1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,600 Speaker 1: Made extra special. It is that time a week we 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: get to talk with iHeartMedia aviation expert Jay Ratless and 3 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: get the load down and all things crazy going on 4 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:10,400 Speaker 1: in the world of aviation. Jay, my friend. Wonderful having 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:10,800 Speaker 1: you back on. 6 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 2: Hey, pleasant, good morning. I was thinking that our buddy there, 7 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 2: Joe never throws anything away because he's got clips for everything. 8 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,440 Speaker 2: I'm sure he's got the forecast for the hottest day 9 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,599 Speaker 2: of the summer last year. You got to pull that 10 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 2: out and just read it so we can just go 11 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 2: remember when we were complaining. 12 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: About how hot it was. 13 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 2: Boy, wouldn't that be nice today? 14 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,959 Speaker 1: That's a great idea. Oh, then maybe we could rewinden 15 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 1: about a decade ago when it was all global warming. 16 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: We're all gonna die because planet's getting all hot. Yeah, 17 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 1: how's it feel right now? 18 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 2: Going to go back to the seventies with global cooling? 19 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:42,559 Speaker 3: Oh? 20 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:44,879 Speaker 2: I remember, That's that's when we were going to die 21 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 2: because the planet was getting cold. 22 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: Sir Leonard Money Leonard Nimoy in Search of was the 23 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: series He did an entire half hour episode of The 24 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: Coming Ice Age. I remember like it was yesterday. You 25 00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: can still find that on YouTube for those talking. 26 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 2: About that they'll be an inconvenient truth. I don't know. 27 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: It could be someone did it Alyss twenty years after 28 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 1: INtime truth love that nothing at all. Matter of fact, 29 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: the exact opposite of what al Gore was preaching back 30 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: then came through. See you see an eye to eye 31 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: on that crap. Anyway over to American Airlines scrambling back 32 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: to full operations and offers flight attendants double time. 33 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, the double time. The flight attendants can't normally fly 34 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:33,119 Speaker 2: on average seventy to ninety flight hours a month, they 35 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 2: can fly up to one hundred, and as American Airlines 36 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 2: is trying to close out the month and try to 37 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 2: get everything back on schedule, they're offering their flight attendants 38 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 2: double time if they want to pick up an extra 39 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 2: extra flight. And ye know, I'm certain many of them 40 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 2: are welcoming the chance to earn a few extra dollars. 41 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 2: And I'm sure a lot of them are like, you know, thanks, 42 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 2: but no thanks. But you know, American is just doing 43 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 2: a lot of things in the right kind of way 44 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 2: right now, and I'm just I'm really positive on them. 45 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 2: They reported a quarterly profit of roughly two hundred and 46 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 2: fifty million dollars and they lost probably two hundred and 47 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 2: fifty million during the shutdown, and I think this winter 48 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 2: storm's probably going to hit them with another two hundred 49 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 2: million dollars in revenue that they could have made. But 50 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 2: they are so customer focused right now. I just hope 51 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 2: they don't lose that because they're the airline that's going 52 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 2: to hold an airplane for us if we're running late, 53 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 2: and if they can do it. They're using that artificial 54 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 2: intelligence we talked about to try to make things better 55 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 2: for us, and I just a I love it, and 56 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 2: I hope other airlines will actually embrace that kind of 57 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 2: customer first mentality, which really doesn't exist right now. And 58 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 2: the same time, I've got some good news on American. Yeah, 59 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 2: I'm certainly pulling for them well. 60 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 1: That customer first mentality. I mean, these airlines are in competition, 61 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: and you would think the better a customer is treated, 62 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: the more likely they will be loyal to that particular airline, 63 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 1: given that we all have choices in this world, but 64 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,079 Speaker 1: in these worlds have shaving go ahead. 65 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, if you and I own or operate a specific airline, 66 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 2: and we've got a strong loyalty program that has people 67 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 2: locked in because of the credit card they use for 68 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 2: freaking flyer miles. We take them for granted. Yes, we 69 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 2: think they're always going to be there, and since our 70 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 2: load factors are like eighty eighty five percent, when we 71 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 2: treat them like crap, I mean, they're going to take it. 72 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 2: So it really doesn't matter how bad we treat them, 73 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 2: because these these mindless loyal followers will always be there. 