after being diverted to Connecticut had asked for permission to unload the stranded passengers, but a customs official threatened to have them arrested if they did, the airline said Thursday.

FYI! International flights are not included in the latest "3 hr delay" program that passed earlier this year. Also anytime an international flight that has not pre-cleared customs cannot let any passengers or crew members off of the aircraft for any reason with clearing customs and immigration. In the event of an emergency then Customs will clear passengers after they have been sequestered and cleared in a controlled area.

Customs officials denied the airline's allegation.

The trans-Atlantic flight's captain was told by a customs official at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks that passengers couldn't get off the plane until more immigration officials arrived, Greg Dawson, an airline spokesman in London, said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. It took more than two hours for the officials to arrive, he said.

The London-to-Newark, N.J., was diverted because of storms. Passengers sat on the tarmac in Connecticut for four hours late Tuesday and early Wednesday in rising heat and darkness. Travelers said they were offered water but no food; some fainted.

A federal rule limiting tarmac time to three hours does not apply to international flights.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not receive a call from the pilot, and no one from the agency refused a request to allow passengers off the plane, said Theodore Woo, an agency spokesman in Boston.

Customs officers headed for the airport "as soon as we got the call at 11 p.m.," Woo said. At that point, customs had enough officers to "escort passengers to a safe area," he said.

Airport officials have said there was only one customs official at the airport Tuesday night when the flight arrived in Connecticut.

The airport called for customs inspectors around 11 p.m. when it learned the Virgin flight was canceled, said John Wallace, a Bradley spokesman. Passengers were allowed off the plane about an hour and 15 minutes later, when customs officials arrived, he said.

Bradley's only regular international passenger flights are to Canada and it does not house many customs agents, Wallace said.

AA flight attendant helps deliver baby in 737

2010-06-26T19:04:00.005-07:00

American Airlines flight attendant Patricia Sund holding the newborn boy she helped deliver minutes earlier in the back row of a 737 as it flew from Haiti to Florida.

by JASON WHITELY

Original Story: http://www.wfaa.com/news/AA-flight-attendant-helps-deliver-baby-in-737-96702679.html

FORT LAUDERDALE - "My new slogan is going to be, "Coffee? Tea? Deliver your baby?," quipped Patricia Sund, an American Airlines flight attendant.

Patricia Sund helped two doctors deliver a baby boy in the last row of seats, on Friday, June 11, as they flew from Port-au-Prince, Haiti to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

A Boeing 737 is the stage for this performance yet being very much lacking for space to deliver a baby but anything is possible when the flight attendants are put to the test of their training and cool heads during a situation.

"It took quite a bit of improvisation to figure out a way to position the mother, the medical kit, two doctors, the equipment needed and a way to pass what was needed in-between and over the seats to the attending physicians in order to make this delivery a successful one," Sund said.

Flight 2288 was about 35 minutes from landing in (KFLL) Fort Lauderdale when an extra passenger was announced on the flight and added to the passenger manifest according to American Airlines.

"Watching that baby being born and having him placed in my arms 30 seconds after he was born was an incredibly raw and emotional moment for me," Sund reflected. "It will remain one of the highlights of my Flight Service career. It also most likely makes this crew the newest members of a very small club of flight attendants who have assisted with the birth of a child inflight."

American Airlines said the baby boy was born healthy.

This is a fine example of what flight attendants are trained to do and what so many passengers take for granted. So the next time a passenger thinks that flight attendants are "glorified sky waitresses" hopefully they will remember hearing about this beautiful incident over the skies of the Atlantic and know that the flight attendants are there for more important things than passing out peanuts and opening cans of Coke!

Delta Airlines Loses Dog In Mexico City And Tries To Compensate Passenger $200.00!

2010-05-08T14:50:00.010-07:00

Hi, my name is Josiah and I recently traveled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with Delta Airlines, and I am so appalled by them I can't stand it. I booked my flights online, and that part went smoothly, but that's the only good part of my traveling with them. I flew out of Detroit Metro in the early morning of April 24th 2010, and flew to Atlanta to catch a transfer which would take me to Puerto Vallarta. After arriving about an hour late and having to run to catch my plane, they said that they weren't boarding any more passengers, but were taking an extra fifteen minutes to load all the baggage on the plane. When we arrived in Puerto Vallarta I was informed that, along with most people who were on the original flight from Detroit, my baggage never left the Atlanta airport, and I had to wait until the next day to receive all of my clothes and necessities for traveling.

Now, while I know that this isn't too out of the ordinary, and that airlines have baggage delayed quite commonly, the next issue is one that is completely unacceptable and should never happen regardless of circumstances. When in Mexico, my girlfriend and I rescued a stray dog which our hosts said had been seen all over the town. We took him to the vet's, got him all of his shots, an eye infection treated, two baths to clean him from hundreds of dog ticks that were covering his whole body, and gave him the name Paco. After this treatment at the vet clinic, we had to spend multiple additional hours picking more ticks from his body. We soon discovered that this dog was a very lucky find, and that it would be loyal and friendly to my girlfriend and I. It would walk by my side along the beach and along the sidewalks, went to the washroom outside, didn't bark at cars or other dogs, and would sleep on the bed next to us curled up in a ball quite contently. My girlfriend and I were both very excited to take him back home to Canada with us, and we quite readily paid for an airline approved pet carrier and the costs associated with checking a pet on an airplane to travel as baggage, as he was too big to be taken as carry-on.

Everything went smoothly traveling with AeroMéxico from Puerto Vallarta to Mexico City, where we had a five hour layover. We took the dog out so he could go to the bathroom and stretch his legs in-between our flights, and two hours before we departed from Mexico City to Detroit Metro we checked him with Delta for the flight. It took us a whole hour to check the dog because Delta said that the pet carrier we purchased was not big enough, despite the vet who treated the dog saying it was large enough, and it meeting all the criteria such as the dog being able to turn around and stand up. We spent the hour trying to convince the Delta employee that the carrier was large enough, and after seeing two separate supervisors, we had to sign a waiver saying that if my dog Paco received any injuries as a result of the size of the carrier, that Delta Airlines was not responsible.

After the fiasco of the size of the carrier being an issue, they assured us that Paco would be alright and transported safely to Detroit. However, when we arrived in Detroit and waited for twenty minutes at the pet claim, we began to suspect that something was wrong. We spent two hours in the Detroit Metro Airport trying to sort out what had happened to our dog, and we were told that it was never loaded on the plane in the first place, and that it was forgotten in Mexico City but would be cared for by Delta employees and walked, fed, watered, and would be sent on the next flight to Detroit, and then get delivered to my house in Ontario, Canada. When I called Delta the following day to ask if Paco had been flown to Detroit yet, no one seemed to have any answers or have any idea about the location of my dog. I was shocked. I had been told explicitly that my dog was being cared for in Mexico City by Delta until he could be flown and delivered to me, and now they were telling me that they didn't know where my dog was. I had my host in Mexico call the Mexico City Airport to get some answers, and she spent hours being transferred from person to person, each one having no idea what happened to my dog, she was finally told that my dog had somehow escaped from the carrier and disappeared. I do not believe for a second that Paco escaped from his carrier. It was a very secure hard plastic pet carrier with two locks and a metal wire door, and there is no way a small dog (he looked like a mix of a wiener dog and a Jack Russell) could scratch or break his way out of it.

If indeed he did somehow manage to escape from the carrier, why would I not have been informed of this in the first place? I was told that he was accounted for and being cared for in Mexico City, then that no one had any idea where he was, and then that he had escaped from the carrier.

There is no excuse for this kind of situation to take place, and I expect that when you pay to have a live animal flown with you to take him home, that Delta Airlines would take every precaution and action needed to make sure that is what happens. My dog is likely either still in his carrier in a corner, having not eaten or drank for over 48 hours, or he is lost in the Mexico City Airport terrified and starving. The only thing Delta has tried to do to rectify this situation is offering their apology and refunding the cost for transporting a pet ($200.00USD) in a credit to be used with Delta Airlines. I think that this is completely absurd as there is no chance of me flying with Delta Airlines again.

United Flight Attendant Refuses To Help Disabled Woman With Bags

2010-04-13T20:21:00.008-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

As if things in the airline industry seem to sound more strange everyday, here comes another incident where a passenger needed assistance and a flight attendant refused to assist the passenger. It sounds like a situation of a crew member giving a passenger a hard time and being very direct in her reasoning about it but if you read the whole story then the tables seem to turn the other way. I posted a link to the full story after the excerpt from the passengers blog. You really should read the passengers full story to get an idea of what happened.

As a former flight attendant and customer service manager, it's sad to hear such a response was given from a crew member! The airline should have had a better response to the situation than that...at least sound caring or concerned! I read the passengers story and it sounded like it was full of tiring situations!

The rest of my comments are after the passenger excerpt.

(Excerpt) I boarded the plane and made my way back to my aisle seat where I set down my special seat cushion and lumbar brace before looking around for a flight attendant to help me put my luggage in the overhead compartment. The attendant standing in the front section of economy was a blonde woman probably in her late 40s-50s and I called her over to explain that I needed her assistance because I wasn't capable of lifting my luggage due to my disability.

To my surprise, the attendant rejected my request while excusing it by saying: "If I helped everyone do that all day then MY back would be killing me by the end of the day!" I asked her how I was supposed to get my luggage stowed and her answer was: "You'll just have to wait for someone from your row to come back here and ask them to give you a hand." When I asked what would happen if no one would, her response to me was: "Well, normally a passenger is around to overhear something like this and they'll offer to help with it on their own. You'll just have to ask someone when they get back here." Then she turned back around and went up to the front seats where she waited to "assist" other passengers.

I was completely flabbergasted, but with no other option, I sat down to wait and pulled my carry-on suitcase as close as I could to try to get it out of the way of the aisle. As I'm sure you're aware, however, your aisles are considerably narrow and even my best efforts left half of even my small carry-on suitcase in the aisle. What's more, rather than help me, most of the passengers simply knocked into my suitcase and shoved past me on the way to their own seats. Every time they hit the suitcase, it in turn hit me and jarred my back more and more with each strike.

The plane wasn't even half boarded and it already felt like the pain medication I'd taken less than a half hour prior to entering the airport had worn off as though I hadn't taken it at all. Finally, it was too much and I dropped my suitcase down into the aisle to stop the flow and ask one of the men passing me for help before he went looking for his seat. As he was lifting it, he asked me if I was all right and I told him about my injury. He apologized profusely for my condition and tried to make me feel better by assuring me I would be okay eventually. I doubt either of us believed it, but at that point, it was nice to hear that, even from a total stranger. Full Story Here

("Evilpuppy", is the passenger's blog name) "Evilpuppy" was not exactly the perfect passenger.

This is the problem that passengers run into when they "assume" what the flight attendants, pilots, customer service agents or the airline can and cannot do for you. Flight attendants are truly not there to put your baggage in an overhead bin. It is up to you the passenger to load and unload your baggage in and out of the overhead bins. If you can't lift your own luggage above your head then what makes you think the airline provides someone to do that for you? This is what I mean when I say most passengers don't really know what the job or the duties of the flight attendant are.

"Evilpuppy" has a known disability or injury and you’re carrying on a roll-a-board suitcase? You knew before you left that you would not be able to lift your bag and you assumed it was the flight attendant job to put it in the overhead bin for you. Then when she refused you acted shocked! Now how she refused is wrong in all respects and is not excusable but you should have thought about your disability when packing your luggage. If your back disables you from lifting your own suitcase into the bins, then you should have checked your suitcase and not rolled it aboard and carry on a much smaller bag with your necessary essentials.

United's overall response was just crazy and unfortunately I do believe that a flight attendant and an agent would possibly respond to a passenger the way they responded to you! Your case is not singular and not the last one people will read about. I know as a flight attendant you have to be very careful when dealing with passengers regarding visual and non-visual disabilities. Passengers also must be proactive with their disabilities and give the people around them ample warning without assumptions that help will always be provided or assumed. Just because a passenger is in a wheelchair doesn't mean they want or need help to move about but the person able to offer assistance may not know that.

So I suggest that "Evilpuppy" you may need to be more proactive with your disability seeing how it's not visual. It will require you to change your thought process about the way you travel so that people that are available to help you know that you’re not exploiting their services with your disability and you actually need help. Again the experience you had was all the way wrong and it should have been handled much better.

The flight attendant was wrong to a point in her actions and what she said but you did get on the plane assuming that the flight attendant would do the lifting for you. So in the future you may want to find another way to get your baggage to your destination i.e.. Checking your baggage, ship your baggage ahead via UPS or FedEx and only carry-on your absolute necessities that you can manage without difficulty.

I'm not trying to bash you (the victim) but this situation can be avoided well before passengers get on the plane. Hopefully in your future travel plans you’re more proactive and the crew on your flights will be much more accommodating to you and your disability.

The airlines as a whole are having a tough time surviving in today's economy and finding good people to run the airline is easily found and also easily forgotten. The airlines need to go back to what use to work and passengers need to understand that flying on the airlines is a privilege and not a right even though they may have payed for a service. Things like this don't happen everyday and hopefully they will be few and far between but they will happen again and I hope whomever reads this will think ahead to lessen the chances of this happening to them.

As I always say: Be Proactive Not Reactive and Enjoy Your Flight!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

Carry-On and Checked Baggage Spirit Air Will Cost You!!!

2010-04-06T09:29:00.004-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

Well the time has come and I have said it since well before the baggage fees went up, that the airlines would ultimately start charging passengers a fee to carry-on baggage! No matter how juicy the details or how many perks you may get by joining different flier clubs with any particular airline, you may end up paying to fly with more than a coat, purse or briefcase.

Does anyone fly like that these days anymore??? The days of hats, coats and purses are going by the wayside. 1960's style of flying is coming back trust me! Remember the saying "History Repeats Itself!" Well history is starting to repeat itself and it's going to cost you! So be prepared as gasoline prices go up this summer, delays will never go away and tensions of people frustrated when they fly are higher than ever!

Here is Spirit Air based out of Miramar, Florida with 40 destinations has started charging for carry-on baggage. They are the first U.S. carrier to institute this policy and it starts in August. The fees are listed in the article below. It can cost you as much as $45 at the airport to carry on a bag.
(Carry-on Baggage: anything that you would have to put into an overhead bin)

Spirit Air is expecting this to make deplaning the aircraft a faster process and boarding to be a breeze too! If you don't know already, it's time to start checking your bag to your destination with FedEx or UPS if your traveling for pleasure. If your traveling for business you may need to carry-on your bags because destinations can change with short notice and getting a bag changed between flights can create potential baggage mishandlings.

So the time to be more prepared is really here. Be ahead of the ballgame and know what fees may pop up on you when you get to the airport!

I'll keep up on this and post any changes or differences that you need to know!!!

"Be Proactive Not Reactive And Enjoy Your Flight!!!"

BlkAv8tor2003

Fees for checked and carry-on baggage: Effective for flights booked today and on for flights after August 1, passengers on Spirit Airlines must also pay to bring on a carry-on above a personal item. This is a completely new fee for them, since carry-ons used to be free.

To take on any bag aside from a personal items like purse or briefcase, you'll be paying $20 online if you're a Spirit club member, $30 online for non-members and $45 at the airport. You will get "priority boarding," however. Along with this new fee, the checked rates have gone up to $15 online for members on domestic/$20 international, $25 online for non-members on domestic/$30 international and $45 for anyone checking their bag at the airport. And that's just the first bag!

Spirit Airlines, this is getting prohibitively complicated! Now for the sale information...
Airfares from 1 penny: Perhaps we should be happy that Spirit isn't having another of their bawdily-named airfare sales, but there is just so much fine print to this one that we're tempted to dismiss it straightaway.

It's for their $9 Fare Club members only, and to join that club you have to lay down $40 annually; never mind that whenever we search for Spirit flights, we never see $9 fares listed for the $9 Club.

So if you're a member of the club, there are currently a million seats on Spirit flights available from only a penny. But that penny can quickly become $72 no matter how hard you try.

For example, a one-way, one person "Penny" fare:
"Penny Plus" sale from Detroit—Las Vegas

Ticket: 1 cent

Carry-on baggage paid at airport: $45

Fuel: $54.22

Taxes & Fees: $18.70

Total: $117.93

Vince Neil? Airline CEO...Yes It's True!!!

2010-04-05T18:42:00.011-07:00

Motley Crue rocker and hometown hero Vince Neil rolled out his new airline fleet this morning, and with its rock and roll-themed furnishings and painted flames fuselage, he’s all set to ensure that there are music flights in the friendly skies from now on. Vince showed off his first three jets: a Hawker 700, a Lear 35 and a Gulfstream.

Vince said “They are all now finished, all tricked out. We will base Vince Neil Aviation at McCarran Airport’s Signature Terminal. The Hawker will hold eight passengers and fly nonstop Las Vegas to New York. The Lear holds seven but will make one fuel stop en route to New York.

All three are perfect for short, fast hops from Las Vegas to Phoenix, Aspen, California cities, Mexico and Canada. In fact, I took the Gulfstream down to South America for our last tour, and we stopped in Aruba for a few days’ vacation on the way home to Vegas.”

Vince provides the pilots and flight attendants for the private charter trips, and although his wife Lia and best girlfriend Marley Taylor of Zowie Bowie fame appear in the brochures, they won’t be onboard as flight attendants!

Vegas DeLuxe will have the full behind-the-scenes photo shoot with Vince and his planes, cars and bikes next week during production of the new promo video and sales brochures for VinceNeilAviation.com, which will be fully operating in the next 10 days.

His new single from the upcoming album Tequilas & Tattoos hits radio stations April 6, but you can get a sample of the song and the video at VinceNeil.net.

Hackers broke into his Web site and stole the early unfinished song and video, so he’ll post the official completed versions next week.

Distracted Flight Crew Belly Lands CRJ200

2010-04-03T17:35:00.005-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

As a pilot you get very busy right before landing, usually the last 20 minutes before landing and many things are going on before you even touchdown at your destination. So missing critical parts of the checklist can happen along with different warning sounds, warning light to warn the flight crew that something isn't correct for the flight at that time.

Well here is a prime example of where the crew gets fixated on one problem and doesn't stick to the number 1 rule in flying...."Fly The Plane!" So hopefully other pilots will always remember to always fly the plane because there are two pilots up front in a commercial airline operation and one pilot can fly the plane and the other one can work the problem. CRM (Crew resource management) was developed to help among other things to delegate tasks, fly the plane and be able to discussion some solutions to a particular problem.

Read this article and understand where the pilots failed at doing what they have worked so hard to get the privilege to do. Flying planes as a pilot is the biggest rush you can get that is legal and it only gets more fun the more experienced you become. If you have questions about it, hit me up and I would love to discuss it with you!!!

Remember to Be Proactive Not Reactive and Enjoy your Flight!!!

BlkCigarCzar

Spanish investigators believe that the crew involved in a gear-up landing at Barcelona forgot to lower the undercarriage after becoming distracted by a problem with the jet's flaps.

As the Air Nostrum aircraft approached runway 25R, following a flight from Valladolid, the flaps failed to deploy to the 8° setting selected.

