Has a cure for stupity been invented yet ?
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Unfortunately I don't believe all that weird. In the millions of miles I have flown, my wife and I were once on a flight to Cancun where we had an already inebriated white female passenger seated as the 3rd in our row. The flight attendants continued to sell her more beer although obviously she was already well lit. When we landed she said something like, "Well done", and pulled out a cigarette and lit it. No action by the flight attendants until we were deplaning and she walked by the attendant telling us goodbye at the door. Seeing the lit cigarette in her hand finally captured the attendants attention and she was reigned in. So did this Ukrainian lady have a mental disorder? Was she not familiar with airliners? And the pictures show the window folded straight up! Obviously that gets it out of the way but I thought 737-800s had plug escapes over the wing that you pulled the locking device, took the window in and placed over the seats in the row in front or back. That's why I read the card each flight to know how the escape doors work on each different plane. And the 737 doesn't have an escape chute - the wing is so low and the crews job is to lower the flaps to make an easy slide to the ground.
The side effect is of course that a random person could also open the exit in a flash and go for a stroll on the wing, without cc even having a time to react.
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Unfortunately I don't believe all that weird. In the millions of miles I have flown, my wife and I were once on a flight to Cancun where we had an already inebriated white female passenger seated as the 3rd in our row. The flight attendants continued to sell her more beer although obviously she was already well lit. When we landed she said something like, "Well done", and pulled out a cigarette and lit it. No action by the flight attendants until we were deplaning and she walked by the attendant telling us goodbye at the door. Seeing the lit cigarette in her hand finally captured the attendants attention and she was reigned in. So did this Ukrainian lady have a mental disorder? Was she not familiar with airliners? And the pictures show the window folded straight up! Obviously that gets it out of the way but I thought 737-800s had plug escapes over the wing that you pulled the locking device, took the window in and placed over the seats in the row in front or back. That's why I read the card each flight to know how the escape doors work on each different plane. And the 737 doesn't have an escape chute - the wing is so low and the crews job is to lower the flaps to make an easy slide to the ground.
Before we get too judgemental, I was operating out of Pisa a few years ago on a holiday charter - B737-300 with an inop APU with a surface temp of 32 degrees.....as soon as the doors were closed, the CSD reported that the pax were very uncomfortable and the cabin temp indicator showed a cabin temp of 40 degrees. I asked GND if we could start an engine for air conditioning and they said no. I called the pushback co-ordinator and asked him for ground air conditioning as a priority which had been unavailable (of course) and was told to stand by, and I asked the CSD to open all main doors for ventilation, to which he reported that he couldn't because there were no steps in place.
The CSD then told me that the pax were panicking due to the high cabin temp and with no aircon and I couldn't see any options left apart from a rapid disembarkation. The FO called ATC again to try to explain that we needed the engine started for air conditioning only, but they clearly had the B team on and again told us that we had to wait for start clearance from MILAN CENTRE. At this point I was on the verge of declaring an emergency in order to get someone to recognise that we had a problem, the cabin temperature was soaring and no-one outside was remotely interested when all of a sudden Pisa Ground gave us start up clearance. To this day, I have no idea what I would have done if I hadn't been able to get the air conditioning on line.
The CSD then told me that the pax were panicking due to the high cabin temp and with no aircon and I couldn't see any options left apart from a rapid disembarkation. The FO called ATC again to try to explain that we needed the engine started for air conditioning only, but they clearly had the B team on and again told us that we had to wait for start clearance from MILAN CENTRE. At this point I was on the verge of declaring an emergency in order to get someone to recognise that we had a problem, the cabin temperature was soaring and no-one outside was remotely interested when all of a sudden Pisa Ground gave us start up clearance. To this day, I have no idea what I would have done if I hadn't been able to get the air conditioning on line.
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Once again it is worth reminding ourselves that there are no prerequisite qualifications for being a passenger on a commercial aircraft - either in terms of intelligence or being aviation savvy. And there is a reasonable chance on any flight that there is someone flying for the first time. Given that there is no obvious personal danger in stepping through a door that opens onto a surface that is designed to be walked on then I fail to see the Darwin Award potential. Okay so we all know better, but this person evidently did not. Unless someone can point to some deliberate and malicious intent to be disruptive then this may simply be a case of naive ignorance. And if so, a lifetime flying ban seems a bit much.
