LET’S TALK ABOUT AIRLINE INFRASTRUCTURE
I’ve often expressed my opinion that COVID-19, while a bonafide human tragedy, is more the spark rather than the cause of our national, regional, state and local financial woes. The real culprit is outdated infrastructure. Easy to say, but what does this mean in practical terms? Let’s take airline infrastructure as an example.
When was the last time you flew in an airplane and absolutely enjoyed it? I can’t think of a time after my first thrilling ride as a 6-year-old. From then on, flying increasingly became a modus operandi to get somewhere fast. That is, it isn’t an enjoyable experience unto itself.
But, first, safety: The primary “safety” assurance for passengers when flying is that the pilot and crew will die with you if something truly untoward should go wrong. Where is the infrastructure that guarantees passengers a reasonable, individual chance at surviving a major in-air catastrophe? Aside from oxygen masks and seat belts, nada. One dies with the plane. This has got to be the first infrastructure issue that needs critical re-examination and updating. Astronauts at least have a chance with their escape pod. Regular humans don’t. The second “safety” infrastructure problem that needs addressing: public health when flying: Today’s COVID-19 “emergency” solutions (namely that all passengers wear a mask without exhalation valve) is only one part of the “basic” public health issues: namely, avoid crowds, poorly ventilated spaces (and spaces where ventilation encourages person-to-person spread), and maintain social distancing (the mandatory six feet is a minimum (not the optimal) distance. Add filthy toilets, and minimal food service precautions to avoid spread of disease and you have what I call the basic infrastructure challenge for aircraft engineers. These are the key infrastructure issues that beg to be addressed, COVID-19 or not.
Add to that, terminal services (including ticketing, “check-in” and boarding as well as deplaning, baggage pickup and connecting to ground transportation) infrastructure issues. And don’t forget TSA!
Finally, while mentioned last, air transportation should be not just tolerable, but an enjoyable experience in and of itself. It’s not always about the destination, but often equally about the journey. I can’t recall any such emphasis after I flew on a TWA “Constellation” and was treated like I’d arrived in Hawaii the moment I stepped foot on the airplane.
Raymond Gaynor
Author of THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020)
Co-author with A. G. Hayes of QUANTUM DEATH (Savant 2016) and with William Maltese of TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2009)
Author website at https://garymartine.yolasite.com/raym...
Author Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/raymond.gayn...
Author Twitter site at https://www.savantbooksandpublication...
Amazon author page at https://www.amazon.com/Raymond-Gaynor...
Amazon Goodreads author page at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Savant Books and Publications | Aignos Publishing author page at https://www.savantbooksandpublication...
Distributed by Savant Distribution at https://www.savantdistribution.com/
NetGalley: http://netgal.ly/7GXa50
THE EDGE OF MADNESS: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859
The Edge of Madness
When was the last time you flew in an airplane and absolutely enjoyed it? I can’t think of a time after my first thrilling ride as a 6-year-old. From then on, flying increasingly became a modus operandi to get somewhere fast. That is, it isn’t an enjoyable experience unto itself.
But, first, safety: The primary “safety” assurance for passengers when flying is that the pilot and crew will die with you if something truly untoward should go wrong. Where is the infrastructure that guarantees passengers a reasonable, individual chance at surviving a major in-air catastrophe? Aside from oxygen masks and seat belts, nada. One dies with the plane. This has got to be the first infrastructure issue that needs critical re-examination and updating. Astronauts at least have a chance with their escape pod. Regular humans don’t. The second “safety” infrastructure problem that needs addressing: public health when flying: Today’s COVID-19 “emergency” solutions (namely that all passengers wear a mask without exhalation valve) is only one part of the “basic” public health issues: namely, avoid crowds, poorly ventilated spaces (and spaces where ventilation encourages person-to-person spread), and maintain social distancing (the mandatory six feet is a minimum (not the optimal) distance. Add filthy toilets, and minimal food service precautions to avoid spread of disease and you have what I call the basic infrastructure challenge for aircraft engineers. These are the key infrastructure issues that beg to be addressed, COVID-19 or not.
Add to that, terminal services (including ticketing, “check-in” and boarding as well as deplaning, baggage pickup and connecting to ground transportation) infrastructure issues. And don’t forget TSA!
Finally, while mentioned last, air transportation should be not just tolerable, but an enjoyable experience in and of itself. It’s not always about the destination, but often equally about the journey. I can’t recall any such emphasis after I flew on a TWA “Constellation” and was treated like I’d arrived in Hawaii the moment I stepped foot on the airplane.
Raymond Gaynor
Author of THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020)
Co-author with A. G. Hayes of QUANTUM DEATH (Savant 2016) and with William Maltese of TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2009)
Author website at https://garymartine.yolasite.com/raym...
Author Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/raymond.gayn...
Author Twitter site at https://www.savantbooksandpublication...
Amazon author page at https://www.amazon.com/Raymond-Gaynor...
Amazon Goodreads author page at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Savant Books and Publications | Aignos Publishing author page at https://www.savantbooksandpublication...
Distributed by Savant Distribution at https://www.savantdistribution.com/
NetGalley: http://netgal.ly/7GXa50
THE EDGE OF MADNESS: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859
The Edge of Madness
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