Stan Geiger

Grounded Planes: Real or BS?

If you haven't noticed by now, I'm a suspicious sort of fellow. Call it a character flaw. I've been exposed to so many lies in my lifetime I find it hard to take anything at face value anymore.

With that in mind, what's up with the FAA and its all-of-the-sudden focus on the mechanical fitness of airliners?

First it was Southwest---an airline that hasn't had a major accident in over 30 years. Numerous flights were canceled on grounds of lax inspection methods. Then came American. I just saw a Nightline report that said 600 more American flights will be canceled tomorrow.

If pilots were complaining and refusing to fly, I would be concerned to the max. I mean pilots fly in the same planes in which the rest of us fly. When planes crash, pilots die. I'm sure pilots like their paychecks. But paychecks do little good for a dead guy.

I see no reports of pilot concerns. I see reports of regulators grounding planes.

Hey, we all want safe air travel; we want it as safe as it can be. When we hear of a plane crash, we are horrified. But air travel is, and always has been, incredibly safe. I once saw a newscast in which a map of the U.S. was displayed, showing a red dot for every plane in the air at that time. The map showed a sea of red. Worldwide, the number of flights in the air during any given hour must be massive. Yet, accidents are rare---very rare.

Still, we see the FAA on a recent crusade, demanding that flights be canceled and planes be grounded for inspections.

I have a couple of problems here.

One is that regulators, I believe, tend to crawl into bed with the industries that are supposed to regulate. Simply put, more money can be pocketed by alleged regulators if they play ball with the companies rather than protect the customers of said companies.

The other is that fuel prices are at record levels. Flights that are half empty are no doubt money-losing flights for airlines. Grounding planes to ensure that any flight that leaves any airport is jammed with passengers is in the best financial interests of airlines.

So, what do you think? Is the FAA protecting the public or is it acting to protect the bottom lines of airlines?

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