SpeedRacer 1 #26 June 5, 2008 When I'm on a commercial flight, I seem to be a magnet for enormous people. One time I had the middle seat. Fat man with an enormous beachball belly on my right, causing his arms to sort of bowl out around it into my seat. Fat woman on my left with her hip fat spilling over into my seat. I just put the armrests down on both sides.Another rant here: Airline seats are too damn small. I'm only 5'9" & weigh about 158 lbs. I'm not especially muscular or wide-shouldered, yet my shoulders extend out past the sides of the seat on both sides. The seats are not designed to comfortably seat a full grown adult, even a moderately-sized one such as myself. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #27 June 5, 2008 Quote Quote Its been my experience the extra charge for tandem students weighing over 200 pounds goes to the TI as compensation for the added risk and responsibility. I don't see how this compares to airlines charging by weight since there is no additiona risk, only additional cost. There is additional cost for the heavier tandem, but not remotely close to the dollars involved. The extra risk is a bit fuzzy - seems like the FF risk could be lower than with a featherweight who freaks out on the exit. On landing, the extra mass has the potential to wrench the back or the legs, but seems like their fitness/agility as just as significant. Ok let me put it another way....goes to the TI as an incentive because TIs are whiners and don't like to take heavier people. Better? Either way my point is the same. www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,488 #28 June 6, 2008 QuoteExcept the anvil TI maxes out the gear with a lighter student than the skinny guy, so he has to take the big guy. Sorry I brought up the suggestion. You may go back to your regularly scheduled programming.Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiver30960 0 #29 June 9, 2008 Quote Ok let me put it another way....goes to the TI as an incentive because TIs are whiners and don't like to take heavier people. Better? Either way my point is the same. I work at such a DZ, and actually don't like the system. I, as a rule, no longer take overweight passengers because I think it's a huge liability risk. As soon as a leg gets broken (or worse) and the lawyers can prove that you KNEW you were pushing (or over) the weight limit on the gear, you're screwed. I think the "overweight bonus" encourages the TI to take students they would not normally take, which puts more money in the DZO's pocket, but opens everyone up to much greater liability. Elvisio "no mo fatties" Rodriguez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiver30960 0 #30 June 9, 2008 ...and to get the thread back on topic: the airline industry is going down the shitter, and taking Joe Passenger with them. The industry, as well as the experience of taking a flight, is going to be radically different in a few years when compared to what it was in the 80s and 90s. To mangle a quote from a great movie: it's a big shit sandwich, and everyone is gonna have to take a bite. Elvisio "drive it if I can, the hybrid is my friend" Rodriguez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