Last edited by Dont Hang Up; 7th Sep 2020 at 15:35.
Does it actually state anywhere that you can't do it and if not, what rule did she break?
Yes I know that it was an idiotic thing to do, but people should be aware that unless it clearly states that it is only acceptable in emergencies, then someone will do it! And it would have to be clearly stated they couldn't, because common sense doesn't count for anything (take the hot beverages scalding people for example). Had she injured herself, then I'm sure she would have sued and been awarded damages.
Don't think I am defending her actions btw, but unfortunately you have to account for stupidity.
Yes I know that it was an idiotic thing to do, but people should be aware that unless it clearly states that it is only acceptable in emergencies, then someone will do it! And it would have to be clearly stated they couldn't, because common sense doesn't count for anything (take the hot beverages scalding people for example). Had she injured herself, then I'm sure she would have sued and been awarded damages.
Don't think I am defending her actions btw, but unfortunately you have to account for stupidity.
Avoid imitations
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I was once tasked to fly the Lord Mayor of Telford in an RAF helicopter. Despite my careful safety briefing not to touch any handles in flight or after landing and to wait for me to stop the rotor and to open the door to let him disembark, immediately on landing he pulled the jettison handle on the rear door, thanked me very much for a wonderful flight then tried to get out rotors running. I had to shout “WAIT!” and thankfully he did. After I’d shut down and helped him and his entourage out he just thanked me again shook my hand and wandered off!
Meanwhile I had to get engineering authority to refit the door and fly it back to base.....not easy without a mobile phone.
Meanwhile I had to get engineering authority to refit the door and fly it back to base.....not easy without a mobile phone.
Very few people know anything about aircraft - she saw a door, she wanted to get out - what could be more natural? Sure she's an idiot but stop and have a look around the departure lounge the next time you're in a major airport and look at the people - they are a cross-section of humanity - and that includes those of lower than average and higher than average stupidity in equal numbers..................
Saintsman,
Your statement reminds me of something that happened to me whilst in the day job. Apologies to all for the thread drift here.
I worked for a rather large oil operator and, one day, we had a meet and greet from the European head of safety. After the usual greetings he asked if I had any particular safety worries.
Since I never knew when to shut up, I said I had.
What are they? he asked.
We're giving people too many rules and regulations and I'm worried that they're stopping thinking for themselves.
I then got an earful of the company line on heath and safety, and how people needed to be told what was safe and what was not.
Here's where my glittering career almost hit the buffers. OK, I said. When I go home tonight I'll take a look at my wife's cooker whilst she's burning dinner. If it doesn't have a notice saying
'Keep your head out whilst this is on', can I stick my head in there?
Manager looks at me, mumbles a very strong Dutch oath and passes on......
Luckily, he couldn't see my name badge, and I suspect he did actually have a sense of humour.
Your statement reminds me of something that happened to me whilst in the day job. Apologies to all for the thread drift here.
I worked for a rather large oil operator and, one day, we had a meet and greet from the European head of safety. After the usual greetings he asked if I had any particular safety worries.
Since I never knew when to shut up, I said I had.
What are they? he asked.
We're giving people too many rules and regulations and I'm worried that they're stopping thinking for themselves.
I then got an earful of the company line on heath and safety, and how people needed to be told what was safe and what was not.
Here's where my glittering career almost hit the buffers. OK, I said. When I go home tonight I'll take a look at my wife's cooker whilst she's burning dinner. If it doesn't have a notice saying
'Keep your head out whilst this is on', can I stick my head in there?
Manager looks at me, mumbles a very strong Dutch oath and passes on......
Luckily, he couldn't see my name badge, and I suspect he did actually have a sense of humour.
Perhaps she'd flown on Southwest Airline in the past... back when their CC (and flight deck) used to have fun with their pre-flight briefing.
I was on one flight when they got to the part; "This is a non smoking flight... If you must have a smoke, please step out onto the wing"
ED: And... Sadly, there's still no technology that is stupid proof.
I was on one flight when they got to the part; "This is a non smoking flight... If you must have a smoke, please step out onto the wing"
ED: And... Sadly, there's still no technology that is stupid proof.
Barnes Wallis always said the problem with trying to make something fool-proof was that the fools turned out to be very good at getting around you
