Position: Eight miles above Wyoming... Westbound.Destination: KPDX (Portland)
Passengers on board: 150
The first breath of summer blew across my cinder block fence yesterday. Outside air temperature was 95 F. with a 15 kt. southerly wind. Yeah, it is coming; the unbelievable heat of a Phoenix summer. My pool's water temperature is 79 F. I need 80 degree minimum to take the first plunge. That will be in a few days, I think. The coldest water temperature reached this winter was 54 F.; the warmest temperature reached last summer was 93 F. That is a 39 degree change for 16,000 gallons. I must think on this further...
At this very moment in time, outside air temperature is -58 C. Brrrrr! Below is a landscape that reminds me of the surface of Mars, except it is eastern Wyoming.
Last night, prior to push back from my house, the wife of my youth gave me a little pre-flight briefing. She told me there was too much whining from the left seat... That would be me. Of course, she is right... As usual. She reminded me that I am, more or less, spit on the cog wheels of a mighty machine and worrying about the state of the industry will not change the outcome, whatever and whenever that might be... As usual. It is never ending in this business. In the best of times, enormous expenses and thin profit margins. These are definitely not the best of times.
Well, folks are still flying in spite of $3.50 gas and $4.00 loaves of bread. I would have bet $1,000 that our planes would be empty by now. I have read theories that flying is ingrained in the mind of the public as a necessity, rather than a luxury. That may be true.
17 comments:
Excellent posts, as always thanks Dave. I know what your saying about the fuel, bread etc, we are feeling it in Australia too, yet there are 3 discount airlines, and Qantas of course, and all seem to be doing ok, as far as i know.
Enjoy your warming temps, and safe flying ,mate.
In my corner of the globe (Hawai'i) flying is a necessity. Alternative methods are few. Those prices you mentioned sound cheap here.
As always, I enjoy your view from the left seat.
Hi Dave,
Your writing is fantastic!, can't wait for the book to come out.
I've been meaning to say hi for some time now, I work as an engineer and 12 months ago after googling some topics on hydraulics, I found your post about the cracked line in your #2 engine.
I spent a week, reading and re-reading your incredibly captivating blog.
To cut a long story short, I've been so inspired over the last year that I had my first hour in a A320 sim at LHR last week.
If the girlfriend lets me go for the career change, I mite see you as a blip on my ND sometime in the future..
Cheers
Lachlan.
reading your blog is always informative and interesting and the pictures are always great. i had hopes of a professional career flying but that's unrealistic for me so i have to live vicariously. please keep up the posts and pictures!
been going through withdrawls the last sevral day waiting for ur next post. I love the read, thanks
Dave,
She may be right... Live with it, lobby or leave is my motto. But you seem entitled to a little leeway. It is your livelihood after all! But if you care about the industry, you'll care about your job, and the airplanes you fly and the passengers that ride in them. I gotta belive there's a trickle down effect in play there for the better. I think complacency breeds carelessness and erosion of skills.
"Luxury" passengers do still exist. As one who only flies about once every 18 months on average, when I do fly and I'm in line at the check in or the gate or whatever, it always irks me when the frequent flyers are standijng around badmouthing the airline if it's a few minutes late or something. Really kind of ruins the mood for me and the family when we are heading out on a new adventure. Yes, a commercial airline flight is still an adventure for me! (Not a hick, just an average middle class family trying to make ends meet!)
Sorry to ramble here.
Bottom line: I care that you care about the industry because that makes me feel safer. So go ahead and whine!
Tim G in MN
Well, today is the big day, so you may actually have something to whine about if it all goes south. Either way, it's sure going to be interesting.
That's some pretty hot weather! Do you still fly GA single pistons around your area? If so Im sure that there are plenty of days where the weather looks like great flying conditions, but the density altitude keeps you on the ground. Oh well thats probably when you say "Dang now I got to take the bike out". Thanks for the post Dave, stay optimistic.
May well be, generally, that your wife is right.
But as long as it is not going to take up the dimensions and reverberations of four WHINING Rolls Royce Dart turboprops (remember those vintage Vickers Viscounts?) - it might be considered still OK to whine a little...
Hi, Dave. I just went looking for airline/pilot blogs because I just wrote a humor column on my own blog about pilot pay. I wanted to email you directly and ask if you were interested in linking to it, but couldn't find a place to email you. In any case, here it is. Thanks!
Best regards,
Josh Barsch
http://www.straightforwardmedia.com/blog/2008/04/14/dont-forget-to-tip-your-airline-pilot/
Looking forward to our airlines merging. :)
http://anti-airliners-net.blogspot.com/
Maybe I'm dense, but it seems to me that high gas prices will send folks streaming to the airports. The people I've talked to say that a typical "car vacation" is now much in doubt...that if fuel is that expensive, you might as well fly and get to the destination in a hurry. That's my thinking as well.
you guys...
complaining about high gas prices?
We are from, and live in the Netherlands, (europe) and we pay 1.55 euro per liter of gas.
this is: 1.55 = $2.44 x 3.785412 equals $9.27 per gallon...
so, think again and buy smaller, more fuel economic cars, or stop whining...
However, I used to live in the USA 'bout 10 years ago, and paid around $0.90 per gallon back then, so I feel your pain.
william -- the problem with your fuel prices in the wonderful Netherlands has little to do with supply and demand, and everything to do with tax policy.
How can a major carrier charge $325for a 2 legged flight from Newark to Houston (737) to my hometown via a commuter jet? This is the same price I paid 5-10 years ago via the same carrier when oil prices were 1/3 what they are today.
William -
How is public transportation in the Netherlands. I'd lay money that it's far better than here. In the US, outside of major cities, it's nearly impossible to get around or hold a job without a car.
Dave -
We probably wouldn't be flying with everything so expensive now, but we booked our upcoming trip next week 9 months ago when things weren't QUITE so nasty. :-)
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