The FAA

As a frequent business traveler, I encounter many injustices brought upon our kind in a given week. The greatest of these I experienced first hand this Friday on my commute home from Washington DC.

My typical 4:45pm flight pushed away from the gate on time and we began our taxi out to the runway for our departure. As we did so, I noticed about 15 planes parked on the run-up facing each other. As an experienced traveler, I said to myself "this can't be good". Just then the pilot turned off the taxiway and cut the engines. All flights to the north and east were on ground stop due to weather along the route. I thought to myself "ok. I'll hit up the drink cart for a few cold beverages and take a nap." I find that if you have access to cold beer, any situation can be tolerated.

We sat for over 3 hours and then returned to the gate to refuel. I saw many other planes doing the same as they began to run out of gas. I was listening to the tower communications and in addition to the dozen or so planes that were running out of fuel, 2 planes had to return to the gate for unruly passengers and 2 more had to return due to passengers passing out. It was 96 degrees out, and very hot on the plane.


I was unable to sleep and had finished my book. I got to thinking about the passneger bill of rights and the federal government bailing out many bankrupt airlines. This was not at any fault of the airline (United) and the pilot and crew was very professional and as frustrated as we all were at the situation. What genius decided that having 30-40 parked planes is anything other than a complete waste of time and money?

It turned out that the weather had cleared and our pilot, being dilligent in his harrasment of the crew in the tower, somehow got us out at 9:00. As we accellerated and took off, everyone cheered and clapped as if we had just won the Super Bowl. During the flight, I could tell he had the throttle wide open. We made it to Boston in just over 40 minutes.


I'm sure United lost a lot of money on this flight. Fuel, having to give credits to the poor folks in Boston waiting for our plane, overtime for the crew etc.... In an economy that is collapsing further by the day, it appears the FAA it not willing to be flexible in it's policy about ground delays and rerouting aircraft and I'm sure the airlines pay dearly for these types of delays.