ARE OBESE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS DRIVING UP COSTS?

Are overweight flight attendants causing aviation fuel prices to rise? The more I look into this issue, the more I'm inclined to believe there seems to be an causational relationship here.

In 1991, standards were passed easing restrictions on flight attendant weight. Simply put, flight attendants were basically permitted to pack on the pounds after 1991. And pack on the pounds they did, faster than you can say "pass the pasta".

Similarly, aviation fuel prices have also increased since the early 90's. I posit that the easing obesity restrictions in 1991 has led to increased fuel prices.


GOD bless you-

Captain Art Griego

YOUR DOG IS NOT A PASSENGER. PERIOD.

LEAVE FIFI AT HOME, PEOPLE.

There's been some buzz in the industry over the last few weeks about allowing small dogs to accompany passengers in the cabin on flights. Bad idea. The last thing I want to hear on a five hour flight is Fifi yapping incessantly. For heaven's sake, leave your glorified rodents at home, people.

I once saw a baggage handler soccer-style kick a little pink carrier containing a Bichon Frisé over a parked 757 at Logan Field in Boston. The dog had been barking non-stop at him for 45 minutes and the baggage handler just snapped. He placed the carrier on the tarmac and took four steps back, and two steps to the left and then Jan Steneruded that carrier with his right foot, fully extending his leg above his head, holding the follow-through until the yapping dog disappeared from sight.

GOD bless you-

Captain Art

A nice pic of jan Stenerud:

"HERO" (HAH!) LANDS PLANE AFTER PILOT DIES

CATCHING A FEW ZZZZZs ON THE BEECHCRAFT KING AIR 200

Clap clap clap clap. Yaaaaay.

A passenger safely landed a Beechcraft King Air 200 in Ft. Myers, Florida yesterday after the pilot died during initial ascent. First off, I do extend my best wishes and prayers to the pilot's family. This was an unfortunate circumstance. BUT, let's not get too carried away in patting this "brave" passenger on the back.

Before the press starts handing our merit badges and gold stars to this passenger, let's put this story in it's proper perspective. First of all, the Beechcraft King Air 200 is THE EASIEST plane to fly in existence. It has a very advanced autopilot and can actually land itself. In fact, after the pilot initially lifts off, the pilot has virtually NOTHING to do.

How do I know this? I have personal experience with the aircraft. In 2004 I was piloting a small group of businessmen from Cape Canaveral to Bermuda in a Beechcraft KA 200. I was suffering from the flu at the time and had just consumed more than half a bottle of Nyquil Flu medicine. After taking off and setting the autopilot, I decided to get about 30 minutes of shut-eye. When I awoke, we were safely on the ground in Bermuda and the plane was empty. The main hatch was open and a warm tropical wind was blowing through the cabin, my passengers having long since deplaned. The plane had safely landed itself.

Second of all, this "brave passenger" wasn't a casual passenger at all. He had flight credentials and was rated on smaller aircraft. Do you congratulate your three year old when he moves on from one tricycle to a slightly larger one? No. I just LOVE how the press has tagged this guy as a hero. Man, as a country we have our notion of "heros" all wrong.

GOD bless you-

Captain Art

The story can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/clu6hf

IS THE ANTICHRIST REALLY A HONDURAN BUREAUCRAT?

FIREFIGHTERS DOUSING THE BUENA CARDENAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BLAZE. (TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS 2007)

A quick update on the Honduras situation. As many of you might know, I have a vacation home in Honduras and the Honduran government has finally given me clearance to return to the country after a prolonged hiatus. However, Honduran aviation authorities have forbidden me to come within "100 meters of any civil or private aircraft, save for the purpose of travel upon leaving Honduras". It seems they can't forgive and forget about that school I crashed a "borrowed" Bell 47 helicopter. It was years ago and nobody was killed. Let's let the past be the past.

In the words of my Spanish speaking lawyer, Honduran Aviation Authorities claim I pose 'Una amenaza verdadera y grave para el bienestar de la población de Honduras' ("a serious and direct threat to the welfare of the Honduran people").

So, are Honduran meters different from other kinds of meters, like those used in the UK? Are they by chance shorter in legnth? (Please say yes!!!) Does anyone know the answer to this question? I can't seem to find details about the Honduran System of Measurement anywhere on the web.

Thanks in advance for your help-

GOD bless you-

Captain Art

NOSE DOWN OVER THE NORTH ATLANTIC

Bad dreams and night sweats again. Bad flashbacks from '75. This image floated around my head all night... I can hear the stall warning in my head, "meeeeeeehheeheheeheehehe".

