1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: If you have Caarsiti talk station. Happy Friday Eve, Happy 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: Opening Day. Always a special time for me. I get 3 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: to talk to and you get to hear us talk together. 4 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 1: I heard medaviation expert Jay Ratlift. Jay, welcome back, my friend. 5 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: Love having you on my program. 6 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 2: Well, happy Opening Day to you, my friend. 7 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, we'll keep our fingers crossed anyhow, Just laughing because 8 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,120 Speaker 1: someone suggested earlier that if the Reds have a really 9 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: great season and we start selling out games a great 10 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 1: American ballpark, they're gonna have to deal with the curfew. 11 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: They've apparently relaxed the curfew law because of the opening 12 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: day and the quantity of people are down there, so 13 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: no curfew for young people will have to cross that bridge. 14 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:36,520 Speaker 1: Hopefully we'll get to that bridge because we'll be doing 15 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: so well. 16 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 2: I would love to think that that would be something 17 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 2: we'd have to worry about moving forward. Absolutely. 18 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, we all know where the bets are being placed 19 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: on that anyway, Jay Ratlift. Let's get over to the 20 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: list of topics we got this morning, and some good 21 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: ones on the list, starting off with the latest of 22 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: the New York plane crash Laguardi Airport and I got 23 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: to see the video. We talked last week about this 24 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: because it was kind of still unfolding, and then the 25 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: video of the plane impacting the fire truck came out, 26 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: and that plane looked like it was going to hell 27 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: of a lot faster than the twenty twenty five miles 28 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: prior was originally thought. 29 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, well that was given off of some of the 30 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,680 Speaker 2: ground systems that sometimes have a difficult time measuring the 31 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 2: ground speed. But that once the NTSB was able to 32 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,759 Speaker 2: retrieve both of the black boxes, the cockpit voice recorder 33 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 2: as well as the flight data recorder, they're going to 34 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,759 Speaker 2: have all the specifics down to a te on everything. 35 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 2: And one of the things we did find out was 36 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 2: one the aircraft was on final approach. The first officer 37 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 2: was at the controls. It was it was his plane, 38 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 2: and when they broke the clouds and just at the 39 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 2: point they had rotated down where the Ford landing gear 40 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:45,040 Speaker 2: was on the runway, apparently that's when they spotted the 41 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: fire truck, recognized the emergency at hand. Captain says, my airplane. 42 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 2: So you've got the more experienced to the two taking over, 43 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 2: but they simply just didn't have enough time to do much. 44 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 2: And you know, one of the things that I continue 45 00:01:58,040 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 2: to look at through all of this is had they 46 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 2: veered in any certain way where a fuel tank and 47 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 2: one of the wings could have been impacted instead of 48 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 2: the nose of the aircraft, right, we could have been 49 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 2: talking about totally totally different set of circumstances where we 50 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:16,399 Speaker 2: could have had a much more significant loss of life. So, yeah, 51 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 2: a lot a lots being stated about these people that 52 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 2: as far as the crew and all, maybe not having 53 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 2: as many flight hours as you would like, but I 54 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,399 Speaker 2: think the investigation is going to show that those two 55 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 2: pilots did absolutely everything they could with what limited time 56 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:36,079 Speaker 2: they had during a time you had a wet runway 57 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 2: to try to bring that aircraft to a stop as 58 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 2: quickly as possible. 59 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 1: Well a stop or the other thought that went through 60 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: my mind and looking at the video, I appreciate that 61 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: this is not a realist, necessarily realistic opportunity, but not 62 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: being a pilot, I got to ask the whole idea 63 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: of maybe pulling out or doing a quick touch and go, 64 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: that's that was out of the out of the out 65 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: of the equation at that moment. 