This failure was traced to actuator icing - a known problem on the type in cold weather - and on both previous sectors, with different crews, the jet had experienced flap problems.

The crew opted to conduct a flapless approach, requiring higher landing speeds, in crosswind conditions; a preceding aircraft had warned of the possibility of windshear.

Radio traffic was heavy and the crew was "focused" on the demanding approach, says Spanish investigation authority CIAIAC. It states that, crucially, there was "no indication" that the 'before landing' checklists were completed.

In the moments before touchdown several alarms in the cockpit sounded as a result of the aircraft's configuration, alerting the crew to minimums, terrain, and sink rate.

CIAIAC adds that these alarms included a 'too low, gear' warning which sounded 15 times. But it states that the crew "probably confused" this alert with the 'too low, flap' warning - even though this had been inhibited.

"It is obvious that, either from excessive concentration or from believing they were not relevant, the crew did not manage to identify the aircraft configuration properly," says the final report into the 24 January 2007 incident.

With its gear still retracted, the jet landed on its lower fuselage at 168kt. This high initial speed, and subsequent ground effect, resulted in the aircraft's skidding for 1,900m before coming to rest just 250m from the runway's far end.

None of the 44 passengers and crew received serious injuries during the incident.

Original story posted at link below

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/04/01/340195/stuck-flaps-distracted-crj-crew-before-gear-up-landing.html

First Female Pilot Selected For Red Arrows Display Team. Motto ECLAT

2010-03-25T09:03:00.007-07:00

Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore, 32 yrs.,has joined the team, based at Raf Scampton- Lincs. home of the famous 617 squadron-The Dam Busters.

Flt Lt Moore is a local Lincolnshire girl, from Stamford, last station was Raf Marham in Norfolk, near Kings Lynn., joining the Royal Air Force in 1998. Raf Scampton is situated just north of Lincoln on the A15.

It is believed she will take up position RED THREE.

Her father Robbie is a retired Tornado navigator,she has been married for 4 years to husband Nicky who works as a flying instructor at Raf Valley,anglesey, Wales. Squadron motto is Eclat-meaning Excellence. Red Arrows was formed up in late 1964. The name is an amalgation of 2 aerobatic teams-the Black Arrows and the Red Pelicans. The RAFAT has 13 aircraft., 9 pilots, and a Support team of 91 called The Blues (they wear blue flying suits).

see Raf Scampton home page = http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafscampton/

see Red Arrows web page = http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/

20 Hours To JFK From LA The Trip From Hell On Virgin America Airlines

2010-03-16T20:17:00.008-07:00

Stuck for hours on a plane!

The Los Angeles to JFK flight was diverted in high winds due to Saturday's nor'easter, which led to the airport slowdown of JFK in New York, forcing the plane to divert 90 miles north at Stewart Airport in Newburgh, where it landed at 5:15 p.m. and that's where passengers sat stranded for four-and-a-half hours.

Virgin American flight 404 left from LAX heading to JFK at 7am Saturday morning, but for passengers on-board the total time, would not be 5 1/2 hours to their destination, it would take 16 hours and change and more delays.
you would think considering the past delays, Virgin America would have had an alternate plan. questions will be raised regarding why the Virgin America flight even departed in the first place considering that Departure Management procedures where active early in the morning from JFK and many of the major airports in the Northeast corridor.

"Because of 60-mph winds [in New York], the plane was forced to circle JFK until it was finally diverted to Stewart Airport in Newburgh — 90 miles north — for a 5:15 p.m. landing.There, the plane remained on the tarmac until close to midnight, passengers say. The airline said the wait was more like 4½ hours" as stated by a FAA spokes person.

"The problem started when the Stewart International Supervisor came on board and told the captain and the flight attendants that no one's getting off this plane," Martin said.
David Martin films a 16-hour Virgin America flight from LAX to JFK.

David Martin is back at the Tribeca's headquarters of his video social networking company, Kontain.com. (He supplied the video.) In fact, it was on his website where he posted the video of his horrible weekend experience aboard Virgin America flight 404.

Passengers became restless and hungry after they were forced to each just four Pringles each with half a cup of water, while one passenger suffering from a panic attack had to be escorted from the plane.

JetBlue, has facilities at Steward Airport heard about the problem flight and said they would take passengers for free on a 2 hour bus ride to JFK airport that would have them there about 3am.

Some passengers did eventually exit the plane. In a statement, the Port Authority said, "Port Authority Operations at Stewart Airport finally offered assistance directly to the pilot and crew and made all resources available to aid the delayed passengers."

Furthermore, we were told the pilot refused the staff's plea to leave the tarmac and pull up to a gate so passengers could come inside the terminal which makes no sense considering it sounds like the airport management gave in to let the passengers off the plane. I'll be interested to hear what the story behind this was considering the stories are flying from everywhere!

Virgin America, meantime, issued its own statement and accepted blame for what happened:

"We wish to further apologize for our handling of the delay. We pride ourselves on putting the well-being of our travelers first and making sure that, in stressful situations, we put our guests at ease. We clearly failed this on your flight."

The US Department of Transportation now wants more information from Virgin America as to why passengers were left stranded on the tarmac for so long.

That's because a new rule, which takes effect at the end of April, orders U.S. airlines to allow passengers off the plane after a wait of three hours.

Along with the apology, Virgin America offered its passengers a full refund.

Plane Makes Emergency Landing And Kills Jogger By Accident

2010-03-16T12:54:00.003-07:00

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – A 38-year-old father of two was jogging and listening to his iPod when he was hit from behind and killed by a small plane making an emergency landing on the beach, officials said Tuesday.

Robert Gary Jones of Woodstock, Ga., died instantly Monday evening when he was hit by the single-engine plane, which had lost its propeller, said Beaufort County Coroner Ed Allen. The pilot's vision was blocked by oil on the windshield.

Jones apparently did not see or hear the plane, which was "basically gliding," the coroner said.
FAA records show the Experimental Lancair IV-P plane was registered to Edward I. Smith of Chesapeake, Va.

Smith was on the beach with his plane Tuesday and confirmed he was the pilot. He said he didn't want to talk about the crash and offered few details.
"I've got a lot of issues going on right now. I've got a plane that's all torn up. And I've got a young man that I killed," he said.

Authorities said there was also a passenger on board but did not identify him or her.
The plane started leaking oil at about 13,000 feet and tried originally to make it to Hilton Head Airport, said fire and rescue spokeswoman Joheida Fister.

The oil on the windshield blocked Smith's vision and he told authorities the propeller came off. When he tried to land on the beach near the Hilton Head Marriott Resort and Spa, the plane hit Jones and came to rest a little farther down the beach, Fister said.

The plane was still on the beach Tuesday afternoon. Waves lapped against it and the tail was attached to an anchor with a rope so the tide wouldn't pull it out to sea. The waves had washed away any sign of it skidding across the sand.

Yellow crime scene tape stretched from the water to the dunes to keep people away. Tourists walked up to the tape, gawking and snapping pictures. Other than the missing propeller, the plane appeared undamaged.

The plane left Orlando, Fla., at 4:45 p.m. and was headed for Virginia, Fister said. The four-seater plane has a turbine engine, can be built from a kit and can fly up to 370 mph, according to the Lancair Web site. The IV-P model has a pressurized cabin.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating, Fister said.
An FAA spokeswoman referred inquiries to the NTSB.

9 Passengers Fall Sick Due To Foul Odor On US Airways Flight To Jamaica

2010-03-16T10:13:00.004-07:00

Flight from Charlotte, N.C., to Jamaica forced to return to gate

9 people on board a US Airways flight from Charlotte, North Carolina (KCLT) to Montego Bay Jamaica were taken to the hospital Tuesday after they became sick due to a "foul odor" on the plane, officials said.
The passengers were complaining of symptoms consistent with exposure to toxic fumes, the NBC-affiliated WCNC news channel reported, citing medics. One of the patients was a US Airways employee.

Flight 985 was scheduled to depart Charlotte Douglas Airport (KCLT) at 9:35 a.m. and was due to go to Montego Bay (MBJ/MKJS) on the Caribbean island.
The Federal Aviation Administration said that there were reports of a bad smell shortly after the Boeing 767 left the gate.

The plane pushed back from the gate and taxied out on to the ramp when several passengers on board complained of a foul-smelling odor. The flight attendants notified the pilots of the problem and the aircraft returned to the gate and those persons were checked out by medics.

The plane did not get airborne so declaring an in-flight emergency never happened. The pilots checked-in with ground control to taxi and then advised them of the problem and emergency services on the field were notified. Mecklenburg County ambulance spokesman Jeff Keith said nine people were taken to Carolinas Medical Center, but added their conditions did not appear to be life-threatening.

This is not the first time this has happened with US Airways. In January, 15 people were treated after complaining of sickness associated with a foul odor on a US Airways Boeing 767 flight, WCNC reported. It's possible that this was the same exact airplane. I haven't been able to confirm this as of yet but reports indicate that maintenance logs obtained by local WCNC showed that plane experienced a similar problem on Dec. 28 and Dec. 30 on flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

US Airways' Service Difficulty Report filed with the Federal Aviation Administration says "a very strong odor smelling like wet socks and/or dirty feet circulated through the passenger cabin and flight deck" during Flight 1568 on December 28 from Charlotte to San Juan, Puerto Rico and another flight on Dec 30 On Jan. 5, when it was cleared for flight everything seemed to operationg normally then it happened again.

After the January 16th incident, US Airways took its 767 out of service for maintenance work. When it returned to the air on January 21, US Airways reported to the FAA "a scorched odor...like a gym or locker room" filled the aircraft. Maintenance found no problems with the plane and it was cleared for flight.

On Jan. 16, Flight 1041 from St. Thomas was the next incident flight. The crew of Flight 1041 fell victim to a "fume event," the third time in three weeks that the aircraft, a Boeing 767-2B7, tail number 251, suffered contamination of its cabin air. The flight was going from from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands (STT/TIST) where it was met by ambulances when it landed in Charlotte (KCLT) and passengers and crew members complained of headaches and nausea they attributed to a suspicious smell.

Crew members reported trouble breathing, itchy eyes and stomach cramps. Two days later on the same route a "foul odor" entered the cabin. "Passengers and flight attendants were feeling faint and nauseous," according to the Service Difficulty Report.
US Airways tells CNN hydraulic fluid was released into the ventilation system on the two December flights. That fluid – Skydrol – is a known irritant to the respiratory tract.

Eight passengers were treated on the scene. Seven crew members were taken to the hospital, where they were treated and released. One flight attendant has since returned to the air, while the other crew members remain out on disability.

Flight Attendant Falls From Plane

2010-03-04T20:24:00.005-07:00

A Qantas flight attendant has fallen from a plane and hit the tarmac while shutting the doors before take-off at an airport near Uluru.

The flight attendant was trying to close the doors of the plane when she stumbled and fell at Yulara airport, Northern Territory Police Superintendent Bob Harrison told ABC Radio.

"All the passengers were seated in the plane," he said.

"The attendant was shutting the aircraft doors ready for take-off when the ground staff pulled the ramp out - the stairway ramp - and unfortunately the attendant lost her footing, falling head first from the aircraft around about three metres to the ground below."

The flight attendant was taken to the local medical centre and then flown to Alice Springs with minor injuries.

SOP at Quantas says that the flight attendants do not actually close the door and early reports say the flight attendant was closing the door in some fashion and may have not been following company policy.

Girl Shoots Video of Herself While Stuck in PIT Overnight!

2010-02-25T08:17:00.003-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 checking In!!!

See this is what I'm talking about! If your going to be stuck in an airport all night long then why not make it fun? This young lady in the video gets stuck in Pittsburghs International airport for the night. Must have been due to the previous weeks Eastcoast winter storms and she made the absolute best of it. She had the airport as props and also as a co-star.

All I can say is Bravo!!! Sometimes you can't change what has happened but you can make the best of it!

Remember to always Be Proactive Not Reactive and enjoy your flight!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

Making the best of being stuck in an airport overnight due to weather!

Pregnant Woman, Husband Kicked Off Spirit Airlines Flight For Asking For Water

2010-02-17T11:57:00.004-07:00

Not just movie directors are getting kicked off planes for bizarre reasons.
A New York doctor claims that he was booted from a Spirit Airlines flight for asking for water for his pregnant wife on Sunday.

Mitchell Roslin, the Chief of Obesity Surgery at Manhattan's Lenox Hill Hospital, says that after being grounded at LaGuardia Airport for two hours in a hot plane his attempts to get water for his 7-month pregnant wife were repeatedly refused.

Roslin informed the New York Post that flight attendants told him that it was "against corporate policy" to give him water before the plane was in the air.
The doctor was asked to leave the plane after continuing to plead for water, and ultimately did so with his wife and family in tow.

Hello All, BlkAv8tor2003 Is Checking In!!!

WTH is going on when you can get kicked off for requesting a glass of water? Sounds like Spirit Airlines is stirring the pot with it's own publicity! Things are getting more sensitive and every little thing is setting people off everytime!

I only imagine what is next!!!

See Ya later!!!

Remember to Be Proactive And Not Reactive and enjoy your flight!

BlkAv8tor2003

Delta passengers receive luggage soaked in jet fuel

2010-02-17T11:44:00.002-07:00

On Sunday, a group of friends were returning home from a vacation in Puerto Rico. Shortly after landing at Denver International Airport, they retrieved their bags to find out they had been drenched in jet fuel.
Delta Airlines Representatives had them fill out a complaint and sent them home with their bags smelling of fumes. They told them to wash everything they could and for everything else submit a reimbursement form within 24 hours.

"I'm not sure what to do with baggage that smells like jet fuel because to me that seems like a hazard and I should just dump it in my trash can. I don't really know how to handle it," Kathy Shoemaker, a Delta passenger, said.
9NEWS Aviation Expert, Greg Feith, says the contaminated luggage could be a serious fire hazard on the airplane, at the airport, and at the passengers' home.
A Delta representative told the passengers the soaking probably happened on the ground in Puerto Rico, meaning the bags flew with them all the way to Denver. That didn't sit well with Kathy.

"I don't think anyone wants luggage that's been soaked in fuel in the luggage compartment of their flight. I don't ever want to think that would ever happen again cause it seems to me there was enough luggage that was soaked that any kind of spark would have blown up our plane. "
Feith says the possibility of fuel leaking from an aircraft fuel tank into the cargo pit during flight is virtually impossible. But he says the airline should always try to find the source of any fuel contamination.

9NEWS tried to contact Delta representatives for comment but our messages weren't returned.

Man Allegedly Assaults Air Marshal on Houston-Bound Flight

2010-02-17T11:08:00.002-07:00

HOUSTON - A 47-year-old Alabama man is in federal custody after he allegedly became belligerent and punched a federal air marshal on a Houston-bound flight.

Robert Wade Prince was arrested Saturday by federal officers at Bush Intercontinental Airport, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice. He faces charges of assault, interfering with flight crew members and attendant and assaulting an officer.

Prince was aboard a Continental Airlines flight heading to Houston from Amsterdam Saturday when he allegedly started becoming boisterous and yelling loudly, according to the statement. While crew members aboard the flight tried to calm him down, he allegedly grabbed the arm of a female attendant.

Then a woman sitting next to Prince accused him of inappropriately touching her and complained about his yelling, according to the statement.
That's when a flight attendant asked a federal air marshal aboard the flight to switch seats with the woman, according to the statement.

But as the air marshal tried to take his new seat, Prince allegedly blocked it, according to the statement.
After the air marshal identified himself as a federal officer, Prince allegedly punched him twice in the torso, according to the statement.
Prince was restrained and forced to sit in the crew's rest area, according to the statement.
During the rest of the flight, Prince allegedly kept verbally abusing the air marshal, according to the statement.

He was immediately arrested after the plane safely landed at Intercontinental Airport.
Prince is being held without bond until his detention hearing, which has been scheduled for Thursday.
A conviction on a charge of interfering with flight crew members and attendants carries a punishment range of up to 20 years, according to the statement.
A charge of assaulting an officer carries a maximum punishment of 8 years imprisonment upon conviction, according to the statement.

Both offenses are also punishable by fines of up to $250,000 each.
Assault carries a maximum punishment of six months incarceration and a $5,000 fine.

CSTPublished: Tuesday, 16 Feb 2010, 5:15 PM CSTM
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/100216-mid-air-assault

US Airways Does It Again: Would You Sit Separated From Your 2 and 5 Year Old?

2010-02-17T09:07:00.006-07:00

by Sierra on February 15, 2010
Childwild

US Airways!!! Straighten Up And Fly Right!!!!

Hello all BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

Just when you thought the airlines could do no worse, US Airways comes down and drops the ball in a big way! This is an absolute mistake on the grandest scale and US Airways and the front-line employees failed to do the one thing that is paramount and their primary job function....CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!

How does some many employees who are involved with the boarding process and flight screw things up so bad? Here is the story in brief and I will post a link to the actual blog story of the passenger involved!

US Airways Hates Families and Kids
A mother traveling with her 2 children and another family member who also was traveling with a child were to fly on US Airways from Boston (KBOS) to Tucson (KTUS) with a stop or layover in Phoenix (KPHX) US Airways Corporate home. The skinny of it is all 5 of these passengers were seated separately. A 2 year old, 5 year old, the mom and the other family member with a lap child.

From her story she said that not one of the agents, flight attendants or other passengers would help her get her seats changed, ask for volunteers to change seats so that the children were not seated alone for 5 hours worth of flying and the mother was terrified that if she made a big stink out of it that she would be arrested! I can't count how many times when I flew as a flight attendant, worked as a gate agent or customer service supervisor/manager that I have asked for volunteers to change there seats to accommodate a family in part or full when it came to seat assignments.

This is lazy agents and flight crew not doing what they can to come up with a solution. Give a passengers a free drink or two, free headset or a free meal for making the change...the agents or flight attendants could have done something....If they really wanted too! There was a flight attendant that tried to offer assistance to this passenger in her moments of need but the story was a little sketchy regarding her.

The passenger didn't know if she worked for US Airways or not because she was flying in plain clothes but she did say she was a flight attendant. Sounds like she was commuting or deadheading (deadheading: flying to or from a trip in plain clothing; On duty but not working this particular flight) She offered some assistance but then retreated and all but alienated the passenger. this is one of the weirdest series of events I ever heard of and it was just plain wrong!

This is what you get when people get complacent or just don't care about what they are doing. Being a flight attendant, means a 24 hr smile and you MUST help everyone at anytime and if it's repetitive then you must do things over and over. This incident just shows that the flight crew can be a helpful entity or a hindrance when a passenger is in need. The crew may have been following their company policies about seat assignment changes and things they do on the plane but the last time I checked to a point the company policies are a guide and employees need to use good judgement to solve problems. The crew on board and the agents obviously didn't do anything more than they were suppose to. Again this is why the airlines as a whole have a black eye right now and at the rate they are going the are working on a broken nose too!

Now I don't know if the passenger did her part about making sure her seating was in order before getting to the actual departure gate but there were many things she could have done to lessen the chance of this happening. I sent her a reply to her blog but as of my writing she has not posted it or replied to me regarding it. When this happens I will update this. This is all over Twitter and starting to pick up the national headlines too, so I know this story is far from over. As I hear of updates I will post them too!