74 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:23,639 Speaker 2: And sadly, to an extent, there's some truth in that. 75 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 2: Although you know, sometimes when people can find better fares, 76 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,239 Speaker 2: they're certainly go that way. But loyalty, sadly for a 77 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 2: lot of these airlines is kind of locked in because 78 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 2: of people say, well, I got to fly this airline 79 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 2: because of my frequent flyer program, and then you ask 80 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 2: them how many times they use their miles and it's 81 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 2: like a few and far between. It's like, why would 82 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 2: you do that versus taking the better flight to get 83 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 2: you where you need to be NonStop, and say of 84 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 2: connecting through who knows where, just earn a few miles. 85 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, it's kind of funny you've read that. Only 86 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: reason I'm laughing at it's because that's me back when 87 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: I was a practicing law in Chicago, American Airlines hub there. 88 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: Of course that's what I flew almost always American Airline. 89 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: That's when I was going in and out of o hair. 90 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: So I got on their mileage program as to any other. 91 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: And of course I've had the same credit card, still 92 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: building up miles a year after year after year. It 93 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 1: wasn't until our trip to Yellowstone was it last year? 94 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: The year before that I ever used any so to 95 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: fly five people to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, only using a 96 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:20,600 Speaker 1: fraction of the miles that I had accumulated over the years. 97 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 2: Unfortunately, they don't expire. Remember, America was the first airline 98 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 2: that come out with a frequent flyer program in nineteen eighty. 99 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 2: You couldn't have them before during the time of deregulation, 100 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 2: So they thought, what can we do to adopt a 101 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 2: loyalty program, and they came out with this frequent flyer 102 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 2: miles will give you you know, you know, how many 103 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 2: miles you fly goes into your account. What they didn't 104 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 2: expect and couldn't really predict, was at that point in time, 105 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 2: competition was flooding into the industry and fares plummeted. So 106 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 2: what happened was they were giving away free tickets at 107 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:55,239 Speaker 2: a decreasing amount of revenue for them. What they should 108 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 2: have done back then was how many dollars you spent, 109 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 2: was how many miles you would get, because you know, 110 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 2: that's how it should be set up. But what they 111 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 2: found out was they were giving free tickets away as 112 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 2: prices were decreasing, and it was costing them quite a 113 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 2: bit of money. So that's why we try to see 114 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: him reverting right now back to something that's a little 115 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 2: bit more in their advantage. But everybody should sign up 116 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 2: for a freaking flyer program some credit cards. You sign 117 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,479 Speaker 2: up and you get forty thousand frequent flyer miles. You 118 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:23,279 Speaker 2: don't have to use it, but just a few times 119 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 2: to get it started, and then keep the stupid thing 120 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 2: paid off and you get like a free ticket on 121 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:28,039 Speaker 2: the airline. 122 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,919 Speaker 1: There you go, Yeah, it's worth shopping around for that 123 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: more with Jay Ratliffe American Airline avoiding multimillion dollar fine 124 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:39,479 Speaker 1: over one delayed flight plus the worst airport at least 125 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: in terms of missus near missus as identified by the 126 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: very airlines themselves. That plus more with Jay ratlift stick 127 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: around seven or eight thirty eight. If you've have Kroc 128 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 1: detalk station Jay Ratlift, friend of the whole world. I 129 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: heard Media Aviation next where you find him all the 130 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 1: iHeart stations. He does that full time twenty four to seven. 131 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 1: There's so many stations that's here. It's like, no, I 132 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 1: appreciate the time you will unt to spoke my listeners 133 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: of me. 134 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 2: Jay. 135 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 1: You know, I get a kick out of some of 136 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: the topics. And let me just start with this one. 137 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: I want to know who the airlines named the airport 138 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 1: that they are most concerned with because of near misses anyway, 139 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: and we get. 140 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 2: It fun with you guessing, but you probably wouldn't guess 141 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 2: that it's the Burbank Airport in California. 142 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,720 Speaker 1: None. Never would have know that. Never. I don't even 143 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:24,480 Speaker 1: know Burbank Canon Airport jail, though I can. 144 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 2: It's seven eight airlines. I mean, they've got quite a bit, 145 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 2: quite quite a bit of activity in and out of there. 