The 55 MPH speed limit was instituted to conserve fuel.

That's true, but the arguments against eliminating it (which finally happened, of course) centered on safety concerns. Even now, several years later, people bemoan the "additional" deaths that supposedly are occurring because people are allowed to drive faster. (Whether they are actually driving any faster is a matter of debate.)

Bruce

drtravels,
Then perhaps JRF should bring along an FA to shoo away that angry sheep...




[This message has been edited by TransWorldOne (edited 01-16-2001).]

Staying away from the Nasty turn this thread has made, back to stimpy's original thread (if only I jumped in sooner!)

What was the pilot's take on this incident? Since the plane was already pushed back, obviously he had to make the decision to go back or not. The captain is the master of the aircraft and all aboard, so if he thought the FA was being extreme, why would he have returned? Obviously, not only do we have a FA who might have been in a bad mood, we had a captain who agreed with her. (Perhaps if the plane was still at the gate, the captain had no say. But it was the captain's ultimate choice for the pax to be removed or not).

While flight attendants perhaps were designed for safety, there is no question that their service roll is another defined aspect of the job, in addition to, not instead of, safety. If not for service, why would the airlines staff any more than the eight or nine required by law (1 fa per 50 seats)?

Bizjet

From my perspective (which was limited from being strapped in my seat), the Captain was strapped in his seat the whole time and totally trusted his FA. From my experience of over 1 million miles flown, the crew on the flight deck will always defer to the FA's and treat them as part of the crew especially when going up against passengers. I cannot imagine a realistic situation where a pilot would take the side of a customer instead of an FA.

That doesn't mean that pilots don't yell at the FA's when they screw up. I see that fairly often. But as the pilots know that most FA's will not go to such great resorts as they did in this incident without reasonable cause, they usually trust their judgement.

Bruce: Your logic is giving me a headache!!!

The airbag in my car has never deployed. It just sits there and makes my steering wheel look fat.

So the airbag's primary function is not safety, but to make my steering wheel look fat????????

Or is it there as part of a vast conspiracy to make me think that I am safer with a fat steering wheel then a skinny one?

If, god forbid, you ever SEE a FA performing his/her primary job function first hand in a situation that truly calls for it you will never question why that is their primary job function again.

The airbag in your car is like a fireman (see above), waiting to be called to an emergency. It simply has no other job.

Flight attendants are quite different. Are they serving meals just to pass the time while they wait for some safety issue to arise? No, serving meals is most of what they do! Only very, very rarely do they have to anything safety-related, and in one incident last year, their performance may not have been so good (according to perhaps dubious news reports).

Again, in my humble opinion, safety on airplanes is due to, in order of priority: (1) talented engineers (and assembly-line workers, to a lesser degree) at the aircraft manufacturers, who really do quite an amazing job if you think about it, (2) pilots, and (3) flight attendants. Anyone who wants to give FAs more credit in this regard than I do is welcome to do so. I just don't agree.

Incidentally, I suspect that your airbag is always pleasant! It never throws you out of your car.

Bruce

Did anyone notice the Yen was weaker against the Drachma today?

Did anyone notice that it was exactly as much weaker against the mark, the punt, the lira, etc.? (The drachma is now an "in" currency, tied at GRD340.750=�1.)

Bruce,
I think that was actully done for fuel efficency.

Freefaller12k

Edited for Doh... I should have read down further....sorry for the repeat.

[This message has been edited by freefaller12k (edited 01-17-2001).]

Bruce: We respectfully agree to disagree

bdschobel says: "The airbag in your car is like a fireman (see above), waiting to be called to an emergency. It simply has no other job."

I see your ignorance is not just limited to FA's. You fail to recognize a great many functions of both professions.

How about the FA just stating, "If you do not stop & listen, sir, we will be forced to return to the gate and have you removed at your financial expense and also the expense of the time of all the other pax with whom you will not likely be very popular!! May I proceed? Thank you!"

A little warning would be nice!

now that's a GREAT idea...



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"I always think there's a
band, kid..."

dup sorry...

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"I always think there's a
band, kid..."

[This message has been edited by squeakr (edited 01-17-2001).]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by stimpy:
[

And svpii, as for my title being offensive, it was calculated to do just that.

Offensive to whom? Not to the FA in question as she is not likely reading this board. So what's your point??



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"I always think there's a
band, kid..."