The link to her full story is here! Would you sit separated from your 2-year-old?

I have also posted Reservation Tricks When Flying I hope travelers can use them to their advantage to make their travels a little less stressful.

The airline is only going to do so much but it is the responsibility of the airline passenger to be prepared and planning ahead for anything that might be out of the ordinary. When passengers start doing this they will have less stressful trips and when things go well they enjoy their trip just a little bit more!

Remember to Be Proactive And Not Reactive when you fly and enjoy your flight!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

Milestone In Diversity Continental Airlines Names Jetliner After Trailblazing Pilot

2010-02-16T19:27:00.006-07:00

It took Marlon Green more than six years to battle Continental Airlines to become the first black hired as a pilot for a U.S. passenger airline.

And it took Continental nearly 50 years to publicly acknowledge Green's contribution to its success.

On Tuesday, that delayed expression of gratitude came in a Houston hangar during a ceremony to introduce Continental's newest Boeing 737 — emblazoned with Green's name. (See photos from the ceremony.)

“The fact that we did this shows how regretful we are about our history, and we took the opportunity to honor Capt. Green because it's important to us,” Jeff Smisek, Continental's chairman, president and CEO, said in an interview.

Green's brother, Jim Green, flew from his home near Seattle to attend the ceremony. He said the honor would have pleased his brother, who died in July at age 80.

“He's looking down from heaven and saying well done — a little bit late, but well done,” Jim Green said.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, called Tuesday a day of redemption for the Houston-based airline.

“If we do not remember our history, if we do not understand the pain, then we cannot enjoy the joy,” she said.
Marlon Green and his family suffered a great deal while waging the legal battle that led decades later to the honor Continental bestowed Tuesday at the suggestion of its black pilots.

And it took Continental nearly 50 years to publicly acknowledge Green's contribution to its success.
On Tuesday, that delayed expression of gratitude came in a Houston hangar during a ceremony to introduce Continental's newest Boeing 737 — emblazoned with Green's name. (See photos from the ceremony.)
“The fact that we did this shows how regretful we are about our history, and we took the opportunity to honor Capt. Green because it's important to us,” Jeff Smisek, Continental's chairman, president and CEO, said in an interview.

Green's brother, Jim Green, flew from his home near Seattle to attend the ceremony. He said the honor would have pleased his brother, who died in July at age 80.

“He's looking down from heaven and saying well done — a little bit late, but well done,” Jim Green said.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, called Tuesday a day of redemption for the Houston-based airline.
“If we do not remember our history, if we do not understand the pain, then we cannot enjoy the joy,” she said.
Marlon Green and his family suffered a great deal while waging the legal battle that led decades later to the honor Continental bestowed Tuesday at the suggestion of its black pilots.

And it took Continental nearly 50 years to publicly acknowledge Green's contribution to its success.

Green's brother, Jim Green, flew from his home near Seattle to attend the ceremony. He said the honor would have pleased his brother, who died in July at age 80.

“He's looking down from heaven and saying well done — a little bit late, but well done,” Jim Green said.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, called Tuesday a day of redemption for the Houston-based airline.

“If we do not remember our history, if we do not understand the pain, then we cannot enjoy the joy,” she said.

Marlon Green and his family suffered a great deal while waging the legal battle that led decades later to the honor Continental bestowed Tuesday at the suggestion of its black pilots.

Romney Attacked On Flight From Vancouver

2010-02-16T09:44:00.005-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

Will this little fiasco help Washington to change the rules regarding passengers actions on board todays airlines? Well if it needs any help from Washington powers I think they have a good shot at it now. The former Presidential Candidate was attacked while trying to return to Los Angeles after going to the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, BC over a reclining seat and a passenger who was very upset. He wasn't hurt and we are all lucky. Now maybe Washington lawmakers can make some changes to the way passengers act onboard the aircraft!!!! We will see if aything changes when something happens on many aircraft!

Have a good flight and remember to Be Proavctive and not Reactive!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

Mitt Romney's in the news this morning due to a disturbance on an airplane. No, he wasn't thrown off the plane for being too fat like film director Kevin Smith, but because an irate passenger took a swing at him. Former governor Mitt Romney was attacked by a passenger on an Air Canada flight Monday morning.

The former 2008 Republican presidential hopeful had been in Vancouver since Friday for the Winter Olympics. He was attacked as he was leaving Vancouver with his wife, Ann, according to Romney’s spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom.

Romney, 62, reportedly asked the passenger sitting in front of his wife to raise his seat before takeoff after the passenger had reclined his seat.

The man allegedly became violent and took a swing at the former 2008 presidential hopeful.
A Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, first reported the story, saying that Romney was “physically threatened” by a passenger.

"Gov. Romney did not retaliate, but instead allowed the airline crew to respond to the incident," Fehrnstrom said in a statement to the Globe.

Romney was not injured. The pilot returned to the gate, and the suspect was removed from the plane by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and was arrested. The same plane took off a short time later and later landed safely in Los Angeles.

Romney was the head of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and was an honored guest at the 2010 games.

According to Canada's Globe and Mail, the request enraged the passenger and he became "physically violent."

The man was in the wrong for reacting the way he did. We can all agree on that. The passenger reclined his seat before take-off after the plane had left the gate. That's not allowed. Once the plane reaches the appropriate altitude, of course, reclining is OK -- although depending on leg-room and the size of the passenger behind you a reclining seat can make things miserable.
By the way, Romney was not flying first class. He was in row 15 of a Canadian Air Embraer ERJ-190. That's the economy section.

As for legroom the row provides 33 inches. That's not bad and very good for a regional jet.
Romney is 6'2" and the flight time from Vancouver to LA is just over 2 1/2 hours. So, assuming the passenger kept his seat reclined during the whole trip, it would have been a very uncomfortable flight for Romney. Not optimal, but bearable.

The First African-American Flight Attendant in the United States.

2010-02-12T16:26:00.006-07:00

The First African-American Flight Attendant in the United States.

On February 11, 1958, (Actually December 1957) Ruth Carol Taylor was hired by Mohawk Airlines, becoming the first African-American flight attendant in the United States.[4] Only six months after breaking one historic barrier, Taylor's career ended due to another discriminatory barrier: the airline's marriage ban, a common practice among airlines of the day of dismissing flight attendants who became either married or pregnant.

Racial Desegregation in December 1957, Mohawk Airlines hired the first African-American stewardess in the United States, Ruth Carol Taylor. Within months, TWA announced that it would hire a black stewardess, making it the first large airline to break the color barrier in passenger service. Neither flight attendants nor their union representatives deserve credit for promoting the desegregation of cabin service.

Credit goes to the African-American applicants, overqualified except by their race, who finally broke down airline resistance and their allies in civil rights organizations and state anti-discrimination agencies, especially the New York State Committee Against Discrimination.

The breakthroughs of 1957-1958 were followed only by forced token integration on some other airlines in the early 1960s. Even after several airlines began to hire more African American women for stewardess positions by the mid-1960s, other forms of racial discrimination continued for several years.

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

This is just a small tribute to the first African American Flight Attendant to fly for the airlines back in the late 50's till now!

Ruth Carol Taylor was that woman who broke the racial barrier and made it so many of us who are now flying and past flight attendants could enjoy what she loved and that was the desire to fly!

It's days of glamour and exotic destinations have changed a bit and now the flight attendant is a intricate part of the flight crew and flight attendants have come along way. From the days of being an unmarried, single, nurse qualified individual and being called a stewardess if you were female (or "Stew") to the flight attendants of today who are multi-talented crew members and even move on in the industry to become pilots and eventually fly the plane they once served drinks and meals on!

In the late 1920s, some airlines employed male crew members, known as aerial couriers, cabin boys, flight companions, airplane attendants, or stewards, on their flights. These men, who were usually teenagers or men of small stature, loaded luggage, reassured nervous passengers, and helped people get around the plane. Stout Airlines, which later became part of the United Air Lines group, is credited with hiring America's first male flight attendants in 1926 for its Ford Trimotors on the Detroit to Grand Rapids route.

So I tip my future Captain's hat to Ms. Ruth Carol Taylor for going through what she had to go through to make a way for the rest of us!!! Martin Luther King and now President Barack Obama I'm sure as well as all of the flight attendants that followed in your flying footsteps would be proud and we thank you!

Always Be Proactive and not Reactive When You Fly and Enjoy Your Flight!

BlkAv8tor2003

Kulula’s Livery is Green! Flying 101 Paint Job!!!

2010-02-02T15:24:00.004-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

I love it when an airline gets creative with their product or brand name! Air New Zealand does nude safety demos, Virgin all but has "Austin Powers" (Mike Myers) in their promos and aboard their flights.

Well here comes Kulula Airlines from South Africa! It has taken the basic questions that passengers always seem to ask or want to know and painted the answers on the outside of the aircraft! Genius idea and Bravo for Kulula Airlines which seems to be like the "Southwest Airlines" of South Africa!

If your going to copy a model why not copy one of the best airlines to make it through the most difficult times! If you look at their website it's no wonder they painted the plane the way they did! Kulula Airlines Website It's loaded with funny pictures, advertisements and ways to make navigating around their website a little easier and much more inviting!

Somebody down their is thinking ahead and taking chances with a more humorous side. Whatever works I say! If Southwest can have an aircraft marshaller on a unicycle to park one of their jets, why can't Kulula paint the FAQ's on the outside of the plane! Nobody said you couldn't do it, right? lol

My kind of airline and I hope this dispells some of the many questions that our flying passengers may have!

Remember to "Be Proactive Not reactive" and enjoy your flights!

BlkAv8tor2003

http://www.onelargeprawn.co.za/2010/02/01/flying-101-kululas-livery-is-factual-quite-funny/
By Prawn1

Local airline Kulula has always stood out from the crowd from their odd choice of colour, to their jetsetter ads, and the comical safety demos on the flights. This sense of humour has found its way onto livery that has been applied to their fleet of Boeing 737s

The airplanes are covered with “Flying 101″ livery that shows interesting details about the plane, such as the captain’s window which is marked as the big cheese, the fuel tanks (the go-go juice), to the loo (or mile-high club initiation chamber), and the black box (which is actually orange)

Have a look at some images after the jump.
Click the images to see them bigger – they may take some time to load.

Oman Air Allows In-Flight Cell Phones and Texting

2010-01-29T09:39:00.004-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

So here it comes! The ways of WiFi and inflight cell phone usage. Is this a good thing or not? Some parts are good especially in the light of the recent inflight issues, fights and terrorist type attacks onboard the airlines these days! The bad, will be the loud talker on a cell phone or if someone has to listen to a guy argue with his woman and not be mindful of the area he is in and what he says! This will be one of the biggest problems the airlines will have in the future.

American carriers are not there yet but I know it's coming in the near future and it won't be as good as the non-U.S. carriers. Americans will more than likely abuse this service before is implemented on all carriers. Flight attendants can barely get passengers to listen to them now about not using electronic devices and when, not to mention overnight flight and the disturbance of sleeping passengers. Now we eventually will give the passengers access to cell phones and texting during flight.

This would be a good opportunity to start training the passengers on how to travel and get the most beneficial use of their portable electronic devices before, during and after the flight! I don't totally agree with it because I know how passengers will be especially when the passenger on the phone is keeping sleeping passengers awake during the flight. Omar Air is one of the few non-U.S. carriers that has it's airplanes fitted with the equipment to handle phone calls and texting so we will see what problems may arise because of it! Hopefully it will give the U.S. carriers some data to make better decision on how to implement this new service!!!

Below you will find the Oman Air press release to get the whole story!

Enjoy your flight and remember To Be Proactive And Not Reactive!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

Oman Air first impressed us with their unnecessarily nice bathrooms, but now they are moving forward to ruin the entire flight experience—maybe. They are launching full mobile capabilities for first class, business, and economy customers. That means cell phones for all up in the skies. You’ll be welcome to text, tweet, and call all of your friends from your seat. Things should be up and running by the middle of February, which is just in time to apologize to your sweetie for not being home on Valentine’s Day.

In-flight WiFi is also coming to the airline’s entire fleet of Airbus A330s, but cell phones ringing throughout the cabin has us worried. We’ve heard some awful ring tones and text message alerts, and are really hoping that passengers leave things on silent. The airline does promise that the crews will control the services, and that the mobile magic can be limited during quiet times like overnight flights.

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, becomes the first airline in the world to offer the full connectivity suite (Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir) on its commercial widebody aircraft when it starts to unroll full mobile phone and Wi-Fi connectivity across its brand new Airbus A330 fleet by the middle of February.

The move will give passengers in First, Business and Economy classes the opportunity to make and receive mobile phone calls, SMS, use email and the Internet and keep up to date with social networking media, such as Facebook and Twitter.

Launching the new service, Oman Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter Hill, says:
“We are delighted to be leading the field by bringing the digital age to in-flight passenger communications. From mid-February we will be unrolling full connectivity across our Airbus A330 fleet, completing the task in the summer. This great new service will enrich the passenger experience and complement the stunning new interiors we are offering in all three classes of travel.

“For many travelers, the ability to communicate via phone, SMS, email or Internet is a vital part of everyday life and staying in contact with friends, family or colleagues will constitute huge benefits for Oman Air’s customers. People are increasingly expecting Internet and mobile connectivity “anywhere, anytime” and what better place is there than on an Oman Air A330, when you have a few quiet hours to catch up on your email, browse the Internet or return that quick phone call.”

Availability of the service will be controlled by the crew to ensure a minimum of disturbance to passengers during, for example, the quietest periods of overnight flights.

Oman Air’s A330 fleet has been fitted with the Airbus ALNA V2 system, using Honeywell’s SwiftBroadband (SBB) solution. This supports both mobile phone and Internet in-flight communication, ensuring that whatever devices passengers choose to use, they will receive a swift and effective service.

http://www.omanair.com/wy/aboutus/aboutus_media_center/about_media_presrelses/releases_334.htm

John Travolta Brings Jetload Of Supplies To Haiti

2010-01-27T09:12:00.010-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

This is what you call "PIMP" status in a good way! John Travolta uses his "V-Jet" to help efforts in Haiti! This is one of the reasons why I like him!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

FILE - In this July 12, 2002 file photo, actor John Travolta stands next to one of the engines of his personal jet after he arrived in Sydney, Australia on the Spirit of Friendship world tour for Qantas airline. The 55-year-old actor and avid pilot plans to fly one of his private jets from Florida to Haiti bringing relief supplies on Monday night Jan. 25, 2010, according to Travolta's spokesman, Paul Bloch. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith, File)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - John Travolta has flown a jetliner carrying relief supplies into the Haitian capital, along with doctors and ministers from the Church of Scientology.

The 55-year-old actor piloted his own Boeing 707 from Florida with six tons of ready-to-eat military rations and medical supplies for survivors of Haiti's devastating Jan. 12 earthquake late Monday.
His wife, Kelly Preston, was also aboard.
"We have the ability to actually help make a difference in the situation in Haiti and I just can't see not using this plane to help," Travolta said.

Travolta compared the mission to aid efforts following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. "We were there right away, with this airplane, because you know we have the ability and the means to do this so I think you have responsibility on some level to do that."

John Travolta's Boeing 707 (B707-138) N707JT

Aid groups have been desperate to fly their own planes into the over-stressed airport. U.N. humanitarian spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs said Tuesday that at least 800 planes with relief items are on a waiting list for the airport, which can handle only about 130 flights a day due to a lack of space to park planes as they unload.

The aid group Doctors Without Borders has complained that the flight scheduling priorities of U.S. military controllers running the airport delayed the arrival of field hospitals, resulting in some deaths.
More than 150,000 people have already been buried since the magnitude-7 quake, which destroyed entire Port-au-Prince neighborhoods and landmarks and crumbled nearby towns.
Hundreds of thousands of people are living in the streets, with scores of injured wanting for proper medical care.

Travolta and Preston returned to Florida as soon as their supplies and passengers were unloaded.

Travolta's house is the ultimate boys' fantasy home made real. Aside from the parking lots for the brace of jets, Boeing 707-138 (N707JT)and a Gulfstream G-II (N492JT) there is a garden in the guise of a heliport, further parking for at least 6 cars, a swimming pool with hot tub,a 1.4-mile runway, a gym and stables for the 75 horses down the road.

Jewish Prayer Sparks Mid-Flight Bomb Alert

2010-01-26T12:34:00.004-07:00

A US Airways passenger plane had to be diverted after a young Jewish man's prayer items sparked a bomb scare.

Passengers on the US Airways plane raised the alarm
The Kentucky-bound flight was forced into a premature landing after cabin crew became alarmed when the 17-year-old began using Tefillin, a small set of black boxes containing religious passages.

When used in prayer, one box is placed on the head and one box is attached to the arm with leather strapping.
Fellow passengers raised the alarm before cabin crew decided to make the emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport.
Once landed, the teenager, who was travelling with his 16-year-old sister, was removed from the plane by security personnel and after satisfying security measures the flight was allowed to continue its journey.

Frances Winchell, the teenager's grandmother who was waiting for him at Louisville International Airport, said: "He hadn't had the opportunity to pray, so that is why he did it on the plane.
"But in any event, all is well that ends well and maybe some good will come to the world because of it."
Concerns about passengers carrying bombs have been heightened since a man was accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound flight using explosives concealed in his underwear on Christmas Day.

Dad Speaks Out On Airplane Prayer Scare Suggests Religious Sensitivity Training

We're learning more about just what happened when a flight made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport on Thursday morning.

And we got our first glimpse of the innocent teenager who put authorities on high alert.
The flight was diverted to Philadelphia International Airport and landed around 8:50 a.m. due to a suspected explosive onboard.
It turned out it was actually a prayer box. Rabbi Ira Stone from Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel explained to
MyFoxPhilly what a Tefillin is and how it may have caused confusion on the plane.

Tefillin Explained

"They're called Tefillin, the Hebrew plural for the word filla, which means prayer," Stone said. "They contain within them some parchments that contain words from the Holy Scriptures."
If one travels on El Al airlines, for example, one would see a dozen people standing up in the morning.”
Passengers who were detained at the airport Thursday morning had all reached their destinations by Thursday night, but a lot of them were wondering how this could have happened in the first place.

The boy and his sister finally arrived in Kentucky on Thursday night. He and his sister left New York on a commuter flight Thursday morning.
The pilot diverted the flight after a flight attendant on the plane said she saw him using a prayer box and thought it was an explosive.
The airplane taxied to a remote location. Police and bomb technicians boarded the plane, and officers quickly figured out the object was not an explosive.

"When you get information that there's someone on the plane who's wearing a device, and they describe it as wires being connected to two different parts of the device, immediately you look at – you think of the worst-case scenario," police Chief Inspector Joseph Sullivan said.
It turned out the teenager was attempting to pray with a prayer box known as a Tefillin.
His cousin showed news cameras Thursday night just how it attaches to your head and arm to pray.

