Worried about a little snow?
Hundreds of passengers were stranded for hours overnight on airliners that couldn’t take off from John F. Kennedy International Airport because of the ice and snow storm that pummeled the Northeast.
The exact number of planes stuck on the tarmac was unclear, but irate passengers reported that the problems affected several airlines. Pilots and officials blamed some of the problems on a shortage of deicing fluid and a new federal regulation giving pilots a narrow window to get their planes in the air once the chemicals are applied. The change has meant some jets need to get doused repeatedly if their takeoffs are delayed.
Rahul Chandran said he was trapped aboard a Cathay Pacific Airways jet from midnight until nearly 9:30 a.m. Saturday, when the flight to Vancouver was finally canceled.
Throughout the night, the pilot repeatedly described problems with deicing equipment, including a lack of fluid, that kept the plane waiting endlessly to have its wings sprayed. When the airline finally gave up and tried to return the plane to its terminal, it took at least another hour to arrange a gate, he said.
I flew in and out of northern tier airports for years – before deregulation. Lousy weather always presented problems – which were solved. Now, everyone cuts costs to the nearest penny and screw the customers, screw customer service.
Add in Homeland Insecurity and the TSA – and you’ll understand why I won’t go anywhere in the U.S.A. that I can’t easily drive to in my pickup!
here’s the answer – pass a law that says, after two hours on the tarmac, every passenger has the right to demand to be let off the plane. Failure to comply will be deemed to be wrongful imprisonment, which is both a felony and a tort. after a few lawsuits and prosecutions, the airlines will figure it out …
I need to make a 1,200 mile journey this spring, and I’m driving for the exact same reasons. Well, that, and the fact I may be randomly subjugated to placement on a terrorist watch list so Mr. Air Marshall can get a promotion. Or my friendly passengers could report me as being a terrorist for wearing a shirt that reads “Peace,” “No Blood for oil,” “Impeach Bush,” etc.
Does anyone really care if the airlines go defunct?
I have not flown commercially in nearly three years. Not from fear of flying, but from anger over airlines’ insanely poor treatment of their prisoners, er, customers. I will not reward their punishing non-service with my money. I guess I won’t be venturing far from California any time soon, but oh well.
I’m with you #3. Years ago I used to work in sports television. I flew around the country every week. Back then flying was fun and easy. Now I haven’t been on a plane for years and wouldn’t think of flying with the delays, hassles, cramped seats, lousy food and poor service.
Absolute agreement with everyone here. Haven’t been on a U.S. airline since 9/11 and have no intention of flying anywhere again, at least not if it involves flying into a U.S. airport. The authorities treat regular passengers like crap and so do the airlines. Meanwhile, you can easily buy plastic weapons that don’t show up in an x-ray scan (I ran across a site that sells such stuff just the other day when i was looking for sources of LED light bulbs). To top it off, the airlines oversell their flights and their employees just sneer at people, even business class travelers, who get bumped off a flight as a result. That happened to my son.
Fly the friendly skies again inside the U.S.? No even on a bet.
#1 – there is probably already a federal law which prevents them from letting passengers off the plane. that’s the problem -we think we always need more laws, and when prices go up, and airlines pinch pennies to keep fares low, we just complain and demand more laws.
Its interesting that this is happening at the Old airports and In the East.
30 years ago when weather was just as bad.
There is a solution IF the airlines wish to persue it…
HEATEd runways and Port areas.
But it would require closing down of runways and the Docking areas, until finished.
#7 The problem is ice on the wings not the runway.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey say the airlines, not the airport, are responsible for supplying and maintaining terminal deicing equipment. And the airlines are blaming the Port Authority for not efficiently running these metropolitan airports during inclement weather, causing their flight delays. And it’s the airline passengers who are stuck in the middle, paying the price for this lack of cooperation and coordination. Somebody in authority, like the Transportation Department or the FAA needs to step up and knock some heads together to get everyone to cooperate for the sake of efficient air travel in the region. There’s no reason why a majority of flights shouldn’t be able to take off in these weather conditions if all the pieces were managed properly. The present situation is just shameful. Did budget cuts and lack or personnel cause these recent problems or is it just a case of incompetence?
What these big northeastern airports need are great big domes over them, with holes in the domes lined up with the takeoff and landing patterns.
🙂
I’ve been a pilot for 30 years, with instrument and multi-engine ratings. Screw the airlines, I’ll go when and where I please. Well, except for long overseas stuff.
That said, I can still make it to Mexico to go fishin’. I’m with all, I’d still rather just go in a pickup (or anything comfortable that drives the great Interstate and beautiful US highways). Isn’t the journey supposed to be as much fun as the destination? Not with a commercial airline!
Last time I flew commercial, I got strip searched. Never again !!
Cripes, why cant they just retrofit some type of heating tape to the wings of the plane. How hard could it be really? And I agree with most that flying has become such a huge pain in the ass, I only fly when absolutely necessary. Driving is more comfortable and faster in most respects, if you factor in the delays, etc.
#11, I’m a pilot too (just plain ol’ single-engine VFR for now). Trouble is, rental planes are not very practical for travel of any significant time or distance (that damn minimum daily rental). If I ever win the lottery and get my own Socata Trinidad, then I’ll be one happy travelin’ camper. 🙂
See… global warming does have some potential benefits!
12, All commercial aircraft (for passenger travel) have deicing boots or heaters on the leading edge of the wing. These work in flight in order that the pilot can choose a different altitude where in-flight icing is not so bad. The problem is ice / snow on top of the wing and horizontal stabilizer, which destroys laminar airflow thus decreasing lift and increasing drag, and changes the shape of the airfoil to the point at which flying is not an option. And heating the whole wing is impractical due to weight / structural limitations. As of now, deicing is the only way to guarantee a takeoff. Even then, it’s still not as good as taking off with a dry wing.
You’re right, too bad there’s no simple solution. I’ve been iced out too many times while piloting small craft, and it’s not a good feeling. That old saying about ‘pucker factor’ is very real. I’d rather be alive on the tarmac than swimming in the freezing Potomac…
13, you’re right. I’d have to win the lottery before I get another plane. Remember the old saw about airplane / boat / motorhome ownership: the two happiest times are the day you buy it and the day you sell it.
Let’s get an aerobatic BD-5 jet and go 360 knots for 1000 miles, then park it in the garage (lottery money coming soon, right?)
Guess I’ll still have to drive. Damn airlines!
#6 is probably right, but I’m with #1 (and so many others here). If this kind of event is tolerated because “no one” is to blame, it’ll keep right on happening. How common was this stuck-overnight-on-the-runway in the 70s and 80s?
Until enough customers vote with their wallets – which will cause a needed increase in airfares – this new status quo will continue. Too bad we don’t have a healthy national passenger rail system…
I am a private pilot and employee of a commuter airline in Alaska, therefore very familiar with de-icing regulations and aircraft. During freezing rain type weather, depending on the temperature, full de-ing procedures must start, be completed, and the aircraft must take off all within 5-10 minutes. This can be difficult to accomplish under the best circumstances, yet when overcrowded airports (many departures) and arriving aircraft cause unforseen delays during the process further delays are inevitable. Furthermore, EPA regulations on designated de-icing areas further complicate matters.
Still the safest way to travel long distances, and even on particularly bad days, predominately the fastest as well
High costs of jet fuel and passengers’ demand for low fares will continue to cause problems such as these.
Air travel is one of the few industries where competition does not seem to benefit the consumer.