146 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 2: But the National Transportation Safety Board has commented, in fact, 147 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 2: I love the chair of the NTSB, Jennifer Homody. She 148 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 2: does not hesitate at all to express her opinion when 149 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:45,920 Speaker 2: it comes to safety, and God bless her for it. 150 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 2: But she said that the airport that airlines complained the 151 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 2: most about as far as the near missus is Burbank 152 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 2: because they've had one near miss close near miss per 153 00:06:57,520 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 2: year for like the last five years at that airport, 154 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 2: and it's the airport that most airlines are complaining about 155 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 2: as far as we need better conditions here. And of course, 156 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 2: you know, it was also the NTSB that said, look, 157 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 2: you know, we've had a situation where we've had a 158 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 2: you know, fifteen thousand issues in Washington d C. Reagan 159 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 2: Airport over the last several years as well, so you 160 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 2: know the issues out there, and the FAA is under 161 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 2: the gun to try to do a better job. They're 162 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 2: talking about creating a safety overview office. Okay, I guess 163 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 2: to try to you know, help well, you know, solve 164 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 2: this issue. But yeah, that's the airport that they say 165 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 2: we need more help with. 166 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 1: Cut into the chase. I mean, I see some pretty 167 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: goofy runway layouts and you know videos and things of 168 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 1: that nature, like how in the hell can any pilot 169 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 1: land on that runway kind of stuff. But is it 170 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: the way the airport's designed that results in this? Is 171 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 1: it the length of time or the shortness or the 172 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: length of the runway that's the problem, and what have 173 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: they identified why there's so many near misses there? 174 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 2: Well, sometimes it's how the proximity of the airport, sometimes 175 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 2: to a military installation or to another or to another 176 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 2: international airport. And then you also have the situation of, yes, 177 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 2: the runway configuration, and a lot of times it just 178 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 2: comes out to the logistics and having sometimes too much 179 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 2: activity at a specific time. And when you factor in 180 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 2: when we have a shortage of air traffic controllers, where 181 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 2: I think a lot of this can stem from. When 182 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 2: you don't have all hands on deck, it increases the likelihood, 183 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 2: even though it may be a minor percentage of something 184 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 2: being missed, overlooked, or a mistake being made. And sometimes 185 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 2: it's pilot air, sometimes it's air traffic control air. Sometimes 186 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 2: it's a combination of both that lends itself to two 187 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 2: aircraft being in the same airspace at the same time, 188 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:43,599 Speaker 2: which should not happen, right, And of course we have 189 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 2: technology that assists us if the from the traffic collision 190 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 2: avoidance system that will help assist crews if two aircraft 191 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 2: get to be too close to each other. But you know, 192 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 2: the takeoff and landing is the most critical time of 193 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 2: any flight operation, and that's when you've got a lot 194 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 2: of different things going on, and sometimes these airplanes just 195 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 2: get to be a little bit too close. And sadly, 196 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 2: over the last year year and a half, I've spent 197 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 2: more time talking about it because we've had places in 198 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 2: Austin and Phoenix some other airports where these things have 199 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 2: taken place, and you know, thankfully it's just a story 200 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 2: of what the near miss was and not an accident, 201 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 2: but it also underscores just how close we are in 202 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 2: some of these things that you know. And sadly, Brian, 203 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 2: when like in DC, when the FAA is fully aware 204 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 2: of the fact that you have fifteen thousand incidents of 205 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 2: you know, aircraft and of some type having to take 206 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 2: evasive action, even if it's you know, a minor go 207 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 2: around type of thing, it's a very clear flag that 208 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 2: something's off here that we need to fix. And in DC, 209 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:51,439 Speaker 2: because nothing had gone wrong, there wasn't really the emphasis 210 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 2: and the urgency to fix the problem. And of course 211 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 2: you have the crash that it kills so many people 212 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 2: and okay, now what can we do to fix it? 213 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 2: And what you're hoping is that they look at these 214 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 2: other red flags across the country and say, look, we 215 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 2: need to either upgrade some technology here, increase the staffing effect, 216 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 2: the traffic flow, whatever, you've got to do our combination 217 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 2: of the of several to make things even safer than 218 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 2: what they are right now. And look, we're the NBA 219 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 2: of the world from a safety standpoint, but we can 220 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 2: always do better. 