for those of you using the term"czar",referencing the need for one to run/control the FAA,and also as a derogatory remark regarding some political figures,the term is derived from a russian word "tsar",meaing "king" or "monarch"..we need a competent PERSON who knows aviation well,who might just have a pilots license or have been a commercial pilot,and someone who can influence the hiring of responsible,competent people to staff the ATC towers at airports of all sizes..we are NOT in need of a monarch or king..we have enough people in politics who feel they have that title!these recent near misses etcetera,appear to be a lack of total communication /directions/instructions between various ATC personnel and the pilots involved..

(Written on 05/29/2023)(Permalink)

I WISH THEM WELL..PEOPLE WANT CHEAPER FARES ONCE AGAIN,AND COMPETITION IS GOOD..THE ONE THING NEEDED MOST HOWEVER IS GOOD CUSTOMER SERVIC AND GOOD PEOPLE..THATS WHAT BRINGS CUSTOMER LOYALTY..

(Written on 05/23/2023)(Permalink)

flight attendants have ALWAYS had to deal with inebrriated passengers in the best way they know how..since the world of terrorism in flight began however, they are not just dealing with that, but potential threats to everyone on their aircraft..they have been carrying those plastic cuffs onboard for a long time, but now they are schooled in basically self defense tactics as there are not always air marshalls on board,nor passengers willing to help subdue a person..people who have sometimes even 2 drinks on a plane can be rude and aggressive over the least little thing,and if they started in a gate lobby bar,its even worse..being an f/a used to be a "dream" job because of the travel,the many people you meet and the experiences..anymore its like being a smiling,clean,uniformed police person in the sky!!

(Written on 05/15/2023)(Permalink)

i would say, that the "curveball",is/was having to hire literally thousands of new employees (all carriers)becasue so very many quit,took early buyouts or retirement as it was offered at that time..the flights during the pandemic were cut back drastically,and people became used to working from home and not taking business nor vacation trips..when things started to improve the airlines found themselves in a quandry as to how to "restaff" the companies,get new routes and also convince people it was ok too fly once again..the "new normal" for travelers since the end of covid restrictions etcetera, has been to shop around more for bargain flights if they travel,make sure of baggage restrictions and schedules,and prepare themselves for long lines and probable delays or cancellations which have really been an issue..service complaints ar also part of the "new normal", as people are seemingly expecting much better customer service to encourage travelers,yet employees seem overwhelmed and don

(Written on 05/12/2023)(Permalink)

at this point the pilots and their union have an upper hand" over the company..we all are aware that covid brought great changes to the airline business,lots of pilots,flight attendants and ground personnel retired in lieu of lay offs,so when the airlines came back full force, they were shorthanded..all of them,including anmerican have had to cut back on routes and flights because of a lack of personnel..all of them have been hiring as quickly as possible to fill those open slots in order to keep operations going..if american says they are working to have parity with delta pilots,i will bet thats true..i have worked during various strikes before,and thats not fun,however, the company and union always come to quick solutions..this will happen here as well..

(Written on 05/02/2023)(Permalink)

the incident was around terminal E,which is mainly used for international arrivals and departures..seems as thougH IAH is the place to do strange or stupid things lately,as just a couple oF weeks back, a man stole a cargo truck and drove around with houston city police chasing him at high speeds,then he drove through a fenced in area at IAH and into terminal B where he was apprehended..the IAH police department had a substation at terminal B,but they may have added a few more over the last few years in other terminals because of growth, one for each terminal..TSA handles security checkpoints,passport checkpoints and international baggage,but the main brunt of airport security lies with the airport police..

(Written on 04/26/2023)(Permalink)

this is a sad and tragic accident...however..having worked at a large airport for many years for a major airline, i can tell you the "rampers"/baggage handlers, are trained in the use of the baggage carts that have attached rollers for the bags coming on and off the planes..they are also trained as to how to drive the "huffs" that pull carts or dispatch the aircrft at pushback from the gates..they are trained in guiding the aircraft with the orange wands and they are trained as to safe distances and remaining away from aircraft engines that are running..if the person who died actually ran into a jetbridege,where there was no aircraft parked,he or she was obviously distracted or drivng too fast..the speed limit even going from gate to gate in the tractors,with or without a cart is generally no more than 15mph,and there are marked "lanes" for these vehicles..

(Written on 04/25/2023)(Permalink)

TURBULENCE is ususally unexexpected,and if by chance the captain feels they might encoundter it, he tells the crew,no servce at this time,stay strapped in, and also advises the poassengers...when its unexpected,as in the middle of a long haul flight and everyone has unbuckled,gotten comfortable, and started to "roam the cabin" or go to the lavatory,then it really serious!captains always take available routes that avoid thunderstorms or any possiblilty of turbulence,but sometimes mother nature has other ideas!

(Written on 04/06/2023)(Permalink)

cutting the number of flights may be the only solution until such time as more controllers are hired and trained,particularly for the large airports with the most traffic..with a lot of "near misses"reported these last few months in various locations,other airports may do that as well..

(Written on 03/31/2023)(Permalink)

DL cut back service our of DFW several years ago, as they could not compete with AA as they had in the past..its hard for any carrier to compete on markets out of love field because of southwests dominance,and even AA has few if any left out of love..

(Written on 03/30/2023)(Permalink)