The latest "Aviation Week & ST" reminded the readers that when a Birginair 757 (static ports covered with tape?) crashed in the Domenican Republic with German tourists, it was a "wet-lease", charter. The plane that crashed in Egypt with lots of French citizens onboard was in about '98.
How are people on a tour group, or with a travel club, to know who the airline is?
Won't the suspected extra discounts (from now on at problem carriers) invite fraud and misrepresentation?
Does the blacklist involve serious safety violations, or simply involve paperwork wich has no box to check off windshear training, i.e. the US FAA 'allegedly' sent a "hatchet man" to Kiwi Airlines, where he noticed that someone had noted by hand on each pilot's training form, not finding a printed box, that windshear sim. events were performed.
The FAA was so embarassed and desperate after the Valuejet crash, to find a small airline to pick on (easy small target), and could easily shutdown, thus earning adulation in the eyes of the ignorant, stupid, idiotic US media. The public perceived that the FAA was, after all, watching the truly important things, and could rest assured that US air travel was in good hands.
A buddy worked at KIWI, as 727 FE. Valuejet then was desperate to change its name, and suddenly bought Airtran Airlines. Poof-magic! No more Valuejet ("Ghettojet", called this by one of our FOs who worked there). Even some former Eastern scabs who were some of the first Valuejet Captains came out better. The Valujet which evacuated on a runway in Atlanta (08R?) , had its engines overhauled in Turkey. A compressor or turbine blade (or just a fragment of such shrapnel) went through the knee of the aft Flight Attendant. A little painful? But the airline made lot$ of money-until the Scab Captain in the Everglades became hors d' oevres for a beady-eyed, slimy alligator.
