Comments on: Aging Aircraft of US Airlines: Safety Issue or Just a Service Issue? http://www.planeconversations.com/2010/02/04/aging-aircraft-of-us-airlines-safety-issue-or-just-a-service-issue/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:56:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Clint White http://www.planeconversations.com/2010/02/04/aging-aircraft-of-us-airlines-safety-issue-or-just-a-service-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-563 Clint White Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:58:39 +0000 http://www.planeconversations.com/?p=2560#comment-563 If you are ever in one of the old DC-9s or MD-80s, you understand just how much better the new airplanes are. Much quieter and more comfortable (if you can call a coach seat comfortable). Theoretically, an airframe should last indefinitely with proper maintenance. However, what concerns me with the airlines these days has been the outsourcing of maintenance to other countries with limited control over quality and especially safety. The recent USAToday article was an eye openers (though I am not a huge fan of that paper after their biased stories about GA). The real problem is the "race to the bottom" for the airlines and that includes maintenance. While I dont believe ANY airline is sacraficing safety over money, there are too many other issues that should give any airline travler pause, especially with international maintenance proceudures with limited TSA oversight. Newer fleets in the airlines will be more the results of the efficencies that the new aircraft can bring over enhancing the passenger experience. Business Aviation is a COMPLETELY different experience. While there are older business jets, most are kept impeccibly. After all, the owner or charter customer should expect no less. The ability to board your own airplane with strict controls on maintenance (done DOMESTICALLY) in almost all cases and the comfort and service unmatched by ANY airline clearly gives GA the advantage. Its up to us in the business aviation community to communicate these advantages. If you are ever in one of the old DC-9s or MD-80s, you understand just how much better the new airplanes are. Much quieter and more comfortable (if you can call a coach seat comfortable). Theoretically, an airframe should last indefinitely with proper maintenance. However, what concerns me with the airlines these days has been the outsourcing of maintenance to other countries with limited control over quality and especially safety. The recent USAToday article was an eye openers (though I am not a huge fan of that paper after their biased stories about GA). The real problem is the “race to the bottom” for the airlines and that includes maintenance. While I dont believe ANY airline is sacraficing safety over money, there are too many other issues that should give any airline travler pause, especially with international maintenance proceudures with limited TSA oversight. Newer fleets in the airlines will be more the results of the efficencies that the new aircraft can bring over enhancing the passenger experience.

Business Aviation is a COMPLETELY different experience. While there are older business jets, most are kept impeccibly. After all, the owner or charter customer should expect no less. The ability to board your own airplane with strict controls on maintenance (done DOMESTICALLY) in almost all cases and the comfort and service unmatched by ANY airline clearly gives GA the advantage. Its up to us in the business aviation community to communicate these advantages.

]]> By: John Ribbler http://www.planeconversations.com/2010/02/04/aging-aircraft-of-us-airlines-safety-issue-or-just-a-service-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-1285 John Ribbler Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:52:37 +0000 http://www.planeconversations.com/?p=2560#comment-1285 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">My guess, service issue til one crashes RT @Rachel_Charlize: Aged US Airline Fleet: Safety Issue or a Service Issue? http://ow.ly/13Vzs</span></span> My guess, service issue til one crashes RT @Rachel_Charlize: Aged US Airline Fleet: Safety Issue or a Service Issue? http://ow.ly/13Vzs

]]> By: John Ribbler http://www.planeconversations.com/2010/02/04/aging-aircraft-of-us-airlines-safety-issue-or-just-a-service-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-1286 John Ribbler Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:52:36 +0000 http://www.planeconversations.com/?p=2560#comment-1286 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">My guess, service issue til one crashes RT @Rachel_Charlize: Aged US Airline Fleet: Safety Issue or a Service Issue? http://ow.ly/13Vzs</span></span> My guess, service issue til one crashes RT @Rachel_Charlize: Aged US Airline Fleet: Safety Issue or a Service Issue? http://ow.ly/13Vzs

]]> By: James Luck http://www.planeconversations.com/2010/02/04/aging-aircraft-of-us-airlines-safety-issue-or-just-a-service-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-1289 James Luck Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:00:16 +0000 http://www.planeconversations.com/?p=2560#comment-1289 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">Aging Aircraft of US Airlines: Safety Issue or Just a Service Issue? http://bit.ly/bhNoDH</span></span> Aging Aircraft of US Airlines: Safety Issue or Just a Service Issue? http://bit.ly/bhNoDH

]]> By: Aging Aircraft of US Airlines: Safety Issue or Just a Service … | Tailspin http://www.planeconversations.com/2010/02/04/aging-aircraft-of-us-airlines-safety-issue-or-just-a-service-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-560 Aging Aircraft of US Airlines: Safety Issue or Just a Service … | Tailspin Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:09:27 +0000 http://www.planeconversations.com/?p=2560#comment-560 [...] here to see the original: Aging Aircraft of US Airlines: Safety Issue or Just a Service … Aviation [...] [...] here to see the original: Aging Aircraft of US Airlines: Safety Issue or Just a Service … Aviation [...]

]]> By: Allen Howell http://www.planeconversations.com/2010/02/04/aging-aircraft-of-us-airlines-safety-issue-or-just-a-service-issue/comment-page-1/#comment-2257 Allen Howell Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:03:21 +0000 http://www.planeconversations.com/?p=2560#comment-2257 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">Aging Aircraft of US Airlines: Safety Issue or Just a Service Issue? http://bit.ly/bhNoDH It seems more like riding the subway.</span></span> Aging Aircraft of US Airlines: Safety Issue or Just a Service Issue? http://bit.ly/bhNoDH It seems more like riding the subway.

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