Saw this message on a GPS newsgroup. Watch the accuracy of your P.A. announcements ladies and gentlemen!
Quote:
On a Southwest Airlines flight from Nashville to Houston yesterday, I was
using my GPS and had a very good satellite lock with the altitude showing
39000 feet.. The captain announced that we were going to climb to 41000
feet to try to get above the choppy weather. We climbed to 43000 feet where
we leveled off and flew for about 15 minutes. Then, the captain announced
that he was sorry, but it appeared impossible to get high enough to smooth
out the ride, that we were at 41000 feet and that was the maximum height for
the 737 we were in. My little yellow etrex still showed a solid 43000 feet.
We continued at 43000 feet for about 10 more minutes until we abruptly
descended to 41000 feet where we continued until we began our descent into
Houston.
I didn't get any particularly warm fuzzies from the knowledge that the crew
on the flight deck flew for almost one half hour thinking that we were 2000
feet lower than we were. I don't know what the vertical separation between
planes is supposed to be. Were we in danger because of this error?
