Same question could be asked of you...

(Written on 20.06.2021)(Permalink)

Haha, what?! I scoured our ops specs and FOM and couldn't find any list of acceptable reasons to return to a/the gate. The only requirement is to record the OUT and IN times for DOT and flight time tracking purposes. It's true that the decision to gate return is made in coordination with dispatch, station ops, etc. But never in my time at the airline have I heard that once a flight is "en route" it can only return to the gate for certain events. I'd really love to see a reference for that statement.

(Written on 19.06.2021)(Permalink)

Surely you can't be serious? This article is precisely why I hate the MSM. There may have been the odd fact in there, but it was mostly hyperbolic fluff of the worst kind. He says "Practically speaking, in the air, there really is no law". Complete and utter BS. The same laws that apply on the ground apply in the air, and then some. What there isn't on an airplane is Law Enforcement Officers to immediately take control of a situation and take people into custody. Which seems to be what he's advocating in a roundabout way. Which is fine, make that argument logically and without the lame frontier justice hyperbole. There is a big difference between reacting to a dangerous and violet person and attempting to control them, and assuming the role of law enforcement on your own by inserting yourself into situations where it isn't warranted in order to seek "justice". This article makes no attempt to distinguish the two and in fact marries them into one narrative.

(Written on 19.06.2021)(Permalink)

Seriously, what is with your hard-on for the FFDO program? This is at least the second time you've been on here throwing "fluffy doe" insults around. I'm sure we would all hope that a 9/11 style cockpit takeover would be stopped by anyone and everyone in back, but having trained armed pilots up front as a last line of defense doesn't seem like an unreasonable option. I'm genuinely curious as to why you're so butt hurt about armed pilots.

(Written on 19.06.2021)(Permalink)

What a stupid "click bait" article. This is what passes for "journalism" these days? I mean frontier justice, gimme a freakin' break already. We're not talking about rounding up a posse to go after cattle rustlers here. Stopping someone from physically attacking passengers or crew or otherwise threatening the safety of an aircraft is not "justice", it's controlling a dangerous situation. And now the people that offer to help are classified as vigilantes? What a tool bag.

(Written on 16.06.2021)(Permalink)

Current data says the vaccines are 91% effective at preventing infection, and 100% effective in preventing infection that causes serious symptoms requiring hospitalization. And that obviously requires enough exposure to cause infection, so I'd say your chances of getting it in the current environment is pretty darn low. If the unvaccinated give it to each other what concern is that of yours? We're only at around 40% vaccination, and the number of total cases and particularly deaths continues to drop by the day. So even with 60% of the country running around sans vaccine it certainly doesn't support your "health hazard" fear mongering. And lastly, herd immunity is not based on vaccinations, it's based on antibodies. People who have been infected develop these antibodies naturally, those that haven't depend on the vaccine(s). Again current research suggests that those with natural antibodies maintain them long term in bone marrow even when they are no longer detected in the blood

(Written on 10.06.2021)(Permalink)

How exactly are they a "health hazard" if everyone else is vaccinated?

(Written on 08.06.2021)(Permalink)

Yeah, no. You obviously know not about what you speak.

(Written on 06.06.2021)(Permalink)

Don't quite understand your insulting attitude towards the FFDO program and Air Marshals. Unfortunately the desire to use aviation in general and particularly commercial aircraft as terrorist weapons didn't die with Bin Laden. The "Fluffy Does" as you sarcastically call them are dedicated professionals who go to training on their own time in order to provide a last line of defense to the flight deck, as well as serve as a deterrent to anyone thinking of taking over an airliner. I guess I'm just not sure why this is deserving of ridicule.

(Written on 29.05.2021)(Permalink)

Obviously the procedures used by FAMs are a closely guarded secret, but I think it's pretty common knowledge that they will not reveal themselves unless there is a direct threat to the aircraft or the flight deck. They are not simply airborne police officers, they are there solely to defend against a terrorist threat.

(Written on 28.05.2021)(Permalink)