Tuesday, January 13, 2009

It might be a good time to invest in bubble wrap.



The other morning, I heard on NPR that back in 1981, air traffic controllers went on strike.
So, President Ronald Reagan fired their bahookies.
And hired all new ones who were mostly in their 30's.

Apparently, as of this year, a lot of them are hitting the mandatory 57-year-old-retirement-age.

And new ones must be hired. Lots of newbie air traffic controllers.

Sidenote: Have you seen this movie, Pushing Tin?
Hilarious comedy about feud between two air traffic controllers. Cusak and Thornton.
Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett are in it also.





The FAA had to know this was coming, right?
So, they prepared for this?

Ahem. Nope.

Instead of a gradual transition, steely-nerved air traffic controllers with decades of experience are going to be replaced en masse with rookies.




I'm thinking it's probably not a good year to fly.

But I already have two trips planned involving airplanes...one of them here, the other here.
and I want to go to the BlogHer Conference in Chicago too.
That's three trips, maybe.

I might have to start packing these into my carry-on.






Can we bubble wrap planes?
Make them fly real slow so that if they bump, no one gets hurt?
Any good ideas?

34 comments:

The Blonde Duck said...

You could just get some magic fairy dust and fly!

Just kidding. :)

lynette355 said...

AmTrack is looking better and better. Classier to ride with a dining car anyway. LOL

Justine said...

Okay, why Idaho?
And if you come to FL, we have to find a way to meet up! I'm about 2-1/2 hours from Orlando, but man, couldn't we meet in the middle somewhere? I would LOVE to meet you and the boys!!!!!!!!!!!

Justine :o )

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

Ida-HO is still not on my radar. And your post is not making me want to make sure that it is.

And since when are you going to Disney?!

Scary Mommy said...

Ugh, I DETEST flying, it scares the shit out of me. But even so, I'm going to Blogher in July--- go, go, go!! :)

CrystalChick said...

YES, I saw that movie. I liked it. But then again, anything with John Cusack is on my must see list! ;)

Mama Dawg said...

I can't get beyond that you're going to Disney. I'm so excited for you!

Cristin said...

Train travel is delightful!

Britt said...

Um .. yeah, I'm thinking trains need to make a big comeback.

Disney! Wha-Hoo .. and Idaho? =-)

Sally-Ann said...

Great! We just booked our tickets to Australia last night!!!

•´.¸¸.•¨¯`♥.Erin.♥´¯¨•.¸¸.´• said...

My BIL is an air traffic controller and I had a convo w/ him about this exact same thing a few months ago. He's so irritated that the FAA didn't get more people hired and more importantly TRAINED to prepare for this. That is one job I would never want to have...He works his butt off, hardly gets time off, and works such crazy hours. And imagine the stress. Ugh.

Lula! said...

Are you LOVING all these, "Why Ida-HO?" comments?

Oh my head, it made me giggle.

Thanks for frightening me beyond belief. Now, more than ever, I realize there will be more than surreptitous sips going down on a particular flight. Hey, Row F...one more round for everybody!!!!

Inspiration CAN be found EVERYWHERE said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Inspiration CAN be found EVERYWHERE said...

My cousin's wife was one of those hired back then. She loves the job (and still has a few years left in her career) but it is definitely NOT a job for everyone. The long hours and stress is enough to make anyone crack. It is a special person that can handle all that. Not that I'm excusing the FAA or the Airports, but finding and training these people could be rather difficult.

When Patty started - she was in the Philly airport and moved to Logan when hubby's job opportunities caused a move. Not sure where she is right now - but it is in that general area.....they love the North East.

Train travel could be on the rise - IF they get the trains and tracks cleaned up and working on a higher level of reliability and speed.

But I do like the bubble wrap idea - they'd probably charge you triple for your own parachute though, even if you supplied your own - those baggage fees will kill ya ...

Kristin said...

This post should keep me grounded for at least a year. Good thing I am only 30 minutes from Disney. I can drive.

Mrs Anne said...

lol!
scary thought!!!

i dont know whether to thank you for the PSA or if i should choose to ignore it!

eeek!

(*i have a flight in April for my honeymoon!*)

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

You'd think it'd be a gradual transition...

Bubble wrap's a good idea. That way, even if you got hit and were going down, you'd have something fun to do as a distraction.

Jen said...

that is not good. Good thing that if I go to BlogHer Conference, I can drive.

Swirl Girl said...

If I start walking now...I might make to Chi-town by July!

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Rhea, you are too funny. Guess you will have to drive, then, won't you?

Ronnica said...

Bumper planes! I like it. Or, let all the pilots become air traffic controllers, and hire a new crop of newbie pilots.

Momo Fali said...

Thank you. This solidifies my decision to drive to Chicago.

(We're still looking for a 4th roomie! Hint, hint!)

Tiffany said...

Okay, you Heather and Lula are all on the same flight to Idaho, right... just drink. Lula and Heather are both hysterical drunks, I can attest to that...

But what about me? I am all alone on my flight. Drunk and alone.

Why can't they just make the plane out of the "black box" material?

Aunt Julie said...

I heard the same story on NPR. Sounds like it's gonna either be a) A pretty scary time to fly or b) a good time to interview for a job as an air traffic controller!

Susie said...

So, we should worry when things start falling from the sky?

the mama bird diaries said...

Girl, i already have to take something when i fly. you just scared the crap out of me.

Jenny and the Princess Peonies said...

i love Cusak....

Captain Dumbass said...

Maybe just take the wings off and drive them.

Shannon said...

I do not like to fly. I'd rather drive, thankyouverymuch!

I just don't like the sensation you get while flying... creeps me out.

Shannon said...

I'd love to visit Hawaii one day... and even maybe go to Europe.

But I don't see how it will be anytime soon. Not unless a trans-ocean highway is in the works!

Oy vey, it would take a heavy dose of medication to get me in a plane that has to fly over the ocean.

AdriansCrazyLife said...

Why don't they just bump up the retirement age by a couple of years and gradually phase the older ones out. They can always blame it on the economy. But I guess that would make too much sense!

Anonymous said...

Oh, my effing GOD! Scary! I didn't really want to know that! I have trips planned this year to...yikes!

Mariah said...

I'm thinking of bubble wrapping my kids also

Mariah said...

Did I mention that I am stalking you guys in Idaho?? I am. I'm going to fly there and find you and then we will parteee