Opinion
Jim Cameron Jim Cameron 8-2-16

The Hardships of Pioneers — as 1929 Airline Passengers: Cameron on Transportation

By |
Download PDF

How does this sound: Fly coast-to-coast in just 48 hours for only $5,200? That was the pitch for the first commercial, transcon air service in 1929 operated by TAT, Transcontinental Air Transport, much later to become TWA. Founded by aviation pioneer Clement Melville Keys, the firm worked with Charles Lindbergh to also secure lucrative mail contracts. But these flights were a first for passengers. TAT was mocked as “take a train” because their service combined rail and air service to make it from New York to Los Angeles.

Opinion
Jim Cameron Jim Cameron 8-2-16

‘I Knew My Trip Was Doomed When …’ — Adventures in Air Travel: Cameron on Transportation

By |
Download PDF

What idiot said “getting there is half the fun?”

That’s what went through my mind when I did a “day trip” to Los Angeles: two door-to-door 10-hour trips just for a three-hour face-to-face meeting with my most important consulting client. I knew my trip was doomed when I went to pick up my rental car at LAX and there were none available. I pleaded with the employee that I had been up since 1 a.m. local time and I needed to get to an important meeting on time. The woman said, “I can give you a mini-van.” Fabulous! If it has an engine and wheels, I’ll take it.

Opinion
Jim Cameron Jim Cameron 8-2-16

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

By |
Download PDF

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.

News
Jim Cameron Jim Cameron 8-2-16

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

By |
Download PDF

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.

Opinion
Jim Cameron Jim Cameron 8-2-16

Hot Weather Can Stifle Airplane Takeoffs: Cameron on Transportation

By |
Download PDF

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.

Opinion
Jim Cameron Jim Cameron 8-2-16

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

By |
Download PDF

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.

Opinion
Jim Cameron Jim Cameron 8-2-16

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

By |
Download PDF

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.

Opinion
Jim Cameron Jim Cameron 8-2-16

By 2020 You’ll Need a ‘Verified’ Drivers License If You Want It for ID Before a Flight: Cameron on Transportation

By |
Download PDF

Something like 1.73 million Americans board airplanes every day. Each of them must go through a very necessary screening by the Transportation Security Agency. But beginning in late January, a lot of passengers will be denied boarding because they don’t have the right kind of identification. You can thank (or blame) the Real ID Act passed by Congress in 2005 after 9/11 to make sure people are who they claim to be. As any teen can tell you, it’s too easy to obtain a fake ID.