66 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 2: Well, the Delta taxiways is less than a third of 67 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 2: the way down the So when you have just landed, 68 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 2: if you see there's an emergency and you've got to 69 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 2: power up and take off, there's no way they had 70 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,359 Speaker 2: enough real estate between them and the truck to roll, 71 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 2: because again you're talking about touching down in that taxiway, 72 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 2: being a third of the way or so down around 73 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 2: down the runway, and a lot of individuals are saying, well, Jay, 74 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 2: come on the fire truck, how could you not see 75 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 2: this airplane coming? But this wasn't a straight across delta 76 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 2: taxiway straight across as far as between where the fire 77 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 2: truck was progressing, if I'm reading the airport diagrams right, 78 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: and from what I've seen, it was something that was 79 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 2: pointed more away for the aircraft, kind of at a 80 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 2: diagonal acrossing of the runway, so that the driver never 81 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 2: would have been able to see over his right side 82 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 2: as far as the approach of any aircraft, and the 83 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 2: person sitting on the right side would have had a 84 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 2: difficult time initially. But what we can see from that 85 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 2: video that you referenced is that the fire truck did 86 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 2: at the last minute try to turn away, but obviously, 87 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 2: you know, not nearly enough, not soon enough for that 88 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 2: impact to take place, but just a lot of things here, 89 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 2: and the NTSB chief is going to continue to give 90 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 2: us a briefings, and I think that all of this 91 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 2: is going to show that there is a series of 92 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 2: things that perhaps we could have done better. One of 93 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 2: the topics that keeps coming up is the fact that 94 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 2: the airport there is equipped. It's one of the I 95 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,839 Speaker 2: think thirty thirty five airports in the country that have 96 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:32,280 Speaker 2: got the technology where they can put transponders on the 97 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 2: ground equipment where they can make sure where everything's at 98 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 2: at all times. And this fire truck was not equipped 99 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 2: with that. So I think one of the many recommendations 100 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 2: that the NTSB will probably roll out is let's make 101 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 2: the most of the technology that we have in place 102 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 2: at these airports to try to do what we can 103 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 2: again to keep things off the runway that shouldn't be there. 104 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: Well, Jay, the old thing my parents thought me, you 105 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: look both ways before you cross the street. And I'm thinking, 106 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 1: I don't want to cast any dispersions on the fire 107 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: truck crew, but you know, the world's an imperfect place. 108 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:04,919 Speaker 1: Wouldn't it be a great idea just as a matter 109 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 1: of default and practice and protocol that before you cross 110 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 1: the runway you'll look on either side, because air traffic 111 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: control can be overwhelmed and sometimes they get it wrong. 112 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 1: So let's do a double check. I know that I've 113 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:18,479 Speaker 1: gotten the nose of my car torn off because I 114 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: trusted the green light gave me straight an opportunity to 115 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: go ahead without looking either way, only to have someone 116 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 1: blow through a red light and crash into me. I 117 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 1: never do that again. I get a green light, I 118 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: look both ways before I proceed into the intersection. 119 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, and pause just a bit. But you know, in 120 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 2: the pilots when they're cleared to land, they recognize anything 121 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 2: can happen at any time, So keep your head on 122 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 2: a swivel and look out for everything and anticipate a 123 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 2: lot of different scenarios. And I'm sure that the fire 124 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 2: crew is trained to do the same thing. Now, they 125 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 2: were responding to an emergency. They're trying to get their 126 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 2: head around what they're going to be doing when they 127 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,160 Speaker 2: get to that United flight that had declared an emergency 128 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 2: because of odors on the plane with one of the 129 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 2: crew members falling ill. So I know their mind was 130 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 2: probably there, But you know, you trust air traffic control 131 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 2: when you're giving clearance to land or clearance to cross 132 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 2: that it's it's okay to do so, but you're right. 133 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 2: And again, the investigation will show different things. Fortunately, the 134 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: two individuals and the truck survived, so they will be 135 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 2: able to be interviewed and they'll be able to give 136 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 2: a you know, a moment by moment account of exactly 137 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 2: what took place. And I think that's going to help 138 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 2: the investigators as well. And yeah, we'll see where the 139 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 2: investigation goes. And again, hopefully we can find many things 140 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,679 Speaker 2: that we can put into place to make things safer 141 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 2: for footing on the ground and certainly in the plane. 142 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,039 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, like a better communication between helicopters and 143 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,160 Speaker 1: flying around Reagan Airport. That comes to mind too, Jay Ratleff, 144 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 1: let's Pauseible, bring Jay Rayt Let's talk about oh, look, 145 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: TSA lines and maybe even still possible closures of airports 146 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:56,479 Speaker 1: more with Jay Radlft stick around fifty five the Todd 147 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: k the talk station We've ever been in cockpit before 148 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,799 Speaker 1: it thirty nine fifty bout KIRCD Talk Station. Brian Thomas. 