Thursday, December 08, 2005

Southwest Crash at Midway

Its too early to say yet whether the runway length at Midway was sufficient to land a 737 in today's conditions. This pdf gives you lending runway lengths for all 737 models, starting at about page 189/190. Without the exact weight of the plane at time of landing it is impossible to accurately calculate the length of runway needed, even if the pilot hit the numbers (landed at the very beginning of the runway. For those interested, here are the technical specs for all of Midway (KMDW - airport identifier).

This crash has all the markings of "Pilot Error" which is FAA/NTSB short hand for the pilot made a bad decision.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

White House Christmas Cards

It would appear that either someone plugged into the VRWC (Vast Right Wing Conspiracy) or, more likely, someone in the media has decided that this year we needed a good old fashioned controversy over “Happy Holidays” v. “Merry Christmas.”

When I opened the Presidential Christmas Card I was surprised to see that the Presidential pets rate high enough for face time on the card. Apparently others were more concerned with the fact that the White House was wishing them a “Happy Holidays.” It would seem that these people are new to the list.

2004 – Happy Holidays

2003 – Holiday Season

We’ll skip over the Clinton years because everyone knows they were deranged atheists.

1986 – Holiday Season

I guess Presidential prerogative in messaging within Christmas Cards is a new phenomenon that needs immediate attention…..