Longer record time (25+ hr) should be required for all CVR and data recorders. It's not like voice and data are still recorded on physical tape in an analogue format. Convert the voice to a 48k digital format and record hours of preflight, flight, & post flight cockpit voice for each flight. My Tascam SSD recorder has the capacity to record many hours on a CF card. SSD's (solid state drives) are relatively inexpensive. But I'm sure that by the time the FAA finished the certification process, years and millions of dollars would have been wasted. For redundancy, two recorders, each recording the cockpit audio, could be fitted into the avionics system of each aircraft. This would allow for better survivability of the recorders and function when recovered from an accident or safety inquiry.

(Written on 03/18/2023)(Permalink)

Most memorable Channel 9 event occurred while I was a passenger on a UA747 performing the morning service EWR-ORD. The landing gear having deployed, listening as we approached ORD, ATC commanded a go-round due to slow moving company traffic already crossing our runway. All four engines roared to go-round power, wing surfaces retracted, gear retracted, and then a professional, though terse radio discussion between pilots and the tower. Twenty minutes later, back on the ground and blocked at the gate. Connection still made.

(Written on 03/14/2023)(Permalink)

During the 80's & 90's, UA's Channel 9 was a great travel companion. Instead of carrying a CD, MiniDisc, or Cassette player, all I needed was my pair of Sennheiser headphones and a double ⅛" plug adapter for the armrest connection. Whether a short domestic or a long transcontinental or transpacific flight, Channel 9 was much appreciated. I wish other airlines would offer their equivalent of the UA Channel 9. AA had black & white cameras for a while in some of their A300 cockpits, framed from the perspective of the cockpit jump seat looking forward. I never saw the magic of this framing. If I were an AA pilot, I would have felt intruded upon by the camera framing. AA pilots are members of APA, not AFTRA (American Federation of Television & Radio Artists. I vaguely recall ANA having early iterations of HD cameras installed in the belly and vertical stabilizer of some of their aircraft. I spent many hours on their flights watching Asia pass below me and the skies ahead of me. This fe

(Written on 03/14/2023)(Permalink)

LH sinks further down the rabbit hole. LH used to be my go to airline for flights east of the USA. LH used to be the shining star across the Atlantic. True, I could not afford a ticket on the BA speed bird. Recalling my only international flight on old AlItalia, the smoking and non-smoking sections were divided down the aisle, even in 1st class. After one flight JFK - FCO, we changed our flights home to PA.

(Written on 01/18/2023)(Permalink)

I fully support the SWPA call for an industrial job action. The pilots and fight crews did not fail WN, WN management failed WN and its passengers due to very legacy technology. Yes, it's true that back in the days before deregulation airlines flew point to point routes. But with deregulation, the hub & spoke became the norm. I remember three stops on Piedmont to travel from EWR to IAH. In today's management vs labor, labor needs to stand up and say enough is enough! The stockholders are not the most important humans on the planet. The people that support their business are the important players to their business model. Business has no advancement without labor. Management in all business sectors should pay heed!

(Written on 01/18/2023)(Permalink)

Factors affecting an emergency evacuation need to include: Airlines are operating full flights. Passengers have difficulty finding their row/seat during boarding, will they find the exits during evacuation? There will be those that try to take their overstuffed roll-aboard bags with them. Some larger passengers have to difficulty walking down the aisle during boarding and deplaning. How could they slow down the evacuation process? There are those that will panic and freeze up, raising anxiety for all involved.

(Written on 12/08/2022)(Permalink)

Ken - I agree with you on not taking flights with only one pilot in the cockpit. Will airlines be forthcoming to say which flights will only have one pilot? Kind of late when one is in the boarding gate and passengers find out the reduced cockpit staffing.

(Written on 11/21/2022)(Permalink)

Article is behind a Houston Chronicle pay wall...

(Written on 10/18/2022)(Permalink)

I have never flown Ryanair, but I agree with its chairman. A rise in fares to cover labor and fuel are needed. Also, a fare increase should include an allowance for baggage and eliminate the cattle car emplaning and deplaning process as passengers attempt to find an overhead bin for their over stuffed "carry on" luggage. At deplaning, this would eliminate the blank stares on passengers who have forgotten where they stored their luggage or having to swim upstream to retrieve their luggage that was stored several rows behind their seat.

(Written on 09/19/2022)(Permalink)

If the hole in the wing root came from the missing bolt from the nose gear, wouldn't the noise heard have been during the take off roll and then rotation, until the nose gear retracted and the gear doors closed? Once the gear doors close, a bolt should not have exited the nose gear compartment.

(Written on 07/02/2022)(Permalink)