I like the fact that you decided to turn this conversation into a HR issue. Respect.Yes! Hijackings, strikes, bankruptcies, accidents, no CRM, sexual assaults, drunks flying airplanes, financial instability, babysitting, arguments, walking off a jet during probation because some captain made a joke about me being an “engin-N’word” and literally couldn’t figure out why I was offended and dared to knock his teeth out while being on probation.
“Son, you’re on probation”
“Lets have this chat in the CPO, I’m totally OK with that”
Used to handle ATA's L10s when I worked gates in college. They used to shake the whole terminal when they'd crank up (IF they cranked up...it was always a crap shoot with them).Used to watch the morning TWA L-1011 getting started up to launch out of the south gates of Terminal 3 each morning, just down from the cargo ramp where we were loading up. I imagine headed to STL. On cold mornings, the amount of smoke it would put out on engine start was impressive, and the low baritone noise of those Rolls 211s as they were starting up, was a sound to be experienced.
2009 seems like yesterday to me. Got to watch (and do) a fair amount of flying mid-1960s thru1990, give or take - and just a bit after that. Eastern was still using Electras on their shuttle from BOS - NYC in those older days., I miss those loud smokey days and hours of plane watching from open air observation decks. Been a long-time since I last flew commercially, and it's not likely I'll do so again this time around. I live under the downwind to 17 at 44N and the final to 24 at POK and 27 at SWF, so the spotting is still good these days, albeit hugely different.I don't remember the operator, but there were DC-8's operating out of BWI up to 2009-10. Loved watching those four smoke trails climbing out.
They outlawed smoking and that was the beginning of the end. Safety over self responsibility. It started with smoking and has progressed and spread. Things you were never threatened by are now illegal, because of safety. You are not smart enough to maintain your well being and we're going to ensure you're safe, if you don't comply we'll arrest you. 1984 was a long time ago but it seems very current, the odd thing is both sides claim it. Orwell laid out a hellscape, perhaps he was correct and that is the eventual outcome. I don't know. Good luck to all of us.2009 seems like yesterday to me. Got to watch (and do) a fair amount of flying mid-1960s thru1990, give or take - and just a bit after that. Eastern was still using Electras on their shuttle from BOS - NYC in those older days., I miss those loud smokey days and hours of plane watching from open air observation decks. Been a long-time since I last flew commercially, and it's not likely I'll do so again this time around. I live under the downwind to 17 at 44N and the final to 24 at POK and 27 at SWF, so the spotting is still good these days, albeit hugely different.
I still look up, though, every chance I get.
And unfortunatly, Boeing took this lesson to heart, and when they designed the 737, they made it so they could stretch it forEEEEEVVVVER.
Your future plane![]()
As long as I'm senior to you...
That picture is probably from China in the '90s.
"... some of these machines have continued to sing the serenades as turbojets with YV-, PR-, or XA- registrations."