Do you ever feel like the airline industry is being held together with bubble gum? Yesterday's radar and communications outage at the Memphis Center only highlights the antiquated systems used by air traffic controllers. Flight delays and an airline's response to them are so awful that the congress is reviewing legislation to create a passenger bill of rights! Customer service is laughable, airport security a joke and prices are continuing to go up. On top of all that, the airlines aren't hiring flight attendants because they have laid so many off that they can bring them back and not hire new people. You know what that means? The flight attends are old. I mean rickety old, too.
I hate to say it, but maybe congress does need to get involved. The FAA needs more funding and a mandate to upgrade equipment and the industry as a whole needs a swift kick in the ass.
I was an air traffic controller in the military, and we landed planes using equipment that was built in the late 1940's and early 50's - no kidding.
Next time you fly, pray to God you're pilot is talking to an FAA controller in a newer facility - most of their equipment was designed/built in the 60's.
Pre-flight cocktail(s) anyone!?
RSS
Did you know that Members of Congress routinely book seats on multiple flights but just pay for one of those seats and use the flight that winds up being the most convenient. The airlines recently ruled that practice constituted a gift and stopped allowing them to do it. The chair of the Senate Ethics committee couldn't disagree fast enough and he wants legislation to make sure they can continue to double or triple book seats.
Are you sure you want Congress involved in the airlines?