"There's one for your arm and one for your head. This is the one for your head. So, you put it on like this, and the strap's going to pull across your body," said Zev Winchell, the teen's cousin.
Passengers on the flight were delayed and then questioned by the FBI on the ground in Philly.
In Louisville, some said Thursday night they felt airlines need to be better trained to recognize the difference between a religious object and a bomb.

"I think the airlines need to have some kind of sensitivity training toward religious beliefs so that someone's not confused about praying while they're flying. And maybe that will prevent that in the future," said passenger Joseph Satterly.

And the Philadelphia police chief inspector said he is very pleased with how his officers responded to what could have been a potential emergency
"We're in very precarious times, and it requires a different kind of playbook," Sullivan said.
On Thursday night, the father of the teen at the center of the incident spoke out about what his son says happened.

Glen Leibowitz said his son told him, "The man, you know, with a gun had taken them both off of the plane. They put them in handcuffs and then loaded them into a van. And they then quickly realized it was a horrible overreaction on the part of the stewardess."
The boy and his sister were in Louisville with their grandmother Thursday night.

Dad Speaks Out On Airplane Prayer Scare
"I think the airlines need to have some kind of sensitivity training toward religious beliefs so that someone's not confused about praying while they're flying. And maybe that will prevent that in the future," said passenger Joseph Satterly."

The airlines do have and train their crew members to recognize and respect different cultures and customs!" The passengers must realize not every religious nuance is going to be recognized by the flight attendants or the pilots.

It is the passengers responsibility to advise the flight crew or agents when they fly that they have a “special need concern or religious action” that they adhere to before or during flight (Primarily in the U.S.). This way the crew can accommodate the passenger’s wishes or assist in giving them the privacy they need to observe a religious practice.

As a former flight attendant and now a pilot I can say with absolute experience, passengers already think that the airplane is a restaurant, living room and their own private bathroom! FYI!

The airplane is a public community and nothing is completely yours! When passengers start planning ahead and being proactive and recognizing that there are things in the world that be looked at differently than what once was, then and only then will airline travel be a better experience!

Don't worry though I won't be holding my breath for the American airline traveler!!! I have a better chance at meeting the Pope!!!

Remember To Be Proactive And Not Reactive and enjoy your flight!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

Student Pranked By Philadelphia TSA Worker

2010-01-26T10:28:00.005-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

So when you fly you thought you could not be mistaken for a drug dealer or a terrorist? Think again! The normal practices of hiding something in or around a passengers luggage by a TSA security is very real and happens all the time. You just may have never been selected so this is why your probably not familiar with it!

The TSA will place fake bomb parts, fake hand guns, drugs or knives to see if the security agent catches it. This is strictly a test for the agents and you have no control over when it happens or by doing anything different you can lessen your chance of being selected.

This particular case sounds like a TSA agent was just trying to be funny at the expense of someone else and it ended up with the security agent being disciplined and then eventually leaving the TSA. Fired or resignation is not known. Usually when something like this happens if the agent finds the item, the passengers is flagged, hand searched and let go with minimal interactions or questions. This one freaked the passenger out and I don't think the agent expected that big a reaction. The agent let the passenger stutter through questions as a part of the humorous side of prank although things went wrong!

This was a prank gone wrong and the agent lost their employment because of it! I hope this is a wake up call for everyone while traveling and not to take things for face value. Just plan for anything and you will be better off in the long run!

Be Proactive and Not Reactive and enjoy your flight!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

Man planted bag of white powder in bag, no longer works for agency

AP updated 10:59 a.m. MT, Mon., Jan. 25, 2010
PHILADELPHIA - A college student returning to school after the winter break fell victim to a prank at Philadelphia's airport by a Transportation Security Administration worker who pretended to plant a plastic bag of white powder in her carryon luggage. The worker is no longer employed by the TSA after the incident this month, a spokeswoman said.

Rebecca Solomon, 22, a University of Michigan student, wrote in a column for her campus newspaper that she was having her bags screened on Jan. 5 before her flight to Detroit when the employee stopped her, reached into her laptop computer bag and pulled out the plastic bag, demanding to know where she had gotten the powder.

In the Jan. 10 column for The Michigan Daily, she recounted how she struggled to come up with an explanation, wondering if it was bomb-detonating material slipped in by a terrorist or drugs put there by a smuggler.

"He let me stutter through an explanation for the longest minute of my life," Solomon wrote. "Tears streamed down my face as I pleaded with him to understand that I'd never seen this baggie before."

A short time later, she said, the worker smiled and said it was his.
The worker "waved the baggie at me and told me he was kidding, that I should've seen the look on my face," she said.

Solomon said she asked to speak to a supervisor and filled out a complaint, and during that process was told that the man was training TSA workers to detect contraband. Two days later, she said, she was told he had been disciplined.
"I had been terrified and disrespected by an airport employee," she said. "He'd joked about the least funny thing in air travel."

There was no answer Saturday at a telephone listing for Solomon at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. An e-mail message seeking comment from her was sent Saturday by The Associated Press, and a telephone message was left at her parents' home in suburban Philadelphia.

TSA spokeswoman Suzanne Trevino said late Saturday that the employee was no longer with the agency but did not say whether he had been fired or quit, referring only to "disciplinary action" taken by the TSA.

She also declined to identify the worker or his job title, citing privacy laws. She said she did not know whether his actions would be subject to criminal charges.
"The behavior exhibited by this TSA employee was highly inappropriate and unprofessional," Trevino said in a statement.

Is this where security at the airport is going??? lol It may look funny but you never know, especially with the implimentation of the full body scanners at security checkpoints!

US Airways Saves Flight From Dangerous Xbox 360 Threat

2010-01-21T00:02:00.002-07:00

Adam was flying out of Boston on US Airways, and he checked his Xbox 360 with his luggage. When he got home, he found a Ziploc bag full of little metal components on top of a newly broken Xbox 360.

He is understandably pissed off, and US Airways has essentially told him to piss off because it was done for security reasons. Of course! We all know that if an Xbox 360 is checked, it could be used by the pilots, which would be distracting and dangerous. Only by rendering it inoperable was US Airways able to keep our skies safe. Thanks, you wonderful, sensible airline!

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/01/us-airways-saves-flight-from-dangerous-xbox-360-threat/

Gizmodo Australia - Adam Frucci

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

This is a new one for the books! Airline destroys passengers XBox 360 and tells him too bad? I found this as I was looking around on the net and I stumbled onto this story. I live in Phoenix where US Airways is based and it hasn't popped up in the news on local TV or radio. None of the major news sites have said anything yet but it may be on by morning. Several sites were saying the pic is used for illustration purposes and it's not the actual gaming console.

I don't know what to believe on this one but I'll keep an ear out to see if it has any validity in it! If the airline diddo something like this, it's really wrong and they should be held responsible! Not all of the blame goes to the airline though. The passenger should have not checked it in the first place...DUH!!! Why would you check something like that? They are not cheap and if the passenger loves it so much he should have had it in his carry-on baggage with him in the cabin.

Obviously he is not a seasoned traveler at all! Checking electronic devices in your checked luggage is insane to say the least and if he had to check it at the last minute he should have taken it out of the bag. Most agent will let you do that at least so he still should have not had it in his checked luggage! He kinda deserved what he got in a sense! This should show everyone when you fly that you can't trust what you don't see!

if nothing else he should have sent it via FedEx or UPS to his destination to save the heart ache of the whole situation. this is what all passengers who fly (not for business travelers) and know where they are going and are going to be there longer than a day or two so that you can send your baggage ahead, track it and know when it has arrived...even before the traveler has left the departure city.

Adam Frucci is the passenger this supposedly happened to and I feel sorry for him in this situation but part of this is his fault for being the stupid passenger and he got treated pretty bad from what the story said so my suggestion to Adam is to stay after the airline, I hope he got names of the agents he dealt with and flight numbers, times and dates because any loop holes in his documentation and the airline may send him walking. This way he can account for everything he went through and with whom he talked to.

The agents that that he dealt with in baggage claim should be reprimanded or more because they should have investigated this further, involved supervisors from both the departure city and his final destination plus any intermediate stops the flight may have made whether there was an aircraft swap or not bags can be removed and placed in other aircraft cargo bins for weight and balance purposes so the bag could have been tampered with in the process.

This will be an interesting story...I wonder will it be like the United Airlines smashed guitars incident?

We shall see!!!

EMAS Stops PSA Airlines CRJ2 at Charleston (KCRW)

2010-01-20T10:27:00.006-07:00

A PSA Airlines Canadair CRJ-200 on behalf of US Airways, registration N246PS performing flight JIA-2495/US-2495 from Charleston,WV to Charlotte,NC (USA) with 30 passengers and 3 crew, overran runway 23 after rejecting takeoff at high speed at 16:13L (21:13Z) and got to a stop in the EMAS (Engineered Material Arrestor System) past the end of runway 23. No injuries occured, the airplane received substantial damage and probably needs its landing gear replaced.The airport had to be closed for about 5.5 hours until the airplane was removed from the arrestor bed.

The airport reported, that the airplane aborted the takeoff and came to a stop about 130 feet (40 meters) down the EMAS. The EMAS, which was installed in 2007, worked perfectly.

A standard EMAS installation extends 600 feet from the end of the runway. An EMAS arrestor bed can still be installed to help slow or stop an aircraft that overruns the runway, even if less than 600 feet of land is available.

(EMAS) is a bed of lightweight, crushable concrete built at the end of a runway. The purpose of an EMAS is to stop an aircraft overrun with no human injury and minimal aircraft damage (usually none). The aircraft is slowed by the loss of energy required to crush the concrete blocks. An EMAS is similar in concept to the runaway truck ramp made of gravel. It is intended to stop aircraft that have overshot a runway when there is an insufficient free space for a standard runway safety area (RSA).

Currently, EMAS is installed at 42 runway ends at 28 airports in the United States, with plans to install 6 EMAS systems at 6 additional U.S. airports.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineered_materials_arrestor_system

EMAS Arrestments

To date, there have been four incidents where the technology has worked successfully to arrest aircraft which overrun the runway and in several cases has prevented injury to passengers and damage to the aircraft.

Metars:

KCRW 192154Z 00000KT 10SM BKN050 BKN080 12/05 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP129 T01170050

KCRW 192150Z 00000KT 10SM BKN050 BKN080 12/05 A2991 RMK AO2

KCRW 192054Z 00000KT 10SM BKN046 BKN055 13/05 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP128 T01280050 56015

KCRW 191954Z 00000KT 10SM SCT036 SCT050 BKN075 12/05 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP131 T01220050

KCRW 191854Z 20005KT 10SM SCT030 BKN060 11/05 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP134 T01060050

KCRW 191847Z 23006KT 10SM SCT030 BKN060 11/05 A2992 RMK AO2

KCRW 191754Z 29003KT 10SM OVC026 09/04 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP144 T00940044 10100 20017 58011

KCRW 191654Z 00000KT 10SM OVC019 08/04 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP155 T00830039

KCRW 191554Z 00000KT 7SM BKN022 BKN032 06/03 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP157 T00610033

By Simon Hradecky, created Tuesday, Jan 19th 2010 23:39Z, last updated Wednesday, Jan 20th 2010 08:49Z

The Aviation Herald

Haitian Evacuee The Culprit in JFK Security Breach

2010-01-18T08:56:00.003-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

So another person sets off alarms by going through security doors...Yes "doors!" This man went through two doors and eventually made it all the way home! How does this happen, especially going into secure areas and making it out of the terminal onto some type of transportation and all the way home? Police found him there and now he is up on charges. Read the full story at The Gothamist.

My question is how did he get down onto the ground level from the terminal level and was never challenged by anyone before exiting to the street level? Then he obviously had to open another door or two to get outside the airport operations area (AOA) and set of additional alarms alerting security officials to his latest position. After working in the would of the airlines I can say for a fact that it is drilled into your head when you first get your airport I.D. that if you can't see someones airport I.D. then you challenge them to prove they are allowed to be there...in uniform or not!

How this happens at the one of the busiest airports in the world is beyond me. Mr. Jules Bouloute will be in some kind of trouble for sure but I hope several security employees and airline personal are in trouble for allowing something like this to happen. Security is already heightened and this is not the time to be complacent and assume anything. I will be interested to see what comes of this crazy event at JFK!

Enjoy your travels and remember "Be Proactive Not Reactive!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

A Haitian evacuee has been arrested for shirking security protocol at JFK, causing hours-long delay in terminal 8. Yesterday afternoon 57-year-old Jules Bouloute walked through a door that led to a restricted area, setting off an alarm. The terminal was evacuated and passengers waited for hours to be re-screened. Bouloute, who narrowly escaped Haiti after Tuesday’s earthquake, is now facing threats of a legal nature.

To get out of Haiti, Bouloute fled to the Dominican Republic and then flew to Orlando on Friday. He spent the night there, then proceeded to his home in Brooklyn, via JFK, reported the NY Post. He arrived safely at the terminal, but instead of leaving he made a detour through a door that was clearly marked “For Authorized Personnel Only.” Surveillance footage captured Bouloute passing through a first door, near Gate 5, at 3:06 p.m., a source told the NY Daily News. A minute later he strolled through a second door, setting off an alarm, and walked out at ground level.

See Full Story at The Gothamist

Former Airline Employee Wore Uniform to Rob Bank

2010-01-15T10:29:00.003-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

I know we are in a recession and time are hard to say the least but this tops it all I think! A former Southwest Airlines ramp employee in his old ramp agent uniform went into a bank in the Chicago and robbed it in uniform! How crazy is that???

Police caught him pretty quick after some top notch investigating...Going to Chicago Midway Airport (KMDW) and talking with a few employees and before long the police had his name, addy and who knows what else!

I would be curious to see if this is disgruntled employee trying to get back at Southwest Airlines instead of "Going Postal" and shooting innocent people. I guess he figured bad press all ways works, especially with the airlines current performance and employee morale!

I guess when you snap, you'll do anything! This definitely is an interesting story. Here is the full story and you will see what I mean!!!

Have a good flight and always remember to "Be Proactive and Not Reactive!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

Why is it that we never hear stories of smart bank robbers? For some reason, when someone decides to rob a bank, it is usually someone as dumb as a bag of rocks. Take for example 24 year old Deoquisto Dennis.
According to the FBI, this Chicago resident walked into a TCF bank branch on South Cicero Avenue in Burbank, handed the teller a note demanding cash, and threatened to harm if his demands were not met.

Now, most bank robbers use face masks, and dark clothes — they understand that leaving any clues about their identity may screw up their plans of instant wealth. Sadly, Mr. Dennis could not find a suitable bank robbers outfit, so he allegedly put on the uniform he used to wear when he worked for Southwest Airlines.
Imagine a bank robber walking in with a Southwest Airlines sweatshirt and a fluorescent ramp workers vest — can you think of a more useless outfit? Of course, with the whole thing caught on tape, all the cops had to do was take the footage to Midway airport, interview a couple of employees and within hours they had a name.

Dennis has now been charged, and was released under bond with a home confinement, awaiting his next court date. In addition to his TCF Bank heist, he is also a suspect in four other Chicago area bank robberies around the same time.
He had been charged in a federal criminal complaint filed last week with one count of bank robbery.
According to the complaint, Dennis entered the TCF Bank branch at 7910 S. Cicero Ave. in Burbank about 2 p.m. on Dec. 22, approached a teller and handed her a note demanding cash. The note also threatened harm if his demands were not met. After taking just over $700, the robber fled on foot.

At the time of the robbery, Dennis was wearing a blue Southwest Airlines sweatshirt and safety vest, commonly worn by airport ramp workers, the release said.
Because of the airline vest worn at the time of the robbery, Southwest personnel were contacted and shown photos of the robber captured by bank surveillance. Several employees allegedly identified Dennis, a former employee. According to employees, Dennis was employed as a ramp agent and would have worn a blue jumpsuit with a reflective vest, according to the release.
The employees also said Southwest does not require the return of uniforms when employees leave their jobs.

Though not charged with additional crimes, Dennis is suspected of the robbery of the TCF branch at 8801 S. Ridgeland Ave. in Oak Lawn on Dec. 17, and the attempted robbery of a Chase Bank branch at 4730 W. 79th St. in Chicago on Dec. 16., the release said.
He appeared late Tuesday before Magistrate Judge Geraldine Soat Brown, who allowed Dennis' release on a secured bond but placed him under home confinement. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Somali arrested in Nov with powder chemicals, syringe

2009-12-30T10:06:00.006-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

Ok, explain this one to me because I'm lost. We have had a couple of recent incidents where terrorist attempts were made on U.S. airliners and were unsuccessful. Now today they news agencies are reporting that there was another incident on Nov 13, 2009 and the report is hitting the wires as of today! WTH is that all about??? Tell us what we need to know and when we need to know it??? The incident in Detroit we were made aware of it within hours of it happening. So why are the international news agencies from other countries just now releasing this information.

Are the incidents tied together some how? Are these just test runs to see how the U.S. reacts and what happens and then the suspect is eventually released so that they may report back to the original organizers what they went through???

We need to be more proactive and not so reactive when it comes to national security!!!

Read the story below as reported.

As always, Have a great holiday travel season, be prepared and always remember to be ahead of the game and the other players.

So be Proactive And Not Reactive and enjoy your flight!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

By Associated Press
Wednesday, December 30, 2009

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Officials say a Somali national tried to board a commercial airliner in Mogadishu last month with powdered chemicals, liquid and a syringe that together could have caused an explosion. The hallmarks bear chilling similarities to the terrorist plot to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner.

Police spokesman Abdulahi Hassan Barise says the suspect was arrested before the Nov. 13 Daallo Airlines flight departed. The Somali man -- whose name has not yet been released -- was arrested by African Union peacekeeping troops.

It was scheduled to travel from Mogadishu to the northern Somali city of Hargeisa, then to Djibouti and Dubai.

Two international officials in Nairobi said Wednesday the incident is similar to the Detroit attack in that the Somali man had a syringe, a bag of powdered chemicals and liquid. U.S. officials are aware of the incident and hastening to investigate any possible links with the Detroit attack.

http://www.startribune.com/world/80334377.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBcy7hUiacyKU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs

Most carry-on bags banned on flights to U.S.

2009-12-29T16:04:00.004-07:00

U.S.-bound air travellers were forced to stow all but the bare essentials in their checked luggage Monday as Transport Canada issued a new ban on almost all carryon luggage.

The prohibition is intended to get planes running on schedule after time-consuming new security measures introduced on Saturday caused lineups, delays and cancellations across North America, spokesman Patrick Charette said.
RCMP officers also were called in to help implement the new measures, which include hand-searches of all carry-on luggage and physical pat-downs before boarding.

"We are asking travellers to please limit the items you are bringing on," Charette said. "We are doing what we can to facilitate the normal flow of passengers."
The complete ban on carry-on luggage is expected to be in effect until 7 p.m. tonight. Both Air Canada and WestJet are temporarily waiving fees for extra bags.

Transport Canada issued a list of 13 items that are exempt from the new policy.

Passengers can still carry-on small purses, coats, laptops, cameras, musical instruments and baby-care supplies. Medication, crutches, canes, walkers, medical devices, special needs items and containers carrying life sustaining items are also exempt.
"Technically, if it is not on the list, it is not allowed," Charette said.
However, he said security personnel can exercise discretion at the gate.

