Jasper Schuringa: The New Scully

By the time you're not reading this you will have heard of the nearly successful terrorist attack on a Northwest flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. One thing that's amazing about this is that not 24 hours later the guy that jumped out of his seat, put the fire out, and beat the shit outta the suspected terrorist is already being hailed a hero. The New York post snagged an interview, and he already has a facebook page. Prediction: leno, letterman, a book and TBS special.

Some Truth on Airline Safety

In light of the most recent crash/incident involving an American Airlines plane in Jamaica (which I should add, everyone survived), the Daily Beast ran a great analysis of airline safety records. Further, they really look into some of the half-truths and misnomers about airline safety. A positive for me was that JetBlue, the airline I fly the most, was ranked the second safest domestic airline. One negative was that there is nothing to the fact that sitting up front is safer, and in fact the back of the plane seems to have the highest survival rates! However, for the nervous flyer, it's ALWAYS bumpier in back, so statistics shmatistics, the back of the plane remains far more nerve racking.

Tarmac Sanity

Finally, some sanity has come to the folks in DC when it pertains to restricting the airlines ability to keep people waiting on planes for hours without food, water, or an opportunity to leave. As reported today in the Times, airlines will now have to provide food and water after a two hour wait, and give people the opportunity to de-plane after a 3 hour wait. It's incredible that it took this long, although the airline industry is so politically connected that it was able to bottle up rules like this for years. Last year the airline industry spent almost 89 Mil. on lobbying. That kind of money buys you some long delays!

Pilot's View

For years I have been saying that if I could only see what the pilot sees it would make the whole experience less nerve racking. For me, it would give some perspective on where we're going, what's ahead, what's below etc. Well, a friend just got back from a Cathay Pacific flight and reported that she in fact could do just that, through the in flight entertainment system which has a camera mounted on the exterior of the plane. I love the idea, and apparently others are into it too. Check out this video of someone watching a pilot view landing on an Air France flight and another of the A380 on its first takeoff from Paris to NYC. I could see this becoming standard on most flights over the next 10-15 years.

Best/Worst Routes

Before booking your next flight check out this website from the FAA. It basically records monthly statistics on the best and worst routes and carriers in terms of delays, cancellations, complaints etc. Ok, so it's a lot of numbers so kinda have to be an airline nerd to get into it, but it does give you a sense of what the airlines are doing and help inform your next trip...e.g. I'd rather not be flying an airline that regularly leaves you stranded in Gary, Indian or cancels flights because of under booking.

Flight No Longer

If you haven't heard the sad news, one of the greatest musical comedies on TV is ending its run after just two seasons on HBO. Hopefully they boys continue to cut new albums as they have officially replaced Dan Zanes as Lila's favorite band. "Hurt Feelings" taught her how to groove!

F'ing Hilarious Letter on Airline Food

Honestly, I used to like (almost love) airline food, especially on international flights. When you flew Air France you received a delicious hot roll with some delicious foil wrapped french cheese. Iberian some moderately good form of Paella. Morning flights to Tampa on US Air, orange juice and decent eggs. You get the idea.

Now, airline food is a mere shell of itself, if you even get it. Even on long international flights there are few options and what you get is generally too watery, dry, bland, or salty often simultaneously. This letter from a Virgin Atlantic customer captures the essence of how far down the rat hole airline food has gone.

Laugh out loud funny, promise: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/4344890/Virgin-the-worlds-best-passenger-complaint-letter.html

The Dreaded Turbulence

For many of us the worst thing about flying is also perhaps the most common. Mid-flight turbulence. As my buddy Adam appropriately stated recently, there's just nothing like flying smooth air, like you're just motionless floating in the sky. It's the best of flying, but usually only happens on flights over Arizona at about 5 PM on a clear late spring day. (although clear air turbulence is common too, and sucks.)

More commonly, you hear that mid-flight ding of the seat belt sign and end up white knuckling the bumps until either: 1) you land; or 2) the flight smooths out again for a solid block of 10-20 mins. and you can "relax" again.

One thing that does help is the knowledge that turbulence is ahead. It's the whole knowledge is power thing. When you know the cause of the bumps and shakes and about how long they will last, it's much easier to stomach them. The website Turbulence Forecast gives you that knowledge: http://www.turbulenceforecast.com/airmets.php. I'm tending to check out sites like this before I fly now, giving me the heads up that 1/2 way to Orlando we're going to be in for some rough air. The only sucky thing is when there is rough air before the forecast said it would occur. Super cell storm? hydraulics? Fuselage? That's when T passes me another Zanex.

Best/Scariest Airline Website Ever

Check this website out: http://avherald.com/h?list=&opt=0

For the fearful flyer this site could cut both ways. It could easily, freak you out by the number of air incidents that occur every day, or calm you to the fact that many of these pass unnoticed as the routine of airline travel. It's the equivalent of reporting every time someone gets a flat tire, busted axle, or has a puking kid in the back seat of your car...except this all takes place at 35,000 feet and it's big on landing gear malfunctions and bird strikes.

Anyway, after a verbal drubbing from my good friend in Ditmas Park about not posting, I'm attempting to restore the blog with regular updates. Nothing fancy just pumping out the info to all 2 of you that care.