No pilots?

[expat]

To be honest, I would prefer flying on a old fashioned plane like the Boeing 707, than go on a computer controlled plane. Technology isn't always great for everyone.

Working on both "fly by wire" and "fly by wire", I prefer to to spanner on "fly by wire"  ;D

Matt

[Dr.bob7]

The whole no pilot thing is still kind of a futuristic idea, sure this was about 20 years ago but at an air show an airliner flown by a computer crashed (no one was killed) but a computer can never fully take the job of a pilot, I mean the whole they fly themselves thing is somewhat true but the autopilot cant fly itself if theres no one their to turn the knobs that controls them the plane will certanly not fly itself

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

The fact that they want to get rid of US Marshals is stupid:
Since there is no trouble on planes going back and fourth, means the preventive measure of them being there is working. And the moment something does happen, while they are not there, and they live through it some SOB is going to sue the airline for not having proper security.

Getting rid of drinks on planes is just as bad as telling people they can't smoke. Some people want or need a drink on flights to calm their nerves or help them sleep.

And large people all ready have to pay for an extra seat, is there money no longer good enough for the airliner all of a sudden? Jerk!

Bathrooms----On a military flight with 120 people, 2 urinals, and the main bathroom, they are nearly full after a few hours, and he wants to get rid of this???

Flight attendants have been mentioned.

If they want to save weight, here is an idea, do what the military does and request a plane with max lifting with range, so when you are not taking off at 100% Max GVW, you save fuel and go further, that is a no brainier.  

Instead of designing planes that have max range empty, load it up to the worst possible weight "cadel car" style with baggage, and see how far it goes and make improvements their, not the other way around, then you would not end up with 3 types of planes:Regular, Extended Range, Long Range, Extended Long Range ect...

[C]

Getting rid of drinks on planes is just as bad as telling people they can't smoke. Some people want or need a drink on flights to calm their nerves or help them sleep.

Smoking doesn't inhibit your senses to the same extent though. You never see them doing the 90 second evacuation test using people who've been moderately drinking for several hours. Cut out drinking and you'll get rid of a lot of the publicised "air-rage" too.

If people need a drink to calm their nerves or help them sleep, they should maybe consider alternative methods of coping with nerves or plan their sleep patterns, rather than potentially jeopardise the safety of fellow pax and crew.

My "airline" works with a no alcohol rule, and even the most "inhuman" pax manage to survive a few hours without a drink!

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

Smoking doesn't inhibit your senses to the same extent though. You never see them doing the 90 second evacuation test using people who've been moderately drinking for several hours. Cut out drinking and you'll get rid of a lot of the publicised "air-rage" too.

If people need a drink to calm their nerves or help them sleep, they should maybe consider alternative methods of coping with nerves or plan their sleep patterns, rather than potentially jeopardise the safety of fellow pax and crew.

My "airline" works with a no alcohol rule, and even the most "inhuman" pax manage to survive a few hours without a drink!

To me telling people they can't smoke or drink, is being the moral police. They don't have to be lit on a flight, but the number of drinks can and should be limited. And every one deals with their issues there own way, I my self like my Vodka and OJ on long flights, after 2 or 3  of these, i listen to my music and mellow out.

I will agree not every one needs drinks while in the air, as the can't act right, but that is not the reason for rage, most customers are just feed up with the Airlines, like my roommate. He goes online books his flight, goes to airport, just to call me 40min latter to tell me that the carrier swapped planes. They never notified him while checking in that they were boarding his new flight, they waited tell the door closed before telling. But then they wanted to charge him $300 re booking fees to get him on the next flight 10-hours latter. It's stuff like that, that leads into air rage.

[C]

I think we may be talking different types of air rage. We're talking the well known rock guitarist type, or the paralytic loon trying to break into the cockpit or going for the door midflight because a stewardess has refused to serve them more alcohol...

[Rich H]

Just out of interest, I don't live in the U.S., what is an air marshal?

[RitterKreuz]

A federal agent in plain clothes.

The government buys him a "ticket", he boards the plane just like everyone else, he looks, acts and dresses just like everyone esle.

he may or may not have carry on luggage.

he will sit through the flight and do typical passenger things like read the news paper and look out the window.

when someone shouts "Allah Akbar! this is the end infidel!"

he calmly puts down his paper, stands up, draws his 9mm M9 pistol and shoots the belligerent person(s).

he then holsters the weapon, advises the flight crew of his actions, the flight is diverted, the dead body is received by local law enforcement, and depending on the severity of the situation, the flight resumes.

i think the idea originated in Texas

[C]

Just out of interest, I don't live in the U.S., what is an air marshal?

The US or UK definition?

[Rich H]

Just out of interest, I don't live in the U.S., what is an air marshal?

The US or UK definition?

US, do all american airlines have an air marshal?

[C]

Just out of interest, I don't live in the U.S., what is an air marshal?

The US or UK definition?

US, do all american airlines have an air marshal?

In which case I shall disarm the banter switch.

(the US authorities took no notice of the fact in several air forces around the world and Air Marshal is equivalent to a USAF 3*(Lt) General!)

[Thread creep detected. I'll get back in my box and shut up!]

[RitterKreuz]

US, do all american airlines have an air marshal?

There is a great deal of speculation on this... but Im afraid the exact data regarding how many there are in the air at any point is classified

the marshall is a government agent... he does not work for the airline.

he is not even required to fill out a "LEO form" (Law Enforcement Officer). So... there should be only two entities that know that a Federal Air marshall is on board the flight, they are;

1. the air marshal
2. the agency he works for

everyone else "doesnt need to know"

[expat]

Smoking doesn't inhibit your senses to the same extent though. You never see them doing the 90 second evacuation test using people who've been moderately drinking for several hours. Cut out drinking and you'll get rid of a lot of the publicised "air-rage" too.

If people need a drink to calm their nerves or help them sleep, they should maybe consider alternative methods of coping with nerves or plan their sleep patterns, rather than potentially jeopardise the safety of fellow pax and crew.

My "airline" works with a no alcohol rule, and even the most "inhuman" pax manage to survive a few hours without a drink!

To me telling people they can't smoke or drink, is being the moral police.

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

I think we may be talking different types of air rage. We're talking the well known rock guitarist type, or the paralytic loon trying to break into the cockpit or going for the door midflight because a stewardess has refused to serve them more alcohol...

Ah, i see your point now, sorry for the mix up.

@Expat,
I did not mean by smoking on the plane, just that now smokers have to go to the middle of a terminal or one side or the other to smoke, and if they don't have time to go there, they become very angry after a while. And I don't like being around them because every little thing pisses them off tell they get there fix.

[Brett_Henderson]

I'd rather sit next to a smoker.. than someone so overweight that 1/2 of them is on my side of the arm-rest.. and they think that heavy use of cologne is a substitute for bathing