221 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: True, And I suppose while this relief maybe down the road, 222 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 1: perhaps ten or more years, doesn't the one big beautiful 223 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: bill have billions of dollars for the FAA upgrades and 224 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: system upgrades and this nineteen eighties getting rid of this 225 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 1: nineteen eighties computer technology they've been using. 226 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 2: It does and it throws me to death. But in 227 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 2: that same report, it actually allows the Reagan Airport to 228 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 2: have reduced reduced restrictions on air activity. What which Oh yeah, yeah, 229 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 2: I wouldn't have. It wouldn't have been popped up on 230 00:10:56,000 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 2: my radar until the NTSB chair when it was being discussed, 231 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:02,559 Speaker 2: came out and said time out here. I don't know 232 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 2: if anybody's looked through this three thousand page bill, but 233 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 2: right here it says this, and I thought you gotta 234 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 2: be kidding me. Yeah, it got snuck in there that 235 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:14,839 Speaker 2: because remember we talked about how a lot of the 236 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 2: politicians like to be shuttled back and forth because they're 237 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 2: important and they want those little helicopter trips across there, 238 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 2: across the river, blah blah blah, even though it might 239 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 2: you know, inconvenience the normal people that are flying and 240 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 2: they got to go around in their airplane, No big deal, 241 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:29,960 Speaker 2: because I'm important and I got to get across there. 242 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 2: But right, it's just yeah, again, both sides of the 243 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 2: aisle I have, I have so little use for because 244 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 2: so often it's just them first. Everybody else's if even 245 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 2: a consideration, it's a it's a distant one. But yeah, 246 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:45,679 Speaker 2: it's in there. You can you can google it. It's 247 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 2: on the internet, so it's got to be true. 248 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 1: Well, well, I can only hope. I mean, some of 249 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: the details of that, the plane crashing in or the 250 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 1: helicopter crash of the plane, however you want to look 251 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: at it. The report that the air traffic controller there 252 00:11:56,720 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 1: was reported to his supervisor that he was overwhelmed, like 253 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:04,960 Speaker 1: in a stressful situation managing eleven or so aircraft. They're 254 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 1: all in close proximity, so he reported that he was 255 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: under stress or duress and nothing changed, like, Okay, go 256 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 1: back to your job. 257 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 2: Well, so many of them are that way anyways, because 258 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 2: the fact that we are thousands and thousands of air 259 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 2: traffic controler short and that's the normal existence, the normal 260 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 2: work environment for a lot of these men and women 261 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 2: that sometimes don't have a day off for a long 262 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 2: time work. In six day work weeks, you might get 263 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 2: a day off. I mean, it's just and you've got 264 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 2: the stress, and you've got everything else that's on top 265 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 2: of you. And yeah, it is a very very challenging situation, 266 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 2: which is why I'm thrilled that President Trump has decided 267 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 2: early on in his administration, let's make this a priority 268 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 2: and as quickly as we can get back to where 269 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:47,559 Speaker 2: we need to be from a staffing standpoint, which hasn't 270 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:50,079 Speaker 2: been the case for like the last five administrations. At 271 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 2: least now they've talked about it and they said, you know, 272 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 2: we need to do something about it. And you know, 273 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 2: many times that involves we'll get a committee that will 274 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 2: report back. Yeah please, yeah, Brian, you know, it just 275 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 2: it just frustrates me because either it's a priority or 276 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:09,200 Speaker 2: it's not. And when you don't, you know, words are cheap. 277 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 2: I mean, who cares. It's it's what your actions dictate 278 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 2: that really defines your your your seriousness about a specific topic. 279 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: I didn't get a hurrum out of that guy. Give 280 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: them an more with Jay ratliffe'll find out about this million, 281 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: multimillion dollar fine as well as a Southwest Southwest Airlines 282 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: kicking off assigned seating no longer a thing. More with 283 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: Jay Ratliff, it'sake forty five right now. If you have 284 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 1: KERCITD talk station. 285 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 3: Fifty five KRC the talk station, talk station, it is 286 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 3: a forty eight If ify five kerrs DE talk station, 287 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 3: one more segment, always enjoy this. 288 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 1: I heard me the aviation expert jay or Ratleft. What's 289 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: the story on this two point nine million dollars fine 290 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 1: for one delay? 