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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
When you talk about the topics for the next column, are you referring to this?:
http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/10/22/prior-permission-from-government-to-be-required-for-each-flight/
This sounds like urban myth to me (or at least massive misunderstanding of proposed legislation), served up at the speed of internet, but I figured I would go to the source for all airline-related debunking.
Patrick,
You mentioned the rules being promulgated for international flights. It gets better. TSA is proposing rules that would screen domestic flights as well. They're supposed to go into effect in February. It's really scary stuff, if you read this article.
http://hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/001286.html
I really would like to hear about farting in airplanes. It isn't gross. Its funny. My own theory is that the FAs are serving carbonated beverages to a trapped crowd and when you take in lots of fizzy drinks, it has to go somewhere.
I also like the observation about the dove's wingspan and how big our wings would have to be. That's pretty cool.
Seriously, could Salon maybe find somebody who's not a complete douchebag?
Airplane ride may or may not make me fart however, airline food does make me puke.
The lift "thingies" of which you so elloquently misspeak are either ailerons, flaps on vernal generators.
"Thingie" & "foom", huh?
I gather you do NOT play hockey.lol
I've thought about the earthquake thing before. Does that make me a moron?
Given how often planes take off and land from LAX, surely it must have happened at some point. And everyone was fine. Right?
Please?
I know that you like to talk about the aesthetics of flying mostly. Sometimes you get off on the technical aspects.
I am a techie nerd and love the technical sides of the business. I used to read Aviation Week on occasion.
It would be nice to have an occasional article with the technical side fleshed out. How, why, where and when of the designs and design issues.
I was fascinated by the technology of turbine blade which has made all of this possible. What happens when turbine blades fail? What do they do to prevent? For me, this is extremely interesting and I am sure there are many anecdotes and stories about this subject. And this is just one little bit of the technical side with a great deal of human interest.
People, if you have a question, don't post it here, spawning crazy new rumors and mythis, just write to me directly. There's a link at the end of every column.
Hutman asks: "So... Why didn't we jettison the fuel?"
Proabably because the type of plane you were on did not have a jettisoning system. Not all do.
>>> In another one, an entire engine suddenly shot noisy, "foom"-ing flames out the back for several seconds before dying, at which point all the lights went out and the pilot made a dramatic turn back toward our departure point. <<<
A compressor stall. Pretty harmless, actually. This phenomenon was covered in either of these columns..
http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2005/08/12/askthepilot149/
http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2002/09/13/askthepilot10/
>>> Are airlines required to publicize the number of near-miss scenarios that occur <<<
In all likelihood these weren't near misses. Not by a longshot.
- Patrick Smith
People, if you have a question, don't post it here, spawning crazy new rumors and myths, just write to me directly. There's a link at the end of every column.
Hutman asks: "So... Why didn't we jettison the fuel?"
Proabably because the type of plane you were on did not have a jettisoning system. Not all do.
>>> In another one, an entire engine suddenly shot noisy, "foom"-ing flames out the back for several seconds before dying, at which point all the lights went out and the pilot made a dramatic turn back toward our departure point. <<<
A compressor stall. Pretty harmless, actually. This phenomenon was covered in either of these columns..
http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2005/08/12/askthepilot149/
http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2002/09/13/askthepilot10/
>>> Are airlines required to publicize the number of near-miss scenarios that occur <<<
In all likelihood these weren't near misses. Not by a longshot.
- Patrick Smith
Unless they hit and it's a horrible accident, a "near miss" is actually a "near hit" and a complete miss. That always interests me. But then, like George Carlin has pointed out, he doesn't care to get ON the plane, he'd rather get IN the plane.
This was a great column. Many laughs. Thank you.
A serious question - so who is going to read all the tons of data that is being accumulated about passengers from the US or those going to the US? While the sex habits of foreigners entering the US might be really compelling reading I have to wonder if it is the TSA or Homeland Security or just who the heck does the reading and where are the results reported?
There's a pretty simple explanation for this phenomenon. Obviously, the baggage handling crew observed the dog hair and vacuumed the bag prior to placing the bag on the arrival airport's carousel.
I'm surprised, though. I didn't know that Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific flew Santa Fe-Baton Rougue
"Jason G." calls me a penis *and* a douchebag. I went and read his past letters, posted in reply to various articles here in Salon. I am troubled to I find that I concur with most of his comments...
He writes: <<< ... but terms like "hipster" and "scenester" are meant to be PEJORATIVES. You're not supposed to want to be a hipster any more than you supposed to want to be a poseur or a tool or a douchebag."Hipster" is a term of derision. Hipsters are people you make fun of, not try to emulate. >>>
I agree.
<<< Nice that Bill waited until after he was out of office to start giving a shit about poverty.>>>
I agree.
<<< Asking why men care about abortion rights - since they have "no dog in this hunt" - is offensive, and analogous to asking why white people care about civil rights for blacks.>>>
I agree.
<<< You know, it's just good manners not to link to PDFs without clearly labeling the link as such. >>>
I agree.
<<< Baseball playoff games should be on free TV, period.>>>
I agree. (I don't have cable either.)
- PS
"A similar dynamic is at work with other terms: animalistic, beastly, inhuman. All of those terms apply most aptly to human beings."
Do you agree?
"Whether this requires some mucking around in the slime, I don't care - there are important things at stake, things that are more important than taking the high road, a.k.a. the loser's road."
Do you agree?
"Many people, including myself, are not simply pro-choice but in fact pro-abortion."
Do you agree?
"Seriously, if you‘re getting beat up by your wife or girlfriend, you are a pussy who deserves to be laughed at."
Do you agree?
"Red Sox = Douchebags"
Well, at least you're in good company.
In May 2007, nineteen letters ago, Jason G. wrote this:
"This kind of shit is why I find myself reading Salon less and less."
Well, unfortunately Jason G. is still with us.
You want our governments to hand over a docket of personal data on all airline passengers bound for the United States?
Tourism is one of the world's largest industries. And the United States is making it very clear it does not want tourists. Who is the loser here?
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
