pilots are human beings depsite all of the new technology in aircraft..so are ATC personnel in the tower..people have become so dependent upon computers and technology,they overlook the importance of the human angle..they teach " stop,look and listen "at railroad crossings when you are learning to drive..i think the "look and listen" part are truly applicable at airports!

(Written on 09/18/2023)(Permalink)

sorry..caps were stuck..old computer!

(Written on 09/14/2023)(Permalink)

SURELY IF THE WOMAN WAS CARYING SOMELUGGAGE WITH HER AND HOLDING ON TO THE RAILING,SHE KNEW THE HEIGHT AND WIDTH OF THE FUSELAGE STAIRS..NO, THEY ARE NOT LARGE,BUT THEY ARE WIDE ENOUGH TO PUT YOUR FOOT FROM ONE RUNG TO THE OTHER AND ALSO HOLD ON TO THE SIDE RAIL..OH WELL..SHE WON HER COURT SETTLEMENT,SO MAYBEY THE AIRLINE WILL TRY TO US THOSE BOARDING STAIRS THAT COME ON A MOVEABLE TRUCK,RATHER THAN THE ONES THAT LOWER FROM THE FUSELAGE IF THERE AR NO JETBRIDGES..

(Written on 09/14/2023)(Permalink)

well..in the past for decades,there has been an average weight for passengers boarding,and not done by height or gender..there was also an average weight for children under 12..as years have gone by,people,(even children) are getiing a "little fatter"..they weight more whether its from muscle or just their build,and the old averages are outdated..i remember not standing on a scale, but being askked my weight for a couple of "tourist" helicopter rides,which seemed ok to me..i also did weights and balances along with paperwork for a regional for a while years back,and it had to be spot on as to number of people and number of bags and average weight of all..(not fun by the way and accuracy was extremely important)..

(Written on 08/31/2023)(Permalink)

customer service,and that includes airline personnel from the ground to the cockpit,is defininely NOT what it used to be..that applies to ALL of the airlines,no just american..a whole lot of the "old folks" who used to work for the airlines,were offered early buyouts,ealy retirements or they were laid off with the covid pandemic and cut backs, and didnt come back,and the "new crop" of employees that replaced them after the pandemic "freeze" on flights and hiring,are definitley NOT as caring..as far as american egoes,it actually began with the merger as the us airways personnel at the time were not noted to hav the professional courteous attitude of aa employees..having been both an airline employee, as well as a passenger who has been stranded on the tarmac,i have a pretty good understandgin of both sides of this issue..no one wants to feel neglected or ignored or inconvenienced by an airline employee, or an atc or weather issue,and that is basically what this fine is supposed to messag

(Written on 08/29/2023)(Permalink)

FROM THE PICTURES THE PLANE PLUMMETED STAIGHT DOWN AND THERE ARE LARGE INTACT PICES ON THE GROND THAT DID NOT CATCH FIRE,SUCH AS A WING AND THE COCKPIT..THE WAY MR PUTIN HANDLES THOSE WHO OPPOSE HIM IN ANY WAY IS WELL KNOWN..THERE ALSO WAS A REPORT THIS WAS EITHER A CHARTER OR A PRIVATELY OWNED AIRCRAFT..

(Written on 08/25/2023)(Permalink)

this man who happened to be in the right place at the right time,had an idea and was qualified to fly the plane..he offered to do a service for not only himself and his family,but the 300 others who might have been stranded there..he is not a saint,just a man with the qualifications to fly and a great idea..i say he deserves thanks and kudos from united airlines for his help..

(Written on 08/22/2023)(Permalink)

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUAL RESIDENTS OF LAHAINA,WHOSE HOMES AND LIVELIHOODS WERE TOTALLLY DESTROYED,ARE BEING ASSISTED BY MANY SOURCES AT THIS TIME AS THEY ARE NOT TOURISTS AND ARE BEING ACCOMMODATED AT THE CONVENTION CENTER..THOSE BEING EVACUATED ARE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN MAUI STAYING AT RENTALS OR AIR B AND B AND SOME RSORTS WHO WERE ON VACATION THERE..WATCH THE NEWS..NO ONE IS BEING OVERLOOKED..THE ENTIRE ISLAND WAS NOT DESTROYED.THE MAIN FIRESTORM WAS ON THE LAHAINA SIDE..AS OF NOW THE REPORTS ARE 67 DECEASED AND IT MIGHT CLIMB AS SOME FIRES ARE STILL NOT EXTINGUISHED..THE MAJORITY OF THE TOURIST TRAVELLERS (AND MAUI HAS THOUSANDS THAT COME THERE TO ENJOY THE ISLAND)ARE THE ONES TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A 19$ FEE TO TRAVEL TO ANTOTHER ISLAND OR BACK TO LAX OR SFO..ALL HOTELS ON THE ISLAND HAVE BEEN REPORTED AS BOOKED FULL..THE ISLAND IS NOT THAT LARGE BY THE WAY IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN THERE..

(Written on 08/11/2023)(Permalink)

people to be sure,are and will be upset about cancellations and delays..they always are..after all of these years,you would think passengers might just understand the airlines DO NOT MAKE THE WEATHER PATTERNS AS THEY ARE,but they do try to be safe and not fly in or close to severe storms of any kind,whether its a blizzard,a hurricane,a strong thunderstorm,or front,or other non weather related things like a saharan dust cloud or a volcanic eruption!i once had a lady say to me,well its not stromy here,why cant we leave..i tried to explain the severe weather between where we were located and the destination and she wouldnt hear it..just wanted to be irate!i would prefer safe than sorry and a delay or cancellation any day to a pilot having to divert or attemmpt to fly through serious weather!!

(Written on 08/09/2023)(Permalink)

on a visit to the hawaiian islands several years back, i took a helicopter tour of the islands with one of the big tour operators at the time..they were well known and had a great safety record...the "choppers " used were comfortable,large, and the pilot knew the islands well,as he gave us the explanation of various sites like waterfalls and farms and mountain sides..the most memorable thing was he pointed out jim neigbors mountainside home that overlooked a beautiful cliff and waterfall..i never felt the trip was unsafe,and the entire tour i believe was around 2 hours..worth every penny as those trips are not cheap!

(Written on 08/08/2023)(Permalink)