291 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 2: Yes, that was a possible. Yeah. What happened was we 292 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 2: had an American Airlines flight comes into Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and they 293 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 2: approached the gate. It's running late, is like midnight, and 294 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:07,080 Speaker 2: as they pull up, the captain's told that they don't 295 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 2: have the people at the gate that they need at 296 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:13,840 Speaker 2: the gate outside on the ground, So he tells the passengers, 297 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 2: we've got a hold short here until the people. You know, 298 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 2: we've got the workers in place. Well, what happened was 299 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 2: they were there for quite a while. Somebody showed up 300 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 2: to try to get the jet bridge moving and they said, oh, 301 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 2: the jet bridge is working, which may be the case, 302 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 2: or may be somebody that wasn't qualified to operate it 303 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 2: and trying to make it work. So the delay was 304 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 2: went on for an hour, and then it went two hours, 305 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 2: and then passengers were on the plane two and a 306 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 2: half hours. And they said, look, per the FAA, if 307 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 2: we have people on this plane for three hours without 308 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 2: giving them the opportunity to get off, there is a 309 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 2: fine of twenty seven thousand dollars per passenger that we could, 310 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 2: as American airlines be fined. We have one hundred and 311 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 2: seven people on board. That's two point nine million dollars. 312 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 2: We've got thirty minutes. So they made the decision to 313 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 2: bring the ground steps to the back of the airplane, 314 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 2: get everybody off. Excuse me, the back of the airplane 315 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 2: bored outside, which is not obviously what you want to do, 316 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 2: but it got everybody into the tarmac before that three 317 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 2: hour mark. And that was put into place a number 318 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 2: of years ago to force airlines into action in the 319 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 2: event you have one of these creeping delays like we 320 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 2: had here, and it's good to see and you know, 321 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 2: obviously something like that. Now, if it's a weather related delay, 322 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 2: internationals are a little bit longer, and sometimes on a 323 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 2: weather situation there's some things that can play in there. 324 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 2: But the bottom line is that three hour clock is picking. 325 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 2: And yeah, they they missed a almost a three million 326 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 2: dollar fine by you know, less than thirty minutes. 327 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 1: That is amazing. I puting know to Southwest Airlines, what 328 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: no more assigns or they're they're doing a sign seating now, 329 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: I guess yes, I remember that. 330 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 2: It was. 331 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: It was the cattle call thing, right. 332 00:15:58,040 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 2: Oh, good lord, it was. 333 00:15:59,200 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 1: It was. It was. 334 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 2: It was you know, last Friday, March madness, everything you'll 335 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 2: rolled into one. It was like a concert. Well, yeah, 336 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 2: it was. It's a contact sport for sure. So now 337 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 2: you've got a situation where everybody has to when you 338 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 2: make a reservation. You've got three categories, the standard preferred 339 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 2: and we're the ones with the extra leg room and 340 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 2: you pay accordingly. And people that are used to open seating, 341 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 2: like Southwest have been for the last fifty five years, said, yeah, 342 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 2: I don't like this. Plus the thing is, you know, 343 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 2: I might have to pay more to keep my family 344 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 2: of you know, four or five, six together, and certainly 345 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 2: that could be the case as well. It just depends 346 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 2: on where you're going to be sitting. But most people 347 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 2: just don't like the change, and as a result they're 348 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 2: kind of pushing back saying we don't like it. But 349 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 2: the vast majority of people that I've talked to said, Jay, 350 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 2: I love it, and I'm going to love it because 351 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 2: now I can board and know where I'm going to sit. 352 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 2: I've got the storage compartment over me that hopefully you'll 353 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 2: still be available. I don't have to worry about scrambling 354 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 2: and trying to, you know, get on first. I don't 355 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 2: have to see forty five people in a wheelchair and 356 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 2: all their families getting on before me when only three 357 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 2: need them on the other end. So it's saving a 358 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 2: lot of headaches. Now, the problem is Southwest, their agents. 