The FAs did exactly what was required - namely their primary role on a passenger aeroplane, preparing for an emergency and getting the self-loading cargo through the trauma and out to safety. This sounds like a classic case of "everything worked out in the end", but nowadays we have some smartphone wielding "Turkey-Lurkey" who thinks the sky is about to fall in. I still believe in the UK Royal Air Force approach: "If you walk away from it, it was a good landing."

(Written on 12/07/2019)(Permalink)

This reinforces the need for multiple suppliers to exist, competing with each other and offering "better" products to meet the needs of their customers. Not every product from manufacturer #1 will suit every customer, so manufacturer #2's product will be more attractive at times. A healthy rivalry is essential between suppliers. Customer airlines have a big role to play. 20 years ago they wanted mega-efficient large airframes for maximum efficiency on the hub-to-hub model - and Airbus developed the A380 (a plane which I regard as one of the best and quietest large flying sheds ever built). But the development of a new airliner takes time (as Boeing is learning, having delayed the NMA); by the time a product is ready, requirements may have changed. By the same token, you can only "refresh" a tired old 1960s airframe so many times before inherent flaws become insurmountable. But airframes continue in service for up to 40 years. This story will spawn new chapters over the co

(Written on 12/07/2019)(Permalink)

Dennis - I don't have an agenda; I was picking up on the Bill Babis comment about "if the CEO of every company..." post. I am interested in your "ten times more likely to be hit by lightning" comment - which decade dod you source your stats from. I ask, because the US National Weather Service publication "Storm Data" recorded a total of 449 deaths from lightning strikes between 1998 and 2008. According to the National Weather Service, lightning causes an average of 62 deaths and 300 injuries in the United States each year.

(Written on 04/06/2019)(Permalink)

* updated. I now have the stats; defining a "mass shooting as "four or more people shot"; from 01/Jan/2019 to 01/Jun/2019 inclusive, there were 149 fatalities within the USA. SO, not quite reaching the 159 killed in the Ethiopian crash and short of the 189 wiped out in the Lion Air initial Max crash. But effectively one death per day thus far throughout 2019. But by Christmas.....

(Written on 04/06/2019)(Permalink)

Obviously not the CEOs of companies such as Browning, Ruger and Smith & Wesson, but in general terms I agree with your premise in your post. What is the current death toll from "mass" shootings in the USA since 01/01/2019, compared with the number of people killed by Boeing 737 MAX airliners? Just wondering.....

(Written on 03/06/2019)(Permalink)

Enjoy your journey! I do appreciate the humorous intent.

(Written on 01/06/2019)(Permalink)

Many thanks for the correction, which I am happy to accept. However, the other incidents (USAIR427 and United 585) did still happen within CONUS; it's still a counterpoint to the "US pilots could have survived a Lion Air/Ethiopian situation" line. On October 02, 1996, the Seattle Times reported that the FAA had delayed publication of 737 rudder mods because the Boeing company had argued that they were "unjustified". Sound familiar? The 737 rudder was designed with a single actuator (SPoF).

(Written on 01/06/2019)(Permalink)

Sorry, but right now "If it says Boeing, I ain't goin' - to paraphrase an earlier bit of American jingoism.

(Written on 31/05/2019)(Permalink)

The previous Boeing 737 rudder hard-over faults some 20-30 years ago were clearly beyond the ability of *any* pilot to correct, judging by the very small but deep craters which resulted across the USA.

(Written on 31/05/2019)(Permalink)

I always considered that anyone who has to capitalise more than one non-TLA word in their online diatribe is unworthy of civil consideration. This debate has brightened my Friday afternoon on the right side of the Atlantic; thank you all, for your passionately-held opinions.

(Written on 31/05/2019)(Permalink)