Stuff Happens: complexity, contracts and unintended consequences.

Airliners are Very Complex Vehicles. A typical B-747 is comprised of millions of parts and components. The reported numbers vary because there is no agreed method of defining "a component" and every single airliner often has differences from others, for various reasons. Suffice to say - there are millions: "A Boeing 747-8 aircraft comprises more…

Where do we draw the line?

After this attempted murder-suicide by a passenger on a "third level" air-carrier (posted below) it's going to be interesting to see if access to the front seats (and the flight controls) on smaller aircraft is modified. Sometimes, aircraft with as few as three passengers (plus the pilot) are used by lower level operators and charter…

Can a passenger take over and fly your airliner?

He can when he's an off-duty, going-on-vacation-captain for the same company. And, thanks to his wife, he brought his pilot licence along with him!https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/easyjet-flight-spain-delay-pilot-michael-bradley-alicante-manchester-a9092066.html

The Last Word in Safety…

"No!" Passengers hate to hear it. It means "no," you won't be leaving on time. It means "no," you won't make your on-going flight connections. It means "no," you won't make it to your event on time. Pilots hate to say it. We hate to disappoint our customers. But often, it's the safest word and…