Friday, January 05, 2007

Fear of flying

What inflight announcements would sound like if they were completely honest. (Via Kottke)

I love this part: "Please switch off all mobile phones, since they can interfere with the aircraft's navigation systems. At least, that's what you've always been told. The real reason to switch them off is because they interfere with mobile networks on the ground, but somehow that doesn't sound quite so good. On most flights a few mobile phones are left on by mistake, so if they were really dangerous we would not allow them on board at all, if you think about it."

I also love this part:

"After take-off, the most dangerous part of the flight, the captain will say a few words that will either be so quiet that you will not be able to hear them, or so loud that they could wake the dead. So please sit back, relax and enjoy the flight. We appreciate that you have a choice of airlines and we thank you for choosing Veritas, a member of an incomprehensible alliance of obscure foreign outfits, most of which you have never heard of. Cabin crew, please make sure we have remembered to close the doors. Sorry, I mean: Doors to automatic and cross-check."

My friend Todd, a private pilot, disagrees with some of the post, though, with a lengthy discourse on how they're wrong on one part, and it is possible to successfully ditch at sea.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

not very kind to point us to a pay to view site... :-(

Gael Fashingbauer Cooper said...

Anonymous, what are you talking about? Either this isn't the right post, or you're seeing something I don't. Both sites I link to come up fine for me (and free).

Anonymous said...

Anonymous is talking about the secondary link. Your link actually goes to only some of the article; at the top is a link to the original article in The Economist, which does charge.