Letters to the Editor
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Fuel Fears
You're fair to criticize the reporters for hyping up the potential dangers without really understanding or explaining the safeguards built into the system. However, I think the reason people are uncomfortable is that at some point, the airlines wanted to carry more fuel than the gov't required, and now, because of $$, they've decided to cut it. In the end, it's a question of trust- and these guys haven't earned it...
There's a high degree of mistrust of corporate behavior nowadays, between contaminated food, dangerous toys and drugs from China, airlines violating FAA rules, etc. Most people have come to realize that our regulatory bodies are weak, and companies can, if they want to, simply ignore some directives.
Airlines, while their safety record is admirable, treat their customers worse than any other major industry (except maybe the cell phone one). Service on domestic airlines is atrocious, planes are dirty, food (when provided) is inedible and blankets and pillows are being taken away. Flight attendants (on the domestic carriers I've been on) are far from focused on customer service and are sometimes downright rude...
If an airline can cut pillows to cut costs, is it such a far leap of imagination that they'd cut fuel as much as they can?
Logically, I think we know that killing passengers is a poor way to build a business, but it hasn't stopped countless other industries from taking risks in the interest of profit. Why should we trust an industry that has shown such disregard for their customers' satisfaction, comfort and loyalty?
Unfair, maybe, but certainly not undeserved...