149 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 1: If I heard media aviation expert Jay Riley, Jay, my 150 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,280 Speaker 1: friend Maureen Gotte touched me shoes waiting in the airport 151 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: in Florida. Heated your advice. Got word went around that 152 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: you know, TSA lines are really really long. Of course, 153 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 1: because the government shut down, they're not being paid, they're 154 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: not showing up. They have to get second jobs or 155 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: they have to quit. Ice jumped in and tried to 156 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 1: solve some of the problem. We'll ask you how that's going. 157 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: But her point was, she showed up four hours early, 158 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 1: there was no line, she got right through, and then 159 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 1: only to find out her flight has been delayed because 160 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: there are problems that other airports. Ripple effect, meaning she's 161 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: going to be stuck at the airport for at least 162 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: eight hours before she can get out. Jay, this is 163 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: a ripple effect problem, is it not? 164 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 2: It is, although you can't we can't attribute a lot 165 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 2: of the flight delays to the airport issues because airlines 166 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 2: are going to dispatch those airplanes as much as they 167 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 2: can right on time. We're as close to it as 168 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: possible because delays cost them a great deal of money. 169 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 2: Plus they've already got our money. So you know, the 170 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 2: airlines are saying that, look, if you want to change 171 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 2: your itinerary flight at a later time when maybe things 172 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 2: aren't quite as crazy. They've issued a waiver which means 173 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 2: that we can change our reservations absent of a change fee, 174 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 2: which is really really uh, you know, kind of them 175 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 2: and good to see and uh. But what I'm I'm 176 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 2: seeing is in Houston and Atlanta and other places, we're 177 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 2: seeing the TSA lines get shorter. So the processing time 178 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 2: is getting better because those TSA agents are helping again. 179 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 2: They can manage exit lanes, they can help facilitate the 180 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 2: movement of the people that are there. They can do 181 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 2: a lot of the non technical side of things while 182 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 2: being there. And Brian, what I continue to see is 183 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 2: exactly what I expected. The more interaction that passengers have 184 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 2: with ICE agents, the more they see that, oh my gosh, 185 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 2: these people aren't the devil. They're not bad at all. 186 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 2: They're kill me exactly. So if you're if you're on 187 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 2: the democratic side of the discussion and you're thrilled with 188 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 2: the chaos has been created because of the shutdown, one 189 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:05,680 Speaker 2: President Trump has stepped in to try to stop that, 190 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 2: and I think it was a great move operationally. But 191 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 2: the other thing you need to look out for is 192 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 2: when you have hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people 193 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 2: to start interacting with these ICE agents, and they recognize 194 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:17,839 Speaker 2: that there are men and women just like everybody else, 195 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 2: and maybe the way that they've been portrayed by some 196 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 2: media is a little bit, shall we say off. I 197 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 2: think that that interaction, the longer that it goes, is 198 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 2: only going to work to the betterment of the ICE image, 199 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 2: and I don't think it's going to go quite the 200 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 2: way that we're seeing a lot of the Democrats want 201 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 2: it to go, and that's one of the reasons I 202 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 2: think that we're seeing so many of them scream get 203 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 2: Ice out of the airports. Yeah, I know why you 204 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 2: want them out of the airports because of the fact 205 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 2: that that interaction with passengers has gone so good. 206 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 1: Their game plan is to cause pain to their constituents, yes, 207 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: and ICE will take away the pain, obviously having an 208 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 1: impact on their claim that ICE are a bunch of murderers. 209 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: So this's a two full benefit for the Trump administration. 210 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 2: Oh absolutely, it was a double win politically and operationally. 