UAL747 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 5471 times:
How about a thread about weird/strange/remarkable things you find in aviation.
Here's my contribution:
At LHR, in the mornings, you are probably going to see the largest collection of US based 777's in the world at one airport. Not even in the US does one airport see that many US based 777's at one particular time.
2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8950 posts, RR: 62 Reply 1, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 5461 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD DATABASE EDITOR
We trust pilots with the lives of hundreds of people at a time in the most demanding airspace and weather conditions imaginable, yet we still harass them at TSA "security" checkpoints.
Actually, I think that's more tragic than wierd....
Irobertson From Canada, joined Apr 2006, 601 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 5461 times:
That I can fly from Toronto to Montreal (1hr:10min) on Air Canada and upon booking, have my choice of practically every type of aircraft in their fleet, depending on what time of day I want to go. I'm not just talking the ERJs and A319/320s, I mean A330s and 767s too! Only one I haven't seen is the A343/5. Any reason for this? Are the continuing on overseas and just make the stop for more passengers? They certainly can't be having that kind of traffic on that route to warrant filling an A330...
CitationJet From United States of America, joined Mar 2003, 2235 posts, RR: 3 Reply 3, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 5405 times:
You can stand up and walk around an airplane flying at 600 mph, but when you are taxiing at 20 mph you must "remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened until the captain has parked the plane at the gate and the seat belt sign is turned off".
People wouldn't drive a 30 year old car across the state, but don't think a thing about flying in a 30 year old airplane much further.
FlyMIA From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 6297 posts, RR: 6 Reply 4, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 5374 times:
What about this one. 500,000lb metal tubes with big fans and wings flying across the world. Who would have ever thought that Aviation would come to what it is today!
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
VarigB707 From United States of America, joined May 2006, 1220 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 5238 times:
I find weird the way passengers are treated by the airline employees.
First, the curbside guy. He will toss your luggage better than olympic athlet going for the gold medal.
Next, the ticketing agent. Dare not asking them any questions or you'll the silent treatment.
Then, the flight attendants. I'm sure they wouldn't mind using a whip on all of us, if that'd be permited by law.
Finally, upon arrival when your luggage is nowhere to be found, the baggage claim staff. They will look down on you and with a (sarcasti) smile on their faces, they tell you "your baggage will be on the next flight".
And don't get me started with the ticket prices....
LOL
SapphireLHR From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2006, 103 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 5158 times:
What always amazed me was that a fighter pilot to fly at a mere Mach 1 had to be extremely fit, pass a very tough medical, wear a pressure suit, helmet and googles and wear a parachute and then be able to fly only for a limited amount of time at that speed.....BUT you could fly at + Mach 2, be a 100 year old Granny, not have to supply even a medical certificate, sit in your own clothes in comfort sipping Champagne for hours on a Concorde flight....SPOOKY !!!!
Richierich From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 4023 posts, RR: 6 Reply 9, posted (7 years 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 5016 times:
One of the weirdest parts of any airline to me is the pricing structure. It sort of defies logic sometimes.
I could book a flight one day at a set price, but the next day it could have gone up $50. Or down $50. Demand is an invisible variable to the consumer. The guy sitting next to me could have paid double what I paid. Or 20% less.
Leaving from a small regional airport can sometimes save you money; other times it can cost you hundreds more. Flying direct is usually cheaper than connecting, where possible, but not always.
I know very well that there is a "method to the madness" but it is sort of a mystery nonetheless.
RobK From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2004, 3932 posts, RR: 19 Reply 10, posted (7 years 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 4928 times:
Quoting FlyMIA (Reply 4): What about this one. 500,000lb metal tubes with big fans and wings flying across the world. Who would have ever thought that Aviation would come to what it is today!
Agreed! Still amazes me now when I see a 747 lift off the ground. Yes with enough thrust and a couple of bits of metal shaped just so, anything will become airborne, but something the size and weight of a 747?!! Mind-boggling!
