EVERY
few days we hear a distressing story about passengers on a commercial
airliner. It usually goes like
this. The airplane, for some
reason, does not take of when it is supposed to. The passengers are kept on the plane. The details vary, but usually they are
denied food and water, ability to move around (including access to the
restrooms), are not allowed off the plane, and are kept there for hours! The inevitable second part of the
story, on cable news stations, presents to us a “passenger advocate.” By the way, how do these people make a
living? Does some one pay them to
advocate?
This advocate then mentions pending legislation, which will change all this. Our universal, first reaction is to agree and to support. “No should be treated this way. Something should be done, blah, blah.” I agree… but not really. Something should be done… but nothing can be done. This is one of those problems which have no solution, on Earth. And recall that the problem is that the planes are on, and not above, the Earth.
Suppose that the people are given drinks. Suppose that at this precise time the plane is now given a small takeoff window. But it can not take off, as the drink cans have to be collected, immediately. And they aren’t, because some of the passengers want to finish their drinks, and the time for a permitted takeoff passes… and the plane has to wait an additional three hours. The same would, or could, happen, if the passengers were allowed to move about. How does one get them back, instantly, into their seats? And if they are allowed off the plane, they will miss the flight, and then sue the airline for not repeatedly calling them, personally and by name, from the gift shops.
In
other words, the proposed attempts to solve the problem will help in some few
cases, maybe. But they will,
definitely, cause the problems to become worse, and more frequently so. Waiting, in the seats, thirsty and
annoyed, is the best policy.
As I wrote, some problems do not have temporal solutions. This is one of many. If you want to send a complaint letter then send it to Adam. He is the one who fouled up everything, back in the beginning.
To help solve the problems which can be solved, read the A&E.
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