Pay peanuts, get monkeys-

[The Inspector]

According to a news story, the TSA can't attract enough former CAP Cadets or former Security Guards (you know, the ones the guard companies wouldn't issue guns to) to fill openings @ Regan National, so they are advertising for new TSA gropers on pizza boxes in the D.C. area-
And people ask me why I don't fly commercially any more.

[tom d. friedman]

how re - assuring!! really boosts my confidence level!! an faa air traffic controller doesn't even need a pilot's license anymore either!! go figure!!!

Last edited by tom d. friedman on Thu Jul 15, 2010 3:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[k5083]

Inspector, I thought you'd said in the past that the reason you don't fly commercial is because you've seen how the planes were built. Now there's another reason?

Actually, I'll venture that the real reason you don't fly commercial is that you have the choice not to. That's not a choice I have, in my business. So I'll have to put up with the fine employees they hire to scan my luggage, the next ornithopter Boeing builds, or whatever comes down the pike.

August

[bdk]

I used to travel 6 to 8 times a year for business, then a trip or two a year with the frequent flyer miles. it was easy on and off with my platinum card.

Now I have gone out of my way to avoid flying for either business or pleasure. It has taken all of the fun out of air travel, just as the terrorists had hoped I'd suppose. Now with WebEx and video-telecons I can make presentations without traveling anyhow. Next time I travel back to the homestead in the Chicago area I may take the family on a road trip. Good opportunity to visit "Fort Courage" again (anyone remember F-Troop?).

[The Inspector]

No, what I said was that having seen how the L-1011 was designed and built, I wouldn't get on one of them to go to the nearest door. I spent over 35 years beating on big commercial iron for a living, there are some carriers who's reputations slipped in my estimation after seeing some of the corrosion and electricians tape fixes to their aircraft, but on the whole, I wouldn't have an issue with just the flying part if I could pass on all the extraneous B.S. attached to commercial flight.
It's, for example, a 35 minute flight from SEATAC to PDX on HORIZON on a crash 8 turboprop. It's over 60 minutes to get from my house to SEATAC, show up 2 hours early to be frisked and groped by people with room temperature I.Q.s so I can wedge into a still warm (wonder from what) hard as a board seat to travel to Portland, OR. So thats 3 1/2 hours for a 35 minute flight, HEY! I can cover that distance in the time needed to fly and do it on my big VICTORY touring motorcycle and not need to tolerate screaming crumb crushers or sit next to A) the woman who thinks 'if a little perfume is good, a lot will be much better' or B) the guy who apparently missed shower call for about three days.
I sometimes think it would be so appropriate, but would probably get me in trouble, if I could play a tape of MOO-ing cows as people shuffle through the body search screenings like so many good little heffers.

[tom d. friedman]

my best friend was the big kahuna #1 man at cleveland center, hopkins int. airport cleveland ohio for many years. when the presidents came he plotted the airspace w/ the secret service, did fly over airspace for all cleveland home sports games.(should have used bombers ) did all cleveland air show airspace coordination w/ all the acts. i would be in that tower at burke & have the best seat in the house for many years. his resume goes on & on!! my point being, he won't fly anywhere unless he's at the controls!! + the many horror stories of near disaster incidents nation wide caused by inept ill trained faa air traffic controllers.

Last edited by tom d. friedman on Fri Jul 16, 2010 3:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

[K5DH]

As miserable as the security screeing experience can be, and sometimes is, I still fly commercially whenever the need arises, because I WILL NOT LET THE TERRORISTS WIN. No matter how bad it gets, I WILL NOT LET THE TERRORISTS WIN. This is MY country, dammit, and that's that.

Dean the patriotic