Fbgdavidson From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 3687 posts, RR: 31 Reply 11, posted (7 years 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 4863 times:
One of the things I find weird is frequent flyers demanding free upgrades to First Class and then complaining when the service isn't up to much. What gives? Thinking primarily of AA EXPs here...
Quoting Richierich (Reply 9): One of the weirdest parts of any airline to me is the pricing structure. It sort of defies logic sometimes.
Quoting SapphireLHR (Reply 8): What always amazed me was that a fighter pilot to fly at a mere Mach 1 had to be extremely fit, pass a very tough medical, wear a pressure suit, helmet and googles and wear a parachute and then be able to fly only for a limited amount of time at that speed.....BUT you could fly at + Mach 2, be a 100 year old Granny, not have to supply even a medical certificate, sit in your own clothes in comfort sipping Champagne for hours on a Concorde flight....SPOOKY !!!!
I presume you have seen the Timewatch documentary on Concorde where one of the guys who worked on the project (can't remember the role) was sitting onboard a flight and was somewhat annoyed that the team had gone to enormous effort to get the aircraft supersonic and one of a kind etc, yet nobody was getting up in the aisles and cheering about it. Then it struck him that was the whole point of the aircraft. It made supersonic travel normal!
"My first job was selling doors, door to door, that's a tough job innit" - Bill Bailey
Ncfc99 From United Kingdom, joined May 2005, 643 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (7 years 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 4838 times:
Quoting CitationJet (Reply 3): You can stand up and walk around an airplane flying at 600 mph, but when you are taxiing at 20 mph you must "remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened until the captain has parked the plane at the gate and the seat belt sign is turned off".
Fantastic, LMAO
Quoting RobK (Reply 10): Agreed! Still amazes me now when I see a 747 lift off the ground. Yes with enough thrust and a couple of bits of metal shaped just so, anything will become airborne, but something the size and weight of a 747?!! Mind-boggling!
How do they get over 400 tonnes of stuff into the air and keep it there. You're right, it is mind boggling!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CPDC10-30 From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2000, 4759 posts, RR: 26 Reply 14, posted (7 years 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 4753 times:
They certainly can't be having that kind of traffic on that route to warrant filling an A330...
Every time I've been on the A330 YUL-YYZ, it has been completely full. Its just to increase the aircraft utilization. Plus, it is a nice bonus for frequent business travellers.
I would say the most amazing (but not really weird) thing in aviation is the fast progress in the 1950s-early 70s and the relativley small progress since then. We went from F-86 Sabres to F-14s and F-15s, and DH Comets to the Concorde, B747-100/200, DC-10, A300 and L1011. There haven't really been any great leaps since then IMHO, just gradual improvements.
MD88Captain From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 1287 posts, RR: 22 Reply 16, posted (7 years 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 4669 times:
It amazes me that anyone actually invests in this industry. It amazes me that the experts cannot make any money running these companies, yet everyone thinks they know a better way. It still amazes me when a big airplane takes flight. It amazes me that a huge aircraft can touch down so softly that you (the pilot flying) cannot actually know whether your on the ground or not without referencing the autospoilers. Wing flex amazes me. The base nature of the flying public amazes me at times. And the graciousness of the occasional passenger amazes me. Sunrises and sunsets in cruise, the beauty of the earth and sky, the beauty of thunderstorms, and the stars over the ocean amaze me. It truly is an awsome profession.
B6JFKH81 From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 2767 posts, RR: 7 Reply 17, posted (7 years 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 4628 times:
It amazes me that customers think that an airline should charge the same price they charged 3 years ago to go on the same flight...because gasoline prices increasing has nothing to do with jet fuel prices LOL!
"If you do not learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it"
StealthZ From Australia, joined Feb 2005, 5433 posts, RR: 49 Reply 18, posted (7 years 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 4545 times:
Quoting CPDC10-30 (Reply 14): We went from F-86 Sabres to F-14s and F-15s, and DH Comets to the Concorde, B747-100/200, DC-10, A300 and L1011.
