Blog Archives

FOR AN ARCHIVE OF THE ORIGINAL ASK THE PILOT COLUMNS AT SALON.COM, CLICK HERE.

THE DECLINE & FALL OF U.S. AVIATION
Our airports are terrible and our airlines can’t compete. We’ve done it to ourselves.

TSA POSTPONES NEW CARRY-ON RULES
Wise decision or not, we need to move the conversation out from under the emotions of 9/11

LETTER FROM BOSTON
Terror in perspective, and the sad spectacle of a city gone bonkers.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU’VE BEEN SEQUESTERED
Air traffic control delays and Congressional gridlock

HIJACK BY ANDROID?
Can you really take over a plane using a smartphone application?

AIRFARES BY THE POUND
A tiny Samoan airline is charging fares based on the weight of its customers. Is this really a useful idea?

THE FIVE MOST ANNOYING MYTHS ABOUT FLYING
Bank angles, cabin air, autopilots and oxygen: much of what people think they know about flying is wrong.

PLANES, PRANKS, AND PRAISE: ODE TO AN AIRPORT
From terrazzo floors to exploding soda cans, here’s Boston’s airport like you’ve never seen it.

“ARGO” GETS ITS PLANES WRONG
Hollywood puts considerable efforts into getting period details correct. Except when it comes to airplanes.

AIRFARES DOWN 50 PERCENT SINCE 1978, STUDY SHOWS.
FLYING IS CHEAPER AND SAFER THAN EVER. PLUS, THE MYTH OF THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

AMERICAN AND US AIRWAYS TO FORM THE WORLD’S LARGEST AIRLINE.
EXCEPT, NOT REALLY. A LOOK AT MERGERS AND SIZE.

MORE MEDIA NONSENSE ABOUT COCKPIT AUTOMATION.
“THE DAILY SHOW” AND “WIRED” ARE THE LATEST PURVEYORS OF THE MYTH THAT WON’T DIE.

AMERICAN AIRLINES REVEALS ITS FIRST NEW LOOK IN 40 YEARS.
THE VERDICT: TRAGIC AND DISGRACEFUL

THE FAA GROUNDS ALL 787s AFTER YET ANOTHER BATTERY FIRE
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF BOEING’S SHOWCASE JETLINER?

AN ASK THE PILOT CHRISTMAS
MEMORIES OF HOLIDAYS ALOFT. PLUS, THE WORST CHRISTMAS SONG OF ALL TIME.

A RIDE ON THE 787
BOEING’S NEWEST JET IS SLEEK AND COMFORTABLE. BUT COULD THEY PLEASE FIX THE WINDOWS?

THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE CONCORDE DISASTER
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN PARIS TWELVE YEARS AGO?

PILOTS, ALCOHOL, HOLLYWOOD AND FARCE
A LOOK AT DENZEL WASHINGTON IN ‘FLIGHT’

THE MEDIA’S AIRPLANE PROBLEM
AVIATION IS A DIFFICULT BEAT, BUT THERE’S NO EXCUSE FOR SHODDY REPORTING.

FACT AND FALLACY OF THE LOOMING PILOT SHORTAGE
AS THE PUNDITS HAVE IT, AMERICA’S AIRLINES ARE RUNNING OUT OF PILOTS. IS THIS TRUE?

THE WORST HOTEL ROOM ARTWORK, EVER
IN-ROOM WEIRDNESS IN WEST AFRICA AND BEYOND

RETHINKING AMSTERDAM
A SECOND LOOK AT ONE OF THE WORLD’S FRIENDLIEST AIRPORTS

IN DEFENSE OF FLYING. IS IT REALLY THAT AWFUL?
A DIFFERENT LOOK AT THE WOES AND HASSLES OF AIR TRAVEL

JUST ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW, SAYS MITT ROMNEY
THE MYSTERIES AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS OF CABIN PRESSURE

THE UGLIEST PLANES OF ALL TIME
WE’RE TOLD THAT MODERN AIRCRAFT ARE BORING BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE. IS THIS TRUE?

ECONOMY CLASS DONE RIGHT.
THE WOES OF STEERAGE AND SOME IDEAS TO MAKE IT BETTER

HAVE PILLOW, WILL TRAVEL
I’M VEXED BY THE PHENOMENON OF TEENAGE GIRLS CARRYING PILLOWS ONTO AIRPLANES

HOW TO SPEAK AIRLINE: A GLOSSARY FOR TRAVELERS
A KEY TO DECIPHERING THE INSUFFERABLE JARGON OF AIR TRAVEL

LETTER FROM MUMBAI
AN AFTERNOON IN ‘MAXIMUM CITY’

AIR TRAVEL IN ART, MUSIC, AND FILM
MOVIES, SONGS, ALBUM COVERS… FROM KIESLOWSKI TO THE CLASH, AIR TRAVEL IS EVERYWHERE!

HOW YA DOIN’, MISTER VICE PRESIDENT?
PLANES, POLITICIANS, AND PILOT BLACK MAGIC. TRUE STORIES OF JINX AND COINCIDENCE

WELCOME TO “HIDDEN AIRPORT”
U.S. AIRPORTS GET A FAILING GRADE. BUT, UNEXPECTED PLEASURES AT A TERMINAL NEAR YOU.

THE JOURNEY OF THE POTATO
THE MYSTERY OF THE FUNNIEST-EVER PAMPHLET IS SOLVED AT AT LAST

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