irrational fear of flying

[72gmc]

Aviation whistleblower, Nevile Shute's book, as movie.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Highway_in_the_Sky

I enjoy Nevil Shute and haven’t read this. Planes? Newfoundland? I think I’m in.

[gregl]

I enjoy Nevil Shute and haven’t read this. Planes? Newfoundland? I think I’m in.

I recall watching that movie as a kid. Who on earth would board an aircraft called the Rutland Reindeer?!

Greg

[Mabouya]

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/12/u...ight-door.htmlWhy do I feel like my original suspicion that the seats next to the door were empty for a reason is going to prove well-founded? Is it just because I am a naturally suspicious person?

I can see how perhaps intentionally no tickets were issued for those seats, but since passengers tend to move around and grab more desirable seats once everyone is in the plane (and IMO two empties, one of which was a window seat fall into that category) I think if that had been as a precaution the airline would also have to tell the cabin crew to prevent anyone from moving there. I have no evidence one way or the other that that occurred, but nor I have I read anything saying that "after the fact passengers were commenting on how some guy who had taken that seat was kicked out for some unknown reason that now makes sense."

Finally, they had no reason to suspect that particular area as the cause of the pressurization warnings (which they would have had to have, if they were keeping passengers away from that specific spot) and if they did, that would have certainly been enough to ground the aircraft. (Unless you think HA knew there was a problem with the plug, and yet still flew the plane, which would have been unconscionable and IMO highly unlikely.)

Conspiracies are by necessity complicated, and until we hear differently, I don't think there's any evidence (other than pure luck) that those seats were open for a reason related to the plane's safety.

[bigbill]

My son was recommended for proficiency advanced, so he'll get to skip some flights in Primary. He was doing aerobatics and spins yesterday and will do more today. His current instructor is an E-2 Hawkeye pilot that definitely does not do aerobatics. Yesterday, while inverted, a pen fell out of the IP's pocket, was sliding around in the canopy, and fell behind a seat when rolled back to level flight. They ended up inverted again for a minute until they could find the pen. He's having the time of his life.

[TMB]

I enjoy Nevil Shute and haven’t read this. Planes? Newfoundland? I think I’m in.

About 6 months ago I stumbled upon a podcast called Spybrary, then found they have a facebook page as well. Lots of people around the world, in luding authors, sharing book reviews, head ups and discussion on books in the “genre”. Has led me to re-read Deighton, MacInnes and Ambler to much enjoyment.

[bigbill]

My son did a simulated loss of engine landing. The plane is at 14K feet when the engine is throttled back to simulate a feathered prop. He then has to glide the aircraft in for a landing. He said it was one of his best landings.

[htwoopup]

On the discussion of the finance guys rather than flyboys, engineers, and machinists building planes, if you haven’t read Robert Reich’s email today it is here:

https://open.substack.com/pub/robert...hitty-company?

As I said upthread, if it’s Boeing I ain’t going.

[gregl]

On the discussion of the finance guys rather than flyboys, engineers, and machinists building planes, if you haven’t read Robert Reich’s email today it is here:

https://open.substack.com/pub/robert...hitty-company?

As I said upthread, if it’s Boeing I ain’t going.

While I generally enjoy Reich's writing, the linked article leads off with two vignettes that, IMO, are red herrings. The 737 missing panel in Medford occured on a 20 year-old airframe. The panel appears to be a composite cover that delaminated over time. This is an operator maintenance issue, NOT a design issue. The LATAM 787 incident is still under investigation, but may have been caused by (a) a loose or broken switch under a cover that was actuated by a flight attendant and (b) a pilot sitting cross-legged at the controls whose lower leg was driven into the control wheel when the seat moved forward. While there may be an update required for the switch guard, this doesn't smack of cost-cutting or mismanagement as a root cause.

Reich's other points about Boeing corporate culture since the McDonnell Douglas merger are correct. Likewise, Boeing culture/management were clearly at fault for the 737 MCAS debacle and the recent Alaska Airlines door plug accident. Boeing clearly needs a major overhaul to their business operations, but journalistic sensationalism isn't warranted under any circumstances.

Greg

[htwoopup]

Reich's other points about Boeing corporate culture since the McDonnell Douglas merger are correct. Likewise, Boeing culture/management were clearly at fault for the 737 MCAS debacle and the recent Alaska Airlines door plug accident. Boeing clearly needs a major overhaul to their business operations, but journalistic sensationalism isn't warranted under any circumstances.

