I lived and worked in France for years. Both flew and took the train. Here's a comparison for a short hop domestic trip, Paris city center to Nice city center, flying versus the TGV high speed train: Train: 1) short trip to the train station in the city 2) Walk through the station and hop on the train (down to a few seconds before departure) with your luggage. 3) 5 hour train trip (TGV delays are extremely rare) 4) Step off the train in city center with your luggage Air: 1) Longer trip to either Paris airport; both are well out of town 2) Check in and security, allowing enough time for frequent security delays 3) Wait to board 4) Boarding process 5) 1 hour flying time (not including any traffic delays for takeoff and landing) 6) De-plane 7) If checked baggage, wait for it 8) Transportation to city center. It was an easy decision for me.

(Written on 2021年 04月 16日)(Permalink)

Reminds me of an incident years ago with a commercial flight on a late night approach to Nice Côte d'Azur Airport in France. The crew apparently lined up on the bright sodium vapor lights of a main boulevard several miles from the airport. At about 1000 feet, the crew realized their mistake, aborted the landing, poured on the power, and then did a low altitude go-around, hedgehopping over the rooftops of downtown Nice, waking up and scaring the merde out of much of the city.

(Written on 2021年 04月 09日)(Permalink)

And also the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter probe due to an error in acceleration data between the JPL navigation team, who used metric distance units, and the probe designers at Lockheed that used English distance units.

(Written on 2021年 03月 26日)(Permalink)

An unbiased, objective assessment by a co-founder, CEO, and stock option holder of an autonomous flight startup company? I don't think so ...

(Written on 2021年 03月 26日)(Permalink)

What are the technical merits of Boeing's criticism? Did Boeing do a risk assessment? Does the severity of the risk include loss of the aircraft? Many safety-critical industries regularly trade information on hazards among competitors. In medical device design, this sharing of information is actually mandated by consensus standards that guide safe product development. We routinely incorporate lessons learned from other manufacturers in design mitigations that reduce risk and increase safety. I hope that Boeing is not dissuaded from performing this important role in safe aircraft design.

(Written on 2021年 03月 05日)(Permalink)

Mr. Bastian is free to run his airline the way his stockholders want. The flying public is free to choose the airline they want to fly with.

(Written on 2021年 02月 12日)(Permalink)

Skipping a checklist is not a "mistake". It is hazardous risk-taking with potentially catastrophic consequences. Northwest Flight 255, with a combined 29,000 hours in the cockpit, still haunts me.

(Written on 2021年 02月 05日)(Permalink)

Hugging my pig got me through this devastating news.

(Written on 2021年 01月 08日)(Permalink)

I commuted every week on the first flight of the day of a PSA Electra in Tahoe service. That early morning first leg was from LAX to OAK. My favorite memory was the engine startup after being parked overnight -- the aircraft interior was lit up with an orange light from the 10 to 20 foot flames shooting out of the turboprop exhaust! It always got a little yelp from the newbies on board.

(Written on 2020年 12月 11日)(Permalink)

Might be the increased risks in lithium battery technology of self-ignition and thermal runaway. Once an aircraft design has incorporated nickel-cadmium NiCd battery technology, it is a major design change to convert to lithium, including going back to the hazard analysis and ensuring that additional risks have been mitigated. Lithium battery technology should only be employed in an aircraft design when its weight-to-energy advantage is essential. And the mechanical packaging, the more complex charging circuitry, and temperature monitoring must all be carefully designed and validated for safety.

(Written on 2020年 11月 06日)(Permalink)