Edmonton International Airport spokeswoman Donna Call said the new rules mean all backpacks and rolling suitcases must be checked. Books, magazines and even children's toys must also be checked, she said. Finally, even exempt items will be limited, which means that a single passenger cannot carry-on a purse, a coat, a laptop and a diaper bag. Rolling carry-ons or bags larger than small purses or laptop sleeves will not be allowed. However, small electronic devices such as iPods and portable DVD players will be allowed on board, Call said, and passengers are free to purchase books, magazines, snacks and water once they are through security.

"The incident on Dec. 25 has risen the security alert to an extreme level and that has led to this direction," she said.
Around noon on Christmas Day, 23-year-old Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab allegedly tried to blow up a Detroit-bound plane as it descended into Detroit Metro Airport with 278 passengers aboard.

The man was tackled by passengers, foiling what officials called an attempted terror attack.
Hours later, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority rolled out strict new security measures, including individual pat-downs before boarding.

First class pain: Unruly Ivana Trump booted off a flight at Palm Beach International

2009-12-29T10:08:00.004-07:00

BY JOSE LAMBIET
The Palm Beach Post
Ivana TrumpPalm Beach jet-setter Ivana Trump, whom you’d think would fly private, was booted off a commercial flight departing Palm Beach International Airport this afternoon.

Trump, 60, a former wife of TV star and developer Donald Trump, was not charged with a crime but was escorted off the first-class cabin of Delta flight 2377 to New York City’s LaGuardia Airport and to her waiting chauffeur.

The way a spokeswoman with the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office puts it, the departing jet’s pilot called deputies about 2:30 p.m. because of a foul-mouthed and unruly passenger in seat 1C, in first class.
When the lawmen arrived, they discovered the abusive passenger was the well-known socialite. They described her as “belligerent” and “aggravating.”

According to PBSO, Trump first was unhappy about her seat. Flight attendants offered her another, and headphones, to calm her down. But then Trump became more frustrated when children started running up and down the aisle while screaming.

You won’t believe the language Trump used. Look below or click
As the plane started to taxi out, an agitated Trump started calling the kids “little fu…..” and telling passengers around her “f*@& you!”
“She was so belligerent toward other passengers and crew that the plane returned to the terminal,” said Teri Barbera, the PBSO spokeswoman.

Trump first refused the deputies’ orders to exit the aircraft. She finally relented after Delta staff offered her to fly at a later date.
“From initial contact until Ms. Trump left the property, she was saying “f&%$ you” to all the deputies,” Barbera’s statement read.

FBI was contacted but didn’t pursue the matter. The ordeal caused a two-hour delay for Trump’s fellow passengers.
The incident comes as airports throughout the world are tightening security measures after an alleged terrorist tried to set off a bomb on a Northwest Airlines flight on Christmas Day near Detroit.

Trump, meanwhile, hasn’t had the greatest time lately. Her 20-month marriage to the much younger Rossano Rubicondi, 37, is running out of steam. Rubicondi, Trump’s fourth husband, has been spreading his love all over Europe while Trump spent the holiday alone in her Palm Beach mansion. She filed for the divorce earlier this month.

Trump couldn’t be contacted and her publicist, Catherine Saxton, didn’t return calls.

Accident: American B738 at Kingston on Dec 22nd 2009, overran runway on landing

2009-12-23T10:24:00.007-07:00

The tail separated (Photo: AP/Lloyd Robinson)

By Simon Hradecky, created Wednesday, Dec 23rd 2009 08:21Z, last updated Wednesday, Dec 23rd 2009 14:41Z
http://avherald.com/h?article=424a11b1&opt=0

An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N977AN performing flight AA-331 from Miami,FL (USA) to Kingston (Jamaica) KMIA MKJP with 148 passengers and 6 crew, overran Kingston's runway 12 while landing in heavy rain and poor visibility at 10:22pm local time (03:22Z Dec 23rd). The passengers were evacuated. 44 passengers were taken to local hospitals, 4 of them received serious injuries. The airplane received substantial damage.

American Airlines confirmed the overrun and reported, that no critical injuries occured. The airplane received substantial damages, the fuselage cracked, the right hand engine was torn off and the main gear collapsed.

"The care of our passengers and crew members is our highest priority, and we will offer all the assistance necessary," said Gerard Arpey, the airline's chairman and chief executive officer. Passengers reported, that the flight had been turbulent forcing the beverage service to be cancelled. The cockpit crew warned of more turbulence just prior to landing.

After touch down the airplane appeared to bounce and started to skid after the second touch down. Baggage fell down from the overhead lockers. After the airplane came to a stand still, cabin crew opened the emergency exits. The airplane came to a stand still about 3 meters short of the Caribbean Sea.

American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N977AN (Actual Aircraft) www.jetphotos.net

Airport officials reported, that the airplane overran the runway, broke through the perimeter fence, travelled across a road and came to a stop at the beach. 44 passengers were taken to local hospitals, 4 of them received serious injuries. Newest reports indicate, that both engines were torn off the airframe.

The flight originated from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA)in the Washington, D.C., area before landing in Miami (KMIA) and then heading to Jamaica, the airline said.
A Radio Jamaica reporter, Kirk Abraham, said it had been raining in the area when the plane failed to stop and ran into the fence past the end of the runway.

American Airlines Information

Anyone who believes they have family members or friends aboard Flight 331 may contact American Airlines at the following toll-free numbers: (800) 245-0999 for calls originating in the United States; (800) 872-2881 for calls originating in Jamaica. Family members from other locations outside the U.S. may contact American through the AT&T Direct Access system. Callers should dial the local AT&T Access telephone number, which can be found at www.usa.att.com/traveler, for the country from which they are calling.

Once in the AT&T system, callers can then dial American toll-free at (800) 245-0999. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin islands can call the (800) 245-0999 number directly. Non-family members are asked not to call those numbers so the lines can be kept available for those who truly need them.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL331/history/20091223/0039Z/KMIA/MKJP

Weather as reported from airport control tower before time of accident.

Metars:

MKJP 230430Z 34011KT 44000 RA BKN014 FEW016CB BKN100 21/13 Q1013 RESHRA

MKJP 230400Z 32014KT 11500 +SHRA BKN014 FEW016CB SCT028 BKN090 21/18 Q1013 RERA

MKJP 230325Z 32011KT 22000 +SHRA BKN014 FEW016CB SCT030 BKN100 21/19 Q1014 RETSRA

MKJP 230300Z 32008KT 3000 +SHRA BKN014 FEW016CB SCT030 BKN100 21/20 Q1014 RETSRA

MKJP 230228Z 31009KT 5000 TSRA BKN014 FEW016CB SCT030 BKN100 22/19 Q1013

MKJP 230200Z 30012KT 5000 SHRA BKN014 SCT030 BKN100 22/20 Q1013 RERA

MKJP 230100Z 040033KT 5000 SHRA BKN016 SCT030 BKN100 23/20 Q1013 RERA

Alaska Airlines introduces ''Spirit Of Disneyland II'' to Portland

2009-12-21T12:53:00.003-07:00

Alaska Airlines' Boeing 737-900

PORTLAND, Ore. — Mickey Mouse's faithful friend Pluto is joining the cast of Disney characters now soaring on a specially-themed Alaska Airlines jet.

Alaska Airlines this morning introduced its "Spirit of Disneyland II" aircraft at Portland International Airport. The plane is adorned with the faces of Disney's most recognized characters – Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and, for the first time, Pluto. The new design replaces a previous Disney-themed aircraft retired two weeks ago. Alaska Airlines' Boeing 737-900 aircraft made its inaugural flight from Portland to Los Angeles International Airport carrying three Make-A-Wish® children on their way to the Disneyland Resort to have their wishes granted.

"We're honored to have our Disney and Make-A-Wish partners join us to debut Alaska's fourth Disney-themed aircraft," said Alaska Airlines' President Brad Tilden. "For the next seven years these five characters will serve as an iconic vehicle to bring customers across our network to the ‘Happiest Place on Earth' and other Alaska Airlines destinations."

The "Spirit of Disneyland II" aircraft was welcomed at the gate by the three children and their families, as well as Mickey Mouse, Pluto and leaders from Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Oregon, Disneyland Resorts and Alaska Airlines, as travelers looked on from the terminal.

"When a child with a life-threatening medical condition wishes to meet a Disney character or visit a Disney park, we know that Alaska Airlines and Disneyland Resort are there to make it a dream-come-true," said Andrew Asato, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon executive director. "With donated tickets and passes, as well as extra-special treatment for wish families, these partners have each provided an unduplicated resource to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for more than 20 years."

The special children on board, who live in Oregon and Washington and range in age from 3 to 5 years, will spend the next five days at the Disneyland Resort along with their families. During their visit, they will be treated to special activities, a meal with characters and a four-night stay at the Paradise Pier Hotel at the Disneyland Resort.

"Thanks to the larger size of this aircraft, we are thrilled to have Mickey's faithful companion Pluto join the cast of Disney characters on this special plane," said Lisa Becket, Disneyland Resort vice president of regional marketing strategies. "We're grateful to Alaska Airlines for giving our Disney characters a ‘one-of-a-kind' opportunity to spread their magic across the sky."

Source: Alaska Air
Posted by: just4airlines.com at 0136h UTC Dec 19, 2009

Gov't imposes 3-hour limit on tarmac strandings

2009-12-21T09:53:00.003-07:00

Crews work to clear snow from the tarmac at Logan International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in Boston.
(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091221/ap_on_bi_ge/us_tarmac_strandings

WASHINGTON – The Transportation Department, responding to tarmac horror stories, orders airlines on Monday to let passengers stuck in stranded airplanes to deplane after three hours.
With its new regulations, the Obama administration is sending an unequivocal message to airlines that it won't tolerate the delays experienced by some passengers, such as an overnight ordeal in Rochester, Minn., last summer.

Under the new regulations, airlines operating domestic flights will be able only to keep passengers on board for three hours before they must be allowed to disembark a delayed flight. The regulation provides exceptions only for safety or security or if air traffic control advises the pilot in command that returning to the terminal would disrupt airport operations.
U.S. carriers operating international flights departing from or arriving in the United States must specify, in advance, their own time limits for deplaning passengers.

Airlines will be required to provide food and water for passengers within two hours of a plane being delayed on a tarmac, and to maintain operable lavatories. They must also provide passengers with medical attention when necessary.
From January to June this year, 613 planes were delayed on tarmacs for more than three hours, their passengers kept on board.

Airlines will also be prohibited from scheduling chronically delayed flights. Carriers who fail to comply could face government enforcement action for using unfair or deceptive trade practices.
The new regulations, which were published Monday in the Federal Register, go into effect in 120 days.

"Airline passengers have rights, and these new rules will require airlines to live up to their obligation to treat their customers fairly," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.
Airlines have strongly opposed a hard time limit on tarmac strandings. They say forcing planes to return to gates so that passengers can get off could cause more problems than it cures. They predict more flights will be canceled, further delaying passengers from reaching their destinations.

Last month, the department fined Continental Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines and Mesaba Airlines $175,000 for their roles in a nearly six-hour tarmac delay in Rochester, Minn. On Aug. 8, Continental Express Flight 2816 en route to Minneapolis was diverted to Rochester due to thunderstorms. Forty-seven passengers were kept overnight in a cramped plane amid crying babies and a smelly toilet because Mesaba employees refused to open a gate so that they could enter the closed airport terminal.

The case marked the first time the department had fined an airline for actions involving a tarmac delay. Transportation officials made clear the case was a warning to the industry.
Consumer advocates have been pressing the department and Congress for at least a decade to do something extended tarmac delays. However, past efforts to address the problem have fizzled in the face of industry opposition and promises to reform.

Boeing Dreamliner Ready For Maiden Flight

2009-12-17T15:45:00.005-07:00

Boeing CEO Jim Albaugh on the 787: " It's going to change the way people travel." It's set to take its first test flight Tuesday.

Everett, Washington (CNN) -- There are flight delays and then there's Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.
Fighting its way through more than two years of delays, Boeing's latest aircraft, the 787 Dreamliner, is scheduled to take its maiden flight Tuesday.
"We think it's a game changer because it provides so much value to the customer," Jim Albaugh, Boeing executive vice president and CEO, said in a CNN interview. "We think this is going to be a very efficient airplane. It's going to change the way people travel."
Despite the delays, Boeing's first new commercial airliner in over a decade will still be relevant, Albaugh said Monday.

"It's more environmentally friendly, it's more efficient, uses less fuel, it's going to cost the operator less to fly, it's going to allow the passengers to pay less and feel better when they land."
Boeing's claims of the Dreamliner's much-touted efficiency are tied to its design. It's the first major airliner to be made of mostly composite materials. Boeing has staked its reputation on claims that the aircraft's relatively lighter, faster body will save airlines up to 20 percent in fuel costs.

The company also says the new material will hold up better to the wear and tear of flight than traditional aluminum. Boeing says it has orders for more than 850 of the planes, which officially sell for around $150 million each.
Depending on the configuration, the Dreamliner can seat between 200 to 300 passengers and can travel more than 2,500 nautical miles. The target market is carriers traveling point-to-point international routes.

Boeing 787 Takes Flight For The First Time!!!

But despite the promise of a new more efficient airplane, production delays and technical problems have stolen some of the Dreamliner's luster.
Many of the delays and snags in the supply line with the first Dreamliners have been blamed on the army of partners Boeing brought in to help with the construction.
"They did too much outsourcing, too soon, with too little oversight," said Scott Hamilton of the aviation consulting firm Leeham Co. "The customers have been mightily (upset) over the creeping delays."

Albaugh conceded that "in hindsight" the large amount of outsourcing done with the 787 was not the best strategy. "There a few things we might have kept inside, yes."
Even though 787s won't start flying passenger routes until at least 2011, Boeing executives said they hope a successful first flight will at least begin to quell doubts over the future of airplane production at the company.

The test flight "is going to validate the airplane to an extent," Albaugh said. "We've got 10 months of flight tests in front of us. ... There's a lot of work to do."
For Tuesday's scheduled test flight, the Dreamliner will take off from the hangar where it was assembled in Everett, Washington, and undergo a battery of tests during a five-hour flight before landing some 40 miles away at Boeing Field just south of downtown Seattle.
"We are going to shake this airplane out to demonstrate that it can do everything we've advertised it to do," Albaugh said.

Boeing premiered the first 787 at a rollout ceremony on July 8, 2007, which matches the aircraft's designation in the US-style month-day-year format (7/8/07). However, the aircraft's major systems had not been installed at that time, and many parts were attached with temporary non-aerospace fasteners requiring their later replacement with flight fasteners. Boeing had originally planned for a first flight by the end of September 2007, but on September 5 announced a three-month delay, blaming a shortage of fasteners as well as incomplete software.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner First Flight

Another flight disrupted by a group of Muslims

2009-12-14T21:17:00.003-07:00

http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/17836

(Editor’s Note: Doug Hagmann’s popular site, the Northeast Intelligence Network is currently under transition to another server and will be back online later today.)

It happened again on Wednesday, December 9, 2009, less than a month after the incident aboard AirTran Flight 297.

United Airlines Flight 227, scheduled to depart Denver International Airport at 1:50 pm Wednesday for Los Angeles was disrupted when several passengers who were described as Middle Eastern in appearance, confirmed by this investigator to be a group of Muslims traveling together, were removed from that aircraft due to suspicious behavior that originated in the terminal and continued to the airplane. Their behavior was consistent in some respects to the behavior of the Muslim passengers aboard AirTran Flight 297 on November 17, 2009 that caused a flurry of controversy over its legitimacy, and the now infamous case of the “Flying Imams” of 2006.

According to information obtained by this investigator, seven men of Middle Eastern appearance, boarded flight 227. Two took their seats in coach, while five took their seats in the first class section of the plane. At a critical pre-flight point, the individuals appeared to act in concert with one another, changing seats and moving stowed luggage to very specific areas of the aircraft, often having to move the stowed bags of other passengers to do so. They disobeyed or otherwise ignored the admonitions of the flight attendants to remain seated.

Their behavior was so overt and so apparently choreographed, according to our sources, that the flight crew demanded the passengers be removed from the aircraft. One report found on 9News in Denver quoted John Sloan, a passenger aboard that flight:

“I have never seen flight attendants so scared in my life. Everything turned out OK, but it was not a very good feeling..”

Following the removal of the passengers, officials brought a bomb-sniffing dog aboard the aircraft, focusing of the first class section of the plane. Subsequent to the search that found nothing, the offending passengers were removed from the flight and rebooked on another aircraft to their destination. According to federal officials, no criminal investigation is being launched into this incident, which was described as a “customer service” matter.

Early this morning, this investigator spoke to a law enforcement source in Denver who is intimately familiar with the incident. Many details have not been publicly reported about this incident, although it is clear that there is an agenda at play. Based on information obtained from this source and others relating to the previous flights disrupted by the deliberate behavior of Muslim passengers, it is clear that the airline industry, as well as the sensibilities of normal Americans, is under attack through Islamic ideological jihad. Additional information will be provided once our investigation is complete.

Southwest CEO: Free Bags = $800 Million

2009-12-14T21:08:00.002-07:00

DALLAS (TheStreet) -- Southwest(LUV Quote) says its strategy of eschewing fees for baggage handling and other amenities has boosted revenue by nearly $800 million annually, CEO Gary Kelly said.

Southwest has seen a market share shift of roughly one percentage point in response to its "immensely successful 'bags fly free' advertising campaign, in a time when we are actually reducing our capacity and the domestic market is actually shrinking," Kelly said at an investment conference. With the domestic air travel market worth about $80 billion to $90 billion annually, "a market share shift like that has a very significant positive effect for Southwest," Kelly said.

Southwest spokeswoman Linda Rutherford noted the carrier's market share gains result not only from the bags fly free campaign, but also from being a low-fare carrier in a recession and from competitors' capacity reductions. Not charging for bags reinforces Southwest's image as a low-fare leader, Kelly has said.

Other airlines have said that as they implement charges for baggage handling and other services, they have been unable to discern any resultant shift to Southwest. Last month, US Airways(LCC Quote) CEO Doug Parker told reporters in Charlotte that passengers may be avoiding multiple carriers at imperceptible rates, which in combination create a perceptible gain for Southwest.
Kelly said Southwest expects to be profitable in the fourth quarter.

He said the carrier is benefitting from growth in select markets, including Denver and Saint Louis. However, he said he has seen no improvement in business travel. "I don't think it has gotten worse over the last several months, (but) I am comfortable in telling you it still lags," he said. "I am not expecting a rebound in business travel in 2010."

