Airline Ground Crew Employee Dies At San Antonio Airport

[Alpine Flyer]

Originally Posted by krismiler

There is a far greater risk of ingesting something during single engine taxi, when approaching the gate with both engines running, idle thrust will usually keep you rolling along at a suitable speed with very minor brake and power applications needed.

However when taxiing on one engine, significant power applications are needed if you let the speed get to low or have to come to a stop and start moving again.

Still not a reason to give up 1-eng taxiing. Ground staff simply has to stay clear of aircraft as long as the engines turn and the beacon is on.

[MechEngr]

If there is a 10% increase in local flow and a 50% decrease in the number of engines available for getting into, then I'd think that 1-engine is the winner. I wonder what the rate of getting run over by the food-service trucks is.

[Winemaker]

Originally Posted by megan

Not really, when you make the decision you take whatever door is open, no logic attached. Anyone who has stood on the precipice understands.

Here is an excerpt from Phillip K. Dick's 'Martian Time Slip' that has described, scarily, that moment so well to me.

Suddenly it came to him that he should kill himself. The idea appeared in his mind full blown, as if it had always been there, always a part of him. Easy to do it, just crash the 'copter. He thought, I am goddamn tired of being Norbert Steiner.....

In fact, he thought, why wait until I can get back to the ‘copter? Along the street came a huge, rumbling tractor-bus, the sides dull with sand; it had crossed the desert just now, was coming to New Isreal from some other settlement. Steiner set down his suitcases and ran out into the street, directly at the tractor-bus.

The bus honked; its air brakes screeched. Other traffic halted and Steiner ran forward with his head down, his eyes shut. Only at the last moment, with the sound of the air horn so loud in his ears that it became unbearably painful, did he open his eyes; he saw the driver of the bus gaping down at him, saw the steering wheel and the number on the driver’s cap. And then-

Impulse is a strange thing. I do solo mountaineering and have caution but not fear of exposure, but I really don't like to walk across high bridges or be in tall buildings, man made things. On such structures I feel like I might have an impulse to jump and am pretty grippy with railings and very uncomfortable and bail as soon as possible. But I have no concerns rappelling a face except the usual stuff you always check. Weird.

[ASH26E]

Myself also. Strapped into a hang glider, I will approach the edge of a precipice with equanimity, but not go within 10m of it without. However, despite common belief, that is the antithesis of a suicidal urge.