211 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 2: When when it happened, I thought, you know, that was 212 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,480 Speaker 2: really a stroke of genius because you know, he's solving 213 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 2: the problem as much as he can. Because it's out 214 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:16,959 Speaker 2: of his hands. It's the people in Congress's got to 215 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,679 Speaker 2: get this thing done. Yeah, And so as a result, 216 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 2: he's like, well, I can't fix it, but what I 217 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 2: can do is try to alleviate some of these delays 218 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 2: at certain airports and deploying ice, which you know you 219 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,680 Speaker 2: just mentioned that word people going to hysterics was certainly 220 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 2: a great idea because these are highly trained government agents 221 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 2: and employees and look, they're trained in law enforcement. It's 222 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 2: always good of an extra set of those hands around 223 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 2: the security checkpoint as well. And they're doing a great job. 224 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 2: So look, I know they're limited what they can do, 225 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 2: but if they can free up other individuals to do 226 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 2: other things, it's going to do nothing but help. And 227 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 2: when you see the number of people that are calling in, 228 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 2: I mean some of these folks have missed more than 229 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 2: a month of paychecks and they've got to put food 230 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 2: on the table. I totally totally get it. And Brandon, 231 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:06,959 Speaker 2: this can't go much longer because you just can't expect 232 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,839 Speaker 2: people to show up for work cheerfully, be there, do 233 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 2: the job keeping all of us safe, and you know, 234 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 2: we'll pay you when we get around to it. 235 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's it's I don't understand how they don't understand 236 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 1: the optics and how terrible it is for them, but 237 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: they'll struggle with it. And you have the other component 238 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 1: opponent of this, and I hesitate to even say it 239 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: out loud, But since the FBI has warned the American 240 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: people generally speaking about large concentrated groups of people and 241 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 1: keep your eyes peeled Opening Day parade, the DEM's playing 242 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 1: with fire on this. And not only do you have 243 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:38,439 Speaker 1: those massive, unnecessary lines and pack full of areas of 244 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 1: the airport that have not yet been screened, there's a 245 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 1: potential there for a terrorist action, maybe even on an airplane. 246 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 1: Nobody wants that to happen. But if that were to happen, 247 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 1: I don't know how they get out from underneath that 248 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 1: problem they created. 249 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 2: I agree because it's well, you know, it's just a 250 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 2: matter of what's the crisis and how can we find 251 00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 2: a way to blame it on our opposition? And it's 252 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,680 Speaker 2: really trained to solve problems. It's a perception problem, and 253 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 2: they manage the perception of security and leadership instead of 254 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 2: actually doing things. And we all know this, and we 255 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,479 Speaker 2: all get frustrated, but we keep sending the same bozos 256 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:15,440 Speaker 2: back to DC every single time, and it's like, I'm sorry, 257 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 2: you know, this is what the consequences are for us 258 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 2: voting to the same person back in I don't care 259 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 2: which side of the aisle they're on. It just frustrates 260 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 2: me because look, you know, last week we hit the 261 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 2: thirty nine trillion dollar mark in the national debt. Took 262 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 2: us five months from the time we hit thirty eight. 263 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 2: It's going to take us less than five to hit 264 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 2: hit forty and zero zero zero urgency to address that 265 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 2: or take care of it, just like the Social security 266 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 2: mess that were just years away from it blowing up 267 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 2: in our face. So there's no leadership there. So and 268 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 2: that's why when I hear these individuals talk about the Constitution, 269 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:53,200 Speaker 2: Declaration independence and how outdated that these people can't couldn't 270 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 2: create something that could last twenty years, not two hundred 271 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 2: and fifty years. So when I hear them spouting off 272 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 2: about how or that needed to be changed, I'm thinking, well, maybe, 273 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 2: but certainly not by you, because you can't fix any 274 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 2: single problem that lands on your desk. 275 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: See, this is one of the reasons I love talking 276 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: on the program Jay have at it. 277 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 2: I'm just I love it. I love I love our country. 278 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 2: And when we've traveled the world, people come up to 279 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 2: Sherry and I when they here speaking English, and they 280 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 2: ask us what it's like to be an American? What's 281 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 2: it like to be to have the freedom to start 282 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 2: your own business, or you know, to buy land instead 283 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:31,319 Speaker 2: of like when we were in China, where you can 284 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 2: rent it from the government for seventy years before you 285 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:35,559 Speaker 2: have to give it back. I mean, all of these 286 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 2: things that we just take so casually for granted. And 287 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 2: then I see somebody here with the little, you know, 288 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 2: frown on their face, the sour puss and talk about 289 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 2: how bad things are. And my first question is always, well, 290 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 2: I mean, how many other countries have you been to 291 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 2: and which country have you observed personally? That's better? Oh, 292 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:54,359 Speaker 2: you don't need to travel to know how bad? Oh, 293 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 2: yes you do. 294 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 1: Yes. 295 00:13:56,320 --> 00:14:00,199 Speaker 2: Perception and perspective go hand in hand there, And it 296 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 2: bothers me because look, I won the lottery being born 297 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 2: an American, and I'm never going to take that for granted. 