Jim Cameron Jim Cameron 8-2-16

With Worldwide Shortage of Pilots, Expect Cuts in Regular Flight Service: Cameron on Transportation

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International aviation is about to face a crisis: a shortage of pilots. Domestically, regional carriers, which represent 42 percent of all passengers, are already canceling flights and eliminating service to smaller cities. Qantas, the largest carrier in Australia, is pulling old 747s out of mothballs because it doesn’t have enough qualified pilots for its 737s, the most dominate — and much more fuel efficient — aircraft in its fleet. Europe’s biggest airline, Ryanair, canceled thousands of flights last November because of inadequate staffing. Japanese airlines are so desperate for pilots they are raising the mandatory retirement age to 67.

Jim Cameron Jim Cameron 8-2-16

Jets With Faster, Longer Flights Seem the Way of the Future: Cameron on Transportation

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I hate to fly, but I have to, sometimes. Sure, I can tolerate a trans-con to California in business or first class. My wife and I once flew to Japan on a surprisingly tolerable 10-hour flight that just felt like a really long day. But now the big international carriers have newer jets capable of much longer distances non-stop, and the race is on for the bragging rights of “the world’s longest flight.”

In the early days of jet aircraft, an El Al 707 traveling 5,677 miles non-stop from JFK to Tel Aviv in nine and a half hours was quite a feat. But in the mid-1970s when Boeing introduced the 747-SP, a stubby version of the famous jumbo, Pan Am was making it all the way from JFK to Tokyo (6,772 miles) non-stop.

Jim Cameron Jim Cameron 8-2-16

Hot Weather Can Stifle Airplane Takeoffs: Cameron on Transportation

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Is it hot enough for ya? Even if you don’t believe it’s caused by humans, there is no doubt our planet is heating up. And as global warming increases, so will our travel problems.

Meteorologists agree that thunderstorms, tornados and hurricanes are all getting stronger and causing greater damage. Hardly a summer passes without extensive flight delays caused by storm-fronts, let alone hurricanes like Harvey and Maria. A stronger jet-stream also means slower going when flying west and bumpier flights at many altitudes.

Jim Cameron Jim Cameron 8-2-16

Air Marshal Service, Created to Prevent Trouble, Is Itself Troubled: Cameron on Transportation

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Do you feel safe when you fly? Forget about exploding jet engines, cracked aircraft windows and clear-air turbulence. What about terrorists? We haven’t seen a domestic case of terrorists attacking jetliners in years, thanks to increased scrutiny of passengers by the Transportation Security Administration. From the moment you book a flight, you are being screened.

Jim Cameron Jim Cameron 8-2-16

Strategies for Getting the Right Airline Seat, or Any Seat on Metro-North: Cameron on Transportation

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It was the British folks at the Cunard cruise line who said: “Getting there is half the fun.”

Crossing the Atlantic in style on an ocean liner certainly was great, but whatever your mode of transportation, getting the right seat can make for an enjoyable or miserable trip. On Metro-North, I usually go for a window seat. However, on crowded trains, any seat is better than none. But I can still get an “upgrade” if I pay attention. Heading into New York, I watch for people getting off the train in Stamford.

Jim Cameron Jim Cameron 8-2-16

Look! Up in the Air!! And on the Train!!! Another Disruptive Passenger!!!! — Cameron on Transportation

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We’ve seen a number of reports lately about “disruptive passengers” forcing a plane to divert after exhibiting some sort of frightening behavior. Imagine being along for the ride when something like this happens:

—An Air Canada flight to Tel Aviv lands in London after a female passenger starts randomly choking people on board. She is restrained in-flight and arrested upon landing. —A Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Houston detours to Corpus Christi, Texas, after a woman tries to open the emergency exit door mid-flight. Seen before departure screaming at people in the terminal, passengers wondered why she was allowed to board the plane.