Pretty typical of air travel, I guess. The plane was headed to Minneapolis, but flew straight past the city because its two pilots were distracted by a Solitaire game on their laptops or something. By the time they noticed where they were, the plane was WAAAY off course and had to make one heck of a U-turn.
Well today, it's being reported that the FAA is taking STRICT ACTION. The pilots may lose their licenses and never fly again. That's fine. I mean, obviously, these two knuckleheads deserve some sort of punishment. However, it's also interesting to look at the story from another perspective. Consider this: let's say that THE AIRLINE, and not a couple of 40-thousand dollar a year pilots, had been responsible for the screw-up. What if Northwest Airlines (you know -- the big company) had somehow caused the plane to reach its destination an hour or so late, having overshot the target by 150 miles. What would have happened then?
I think the answer is clear. Nothing would have happened. AT MOST, there would be empty talk about an investigation, etc., but in the end, the airline would not have been penalized in any way. In fact, had the airline been to blame for this particular incident, it might not have even been called news. If an airline can get away with forcing passengers to idle on the runway for eight hours for no reason, then certainly it could get away with missing a destination by a few miles. An airline outrage only goes punished when it can easily be blamed on one or two hapless schmucks.
So, this Northwest story is just yet another reflection of why I can't stand air travel, and what's wrong with the way things are run, in general. No rules at all for those at the top. You know it's true. Big company screws up? No consequences. An average sap screws up? That's a firin'!
b.
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