359 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 2: They're getting used to this and it's going to be 360 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 2: a process. I've heard from several Southwest Airlines friends of 361 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,120 Speaker 2: mine talking about, Man, this just isn't going well. I said, 362 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 2: give it time, because anytime you go through this, it 363 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 2: just it takes time for these agents to get into 364 00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 2: that routine where they are comfortable with this new procedure, 365 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:30,440 Speaker 2: just like with passengers. And it's going to help Southwest 366 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:32,919 Speaker 2: Airlines to generate more money, which is good, and I 367 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 2: really think in the long run it's going to help 368 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 2: the gate agents to do a better job there. And 369 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 2: I think it is going to take the stress out 370 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,320 Speaker 2: of that boarding process, which for years for Southwest has 371 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 2: been almost unmanageable given how many people are trying to 372 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 2: get on that airplane as early as you can. And 373 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 2: you know, you can always help yourself if you're a 374 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,120 Speaker 2: Southwest frequent flyer. I'm always talking about that, getting their 375 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 2: rewards card and obviously if you get it, use it 376 00:17:57,400 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 2: and pay off to everything so nobody dings you with interest. 377 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:02,199 Speaker 2: But that can help you as far as some of 378 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 2: your boarding status and your check luggage and things of 379 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 2: that nature as well, and you can save some money 380 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 2: in the process. So every tool you can use to 381 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 2: kind of fight back and not pay the airlines. Believe me, 382 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 2: you fill that arsenal with as many pieces of you 383 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 2: know that you can use so that we can kind 384 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 2: of fight back when it comes to some of these 385 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 2: ancillary affairs. 386 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,159 Speaker 1: We're getting hit with fair enough. You know, Jay Rotherway 387 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 1: just noticed on an article because I always looking at 388 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:28,880 Speaker 1: aviation news before I talk to you. But I guess, 389 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 1: do you have like a coping skill for someone who's 390 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 1: stuck on a twenty five hour flight? The longest flight 391 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,879 Speaker 1: is that a Quantas Airline from Sydney Airlines to Paris 392 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:40,120 Speaker 1: Charles Degall Airport. If you told me I was going 393 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: on a twenty five hour flight, I got two words 394 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 1: for you. It ain't happy birthday. 395 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 2: You just hope you're in a seat that's either extra 396 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 2: leg room or in first class. But I don't care 397 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:53,680 Speaker 2: where you're at. That is a long, long flight, and 398 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:57,400 Speaker 2: they stop somewhere for fueling. But the point is you're 399 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 2: talking about being in that tube. Yes, it just seems 400 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 2: I think thirteen or fourteen, maybe fifteen hours as long 401 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 2: as I've been on a flight coming out of China 402 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 2: back to Detroit. But you know, it's you just you 403 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 2: just pace yourself, and you know, you do certain things 404 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:15,360 Speaker 2: in the airlines help us with that, saying Okay, we're 405 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 2: going to be serving dinner in a couple of hours, 406 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 2: and they're getting you ready for that, and then dinner 407 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 2: is served, and then a few hours later they're like, Okay, 408 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:26,120 Speaker 2: we're going to be preparing for breakfast down the road here, 409 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 2: and so you're in a bit of a routine. But 410 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:30,119 Speaker 2: the thing for me is I've always got to be 411 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 2: up walking around a bit. So I'm always walking to 412 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:34,640 Speaker 2: the back of the plane, and because just to keep 413 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 2: from getting stiff, and they always say you've got to be, 414 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 2: you know, concerned with blood clots and things like that. 415 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: Well, is that pesty turbulence problem? It seems to come 416 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 1: with that. Notice day when you're walking around anyway. 417 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 2: Some people do yoga back in the galley and they're 418 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:51,879 Speaker 2: on the lower stretching. I'm like, oh no. 419 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: Some people take Xanax and drink Eddie House and then. 420 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 2: Some people do yoga in there in their seats. You 421 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,199 Speaker 2: could google that image to. 422 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 1: To well, if we always don on help delays, how 423 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 1: are things looking out there. 424 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:04,639 Speaker 2: You know, other than cold? That's pretty much it at 425 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 2: this point. Now, look, we've got a winter storm that 426 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:09,160 Speaker 2: may be giving us issues in the Northeast. If you're 427 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:12,119 Speaker 2: traveling obviously this weekend through the Northeast, make sure the 428 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 2: airlines have a way of getting a hold of you, 429 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 2: but right now it's just the icing delays that we're 430 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:18,640 Speaker 2: fighting right now, so they're minor other than a lot 431 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 2: of ring up in Seattle delays in that way. But Brian, 432 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 2: looking at the map, it's one of the better days 433 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:27,719 Speaker 2: to fly absent the really really really cold weather that 434 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 2: we've got out there, So everybody please be careful, be careful.