Opinion: Would you fly in a Boeing 737 Max 8?
Published by the Oregonian and Oregonlive 3/12/19 (and other publications)
Would You Fly In A Boeing
Charles E. Kraus
On Monday, the day after the Boeing 737 Max 8 crash – the model’s second crash in less than five months -- I’m onboard a Southwest 737 that just took off from Seattle.
Depending upon which newscast you catch, Southwest owns between 20 and 30 potentially dangerous craft. Fortunately, though, my trip is not on a Max 8. But it might have been. You book a flight, make plans, arrive at the airport and board your flight.
I had about an hour to wait before reporting to my gate, and used it to peruse the Southwest clientele seated, standing or in the case of the kids, running around the company’s half a dozen gates. I heard no discussion about the recent accident. Not one word. It is possible that many of those gathered were unaware of Monday’s tragedy? The rest chose not to talk about it -- why stir up anxiety? That’s my theory.
I looked around. Who would be willing to board a Max 8, a plane with a recent reputation for falling out of the sky? Obviously, every breath, every decision, every destination, contains odds that are either in your favor or potentially work against you. I took a very long plane ride once to the Vietnam War, wondering about odds. Of course, at that time, I didn’t have the option of delaying my trip. These folks, with the children, clusters of generations, friends or associates, do not choose to revise their plans. They had enough trust in the skies -- or enough investments in events awaiting them at the other end -- to roll this particular set of dice.
Earlier on Monday, I heard a corporate announcement that the airline has faith in its planes. That’s good. But what does it mean? Southwest has a large investment and a need to be both safe and solvent. Sometimes that’s a difficult combination. I’m wondering what it is like to be a pilot or a crew member at a time like this. Do you step into your Boeing 737 Max 8 cockpit with a profound sense of uncertainty?
I like Southwest. Fly it often. It has the best baggage policy: Two under, one on board at no charge. Beat that. It also has very efficient crews. Many crew members add a touch of humor to the flights. Years ago, when all the airlines were in financial trouble, I recall the concluding message after we’d landed. Passengers were welcomed to Los Angeles, and then told, “we know you have a choice of many bankrupt airlines, and we want to thank you for choosing Southwest."
There is no sense of doom on my flight, though the woman sitting next to me is comforted by a stuffy. Whatever works. I don’t hear the theme from the “High and the Mighty” sound-tracking our progress through the skies. We aren’t on United, but I hope these skies remain friendly.
Still, I was left wondering: What kind of planes does Alaska Airlines fly? I have a return trip, you know. And though I have faith in Southwest, I also have faith in reality. I don’t go to Vegas, but if I did, I’d count my cards.
Charles E. Kraus
On Monday, the day after the Boeing 737 Max 8 crash – the model’s second crash in less than five months -- I’m onboard a Southwest 737 that just took off from Seattle.
Depending upon which newscast you catch, Southwest owns between 20 and 30 potentially dangerous craft. Fortunately, though, my trip is not on a Max 8. But it might have been. You book a flight, make plans, arrive at the airport and board your flight.
I had about an hour to wait before reporting to my gate, and used it to peruse the Southwest clientele seated, standing or in the case of the kids, running around the company’s half a dozen gates. I heard no discussion about the recent accident. Not one word. It is possible that many of those gathered were unaware of Monday’s tragedy? The rest chose not to talk about it -- why stir up anxiety? That’s my theory.
I looked around. Who would be willing to board a Max 8, a plane with a recent reputation for falling out of the sky? Obviously, every breath, every decision, every destination, contains odds that are either in your favor or potentially work against you. I took a very long plane ride once to the Vietnam War, wondering about odds. Of course, at that time, I didn’t have the option of delaying my trip. These folks, with the children, clusters of generations, friends or associates, do not choose to revise their plans. They had enough trust in the skies -- or enough investments in events awaiting them at the other end -- to roll this particular set of dice.
Earlier on Monday, I heard a corporate announcement that the airline has faith in its planes. That’s good. But what does it mean? Southwest has a large investment and a need to be both safe and solvent. Sometimes that’s a difficult combination. I’m wondering what it is like to be a pilot or a crew member at a time like this. Do you step into your Boeing 737 Max 8 cockpit with a profound sense of uncertainty?
I like Southwest. Fly it often. It has the best baggage policy: Two under, one on board at no charge. Beat that. It also has very efficient crews. Many crew members add a touch of humor to the flights. Years ago, when all the airlines were in financial trouble, I recall the concluding message after we’d landed. Passengers were welcomed to Los Angeles, and then told, “we know you have a choice of many bankrupt airlines, and we want to thank you for choosing Southwest."
There is no sense of doom on my flight, though the woman sitting next to me is comforted by a stuffy. Whatever works. I don’t hear the theme from the “High and the Mighty” sound-tracking our progress through the skies. We aren’t on United, but I hope these skies remain friendly.
Still, I was left wondering: What kind of planes does Alaska Airlines fly? I have a return trip, you know. And though I have faith in Southwest, I also have faith in reality. I don’t go to Vegas, but if I did, I’d count my cards.
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