298 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,119 Speaker 1: Good and we'll bring you back. Is this an opportunity 299 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 1: to join the mile high Club? United Airlines relax Row Plus, 300 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: What is a customer of size. Going over to Southwest Airlines, 301 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: we'll get a couple of seat policy changes with Jay 302 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: after these brief words, fifty five KRC dot com the 303 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: talks station eight forty nine. Here fifty five KRCD Talk 304 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: Station Brian Thomas with j Ratliff. I heard media aviation 305 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: expert and political commentator, which I love, Jay Ratliff. I 306 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: got two new seat policies. I know one wasn't on 307 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: the list. That will be answering the question over at 308 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 1: Southwest what is a customer of size? But first the 309 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: one that you put down, which looks like I don't know, 310 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: based upon the photograph you sent me, an opportunity to 311 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 1: join the mile high club made easier by United Airlines. 312 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: I know I'm wrong on that, but that looks like 313 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: a bed to me. 314 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 2: It's a couch. Yeah, And I did not send it 315 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 2: to you with that in mind. But that is the 316 00:14:55,480 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 2: story of the day. The U United Airlines is doing 317 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 2: a lot like Lutanza and a Zealand is doing, saying 318 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 2: that we will on some of our wide bodied aircraft, 319 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 2: which are the longer flights, we'll give you the opportunity 320 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 2: if at the time of departure there's empty seats and 321 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 2: you want to buy the row. You can buy a row, 322 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 2: pay a little bit more money, and we will give 323 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 2: you a little couch type of thing you can lay down. 324 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 2: We'll give you a special seat belt that you can 325 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 2: be secured in there. We'll give you a little pillow, 326 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 2: little blank. If your kids are there, give them a 327 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 2: little stuffed animal. Yeah. So the thought is, and this 328 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:36,119 Speaker 2: is brilliant. It's one of the ways airlines just continue 329 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 2: to find a way to squeeze at every penny we can. 330 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 2: Because let's say you've got a wide bodied aircraft that's 331 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 2: twenty five percent empty, and you're thinking, how can we 332 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 2: get more revenue from the people that are on there, 333 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 2: because we can't sell any more seats. Ah, let's tell 334 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 2: people that can buy the whole row. You know, maybe 335 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 2: not as much as it would be triple the cost, 336 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 2: but yeah, you can get your seat in the two 337 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 2: next to you at a slightly additional fee and you 338 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 2: can just lay down and joy the longer flight. So 339 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 2: it's brilliant and United's the first US carrier to do it. 340 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 2: And the thought is that you can you can relax 341 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 2: and look at I remember back in the eighties, when 342 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 2: I got started in the airline history early in those 343 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:16,440 Speaker 2: years nineteen eighty one, some of our load factors are 344 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 2: forty five forty seven percent. You would frequently be on 345 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 2: a plane when you know, the door shuts, flight tensions, 346 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 2: move wherever you want, and you could have a whole 347 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 2: road to yourself. Now those days are obviously gone. But 348 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 2: now yourlines have found a way that if the flight's 349 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 2: not entirely full and you are working and you want 350 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 2: extra room, have the whole road to yourself, or you 351 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 2: want you and your wife to or you know whatever. 352 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 2: There's a way to do it. Of course at an 353 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 2: additional cost, but hey, what a. 354 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: Great idea, great idea. You know. One of the best 355 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 1: flights I was ever on, Jay Ratliff. I was the 356 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 1: only passenger on one of the small jets coming in 357 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: from Chicago to Cincinnati. Oh what happened to everic you 358 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 1: know who sat down next to me and gave me 359 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:56,119 Speaker 1: free drinks for the whole flight. The flight attendant. Absolutely, 360 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: she was friendly. I'll tell you she was friendly. 