Free KLM Luggage Tags With You Own Photo

2009-12-14T20:37:00.003-07:00

http://tiny.cc/tEgsb or https://www.klm.com/baggagelabel/
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Asking For Orange Juice On American Airlines May Violate Federal Law

2009-12-14T20:20:00.005-07:00

Something went very wrong on American Airlines flight 614 from Sacramento to Dallas this Sunday, December 6th. An American Airlines stewardess having an extremely bad day flipped the frak out on a first class passenger for asking for a glass of OJ and gave him a written warning from the captain for, "threatening, intimidating, or interfering with a crewmember." Here's an eyewitness account:

David Koss wrote us, "About 45 minutes into the flight I was awakened by a flight attendant named Helen, screaming at the man sitting in front of my wife. It was so loud, I could hear it over my headphones and the music playing. She was going off about how she didn't care if he was Platinum or Executive Platinum. I found this to be very odd. When she was done screaming, she came over to where my wife was sitting to ask what she wanted to eat. Then she said, "Sorry about that, he was just bitching." First of all, such language shouldn't be used by a flight attendant. Second of all, what business is it of hers to discuss the situation with other passengers?

Since I take the word of the other 5 friends I work with (including my wife) as truth, I will describe the events that led to the outburst. Helen was already having a very bad day. She acted upset to be working this job, which in this economy she should be grateful for, and was irritated at everyone. All my friends could tell that she was pissed. She was pissed that she was there, that people were blocking aisles while she was serving meals, and that they were getting up to use the restroom. She violently slid my friend's breakfast onto his tray, nearly spilling everything and then headed to the man in front of my wife. He had trouble getting his tray out, and she stood there rolling her eyes at him. When he finally got it out, she dropped the breakfast hard onto the tray.

He asked if he could have some orange juice. This is when it hit the fan. "This must be your first time in first class," she said. He asked what she meant by that. He told her he was actually on the flight that made him Executive Platinum for the 10th year in a row. She said, "You obviously don't know how this works." He told her in a calm voice that she was being very condescending. That's when she blew up on him and woke me up. He started looking the other way and asked her to stop yelling at him. The entire first class section was watching her go nuts.

She went to the front of the plane and disappeared for a while after making the previously mentioned comment to my wife. The man was shocked. He started looking around and asked the rest of us if we just saw what happened. We started talking to him about it, and didn't know why she was acting this way. At one point Helen went into the cockpit to talk to the captain. We all took turns talking to each other, and everyone saw the same thing. Our friend Barth was sitting on the opposite side of the isle, diagonally to the man who asked for orange juice. About an hour after the incident they began having a lengthy discussion.

We all thought there may be police waiting at the gate when we arrived and wanted to let him know we had his back. The flight attendant came out from hiding, walked straight up to Barth, kneeled down and said, "Do you have something you need to say to me?" Barth said, "The two of us are having a private conversation." She got up and walked back to the front. We knew something was terribly wrong with this woman. Now she was confronting other passengers now as well.

He stated that it would be best not to continue this conversation until we were on the ground. The other two flight attendants were as nice as could be. Nicer than usual actually. We were all too wound up to go back to sleep. My wife and I had about three hours of sleep the night before and had a long day ahead, but sleep was out of the question. We were actually nervous to be in the presence of such an unstable individual.

Helen came up to the OJ man, and asked him to come to the front with him. He started to get up, but I yelled at him, along with my other friends not to go up there. If he had a private conversation with her, there would be no witnesses, and she could tell authorities that he said anything she wanted. He stayed put in his seat. She came back to his seat with a written warning she said was from the captain. It stated that he may be in violation of Federal Law for "Threatening, intimidating, or interfering with a crewmember (section 91.11)." She said, "I didn't want to have to do this in front of every one, but here you go." According to the document, he could be put in prison for asking for his orange juice.

The tension in the cabin was mounting. We knew at this point someone would be waiting for us when we arrived. We were ready to give a statement. She called the older man that was in front of OJ man into the front of the plane for a private statement. That man would not have heard a word she said from behind his seat. It was way too noisy. He looked to be in his 70's as well. She came back and asked if anyone else wanted to be a witness. We all said no. We didn't want to say a word to her. She told us that she had witnesses as well. At the end of the flight, she asked us if we wanted anything else. There was no way I was going to eat anything that this woman was serving.

Helen had made our flight miserable. Upon arriving, we were greeted by a representative of the airline. She had been called ahead by the captain to meet us on the jet bridge. She had no idea so many people would be there to report what happened. We went to the gate and all gave a statement about what happened. She had someone else that had more relevance to the situation come down and talk to the man. This man stated that the Feds would probably have to investigate due to this warning being issued. The slips aren't to be given out unless it's a very big deal. We all wished him well and exchanged information. He had another flight to catch, and we were all glad to be on the ground safe.

Our group has about 130 people that fly 30 weeks a year. At an average of $300 per flight, that's over 1 million dollars a year spent. And I've been on the road with these people for nearly 10 years. So this is what we get for over $10 million in sales. If Helen doesn't like people, she should find a job like flipping burgers. That way, she won't have to talk to the customers. This woman's behavior is completely unacceptable and is a perfect example of what I've been seeing in AA flight attendants for years now. They don't want to be there, make up their own rules that don't reflect the company, and have huge disdain for the people paying their salary... the customers.

-Dave Koss"

The real terrorists can be found flying first class, drinking orange juice.

Reached for comment, American Airlines said they will look into the matter.

10 things you might not know about airline culture

2009-12-14T19:56:00.004-07:00

By Mark Jacob | Dec 14, 2009

Airline culture is all over the news. The hit movie "Up In the Air" stars George Clooney as a frequent flier. The Transportation Security Administration is under fire for allowing the online posting of airport screening secrets. And the holiday season is upon us, with millions of Americans ready to go airborne. Here are some uplifting facts:

1 A cat flew across the Atlantic Ocean eight years before Charles Lindbergh. The cat, named Wopsie or Whoopsie, was a stowaway aboard the dirigible R34 when it traveled from Scotland to New York in 1919. The cat wasn't the only creature who beat Lindy to a trans-Atlantic flight. More than 80 people also did. But Lindbergh was the first to fly solo.

2 Qantas, the Australian airline, is a former acronym for Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services. That name is strange, but others may be stranger. Airline pilot Patrick Smith, who writes a column for salon.com, suggested that two of the worst airline names ever were Russia's Kras Air ("always just an H away from infamy," wrote Smith) and Taiwan's U-Land Airlines ("That's right. U-buy, U-fly and U-Land it yourself.").

3 In 1987, American Airlines removed one olive from each first-class salad for a savings of about $40,000 a year. In a more recent cost-cutting move, American announced in 2004 that it would get rid of pillows on its MD-80 planes for an annual windfall of about $300,000. The next year, Northwest Airlines ditched free pretzels in coach class on its domestic flights, saving $2 million a year.

4 Joseph of Cupertino, a 17th century Italian priest, is a Roman Catholic patron saint of pilots and air passengers. Known as the "flying friar" because of his reported ability to levitate, Joseph annoyed his fellow churchmen, who banned him from attending choir or visiting the refectory for 35 years.

5 National Airlines launched an ad campaign in the early 1970s featuring attractive young flight attendants -- then known as stewardesses -- and slogans such as "I'm Margie. Fly me." A group called Stewardesses for Women's Rights picketed the airline's offices and complained to the Federal Trade Commission about the ads. National was forced to tone down the campaign by including other airline workers. But somehow the idea of "flying" someone like, say, Ralph the baggage handler seemed a bit less alluring.

6 The producers of the 1980 comedy film "Airplane!" considered talk show host David Letterman and singer Barry Manilow for the lead role of washed-up pilot Ted Striker before settling on actor Robert Hays. The co-pilot played by basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was originally written for baseball star Pete Rose. According to the Internet Movie Database, Rose was offered $30,000 but lost the part after asking for $35,000, which he wanted to spend on an Oriental rug.

7 Ten soldiers boarded a plane at California's Fort Hunter Liggett in the early 1960s, expecting a routine training mission. Instead, once they were airborne, the crew announced that an engine had stalled, the landing gear was inoperable and the plane would attempt to ditch in the ocean. Then the crew issued an odd demand: The soldiers would have to fill out insurance forms. After they dutifully did so, the plane landed, safely and routinely. The episode was an Army experiment to measure soldiers' performance under stress. Not surprisingly, a control group on the ground filled out the same insurance forms more accurately.

8 Last December, passengers preparing to take off on an Aeroflot jet from Moscow to New York revolted when the pilot appeared to slur his words over the loudspeaker. Officials of the Russian airline tried to calm them. According to the Moscow Times, an airline official said, "It's not such a big deal if the pilot is drunk. Really, all he has to do is press a button and the plane flies itself." But the passengers stood their ground, and the crew was replaced. The incident was another black eye for Aeroflot, remembered for a 1994 flight in which a pilot let his 15-year-old son take the controls. The boy accidentally disabled the autopilot, sending 75 people to their deaths.

9 When Amelia Earhart helped organize the New York, Philadelphia and Washington Airways in the early years of commercial aviation, the in-flight lunch consisted of hard-boiled eggs and saltine crackers, chosen because they seemed unlikely to contribute to airsickness.

10 A passenger boarded a Chicago-bound plane in Washington, D.C., in 2003 and handed a note to a flight attendant, asking her to take it to the pilot. The note read, "Fast. Neat. Average." The pilot had no idea what it meant and alerted authorities, who detained the passenger for questioning. The note was part of a well-known code at the Air Force Academy, based on cadets' answers on a dining-hall survey. If all had gone well, the passenger's note would have been returned with a note reading "Friendly. Good. Good," and the passenger would have been invited to visit the cockpit. But the pilot was not an Air Force grad, and the passenger missed his flight. As an Air Force spokesman noted, "Obviously, the world has changed since 2001."
Source: chicagotribune.com

Baby Born On Southwest Flight That Lands At DIA

2009-12-07T09:02:00.003-07:00

Flight Continues On To Salt Lake After Diversion

DENVER -- A flight heading from Chicago to Salt Lake City was diverted to Denver Friday morning after a baby boy was born mid-flight.

Southwest Airlines Flight 441 was at about 30,000 feet, and 100 miles north of Denver, when the pilot asked if anyone had medical training. A woman had gone into labor and the captain made a call to divert to Denver -- the closest airport, said Paul Flaningan, a Southwest spokesman.

'They announced on the PA and asked if anyone had any blankets,' Morse said. But before the plane could land, the woman gave birth in flight. 'About 15 minutes later they got on the PA and announced we had a new passenger, a baby boy.' 'They immediately turned the plane around mid-flight and we landed in Denver. They got them out, the dad, mom and baby and took them off to the hospital,' Morse explained. 'All the Southwest staff did an excellent job, really calm. Everything was great. Everything seemed really healthy,' he added.

Flight attendants had thrown down a blanket in the back of the 737 and a doctor who was on the flight delivered the baby boy with the help of Stat Med, a company Southwest contracts with to help flight attendants with medical emergencies on flight.

"We now have a new passenger," said a flight attendant on the jet's public address system after the quick delivery.
The plane landed at Denver International Airport at about 10:20 a.m. The mother and her newborn were taken off the plane by paramedics and transported to Medical Center of Aurora, South Campus by ambulance.

The father and the couple's other kids, who were on the flight, also got off the plane in Denver.
"Mom and baby are doing fine," Flaningan said.
"It sounded like everything went pretty regular -- nothing out of the ordinary," said Denver Fire Division Chief Charles McMillan.

"The baby was delivered in flight, so we drove to the hospital," said Denver Health spokeswoman Dee Martinez, referring to the paramedics' role in getting the mom and baby to the hospital. "It's really the people on flight who did everything."

The flight continued on to Salt Lake City.
Flannigan said in-flight births don't happen very often.
"We might have passengers who are further along and have contractions. It's fairly rare to have a baby born in mid-air," Flaningan said.

"We're going to call the TSA on this guy," Flannigan said, laughing, when asked about the unscreened passenger.
Flight 441 originated in Columbus, Ohio with stops scheduled at Midway Airport in Chicago, Salt Lake City and Boise, Idaho before ending at Spokane, Wash.

Cover up! Airline breastfeeding policies…

2009-12-03T11:27:00.007-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

This is an FYI for all or the parents out there! I'm not going to give my full opinion on breastfeeding while flying but I have one. I do want to hear what everyone else says first. I understand it from both side, as a father of a child who was breastfed and the working flight attendant and the uneasiness of other passengers with concerns regarding breastfeeding while flying. I found a blog posting with several airlines breastfeeding policies and I thought I should post it so my readers are as informed as possible. I'll put my two cents in at a later time and date. Don't worry it will be blunt and it will not be PC! I don't do PC either so remember I warned you!!!

Be prepared for holiday storms and delays so "Be Proactive and Not Reactive!" Plan for changes on the fly!!! (No Pun Intended!!!) lol

photo above: shows the logos of some of the airlines listed. Not all airlines shown have policies available for me to post for you. Check with your airline before you travel to be sure of their policies.

To see the list of some of the airlines that have policies regarding breastfeeding checkout phdinparenting.com for the full story!

Nursing mom files complaint against airlines

2009-12-03T10:59:00.007-07:00

By Emily Bazar and Sam Hemingway, USA TODAY
A clash between a nursing mother and a flight attendant has sparked a discrimination complaint,
an airline investigation and a grass-roots protest.

Emily Gillette, her husband, Brad; and their then 22-month-old daughter, River,
were removed from an Oct. 13 flight from Burlington, Vt., to New York after a flight attendant asked Gillette to cover up while she was breast-feeding the girl. Freedom Airlines operated the Delta Air Lines flight.

Photo: Emily Gillette was asked to leave a Delta flight after breast-feeding and refusing to cover-up her daughter River, who was 22 months old when the incident occurred.

Gillette, 27, filed a complaint against both airlines last week with the Vermont Human Rights Commission alleging that the airline violated a state law that allows women to breast-feed
"in any place of public accommodation." The airlines have until Nov. 27 to respond,
Gillette's attorney, Elizabeth Boepple, says.

In a show of support, about 30 mothers and fathers and dozens of children staged a "nurse-in"
protest at Burlington International Airport on Wednesday.
"I've always nursed my children when I'm on a plane," says Carolyn Beer, 34, of Burlington.
"Their ears hurt with the altitude change, and it's a strange environment for them. The alternative is to let your kid scream."

The Gillettes, of Espanola, N.M., boarded the flight shortly before 10 p.m.
They had been in Vermont visiting friends and were headed to New York to see other friends and Emily Gillette's sister. Gillette took the window seat in the second-to-last row, she says, and her husband took the aisle.

She began nursing River, using one hand to hold her shirt closed. She says: "I was not exposed."
But the flight attendant approached, tried to hand her a blanket and asked her to cover herself, she recalls. "You're offending me," Gillette quotes the woman as saying.
"I'm not doing anything wrong and I will not cover up," Gillette says she said in response.
Spokesmen for the airlines declined to discuss specifics of the incident.

The flight attendant walked away, Gillette says, and a few minutes later,
a ticket agent boarded and said the flight attendant had ordered them removed.
The airline arranged for a hotel for the family for the night and a flight with a different airline the next morning, but Gillette wasn't satisfied.

"No woman should ever be ashamed of breast-feeding," she says.
She wants "both airlines to create policies that protect a woman from being harassed
for feeding her child on an airplane."

Delta is working with Freedom on an investigation, Delta spokesman Anthony Black says.
"Delta supports a mother's right to breast-feed-slash-bottle-feed her babies on our aircraft," he says. Freedom spokesman Paul Skellon says breast-feeding on a plane is OK if it's done in a "discreet way."

Forty-three states have some form of legislation protecting a woman's right to breast-feed,
according to Mary Lofton, spokeswoman for La Leche League International,
a group that encourages breast-feeding. Lofton says the league has had a growing number of contacts from women who say they were harassed for breast-feeding on planes.

Sharon Panitch, 37, a massage therapist who organized the Burlington nurse-in,
says people who object are "hypocritical." "We just want to take care of our children," Panitch says.

Woman Accidentally Smothers Infant on Transatlantic Flight

2009-12-03T10:49:00.003-07:00

British media sources report that late last month, a woman who fell asleep while breastfeeding her infant accidentally smothered her four-week old child while on a United Airlines flight.

United Airlines B777-222 wearing the Oscar's logo up front

United Airlines flight 982 was a 777 en route from Washington Dulles to Kuwait City, and somewhere over the Atlantic, she reportedly awoke to find that her child had been smothered. The crew was alerted by to the situation by the screams of the 29-year-old mother.

A doctor traveling on the flight treated the baby, and the aircraft diverted to London's Heathrow airport, landing on the morning of November 25th. The baby was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

An autopsy has been performed and the authorities are awaiting results. At present, the death is considered to be from unexplained causes, and police and the Child Abuse Investigation Team are investigating the circumstances of the death.

http://www.airsafenews.com/2009/12/woman-accidentally-smothers-infant-on.html

Obese air passenger in economy seat has picture taken

2009-12-02T16:05:00.005-07:00

The image, posted on Flightglobal, is thought to be genuine Photo: FLIGHTGLOBAL

An image of an obese passenger squeezed into an economy airline seat has reopened a debate about how airlines deal with growing numbers of oversized passengers.

By Alastair JamiesonPublished: 4:07PM GMT 27 Nov 2009

The picture, posted on an aviation blog, was reportedly taken by a flight attendant to illustrate to airline managers the difficulty of dealing with passengers who cannot fit into seats. It is unclear if the man was aware his picture was being taken or whether the flight, on US carrier American Airlines, took off with the passenger spilling out of his seat.

Airlines already offer extended seatbelts to larger passengers to comply with safety rules but a number of carriers now insist obese customers buy an extra seat. US domestic no-frills airline Southwest has a “customer of size” policy that insists passengers who cannot lower both armrests buy a second ticket which is reimbursed if the flight is not full.

American Airlines does not have such a requirement but urges passengers to “recognize ahead of time that they may need to purchase two seats”. The image, apparently taken on a Boeing 757, was sent to writer Kieran Daly and posted on his blog at aviation news website, Flightglobal.
It is not clear if the image has been altered but Mr Daly wrote: “This is sent to me with the absolute assurance that it's a genuine picture taken by a flight attendant at American Airlines.

The F/A took it to show her manager what was happening on the aircraft (757???) and why she was unhappy about it. Seems the guy paid for only one seat and the gate staff let him board.” Comments below the blog entry illustrate the debate over how to deal sensitively with obese passengers while ensuring others have enough room.

In a statement, American Airlines said: "At this time American Airlines is unable to confirm whether or not the image referred to was taken by a member of flight crew but will investigate the situation internally to determine if any of the airline's strict policies were not correctly applied.

"American Airlines’ primary concern is for the safety and comfort of its passengers and crews and consequently passengers are advised to book two seats if they are concerned that they will require them. If a flight is not full, however, passengers' needs would be accommodated without charge wherever possible."

FAA Tapes Show Efforts to Reach NWA Flight

2009-11-27T22:50:00.001-07:00

(AP) - After a Northwest Airlines plane flew past Minneapolis last month, air traffic controllers asked the pilots repeatedly for explanations about why they didn't heed radio calls, according to transcripts released on Friday.

The Oct. 21 flight had been out of contact for 77 minutes before the pilots responded. The pilots told controllers right away that they had been distracted, but didn't give details, according to the transcript of their radio conversations released by the Federal Aviation Administration.

