Veritas Airlines

[KingOfDoma]

It doesn't exist, and from reading this, it couldn't. <p>

---

<div style="text-align:center"></div></p>

[Capntastic]

A: Airplanes are ridiculously safe as it is.

B: Where are they making all these claims from? Specifically about the phone network interference, which I've never heard about; and the oh no alcohol to keep people who are nervous calm! Not to mention that most people I've seen just get soda. I get ginger ale.

All in all the article, which has a tone that completely foregoes any actual information, opting rather to be witty and in yo' face by mocking the airplane safety spiel while putting hilarious words in its mouth, comes off as pointlessly whiny.

Also SCREW THEM for being a struggling business in this turbulent (ZING!) day and age and not being ultra-luxurious!



Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=capntastic>Capntastic</A]&nbsp; at: 9/14/06 20:26

[pd Rydia]

I'm largely in agreement with Kyle; this reads like something that should be in someone's blog. Someone's blog I might read, mind you, but something of random internet quality.

But then, I don't really expect a lot more out of opinion articles. I'd like to, but experience has taught me otherwise--The opinion sections I've seen are largely comparable to internet message boards. At least the regular body of journalists for newspapers have some vague sort of accountability; there'll be a negative response when something is posted that's completely off from what its reader base expects. (NYTimes comes to mind--I forget ATM the couple of stunts they have pulled within memory's time which created omgwtfbbqwank. Maybe someone else remembers?)


Re: "Where are they making all these claims from?" -- Kyle
I'm assuming this is an opinion article (since it's in a directory called /opinion/). Like most opinion articles, it lists no sources. Chances are high the author is pulling his or her facts from hearsay, maybe a bit from on-the-job training here and there or schooling.

People are pretty slack about references it seems. Whether it's recognizing the need to verify or cross-check data, or figuring out that plagiarism really isn't okay...no, not even on unimportant assignments, or in subjects you don't care about, or if you paid for it. It's really...disappointing. <p>

---

<div style="text-align:center">dictionary.com | encyclopædia dramatica
"he is the godamn batman! thats why! if he can breath in space you damn bet he can wear a panty on his head!" glu-glu</div></p>

[Kai]

Specifically about the phone network interference, which I've never heard about; and the oh no alcohol to keep people who are nervous calm! Not to mention that most people I've seen just get soda. I get ginger ale.

American flights don't seem to offer alcohol as freely as international flights. In those cases, they're more than willing to give you an airline-sized bottle of gin, scotch, bordeaux, or sauvignon blanc. British Airways are very free with the booze, as long as you aren't excessive about it.

Also, the phone thing. I was on a flight from Chicago to Indianapolis that had built-in phones instead of television screens on the seats in front of you. There were crazy-ass charges to use them, but the idea was that you could stay in contact with people by making airline cell phone calls. I doubt this would be feasible if it were all that much of a security risk. <p>-------------------------
"It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But the half-wit remains a half-wit and the emperor remains an emperor." -- Sandman "The Kindly Ones" </p>

[Capntastic]

I know you can get wine, beer, vodka, or IPA on most of the flights I've been on. But it's not like they're giving you thorazine and strapping you to your seat to keep you from doing anything.

Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=capntastic>Capntastic</A]&nbsp; at: 9/14/06 21:43

[pd Rydia]

I frequently see those phones, as well. To my knowledge, they aren't usable during the time when cellphones and other electronics are to be turned off (between taxiing and before a certain altitude). I don't know about that, however. I'd ask Mom, but she got out of the business long before that stuff started coming around. <p>

---

<div style="text-align:center">dictionary.com | encyclopædia dramatica
"he is the godamn batman! thats why! if he can breath in space you damn bet he can wear a panty on his head!" glu-glu</div></p>

[Idran1701]

The phone stuff is true. Basically, when you're in the air, your phone connects to multiple ground antennas at once, tying up service in multiple locations simultaneously, since the antennas work based on line of sight. It really causes a mess in the system, and the network as is isn't meant to support it. The FCC thus bans any cell-phone use above 35,000 feet. In-flight phones work differently than normal cell phones, and aren't based on the tower network; they're probably satellite phones, but I'm not positive on that.


Also, the article is _technically_ false about the FAA's reasoning; they do disallow cell phone use to prevent navigation instrument interference, but as a "just in case" precaution. There's no real evidence that it causes interference generally, but there's no evidence that it doesn't either, and there have been a few isolated cases where cell phone usage _may_ have been linked to instrument malfunctions. Plus I believe it interferes with transponder-based tracking as well to a slight degree, but that I'm even less sure on. <p>

---

"Never let your morals get in the way of doing what is right" - Salvor Hardin
</p>Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=idran1701>Idran1701</A] at: 9/14/06 22:21

[Capntastic]

After some thought, Dia's comment of it being like a blog rings true in my mind. It doesn't bring anything new to the table, or (unlike some blogs) do a good job of shedding any new light or perspective on the topic.

[pd Rydia]

Idran: above 35000? Aren't cellphones usable again at cruising altitude? Or is it only the other electronics they ask you to turn off? <p>

---

<div style="text-align:center">dictionary.com | encyclopædia dramatica
"he is the godamn batman! thats why! if he can breath in space you damn bet he can wear a panty on his head!" glu-glu</div></p>

[Idran1701]

I don't know offhand, but I'd assume it's only the other electronics. The cell phone ban is both an FAA _and_ an FCC regulation, so the FAA alone shouldn't have the authority to allow you to turn it back on. <p>

---

"Never let your morals get in the way of doing what is right" - Salvor Hardin
</p>

[Shinigori V2]

The cellphone ban is not lifted, as far as I remember. Then again, I've rarely had to use my phone on an airplane thus never paid any attention to that part. <p>

---

<div style="text-align:center">What's wrong with this ring?!</div></p>

[Spleen]

They specifically say you can't use cell phones at all when you're on a plane, even at cruising altitude. <p>-_-___-___-___-_-

"I do think genuine possibilities exist in the idea of re-releasing films that flopped earlier this year, but with snakes this time. 'Snakes on the Poseidon.' 'Snakes in a Lake House.' 'Ask the Dust, and Mind the Snakes.'
-Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune movie critic

Arch mage144: Spleen doesn't bother with penis size contests; instead, he goes straight to penis number.</p>

[Capntastic]

But once the plane is level you can play your iPod or Gameboy or electronic sudoku.

[Justice Augustus]

I don't recommend drinking on flights. For one thing, they charge you rediculous amounts ($5 is usual for about 333ml of beer) and because of the increased altitudes the alcohol seems to have a stronger affect. I don't mean you get drunker quicker, my experience wasa going from drinking->hungover in about 3 hours. But that might have been just me.
<p>

---

"Moreover, when on the following night, much to his dismay, [Caesar] had a dream of raping his own mother, the soothsayers greatly encouraged him by their interpretations of it: namely, that he was destined to conquer the earth" - Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars - Julius Caesar, chapter 7</p>

[Idran1701]

That probably would be just you, Gus, since most airline planes have pressurized cabins, which I would assume would negate any of the effects of high altitude on alcohol absorption. Unpressurized though, yeah, that speeds up how fast you feel the effects from what a bit of quick research tells me. <p>

---

"Never let your morals get in the way of doing what is right" - Salvor Hardin
</p>