A couple of years back a few of us were having a DVD night and watched "Midway" then "Final Countdown" (USS Nimitz transported back to the day before Pearl Harbour) and a friend commented it was remarkable that in only 30 years,1942-1972 they had gone from Essex/Yorktown with Wildcats etc to the Nimitz and F-14s. I thought it more remarkable that in the next 32 years they had gone from the Nimitz and Tomcats to.... well the Nimitz and Tomcats.
If your camera sends text messages, that could explain why your photos are rubbish!
Springbok295 From South Africa, joined Feb 2006, 59 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (7 years 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 4531 times:
Not weird but worrying when flying on a middle eastern airline and suddenly both pilots come out the cockpit get on their knees facing east and start praying!
Springbok 295, the flight that never made it home, 28 November 1987, may they rest in peace.
Kazzie From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (7 years 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 4476 times:
Quoting Galleyhag (Reply 21): The fact that people leave their brains at home when they enter an aiport and ask stupid questions
So true... From today:
Me: Hello, are you flying to Reus?
PAX: No
Me: Where are you flying to?
PAX: Spain.
Also some others:
Me: There you go boarding from gate number 3 today at 1300.
PAX: Whats a gate?
--
Me: Have you packed the bags yourself?
PAX: Lifts up hand luggage
--
Me: Anything sharp in your hold luggage
Pax: Are Razors sharp?
--
*Bear in mind we have all the destinations displayed above us*
Me: Morning sir, are you for the Milan flight
Pax: yes
Me *takes confirmation number*
Me: It does not match and your not on the manifest, your flying to Milan today yes
PAX: Yes.
Me: *Looks at Confirmation again * "It says here your flying to Vasteras sir?"
PAX: Vasteras, Yes.
--
PAX: A group of 25 of us to check-in
Me: ok no problem can I take you 1 at a time?
PAX: No no We are here to check-in
Me: Yes sir, but can I take each Passenger 1 at a time?
PAX: NO NO you NO Listen! We are flying and need to check-in!
Me: Yes I understand sir, I am going to check you all in 1 at a time..
PAX: no we are here to check-in! can we check in!
Me: Yes sir, I can check you all in but 1 at a time please to the desk.
PAX: NO NO we check-in now! Passengers here!
-----
Me:Hello sir, How many traveling?
PAX: 2 please
Me: Where is the other passenger?
PAX: Parking the car....
----
Me: Check-in will close in 5 mins if they are not here by then we have to close im afraid.
PAX: can you not hold the plane for us? We are hu8ngry and want to get something to eat.
Me: No
PAX: Why? That is UNFAIR and OUTRAGEOUS!
Me: *thinking* then why turn up at the last possible moment?
Wolsingerjet From Canada, joined Apr 2006, 348 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (7 years 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 4465 times:
The fact you are in your uniform with a flightcrew pass on,and see the same security agents over and over again,and they still dont know who you are.Or the question I get the most ''are you operating a flight today''??? Ummmm what do you think I just put this uniform on to impress the chicks???Well I used to like the attention when I was new but now getting ready to get married and stuff has changed that...Security people need to pay more attention!!!
Guess what???I dont like you either...
25 Aerofan: Amazed - that we bitch, whine and moan about it, but still can't seem to get enough of the industry. weird - that we don't have a second or even third
26 Galleyhag: So typical Kazzie. On a flight from IAD-MAN a few years back I was stood at doors 3 for boarding and a couple got on looking confused, trying to find
27 Dtwclipper: That 16-20 year olds know what airlines should charge for a seat. Most Overpriced Airline With Worst Service Is... (by Checo77 May 11 2006 in Civil Av
28 Nwafflyer: It amazes me that I have flown over 1 1/2 million flight miles, I don't know how many thousands of flight segments, and only once have had to evacuate
29 FlyMIA: Well I would say that the 777 was nice improvement. Airbus with Fly by Wire. Twin engine trans-oceanic travel. Three man cockpit to 2 man cockpit. Al
30 Fanofjets: In my home state, New Jersey (USA), an 18-year-old can sign up with the U.S. Air Force to fly jet fighters and put your life on the line in service to
31 Jetdeltamsy: How about our jargon. The word "de-plane" makes me cringe every single time i hear it. And we have a 2, 3, 4 or 5 letter codesn (and codewords) for j
32 Electech6299: Sheesh, you'd think that if you could trust the free ranging air under the wings to hold you up that you could trust air captured in the tires! But t
33 Scotron11: Foreign ownership rules! Don't make any sense to me.
34 LouA340: In past years since the 1970's we could fly across the Atlantic in 3 hours but now in 2006 we have to do it in 6+ hours. Come back Concorde.
