Ok – so airline companies are pressuring all of the European countries to open up the skies again because they are losing money. Really? Are you serious?
Yes, I understand that grounded flights cause lost money for airlines, but large masses of volcanic ash are not easy to predict in the air and none of the planes carrying masses of passengers are equipped to detect these masses early enough to ensure passenger safety. Losing money sucks – I’ve done it in the stoc, market several times. But risking the lives of your customers to ensure you lose no more is nothing less than irresponsible and borders on immoral.
As air passengers, we only fly because we believe there is a good deal of safety in doing so. Yes time is a factor, but I don’t care how long I have to wait nor do I care how long I have to go without a shower to ensure I actually get from point A to point B without panic or death. The last time we had a flight flyh though volcanic ash their engines cut out and with some great amount of luck they were able to restart their engines.
Now think about that folks. Your flight is going pleasantly along and then suddenly the noise of the engines is cut in half. Moments later, the noise is completely gone and your flight has now turned into a free-fall. How pleased would you be? How much would your dry cleaning bill be after you take in a pair of poo-soiled, wool pants? No thanks. Keep me grounded and let me get home by train, car, boat, hang-glider, tricycle or even walking. I don’t think I want to experience having the metal tube I’m sitting in plummet to the earth for more than 10,000 feet. I think I’d rather rest my a$$ on hot, molten lava than do that.
So those of you running the airlines, TAKE A CHILL PILL! Something tells me God is somehow sending a message, and it sounds like this: “Relax! You humans have set such a pace, I’m now having to enforce a moment of relaxation.” Next? Think about what you are doing! You want to stop losing money, which I completely understand. But stop looking at this as a complete loss! Grab the opportunity this presents. Tell your customers that you value their safety and lives more than you value any schedule or any profit. Yes it sucks to lose money, but I’d be much more inclined to spend 5% more on my air fare if I knew the carrier was going to put my safety first.
So there you have it. Don’t let profit push your planes into volcanic ash that will solidify into a glass-like coating on the inside of the ram-jet engine. Keep your planes grounded and let nature take its course. Please keep passenger safety first.
BP