361 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 2: It's nice. And you know, if they can also do 362 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 2: they sometimes they'll do a high performance takeoff if they've 363 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 2: just got one on board and you're having fun with 364 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 2: the pilots, they'll be like okay, and they'll send a 365 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 2: little faster than normal. Just have a little bit of 366 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 2: fun and you know that's always enjoyable as well. 367 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: No doubt about it. And moving over, what is a 368 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: customer of size? I guess it's if you spill over, 369 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: or as Southwest referred to as customers who encroach upon 370 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 1: their neighboring seats, I guess they're in for an additional charge. 371 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:30,920 Speaker 1: Now caught people by surprise, Jay. 372 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 2: Well, you know it used to be with Southwest that 373 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 2: you could pay for the seat and then if the 374 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 2: flight was only so so empty that you could request 375 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 2: a refund for the one seat that you had to 376 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 2: pay extra. And a lot of people are calling this 377 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 2: a fat tax because what's happened is Southwest has changed 378 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:53,160 Speaker 2: their policy where they only do this if the flight's 379 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 2: not sold out or is sold out, and you have 380 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:58,919 Speaker 2: a shorter period of time to request the refund. And 381 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:01,400 Speaker 2: there's people that have gone the social media saying, hey, look, 382 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:06,199 Speaker 2: Southwest is you know, singled me out because of my size, 383 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:08,920 Speaker 2: and you know that's not really the case. What happens 384 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:10,919 Speaker 2: and I've had to add these conversations with people at 385 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 2: the airport is to explain to them that they simply 386 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:17,159 Speaker 2: won't be comfortable in a seat by themselves like that, 387 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 2: and they need a second seat. And I normally blame 388 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 2: it on the fact that the seats are getting smaller, 389 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 2: and of course the airline's doing what they can here 390 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 2: to cram as many seats on an airplane, and you 391 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 2: tell people that because of their big bone structure that 392 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 2: they just need a little bit more room. And you know, 393 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:35,640 Speaker 2: most people that have flown understand that it's a sensitive 394 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 2: conversation that you have kind of away from everybody else. 395 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 2: But there are times when you have to pay for 396 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 2: an extra seat. And of course Southwest has been very 397 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:47,119 Speaker 2: accommodating in a lot of regards to this in the past, 398 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 2: and they've kind of been their own worst enemy because 399 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:51,360 Speaker 2: now that they're tightening up the restrictions just a bit, 400 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:54,439 Speaker 2: there's a pushback and it becomes, okay, this is all 401 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 2: about revenue now. No, Southwest is kind of adopting the 402 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 2: same policy every other carrier is doing and trying to 403 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 2: be a sin as they can on it. I certainly 404 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 2: don't have any problem with what they're doing, but again 405 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:07,720 Speaker 2: because of how things have been in the past now 406 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 2: kind of translate into Southwest Airlines not caring right now 407 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:12,679 Speaker 2: to me. 408 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 1: Not the case, any showing up as we always do 409 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:16,679 Speaker 1: on hub delayers. A little reluctant to ask the question, 410 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 1: even given the TSA's problems we're facing here. But in 411 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:21,399 Speaker 1: so far as travel today, what's your take on at 412 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 1: Jay Ratlers. 413 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 2: Weatherwise in minor issues Minneapolis and maybe Detroit, and again 414 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 2: I cite minor minor Miner's going to be a beautiful 415 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 2: day to fly. However, we are still having pockets of 416 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 2: some of the TSA lines being longer than expected. Now, look, 417 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 2: we are very spoiled here at CBG, as you mentioned 418 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:39,159 Speaker 2: this morning when we'd let off, so a lot of 419 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 2: people say, well, it's not that bad. So when they 420 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 2: come back from some of these other cities, they're expecting 421 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 2: to have the same sort of staffing that we have here. 422 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:49,239 Speaker 2: Not the case always. And the best thing to do 423 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:51,360 Speaker 2: is when you get to certain airports, just pull off 424 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 2: and ask one of the TSA agents or supervisors say, 425 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:56,919 Speaker 2: look them scheduled to fly back next Tuesday. You know 426 00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 2: what's going on. How much time should I allow coming back? 427 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:01,880 Speaker 2: And they will be very forthcoming and saying, hey, glad 428 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 2: you asked about three hours. Should do it for whatever 429 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:07,160 Speaker 2: it might happen to be. Because yes, it's bad enough 430 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 2: that we have to endure travel now, Brian, we have 431 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 2: to worry about what the conditions are going to be 432 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:13,679 Speaker 2: like when we get back to the airport. Can imagine 433 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 2: going on vacation, trying to relax, worrying about you know, 434 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 2: your return trip and whether or not yet it's it's 435 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 2: let's get back to at least where we were at 436 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 2: before all this mess and get people back moving