Comments on: Would you get on a plane with a broken or missing winglet? http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/11/05/would-you-get-on-a-plane-with-a-broken-or-missing-winglet/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:30:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Arcadia Vacationer http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/11/05/would-you-get-on-a-plane-with-a-broken-or-missing-winglet/#comment-17676 Arcadia Vacationer Wed, 07 Nov 2007 06:46:15 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/11/05/would-you-get-on-a-plane-with-a-broken-or-missing-winglet/#comment-17676 I gotta go with Tim on this one. It has very little to do with the mechanics of the whole operation. First of all, while some of us may know the signifigance of a winglet. Most people don't. I would have reservations on that flight, every bump in the air, every little bit of turbulence may send panick to its customers. But alas, dollars and cents rule the day. I gotta go with Tim on this one. It has very little to do with the mechanics of the whole operation. First of all, while some of us may know the signifigance of a winglet. Most people don’t. I would have reservations on that flight, every bump in the air, every little bit of turbulence may send panick to its customers. But alas, dollars and cents rule the day.

]]> By: Kango Suz http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/11/05/would-you-get-on-a-plane-with-a-broken-or-missing-winglet/#comment-17659 Kango Suz Wed, 07 Nov 2007 01:47:52 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/11/05/would-you-get-on-a-plane-with-a-broken-or-missing-winglet/#comment-17659 I studied Aerospace Engineering in College and sure, I'd fly on an airoplane without a winglet. Though I'd probably want to be compensated in some way (free return ticket or air miles?) for my iron stomach and trust. I studied Aerospace Engineering in College and sure, I’d fly on an airoplane without a winglet. Though I’d probably want to be compensated in some way (free return ticket or air miles?) for my iron stomach and trust.

]]> By: Tim Arai http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/11/05/would-you-get-on-a-plane-with-a-broken-or-missing-winglet/#comment-17644 Tim Arai Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:51:55 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/11/05/would-you-get-on-a-plane-with-a-broken-or-missing-winglet/#comment-17644 It's not the physics of whether or not it can fly. I'm sure it can fly. But it's more about the doubt that it puts in people's minds. We all know that flying is the safest way to travel statistically. But at the same time, hearing that your plane was in a collision AND a piece is missing is NOT going to make you feel "good" getting on the plane. Even I would start to wonder what other piece is "loose" or might "fall off" during flight even though I know, as a frequent flyer, that I'm sure it gets a good inspection before it's allowed to take off. On top of it all, hearing that your plane collided with another plane makes you wonder just what happened? Pilot error? Tower error? Either way, irrational or not, it puts some doubt and possibly even fear in most people's minds I think. Regardless of the effect of the missing piece on whether it's safe to fly or not, as a passenger about to go up 30,000', it'll sure be nice to get on an intact plane... It’s not the physics of whether or not it can fly. I’m sure it can fly. But it’s more about the doubt that it puts in people’s minds.

We all know that flying is the safest way to travel statistically. But at the same time, hearing that your plane was in a collision AND a piece is missing is NOT going to make you feel “good” getting on the plane. Even I would start to wonder what other piece is “loose” or might “fall off” during flight even though I know, as a frequent flyer, that I’m sure it gets a good inspection before it’s allowed to take off.

On top of it all, hearing that your plane collided with another plane makes you wonder just what happened? Pilot error? Tower error? Either way, irrational or not, it puts some doubt and possibly even fear in most people’s minds I think.

Regardless of the effect of the missing piece on whether it’s safe to fly or not, as a passenger about to go up 30,000′, it’ll sure be nice to get on an intact plane…

]]> By: JoeJ http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/11/05/would-you-get-on-a-plane-with-a-broken-or-missing-winglet/#comment-17640 JoeJ Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:03:00 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/11/05/would-you-get-on-a-plane-with-a-broken-or-missing-winglet/#comment-17640 Wow, It's amazing how ignorant your readers are that voted in this poll! A winglet is a winglet, it has NOTHING to do with the plane flying, it only reduces the wingtip vortexes thus increasing efficiency. Do these voters THINK (maybe that's the key word here) that an unsafe airplane would be allowed to fly by the aviation authorities? Wow,
It’s amazing how ignorant your readers are that voted in this poll! A winglet is a winglet, it has NOTHING to do with the plane flying, it only reduces the wingtip vortexes thus increasing efficiency. Do these voters THINK (maybe that’s the key word here) that an unsafe airplane would be allowed to fly by the aviation authorities?

]]> By: Mike http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/11/05/would-you-get-on-a-plane-with-a-broken-or-missing-winglet/#comment-17637 Mike Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:18:24 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/11/05/would-you-get-on-a-plane-with-a-broken-or-missing-winglet/#comment-17637 C'mon, where's the harm? The plane has another wing! ;) C’mon, where’s the harm? The plane has another wing! ;)

]]> By: Jamman http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/11/05/would-you-get-on-a-plane-with-a-broken-or-missing-winglet/#comment-17631 Jamman Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:56:55 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/11/05/would-you-get-on-a-plane-with-a-broken-or-missing-winglet/#comment-17631 To be honest, if the winglet had been removed and that was the only damage to the a/c what would be the problem? I'd hope that a mantaince team at LHR would have given the Sri Lankan a/c a good once over to check for any aditional damage. I'd fly on it. To be honest, if the winglet had been removed and that was the only damage to the a/c what would be the problem? I’d hope that a mantaince team at LHR would have given the Sri Lankan a/c a good once over to check for any aditional damage. I’d fly on it.

]]> By: AirlineFanatic http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/11/05/would-you-get-on-a-plane-with-a-broken-or-missing-winglet/#comment-17617 AirlineFanatic Tue, 06 Nov 2007 05:40:31 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/11/05/would-you-get-on-a-plane-with-a-broken-or-missing-winglet/#comment-17617 Given that it was Sri Lankan Air Lines, this was probably their only plane on this side of the planet they could get back home. Given the tremendous expense of flying an empty plane half way around the world, combined with the fact that theirs was in fact still flyable, one could conceivably understand why they wanted to go ahead with the flight. Having said that, given the general public's tremendous fear of flying, they should have known better and just eaten the cost and gotten a new plane for the trip. Short of that they could have canceled the flight for 24 hours for a thorough maintenance check; I'm sure no one would mind. Given that it was Sri Lankan Air Lines, this was probably their only plane on this side of the planet they could get back home. Given the tremendous expense of flying an empty plane half way around the world, combined with the fact that theirs was in fact still flyable, one could conceivably understand why they wanted to go ahead with the flight. Having said that, given the general public’s tremendous fear of flying, they should have known better and just eaten the cost and gotten a new plane for the trip. Short of that they could have canceled the flight for 24 hours for a thorough maintenance check; I’m sure no one would mind.

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