After almost 90 seconds of conversation about the route they should take to Minneapolis, the controllers said, "I just have to verify that the cockpit is secure."

"It is secure, we got distracted," one of the pilots responded. The transcript says the pilot then said that they never heard a call from the ground.

A different controller took over and, after five more minutes of directions about routes and altitudes, asked, "Do you have time to give a brief explanation on what happened?"

"Cockpit distractions that's all I can say," was the response from Northwest Flight 188.

About 12 minutes after contact had been re-established, the same controller asked, "is there any way you can elaborate on the distraction?"

The pilot said that they were dealing with some company issues, and that's "all I can tell you right now at this time," according to the transcript.

Air traffic controllers ultimately had the pilots perform several turns to verify that they were in control of the plane. It landed safely in Minneapolis, and was met at the gate by police.

The FAA has said that after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, controllers have been told to alert the military when a plane goes out of contact for five to 10 minutes. They waited for 69 minutes in this instance, a delay that FAA head Randy Babbitt has called "unacceptable." The agency has said it will strengthen procedures for alerting the military when controllers lose contact with planes.

The transcripts also show controllers checking that the flight, which originated in San Diego, had enough fuel. The pilot responded that they had about two hours' worth of fuel on board and that it wasn't a concern.

The pilots have told the National Transportation Safety Board that they were discussing their company's complicated new crew-scheduling program over their laptop computers as their plane flew past Minneapolis by 150 miles. Northwest was bought by Delta Air Lines Inc. last year and the company has been working to integrate its computer systems.

The FAA has revoked the licenses of the pilots, Timothy Cheney of Gig Harbor, Wash., the captain, and Richard Cole of Salem, Ore., the first officer.

Best airports to get stuck in

2009-11-19T10:48:00.004-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

So here is a little something I found from the Seatguru about some of the better airports in the US to get stuck in! If your stuck somewhere you need something to do and some way to keep yourself entertained for the time that your stranded!

So here is a list of the 5 best airports to get stuck in and roughly what is available to you if you get stranded for whatever reason!!!

Have a good flight and remember to "Be Proactive Not Reactive!!!"

BlkAv8tor2003

Terry Maxon/Reporter
http://www.seatguru.com/

In which airport would you like to get stranded over the holidays? SeatGuru.com, the Web service that gives advice on which seats are the best and worst on each airline's airplanes, has come up with five.
Without comment and reprinted verbatim, here's SeatGuru's list. See how it compares to your own observations:

•San Francisco International Airport (SFO). SFO's highlights include the famous Boudin's Bakery (and their sourdough bread), upscale shopping at Burberry, Coach and Gucci, XpressSpa services including massages and facials, museum exhibits throughout, shower facilities and a play area for children.

•Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). Among other offerings, SLC offers free Wi-Fi throughout the airport, views of the Wasatch Mountains, numerous restaurants and has won awards in pollution prevention, recycling and as the best on-time airport for departures in the past.

•Portland International Airport (PDX). Named Nation's Best Airport by Conde Nast Traveler three years in a row, PDX is eco-friendly (new solar panels produce electricity and the Best of Nike store is powered by 75% solar energy), has free Wi-Fi, no sales tax and local restaurants have a strong presence with eateries such as Pizza Schmizza, Rose City Cafe and Laurelwood Brewing Company calling it home.

•McCarran International Airport (LAS). In addition to countless slot machines, LAS also boasts an aviation museum, massage locations, free Wi-Fi, the Jose Cuervo Tequileria, storage lockers to stash belongings, an oxygen bar, hotel souvenir shops, room check in for the MGM Grand and for long delays, it's just 5 miles from the strip.

•Miami International Airport (MIA). At MIA, travelers can get manicures, pedicures, massages and even spray tanning at the JetSetter Spa, view ongoing art exhibitions, enjoy a hair cut at the salon, rent a mobile phone, and for members of the U.S. military, there's an Armed Services center for personnel that serves food and refreshments. There are also 30 dining choices including cuisine from Cuba, the Caribbean, Japan and more.

ATC problems on East Coast (Computer Failure)

2009-11-19T10:06:00.002-07:00

Thu, Nov 19, 2009 Eric Torbenson/Reporter
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/air-traffic-control/

Looks like a computer equipment failure at the Federal Aviation Administration has caused some problems at airports around the country, but mostly concentrated in the Northeast where airlines and airports are dealing with bad weather to boot.

So far little impact at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love field according to both Flightstats.com and http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp. But the northeast airports are sort of lit up like a Christmas tree in terms of yellow and red delay status.

Terry got an update from American Airlines:

American Airlines Inc. spokesman Tim Smith said "the FAA issues had slowed American's operations somewhat, but serious. "I think we're doing pretty well, actually," Smith said.

He said American had been informed that the FAA computer problem had been resolved. With that, American and other carriers will simply have to catch up from the earlier problems, he said.
"Our longest delay... was just over an hour," Smith said. As he scanned American's schedule, "I saw nothing extreme. I saw some flights that were on time, a few that were early and others that had a 10-minute delay, 15 minutes, 25, all well under an hour," Smith said.
Smith said that American's D/FW Airport arrivals had averaged 94 percent on time at that point.

FlightStats.com indicated that as of 9:50 a.m., 64 percent of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport's flights had departed on time, and 88 percent of arrivals were on time or within 14 minutes of schedule.
More on the problem, ATC controllers union and FAA responses after the click:

The problem, according to wires:
Flights nationwide were delayed this morning after a mysterious nationwide computer glitch hampered a key Federal Aviation Administration flight processing system.
The system electronically inputs pilots' flight plans to computers, telling air traffic controllers the anticipated route and altitude of each flight after taking off. Controllers reached by ABC News say they have had to enter those plans manually, resulting in a slowdown of takeoffs and landings.

From the National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
WASHINGTON - There has been a major, nationwide air traffic control computer system outage this morning, and it is having a severe, negative impact on air travel across the country. Here is what we know thus far:

The NADIN system (National Airspace Data- Interchange Network), which is the computerized system for processing flight plans and information for every flight in the country, has failed in both of its locations - Atlanta and Salt Lake City. We do not yet know the technical reason for the failure. We have some reports that the system is coming back online, which is good news, but there will be flight delays throughout the day due to the "ripple effect" of this outage.
The NADIN- failure has created a domino effect of problems throughout the country, starting with the inability of FAA automated ATC systems at major regional facilities to process flight information, forcing the manual input of information by air traffic personnel. Air traffic controllers are without electronic decision-making tools and cannot keep up with the sheer numbers of flights -- resulting in delays.

FAA's statement so far:
This is the Federal Aviation Administration with all the information we have at this time about this morning's equipment outage that has been affecting flights nationwide. My name is Elizabeth Isham Cory.

We are starting to see systems come back up (approx 8:34 a.m. local). We are still seeing some delay as the correction works through the system, so we recommend you check with your carrier before flight today.

Early this morning (NEW time, approx 6 a.m. Chicago), one of the two centers that handles the filing of flight plan information nationwide had a problem with the electronic system that files those plans. The other center picked up as much as possible, and any surplus flight plans were entered manually. Flight plans are filed before flight - they include information about the flight - including planned destination, route and fuel on board, among other things.

Any delays we saw today were at the gate. Flights in the air were safe - we could always see planes on radar and talk to them. Again, the planes that were affected today were on the ground at the gates.

Again, the system is back up, so we should see any remaining delay work its way through the system shortly. The FAA is working to determine the source of this problem.

Air Canada is going to start charging extra for preferred seats

2009-11-19T09:08:00.005-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

Well folks it's hit North America and I fair warned you! Paying for premium seating on your next airline flight is in your near future. Air Canada is going to charge you to be a little more comfortable on their flights! It's only a matter of time before the US carriers do the same! Exit row seating or bulk head seat assignments are the primary seats that are preferred and sought after.

So as we cruise into this holiday season, keep your ears and eyes open for added charges when making your next flight arrangements because there may be some added fees!

From what I can tell so far this fee is only added (your charged) if you "choose" to sit in the exit rows or wherever the airline designates a preferred seating location. If your just automatically assigned upon check-in you will not be charged. I will break down the seating advantages at a later time and date because it can be somewhat lengthy!

Just an FYI for things to come this holiday season!!!

Remember to "Be Proactive, Not Reactive" and Enjoy Your Flight!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

The Canadian Press
Date: Friday Nov. 13, 2009
MONTREAL — Air Canada has been busy spending lots of cash on stuff like iPhone Apps, in-flight WiFi, and snazzy software for your Blackberry. This stuff all costs money, and like all other airlines, the money probably isn’t just pouring in up in Canada.

So the country’s flagship carrier is opening up the fee and charge toolbox in hopes of finding a good way to boost revenue. Air Canada is going to start charging extra for preferred seats with extra legroom including emergency exit rows and bulkhead seats.

Fees start at $14 per one-way trip for those wanting specific exit rows or bulkhead seats at the front of airplane sections.

Costs will vary by length of flight, fare class purchased and the customer's Aeroplan status. Fees can be waived or reduced depending on a number of factors including fare class purchased or a traveler’s status with the airline.

However, for most of us, this means that we are going to need to open up the wallet yet again at the airport. All these fees are certainly getting old, but we love airplanes and where they take us, so we’ll just have to ask for a second piggy bank for Christmas this year.

The service will be available on any Air Canada or Jazz flight.
Canada's largest airline is attempting to find $500 million in additional revenue and cost savings as part of its effort to improve its profitability.

It wasn't immediately clear how much money is expected to be raised from the new fees.

Animated Video With Audio Tracks of US Airways 1549 Crash In The Hudson River

2009-11-18T11:05:00.005-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

Here is why pilots love what they do and how cool and level headed they are during an emergency! This is professional airmanship at it's finest and I think all pilots strive for in aviation excellence!!!

Good job to exosphere3d for their work on this video!

Remember to be "Proactive and not Reactive" and enjoy your flight!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

http://www.exosphere3d.com/pubwww/pag...

This video presents the alternate audio tracks and does so by splitting to L and R channels. The audio presented is: LaGuardia ATCT Cab Coordinator, LaGuardia ATCT South Terminal Control, New York TRACON South Control, and Teterboro ATCT Local Control positionRadar data is displayed in the upper right quadrant with aircraft identification and altitude (100's of feet).

The audio transcripts of the aforementioned audio tracks are displayed on screen for nearly all communications from the mentioned audtio recordings. Continuity is maintained with the audio transcript display, however the audible tracks are faded in and out and selected based on perceived importance to the accident timeline.

This combination of information is not a likely candidate for final presentation because of information overload. However, it does illustrate the usefulness and capabilities of a fully integrated reconstruction technique.

Alternate Video Link

Flight 1549 Alternate Audio, Multi-Perspective Composite Animation

Cell Phone Conversation Delays Flight FAA to investigate

2009-11-18T09:50:00.008-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

As usual I have to chime in on this one! My comments are in italics and this is stupidity on the passengers part and I am surprised that other passengers didn't get upset or assist the crew during this incident. (as it's been reported so far)

So here we go, a passenger cause a flight to be delayed and eventually returns to the gate! I guess his cellular phone conversation or texting was more important that the passengers on the flight getting to where they were going to. People feel the need to be privileged when they do things without the concerns of others and then have the nerve to get upset when someone calls them out on it!

Well this passenger may catch hell on the backside from the airline for causing the Captain to turn the airplane around after pushing away from the gate and then returning to the gate when he would not comply with the flight crews request to turn off his electronic device! (It's in the announcements) I don't feel bad for him in the least bit and it sounds like the airline may try to prosecutor him in some fashion even though the FAA who mandates the use after a certain point on all airline aircraft doesn't plan to prosecute or really investigate the incident!

This sounds weird to me because this could be viewed as obstructing a crew from performing their safety duties and that is a federal offense. We shall see what happens on this one! If it wasn't for the tremendous amount of bad PR AirTran would get for suing him, I'd be inclined to sue him for the costs of the flight delay - fuel, crew times, missed connections (if any), etc. Not that I'd expect him to ever be able to pay those costs, but it might be enough to scare people into complying more with crew member instructions!

People please remember the crew members are only doing what they are required to do and if you can't comply with that and allow the crew to make sure that you have a safe flight then you should really rethink you mode of travel!!!

Here is the story as reported by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/cell-phone-conversation-delays-202143.html?printArticle=y

Remember to be "Proactive and Not Reactive" and enjoy your flight!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

An AirTran passenger, who was traveling with 12 others, was using his cell phone before takeoff, an airline spokesman said.

It’s unclear whether he was talking on the phone, snapping photos or texting, AirTran spokesman Christopher White said. But to airline officials and flight attendants, it didn’t matter. The plane had pulled away from the gate, and the phone was on, White said.
“Passengers are required to follow instructions of the flight attendants," regional FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.

AirTran reported the incident to the FAA, Bergen said.
The federal Transportation Security Administration will not handle the incident, saying it is a customer-service issue between the passenger and the airline, a TSA spokesman said.
Houston-bound Flight 297 was scheduled to leave Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport at 4:40 p.m. Tuesday.

The Boeing 717 was taxiing on the runway when a crew member asked a passenger to turn off his phone, White said.
“Flight attendants were telling him, ‘Turn off the phone, turn off the phone,’” White said.
But the man didn’t speak English, which complicated the matter, officials said.

Once the pilot learned of the issue, he turned the plane around and headed back to the gate. The man was asked to leave, White said.
“We can’t taxi with the cell phone on, and we certainly can’t take off,” White said. “Language barrier or not, you start to butt up against interfering with a flight crew.”

Another person in the group – someone who could speak English – got off as well to act as an interpreter, White said.
So, why didn’t he leave his seat to help in the first place?
“He told flight attendants that he could have helped during the taxi time, but he didn’t want to get up,” as passengers are to be seated at that time, White said.

The remaining 11 passengers in that group followed them off the plane as well, White said.
“It’s a fine line that we have to play,” White said. “Is there any safety or security reason to bring the plane back? Yes, there was a safety reason.”
AirTran gave the 72 other passengers on the plane the option to stay on that flight or switch to another one without paying any fees, White said. Of the remaining passengers on the plane, 12 decided to take another flight.

The 11 others in the 13-passenger group got back on the plane, which took off for Houston, White said. TSA officials spoke to the man with the cell phone as well as the other person who was acting as an interpreter, and they took a later flight to Houston, White said.
White declined to identify the passenger. No charges were filed. And, for AirTran, the case is closed.

“Once we determine there is no other problem, it’s our responsibility to get everyone back on and get the plane taken off as quickly as we can,” White said.

Alaska Airlines Unveils Apolo Ohno Airplane, Gives Out Faux Facial Hair

2009-11-18T09:12:00.005-07:00

Alaska Airlines and Olympic speed skater Apolo Ohno unveiled a specially-themed Boeing 737-800 Tuesday (Nov. 17th) at Sea-Tac Airport, painted with a larger-than-life image of the celeb athlete and telling people to “follow Apolo.”

To celebrate Ohno’s race for gold, passengers boarding the “Follow Apolo” jet received Ohno trading cards, copies of Ohno’s signature bandana and press-on faux facial hair (faux facial hair??? dang…now we’re sorry we missed this photo op!).

While we certainly don’t know any humans who’ve actually sprouted wings and can fly on their own, the unique design features a huge painting of the Seattle native on the aircraft’s fuselage and also promotes his new Alaska Airlines-sponsored website www.followapolo.com as he pursues winter gold in Vancouver, BC during the upcoming Winter Olympics

“It’s an honor to be featured alongside Alaska’s trademark Eskimo and have the support of my hometown airline for the most important race of my life,” said Ohno, after seeing the plane for the first time.

A team of Seattle-area youth speed skaters aspiring to follow in Ohno’s path accompanied the athlete onboard the aircraft as it was unveiled at Sea-Tac Airport Tuesday. The skaters are members of Pattison’s Team Extreme and train at Pattison’s West Skating Center in Federal Way, where Ohno trained as a teen:

Apolo Ohno and members of Federal Way's Pattison's Team Extreme.

A native of the Seattle area, Ohno began his speed-skating career at age 14 in Seattle and Vancouver. He went on to become the youngest skater to win a World Cup event title in December 1999. Ohno has since won 11 national champion, 18 world champion and five Olympic medals.

If you’d like to “Follow Apolo,” you can either grow wings and attempt to fly behind (or alongside) his cool new airplane, or you can just click here and check out his website.

(Some Photos courtesy Alaska Airlines and Airliners.net)

Pilot charged after UK airport arrest

2009-11-11T10:23:00.005-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

Well this is again a sad move on the part of a professional airline pilot. Drinking and flying or at least almost is wrong in all senses of the words! Do I hear true alcoholic in the cockpit? Well if that is the case he should have gotten help along time ago. I'm happy that this was not found out in flight. I hope this captain gets the help he needs! I don't condone what he did especially with what a pilot has to go through to obtain a pilots license, ratings and of course the coolest dream job on the planet!

I'm glad that an employee reported it and although this is very serious at least it didn't turn out as an accident. This gives pilots a bad name and not all pilots do something this stupid! If he can't control himself after drinking on a layovers then he should not be doing it! (said from experience and self control on layovers)

As a pilot and former flight attendant, who all follow the same strict alcohol rules I think we are held to a higher standard because what we do can harm many people. Our careless disregard for others is not acceptable and it's our job to help main the safety of our passengers!

I hope he gets the help he needs and hasn't thrown away what took a lifetime of sacrafice to obtain!

Remember to "Be Proactive, Not Reactive" and enjoy your flight!

BlkAv8tor2003

LONDON, England (CNN) -- British police said they stopped a United Airlines pilot from flying while intoxicated earlier this week, pulling him from a Boeing 767 aircraft before boarding plane, police say at London's Heathrow airport and charging him with being on duty while his blood-alcohol level was over the limit.

Scotland Yard said that Erwin Vermont Washington, 51, was taken off the plane just before take-off Monday. Washington, of Lakewood, Colorado, has since been released on bail.
United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said that "the pilot has been removed from service" during an investigation.

The departure to Chicago was "imminent", with 124 passengers on board and 11 members of crew, when police arrived at the airport.
Passengers were put on to other planes after the flight was cancelled but they were not told the real reason why.

A source said the pilot was on board the Boeing 767 when he was told that police wanted to speak to him. He was then breath-tested once he was off the plane, out of view of the passengers.
A BAA Heathrow spokesman said: "He was reported to police by United Airlines staff. I believe departure was imminent."

"United's alcohol policy is among the strictest in the industry, and we have no tolerance for violation of this well-established policy," she said. Megan McCarthy says the pilot has been "removed from service" during investigation.

Washington remains in the United Kingdom, Scotland Yard said.

Alaska Airlines Launches Hawaii Service From Bay Area

2009-11-10T09:46:00.005-07:00

Media Release:
OAKLAND—Alaska Airlines today will inaugurate four-times-weekly service between Oakland, Calif., and Kahului, Hawaii, on the island of Maui, and tomorrow will begin thrice-weekly service between Oakland and Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii.

“Known for its beautiful beaches and stunning sunsets, the Hawaiian Islands are among our most popular leisure vacation destinations,” said Alaska Airlines’ President Brad Tilden. “Customers will enjoy Alaska’s low fares, convenient schedule and award-winning service.”