Greg

True that. But further to your point (and mine), did you see Brian West’s (CFO) bullshit discussion today of the hit to cash they are going to take? All about speed of delivery. All about customer demands. NOTHING about safety, changing processes, etc. I worked with Brian. This is par for the course. GE/ Welch philosophy of taking money is better than making money and the longer term stakeholders be damned. Where I worked with him was at a TV ratings company that he and the Boeing now CEO ran into the ground. But at least there, there were no lives at stake.

[gregl]

True that. But further to your point (and mine), did you see Brian West’s (CFO) bullshit discussion today of the hit to cash they are going to take? All about speed of delivery. All about customer demands. NOTHING about safety, changing processes, etc. I worked with Brian. This is par for the course. GE/ Welch philosophy of taking money is better than making money and the longer term stakeholders be damned. Where I worked with him was at a TV ratings company that he and the Boeing now CEO ran into the ground. But at least there, there were no lives at stake.

Thanks for the reference and for your insight into large company finance. I haven't yet seen West's presentation, but the cash hit isn't at all surprising and it shouldn't be to shareholders. Make stupid choices, get stupid results. The larger question: will shareholders ever understand the need to make good long-term decisions (i.e., company longevity, customer satisfaction, commitment to safety, etc.) and not be mesmerized by short-term gains? The entire investing universe seems to have turned upside down over the past 40-50 years. The classic finance models we learned in the 1970s seem to be ignored by current investors.

Greg

[72gmc]

Thanks for the reference and for your insight into large company finance. I haven't yet seen West's presentation, but the cash hit isn't at all surprising and it shouldn't be to shareholders. Make stupid choices, get stupid results. The larger question: will shareholders ever understand the need to make good long-term decisions (i.e., company longevity, customer satisfaction, commitment to safety, etc.) and not be mesmerized by short-term gains? The entire investing universe seems to have turned upside down over the past 40-50 years. The classic finance models we learned in the 1970s seem to be ignored by current investors.

Greg

I feel like too many people equate good money with good business. I grew up in the 70s and the people around me emphasized the aspects of good business that contribute to good money but are not directly “paid for.”

[bigbill]

My son did his check flight yesterday afternoon and his solo today. I was watching his flight on the Flightradar app and saw several changes in direction with no apparent turn, then I figured out he was doing aerobatics, and his changes of direction were loops. Anyway, I'm over the moon. He will leave Roswell this weekend and return to Corpus for additional training in instruments and formations. Sometime in May, he'll be told what aircraft he will be flying based on academics, performance, preferences, and what is available.

[Mabouya]

he'll be told what aircraft he will be flying based on academics, performance, preferences, and what is available.

Congratulations!

Based purely on what the Navy needs these days, what are the most likely a/c on the list?

[bigbill]

Congratulations!

Based purely on what the Navy needs these days, what are the most likely a/c on the list?

He is a Marine, so jets will be F-35 B or C, and multi-engines will be C-130s, Ospreys, or rotary. The idea is to qualify for jets, and you can get any aircraft. If he gets jets, he'll go to the T-45 next. If he gets multi-engines, he'll stay on the Texas coast and fly Queenaires, non-turboprop Kingaires. Helicopter training is primarily in Florida. He wants C-130s, which the Marines use for aerial refueling and logistics. If he gets jets, he'll eventually have to do carrier quals.

[bigbill]

This is the best one yet. My son is back in Corpus to do formation flying. He is the pilot of the plane in the photo.

[rwsaunders]

I'm sure that Saab, gregL and the other pilots know of this site, but for us cloud jumping, packaged peanut eating, wing flapping, passenger peeps, this is pretty cool. Above photo...jumping the clouds out of ORD, heading East across Lake Michigan.

https://aviationweather.gov/gfa/#obs

[gregl]

Had a pretty bird fly over the neighborhood this evening

Greg

[bigbill]

Had a pretty bird fly over the neighborhood this evening

Greg

My stepfather, who died in 1996, was the engineer for Air Force Ones, beginning with Nixon's 707 (SAM 27000) through Clinton and the 747s. In the year before he died of cancer, he was working on the next aircraft, but his failing health meant he worked from his home office, so a SCIF was established in his office with safes, blackout curtains, etc. My mom's clearances were upgraded, but she didn't go into his office after it was upgraded until after he died. His work was completed a month or two before he passed, so all the SCIF equipment was gone. I was on a Special Projects Mission on the USS Parche when he died, so I didn't know about it until we surfaced and returned from the mission. My mom's house has lots of cool models.