35 B6flyboy: That the when the departure time says 11:00 AM....You should not arive at the gate at 11:00 AM and expect your flight to be there...or for the agent t
36 Airmech56: What the hell else do you want? Planes are staying in the air for almost 18 hours non-stop. Have you looked in the flightdeck of a 707 and a 777 ? Yo
37 Cancidas: how stupid pax can be... they get off the plane and ask which way to the airport? ugh!!
38 Aileron11: The invention of the mile high club . Also does anybody know when the mile high club started.
39 Flyboy_se: well its not like you are going on a train. dont we all wish the plane could take off from the gate at exactly 11AM
40 Litz: It's no different for the railroads ... a departure time is a departure time. The plane leaves the gate, the train starts rolling. Either way, you ca
41 CXB744: LOL, at least Goerge was running the show up front.
42 L1329II: Depending upon where you live: Your drive to the airport takes longer than the flight itself.
43 Litz: And what's scary is when you're including time for security and baggage pickup in that total ... - litz
44 PanAm747: What do I find wierd? BFL, the largest metropolitan area west of the Mississippi river, projected to be one million people by the year 2015, cannot su
45 BDL2DCA: Um unless I am mistaken, the cities of Denver, Dallas, Houston, Austin, St. Louis, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Phoenix, Seattle, Portland,
46 PanAm747: Sorry, I meant to say the largest metropolitan area west of the Mississippi river that doesn't have a flight to DEN. Sorry about that one!!
47 SapphireLHR: The best quote I heard at the demise of Concorde flights was from the great Jeremy Clarkson "today its the equivalent of throwing away the vacuum cle
48 Pilotaydin: i think some people would like that lol
49 UpperDeck79: Totally off-topic, but native speakers of English should maybe consider that when a non-native speaker doesn't understand something it's probably bes
50 SNfreak: Weird : Like George Carlin said in one of his shows: Why do they call it, the Terminal ?!
51 Kazzie: Haha, I think there was a language barrier, Someone did come up and offer to translate for me which they did, but still didn't understand..
52 Bridogger6: AHA, yesterday a girl came running back up the jetway just as I was boarding a flight to Ontario, California screaming, "OMG OMG OMG!" It turns out sh
53 Dizzy8: Aviation is the only industry where generally the LEAST experienced people get to train new people. Traditionally for many pilots, being a flight inst
54 Access-Air: I am just amazed that instead of the truely good things we could be speaking about in this thread we choose to talk about the worst of the worst... A
55 Phelpsie87: I find it weird that we board the aircraft on the left side....why not the right??
56 M180up: when a passenger calls... I want to confirm my reservation... - May I have your confirmation code or flight number? I don't have them - Ok, from what
57 Britmex: I find that the most stupid comments are made by people who blame everybody else for their wrondoing. Anyway, here is my "motto"; if you ask a stupid
58 PlanenutzTB: This just happen to me. I searched for the lowest RT fare from LAX to YYZ and it was on El Al Israel. El Al was $54 cheaper then AA from Los Angeles t
59 WarmNuts: My top three: 1. That on any given day, there are on average over 30,000 commercial flights over US air space alone... Thirty thousand. 2. That when b
60 HAWK21M: Why no Video recordings provisions in the CVR Module.To help in Investigation & prevent future errors. regds MEL
61 Boeingfanyyz: Despite the fact that it is one of AC's busiest routes, there is some logic behind it. YUL is considered the European gateway for AC, meaning that mo
62 Irobertson: Did I read this correctly? 333?? From you Boeingfan?
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