If you have ever flown with me, and most of you have not, cause i've really only flown with one other person, and you know who you are- i digress, then you know i'm deathly afraid of flying. Superman would tell me that my fear is irrational, that flying is still the safest way to travel. Yes, yes Superman I know you have said this many times. However, i recently came upon an article in the WSJ titled "Airline Regulators Grapple With Engine-Shutdown Peril!" about engine de-icing- more appropriately though- ENGINE ICING and SHUTTING DOWN!!!!! The point was that there is an alarming new phenomenon amongst large jet liners that makes their engines turn off. Its called high altitude icing and i guess what happens is ice forms then melts then the engine flames go out (they call these flame outs- i think rather appropriate- it was either that or HOLY SHIT!- but that seemed vague) When the engines turn off the pilot or pilots, should there be more than one, fill their pants and pray that the engines restart. The article went on to mention that the chances of this happening to both engines at the same time were like a billion to one, and right away they started to cite example after example of exactly the above scenario. Well, next time i fly i will be paying very close attention to the fire on both engines. If they go out I'm gonna just start making out with my wife.
More info on this available SAE International.
If, as I have, you have given up on the idea of public airline travel and are looking to see if you got screwed in your last Airplane Use Agreement. Then take a look at some comparable agreements at RealDealDocs.com just give "Airplane Use" a search in title. Happy trails....
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