Summary of flights
Start date City pair Departure time Arrival time Day of week
Nov. 9 Oakland-Maui 7:45 a.m. 11:05 a.m. Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat
Nov. 9 Maui-Oakland 12:05 p.m. 7:10 p.m. Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat
Nov. 10 Oakland-Kona 7:45 a.m. 11:15 a.m. Tues, Thur, Sun
Nov. 10 Kona-Oakland 12:15 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Tues, Thur, Sun

All times based on local time zones

“Travelers will start their vacation with a smooth departure from Oakland International, where they can park close to the terminals and quickly access their flight,” said Deborah Ale Flint, the Port of Oakland’s acting director of aviation. “Oakland’s on-time performance record allows passengers to easily begin their Alaska Airlines experience,” she added.

Flights are available for purchase at alaskaair.com or by calling 1-800-ALASKAAIR
(1-800-252-7522 or TTY/TDD line 1-800-392-0228).

The new flights are operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating16 passengers in first class and 141 in the main cabin. All flights to Hawaii offer Hawaiian-themed beverages and meal service. Customers in the main cabin are offered complimentary Mauna Loa macadamia nuts and a complimentary Mai Tai or POG juice, as well as a Hawaiian-themed meal-for-purchase option for $6.

Inflight service includes Alaska Airlines’ digEplayer, a personal entertainment system offering a variety of movies, television shows, music and other features.
Alaska Airlines Vacations offers a full line of vacation packages for travel to the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii. Packages include air transportation, hotel accommodations, ground transportation and tours. For more information about Alaska Airlines

Vacations, visit alaskaair.com/vacations.

United Was Wrong to Deny Track Suit Guy His First Class Seat, But Still, a Track Suit?

2009-11-10T08:38:00.004-07:00

Hello All BlkAv8tor2003 Checking In!!!

So I guess the airlines, specifically United is questioning how there customers dress when riding in first class. To a point I can see their (United) point but I still believe you have to deal with certain situations on an individual basis. A gate agent who did not feel that a customer was dressed appropriately for first class travel gave a upgraded passenger a little bit of a hard time because he was wearing a sweat suit.

I posted the story as it was written from the news reports but a few things seem sketchy at best. The agent a contract employee working for Air Wisconsin (United express Carrier for United) was working a mainline United flight. Air Wisconsin must pull double duty working United flights out of Dulles as well as United Express flights during their day.

After everything happened a United spokes person said the employee thought the passenger was a company employee. This would not be true because when they upgraded the passeneger his ticket info would have indicated if he was an employee or at least traveling on some type of industry pass, his boarding priority would have indicated this right away.

When employees travel they are required to dress a little different compared to the regular traveler. Employees, parent and kids are required to almost dress like your going to church especially if there is a chance of getting put into first class. This is somewhat adjusted depending on the destination too and if an employee is upgraded and not dressed appropriately (gate agents discretion) then they will be asked to change clothes before boarding.

So most employees will dress nicer in the beginning just to avoid the last minute hassle or trying to change clothes during the last part of the boarding process where employees are usually given their seat assignments.

Now this regular passenger was mistaken for an employee, I doubt that but it will be a quick fix for the airline in the eyes of public opinion. Passengers do dress pretty bad or what the airlines would consider inappropriate. Southwest removed a passenger for dressing risque' (exerpt: a few months ago waitress Kyla Ebbert (who works at Hooters, where scantily-clad is a good thing) was escorted off a Southwest Airlines flight from San Diego to Tucson because her outfit -- a miniskirt, tank top, and cropped sweater -- was too revealing (I don't see any cleavage and she was wearing a bra). She put up a fuss and was eventually let back on the plane after a lecture on her dress, or lack thereof. http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/09/05/passenger-too-sexy-for-southwest-airlines-luv-miniskirt-gets/) and they eventually changed their minds and let her travel.

The days off dressing up when you fly have been gone since the 70's but at the rate we are going we may see a change on the horizon. I have a feeling the ways of the past are slowly coming back where you dress to fly, hat and coats are your carry-on and the last thing you wanted to do was give a flight attendant a hard time!

I don't think this situation was very good for United and hopefully they will verify before the upgrade another passenger what kind of passenger they are upgrading. This time I think they got off lucky (so far anyway) and no legal troubles have popped up yet but we shall see what happens in the next few weeks. The passenger (Mr. Alvarez) is a corporate executive and the airline should and usually knows when they are ona any given flight (their reservation will indicate it at check-in) and they should have extended him the standard corporate executive courtesies but this went way wrong.

The airlines' bread and butter is the business traveler because they pay high fares, travel on short notice and they fly alot so, United needs to pay attention because word of mouth advertising still works very well and keep this kind of activity up and you will hurt yourself in the long run when you start losing major travel accounts and business travelers starting using someone else for their corporate travel.

Read on and see if the passenger was right or wrong or was it the airlines fault on this one.

As always remember "Be Proactive, Not Reactive" when you fly and enjoy your flight!!!

BlkAv8tor2003

Did you hear the one about the guy who was denied a first class seat on a United Airlines flight because he was wearing a track suit? It's a corker. Armando Alvarez (not pictured), an executive at Best Buy, used his frequent flier miles to upgrade to the front of the cabin for a flight from Washington Dulles to Connecticut on October 26, but the gate agent refused to let him enter the cabin, WTTG-TV, Washington, reported Thursday.

The gate agent took one look at his Puma getup and deemed him unworthy of the fancy seats, insisting he sit in coach with the riffraff instead. "I was handed a first-class boarding pass and then it was pulled back out of my hand," Mr Alvarez said.

Mr Alvarez was wearing a Puma track suit with white trainers when he was stopped by the gate agent. He said he checks-in his suits to stop them from getting wrinkled and travelling in a track suit just makes sense.

Mr Alvarez said he complained to United Airlines Customer Service Department and the airline's board of directors, but hasn't received a response. United has come out and said it was all a big misunderstanding, and that the agent apparently thought Alvarez was an airline employee - and thus required to follow a dress code - but not before the story became the latest example of the inhumanity of airlines today.

Alvarez said the agent told him he was dressed too casually for first class.
"I was humiliated. I was embarrassed and when some of the passengers were boarding behind me they said, 'Hey, what just happened?' And I said the agent just said I wasn't properly dressed to go in first class today. And they said, 'Was he kidding?' I said obviously not because I'm boarding and not getting in first class," Alvarez said.

United Airlines said the gate agent, a contract employee who works for Air Wisconsin, is being interviewed and security footage is being reviewed as part of a probe into the incident. Officials said United's dress code only stipulates that passengers wear clothes and shoes.

I agree that United was wrong to treat a paying passenger this way, and they have admitted as much, but the incident reminds me of just how much air travel has changed since the glory days of the fifties, sixties, and seventies. People treated flying like a special occasion back then, and dressed for the part.

When I was a kid in the seventies, my parents made me wear a jacket and (clip-on) tie for every flight. Of course, we were an airline employee family, so those dress codes applied to us, but it seemed like everybody around us at least made an effort to look decent.

Airlines Must Ask For Volunteers First, Pay Those Unwillingly Bumped

2009-11-07T18:59:00.009-07:00

Hello all BlkAv8tor2003 checking in!!!

Here is a story written not by me (DAVID KOENIG, AP Airlines Writer) but one I read online and I added my own comments and tips in italics and it's just to give you the traveler a heads up in advance! If you have questions and I can go into great detail, hit me up and I'll do my best to help you out and steer you in the right direction!

Remember when traveling "Be Proactive, Not Reactive" and enjoy your flight!!!

DAVID KOENIG, AP Airlines Writer

DALLAS - Airlines are operating fewer flights this year, meaning that planes are packed even with the slump in travel.Often the airlines sell more tickets than there are seats on the plane. (usually 10% of the capacity of the particular aircraft) Last year, more than 63,000 passengers were bumped, according to government figures, and this year is shaping up as more of the same.
So what should you do if you get bumped? What if your flight is delayed so long that you miss your niece's wedding?

You should have had a back up plan and proper planning will help in these cases!
Before bargaining with the gate agent over travel vouchers and upgrades, it pays to know your rights and the airline's responsibilities.

All airlines have these rules available to every passenger and they usually post them somewhere on their websites too! Seek and you shall find! If you don't look before you fly or ask for a copy then your at the airlines mercy when you run into an oversold flight!

The federal government sets rules on bumping and occasionally fines airlines for breaking them. This month, the Transportation Department fined Delta Air Lines $375,000, although it may waive about half if Delta improves its procedures for handling oversold flights.Now airlines must ask for volunteers first, and pay passengers who are bumped against their will.

Payment can be in many forms from meal vouchers, hotel vouchers and ground transportation compensation. This is before they even get to travel certificates! So be prepared to barter and know when to stand your ground or when to bite. Use the airline against itself to get what you need to get where your going and a little payoff on the backside. Cash payouts happen very rarely but in some unique cases they do happen!

If you are flying on Southwest Airlines then things are a little different because Southwest does not deal with the other airlines like the other airlines deal with each other so be prepared and i will give you some of the scoop on Southwest. Don't worry it's not bad but it will be a different experience!

If you are bumped from a domestic flight, the airline must pay you the price of a one-way ticket up to $400 cash if you are rescheduled to reach your destination between one and two hours of the original arrival time. The maximum doubles to $800 if it takes longer.

Now if you don't know this in the beginning then they already have got you! Again you at their mercy because most people who ride the airlines don't have a clue of what to do in an oversell situation and they just take what they get handed to them even if their is a little yelling and screaming but that what get you much it just usually makes things worse!

Some passengers with time to kill don't mind getting bumped. They hope to get cash, travel vouchers or an upgrade to first-class in exchange for taking a slightly later flight.

Get food vouchers, upgrades or travel certificates and vouchers and get the max! Make they airline give you CONFIRMED SEATS WITH SEAT ASSIGNMENTS! If they can't do that first and foremost then don't give in because it can put you in a bad situation on your next flight! also remember just because you have a confirmed reservation on a flight...That doesn't mean squat without a seat assignment! That's just a product of the potential oversell situation and you could be in the same boat as your previous flight. So have your plan, back up plan and a contingency plan just in case because whatever part of the plan you miss the airline will exploit that to its advantage, especially if you have a sharp airline employee! Trust me even though you may not run into them they do exist and they can help you or burn you but that depends on what ammo you have in your arsenal!

Chris McGinnis, a travel consultant in San Francisco, says the best flights to haggle over are late-afternoon or evening ones popular with business travelers who can't afford to be stranded overnight. Airlines are likely to offer more for passengers who give up a seat on a New York-Chicago run than on a flight full of vacationers from Atlanta to Orlando, he says.

This will come from experience and sometimes you will have to get a little burnt before you get the jist of how things work! First flights in the morning are the flights to do your best bargaining and if your schedule is not as tight as the business traveler then you can really rack up in payouts but remember to have a plan with back ups.

Gate agents may put out a sign or simply tell passengers that they're looking for volunteers to skip the flight. McGinnis says it's often best to ignore their first offer and wait until departure time nears. Learn to play poker and learn how to bluff and know when to fold because the agents will already be looking at the passenger list to see who has or what appears to have some flexibility. So if you have flexibility in your travel planes then use that to your advantage when you see they may be looking for volunteers! One quick option is get on the phone with your airlines reservations and see what the next flights are that are available and direct then with minimal connections. (Watch out for connecting flights in your snow cities like Chicago or Denver for United or Minneapolis for Northwest! If you can avoid connecting to flights through these cities during the winter months that would be the best thing you could do! Trust me, all you need is a medium sized storm to be moving through and the next thing you know your stuck for two days and there is no compensations for weather delays, cancellations and overbooking will be guaranteed to happen when weather is a part of the equation!

"The bidding gets stronger," he says. "That's when it goes from $100 off your next flight to maybe $300 and a business-class seat on the next flight out."
Play your cards right and listen to every announcement the agents make and if possible sit as close to the departure podium or counter that you can without standing in front of the agents and sometimes you can hear valuable info early (agents talk) and even 1 minute advantage for decision purposes can be monumental on an oversold flight!
Experts warn about accepting travel vouchers. They might be hard to redeem, especially at peak travel periods. Make sure you understand any limitations.

The agents should tell you in their initial announcements that the vouchers have blackout periods if any and you need to know if that will work for you or not and it could be a determining factor. Don't be fooled either, the blackout dates are not negotiable and you won't be able to get the airline to wave them just for you! Your not that privileged, know body is so don't waste your time trying to barter this fact! If an agent or supervisor tells you different it B.S.! They don't have that power to make that kind of promise!

Travelers are often baffled why airlines can sell more tickets than they have seats. Airlines oversell flights because some passengers buy costly fully refundable tickets on more than one flight and then only use one. Other flights are overbooked because the airline had to substitute a smaller plane with fewer seats.

If you wonder why airlines over sell flights its because not every passenger for a flight always makes it and they always want flights to depart as close to full as possible. It's the business they are in and the more people they have the better but sometimes everyone does show up and they have to deal with it! They are prepared to deal with the inexperienced traveler and will exploit that to their advantage! Don't get caught with your pants down or you will never sit the same again!

While there are federal rules on bumping, there is no sweeping requirement for airlines to provide hotel rooms and meals for passengers who are stranded overnight, even if it's the carrier's fault, according to the Transportation Department. But you can haggle.
"It's up to the discretion of the carrier and the (gate) agent," says George Hobica, who operates airfarewatchdog.com. "Some airlines will do their best if you ask nicely and you ask privately you'll do better than if you make a scene." He says when a long delay appears obvious, you should ask to be rebooked on another airline.

Let the airline rebook you to another carrier because they will handle the bag transfers, seating, reservations and accommodations if those are necessary. If you get downline from the problem city where everything started the airline you were rebooked to will tell you to go to the your original airline to get any additional assistance if needed so be prepared to do this if necessary!

Charlotte, N.C., real estate broker Mathew Bessette says Delta put him up in a hotel after his flight home from New York was canceled and a second flight spent four hours on the tarmac. He says he gained bargaining power by knowing the cause of the problem with his first flight no flight attendants.
"If their plane breaks down or their crew doesn't show up, that's their problem and it's their responsibility to accommodate you within reason," he says.

Remember that if the airline can control the situation in a delay the airline is liable but if it is something God controls the airline is not liable to compensate or protect you in anyway! Argue it if you like but you will be wasting your breath! A good way to be prepared for these type of situations is know the weather where your starting, enroute and at your destination! Remember too that the weather may look fine at your destination and the airline can still end up in a weather delay situation.

Veteran travelers say if a long delay will cause you to miss the reason for your trip a wedding or business meeting, for example ask for a refund. However, there is no law requiring the airline to give you a refund.

In my opinion if you plan your travel so close to an event you want or need to go to then whatever happens you deserve! Do not depend on the airlines to get you from point A to point B on time, same day or with ease because there are way too many other factors that come into play that could wipe out "your" plans and cause you to be delayed and or miss your planned event! Plan ahead and the earlier you know about something the better!

Airlines and passenger-rights groups are fighting over how the carriers handle long delays, and Congress may settle the issue. This month, a Senate committee passed a bill that would require airlines to let passengers off planes that are stuck on the tarmac for three hours.The airlines say such a law would make things worse by forcing planes that might be near the front of the takeoff line to taxi back to the gate, then go to the back of the pack. More flights would be canceled, says David Castelveter, spokesman for the Air Transport Association, a Washington trade group for the largest U.S. carriers. Consumer groups aren't buying it."No one believes that the airlines will fix the problem themselves," says Kate Hanni, a California real estate agent who created a passenger-rights group after being stranded on a grounded American Airlines jet for more than eight hours in December 2006. "They haven't yet."

Since airline travel is often stressful, and summer always brings many delays, experts advise you have a Plan B. Know what flights are available if yours is canceled. If your flight is pushed back or scrubbed, hop on your laptop or phone to see if you can rebook.

Airline travel is going to be stressful and if you plan ahead and expect to be delayed, cancelled flights and getting there without your bags you will have less to stress about! Your preplanning will make your trip less of a problem and make your trip go a little smoother and you will be able to make adjustments on the fly!

"Prepare for the worst," says Hobica, the travel expert. "Bring a good book."

I can't say it any better....Plan For The Worst and Hope For The Best But Always Have A Plan!!!

The Top 10 Reasons They Missed MSP

2009-11-07T18:20:00.002-07:00

Just like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, unraveling the real story behind the Northwest/Delta Airlines crew who forgot to land at MSP just keeps getting curiouser and curiouser. Brings to mind the gap in the Nixon Watergate tapes. If that doesn’t ring a bell, just assume it has to do with people trying to cover something up. Unconfirmed reports from DC actually said the CVR tape on the Airbus was blank … as in erased.

Airline Travel...What You Really Need To Know!!!

LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 767-300 Makes Gear Up Landing

BlkAv8tor Returns to The Blogging World After A Lengthy Hiatus

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Southwest: A Mechanical Is An Act of God and It Always Has Been

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Japan Express Crowns First Female Captain

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Delta Airlines Loses Dog In Mexico City And Tries To Compensate Passenger $200.00!

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Vince Neil? Airline CEO...Yes It's True!!!

Distracted Flight Crew Belly Lands CRJ200

First Female Pilot Selected For Red Arrows Display Team. Motto *ECLAT*

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US Airways Does It Again: Would You Sit Separated From Your 2 and 5 Year Old?

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The First African-American Flight Attendant in the United States.

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First class pain: Unruly Ivana Trump booted off a flight at Palm Beach International

Accident: American B738 at Kingston on Dec 22nd 2009, overran runway on landing

Alaska Airlines introduces ''Spirit Of Disneyland II'' to Portland

Gov't imposes 3-hour limit on tarmac strandings

Boeing Dreamliner Ready For Maiden Flight

Another flight disrupted by a group of Muslims

Southwest CEO: Free Bags = $800 Million

Free KLM Luggage Tags With You Own Photo

Asking For Orange Juice On American Airlines May Violate Federal Law

10 things you might not know about airline culture

Baby Born On Southwest Flight That Lands At DIA

Cover up! Airline breastfeeding policies…

Nursing mom files complaint against airlines

Woman Accidentally Smothers Infant on Transatlantic Flight

Obese air passenger in economy seat has picture taken

FAA Tapes Show Efforts to Reach NWA Flight

Best airports to get stuck in

ATC problems on East Coast (Computer Failure)

Air Canada is going to start charging extra for preferred seats

Animated Video With Audio Tracks of US Airways 1549 Crash In The Hudson River

Cell Phone Conversation Delays Flight FAA to investigate

Alaska Airlines Unveils Apolo Ohno Airplane, Gives Out Faux Facial Hair

Pilot charged after UK airport arrest

Alaska Airlines Launches Hawaii Service From Bay Area

United Was Wrong to Deny Track Suit Guy His First Class Seat, But Still, a Track Suit?

Airlines Must Ask For Volunteers First, Pay Those Unwillingly Bumped

The Top 10 Reasons They Missed MSP

First Female Pilot Selected For Red Arrows Display Team. Motto ECLAT