[gregl]

My stepfather, who died in 1996, was the engineer for Air Force Ones, beginning with Nixon's 707 (SAM 27000) through Clinton and the 747s. In the year before he died of cancer, he was working on the next aircraft, but his failing health meant he worked from his home office, so a SCIF was established in his office with safes, blackout curtains, etc. My mom's clearances were upgraded, but she didn't go into his office after it was upgraded until after he died. His work was completed a month or two before he passed, so all the SCIF equipment was gone. I was on a Special Projects Mission on the USS Parche when he died, so I didn't know about it until we surfaced and returned from the mission. My mom's house has lots of cool models.

Bill, you have the best air and sea stories! You really should write a book of your life experiences. I’ll certainly pay for an advance copy.

Your stepfather must have been a well respected subject matter expert. Getting a SCIF at home is usually reserved for cabinet-level officials and flag officers. Just getting approval to set up a SCIF can take years through normal channels. My first JetStar instructor flew in the 89th AW during the Carter and Reagan administrations. He had some good stories too. He said his favorite passenger was Rosalynn Carter. She would always sit in the flight deck jumpseat and get to know the crews. He described her as a “real lady.”

I learned about the Parche when I read Blind Man’s Bluff. WOW! The stories you (can’t) tell. Hopefully some of those missions get declassified so that you can share more with us. Thank you for your service to our country and for your fascinating contributions to this forum.

Greg

[bigbill]

Bill, you have the best air and sea stories! You really should write a book of your life experiences. I’ll certainly pay for an advance copy.

Your stepfather must have been a well respected subject matter expert. Getting a SCIF at home is usually reserved for cabinet-level officials and flag officers. Just getting approval to set up a SCIF can take years through normal channels. My first JetStar instructor flew in the 89th AW during the Carter and Reagan administrations. He had some good stories too. He said his favorite passenger was Rosalynn Carter. She would always sit in the flight deck jumpseat and get to know the crews. He described her as a “real lady.”

I learned about the Parche when I read Blind Man’s Bluff. WOW! The stories you (can’t) tell. Hopefully some of those missions get declassified so that you can share more with us. Thank you for your service to our country and for your fascinating contributions to this forum.

Greg

My mom's stories of couriers arriving at the house always fascinated me. There was no way to secure comms, so it was all hand-carried. For the Parche, I was stationed on the boat when the book came out. The authors did an autograph session at a bookstore in Silverdale, WA, and we were forbidden to attend. Sontag was well known around the barracks when the boat was still at Mare Island. Parche had been part of Submarine Development Group One, including the USS Richard B. Russell, Seawolf (SSN 575), and Halibut. We were stashed away on our own pier at Subase Bangor, Washington, a Trident SSBN base. A bunch of old guys from DevGrp One planned a reunion at the rec area on Bangor. We shut the hatches and went to sea for a week to avoid the reunion and all the attending press. One day, the base commander also showed up on our pier with Tom Clancy, requesting a tour. Our Captain came topside and said no. The issue was pushed, and essentially, the CNO said fuck no. When I went for my nuclear officer interview in DC before commissioning from an enlisted guy, my final interview was with a four-star, and I asked my escort to leave the room. The admiral concurred and sent him out, then we talked for almost an hour about engineering issues, specifically electrical equipment since I was the Chief Electrician. I knew the admiral was project-cleared.

After commissioning, I reported to the carrier Eisenhower, which, at the time, was in the Persian Gulf. All officers had a Secret clearance at a minimum, so as part of my check-in, they looked up my clearances, and you could have heard a pin drop. "So, am I good for Secret?" "Yeah, you're good." Thankfully, I didn't have to maintain all my previous levels of TS/SCI.

Since this thread is about flying, my son is finishing his instrument ground school and should know his next airframe in about four weeks. I am starting my thesis for my Military History MA and shopping for a PhD program where I can continue my research into the incorporation of Native American History into American History. Having two MAs simplifies the PhD process. Sometimes, I have to remind myself why I can be so scatterbrained.