HOME AWAY FROM HOME: CASA GRIEGO

I'm thinking about spending a few weeks at Casa Grigeo, my home away from home in La Ceiba, Honduras. I'd take the time to work on my memoirs, play golf, pray, walk on the beach, and visit local air museums. As you can see from the pic above, it's a pretty nice place, but a little run-down due to my absence. Being recently retired, I hope to be able to spend more time there.

I've petitioned the Honduran government to allow me back in the country. I phoned my lawyer in Tegucigalpa this morning and he said the Honduran government was considering my request and would most likely grant it. However, he did say that they would not permit me to fly rotary blade aircraft as I posed 'Una amenaza verdadera y grave para el bienestar de la población de Honduras' ("a serious and direct threat to the welfare of the Honduran people").

I just can't understand why some folks can't forgive and forget when people make mistakes. GOD wants us to forgive, and GOD forgives us of our sins, so why can't the pencil necks in the Honduran government cut me a little slack?

PIC OF THE DAY

The Pic of the Day is of my little good luck charm, Mr. Piggs. Mr. Piggs has been with me on over 100 flights and hasn't let me down yet. (Forgetting to deploy landing gear on my Arrow IV, running into the jetway bridge at O'hare last summer, knocking over a baggage handler at DCA, or having to ditch a trainer jet over Calgary in 2007 don't count as nobody was critically injured in those incidents.)

God Bless you-

Captain Art

P.S. Aren't GOD's Fingers (the rays of light) beautiful?

IT'S NOT PIE IN THE SKY, IT'S GOD

As I mentioned on Friday, I took the Piper Arrow IV up over the weekend. After nearly plowing into the side of a water tower at the south end of Simmon's Field, I am pleased to say the flight went off without a hitch. The reworked landing gear and hydraulics seem to be in A1 shape.

On Sunday, I was lucky enough to be asked to give a sermon on modern, every day miracles. I chose the Miracle of Flight. In truth, we really don't know much more today about aviation and flight than we did when the Wright Brothers took their fateful flight. I, for one, am thankful the glorified Dennison's Chile can I'm flying doesn't drop out of the sky without a moment's notice. Yea, and there be miracles!


God Bless you-

Captain Art

P.S. The stall warning only sounded three times this flight. Pretty good!

NOTE TO SELF: REMEMBER TO DEPLOY LANDING GEAR

I'm going flying this weekend. I've decided to take my newly refurbished Piper Turbo Arrow IV (pictured above) out for a test spin. I've haven't flown it since last August when I emergency landed it at Simmon's Field. I had a lot on my mind that day and had forgotten to deploy the landing gear.

Hopefully, the plane should be fine now. I'll be sure to say a prayer (or twenty!) before taking off. I'll let folks know how the flight went on Monday.

Have a great weekend and God Bless!

Captain Art

P.S. In all honesty I am absolutely terrified to take it up.

IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY

I was rummaging through a box of old family photos last night and came across this photo of Dad standing next to his crashed Iberian Constellation. I'm not sure of the year ('56?), but when I was a kid I can remember him talking to other pilots about this crash (one of six over his career).

Most of his pals called him "Lucky Larry", but in reality he always carried a KJV Bible in the cockpit with him and prayed before, during, and after every flight.

I've scanned the photo and attached it for your viewing enjoyment. Handsome git, wasn't he?

God Bless you-

Captain Art Griego

FORCED RETIREMENT AND POLITICAL GAMES

As some of you might already be aware, I've decided to take early (forced?) retirement rather than subject myself to the "politics" so frequently found in the aviation industry. I've started my own air taxi service called "Art's Air Jalopies". I fancy myself an old-world pilot and prefer to fly without instruments. In other words, I rely only on my wits and God's help to get my passengers to and from their destinations.

Amen!

OVERSHOOTING THE RUNWAY

I created the first ever "Air Horror" Yahoo User Group today. I have great hopes that other pilots suffering from this insidious malady will join the group and glean sustenance, wisdom and camradery (sp?) from the group.

The group is here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/airhorror/

The pic of the day is also attached to this entry. This was a pretty decent landing in my estimation, considering the pilot most likely lost his grip on the yoke due to Air Horror related excessive perspiration (Hidrosis).

YAHOO 360: A STEAMING PILE OF LOW TECH CRAP

I've been forced to move my blogging over here to Google. Can't say I'll miss Yahoo 360 and all of it's technical glitchery. Maybe GOD wanted me to move my blog over here. Yes, I'm sure HE has plans for me I don't even know about. Anyway, I've moved all of my entries over here, starting with my initial February 19, 2009 entry.

ENJOY and GOD bless!

Captain Art