billvon 3,176 #1 December 17, 2009 Carrying causes controversy in the airways Jack Florey FNS POSTED: 12:23am December 11, 2009 UPDATED: 3:01pm December 11, 2009 NEW YORK (FNS) -When Joe Shepard carried his parachute on board Southwest Air flight 177 from Phoenix to Los Angeles last week, he rekindled a debate that has been raging in the airlines for years. Shepard, who usually wears his parachute on commercial air flights, was stopped by security and told he could not bring his parachute with him. The TSA agent told him that unless the parachute could be completely inspected he could not carry it on board. "The TSA told me I'd have to open the reserve so they could inspect it, and that's (expletive deleted)", said an irate Shepard when interviewed outside the terminal. "It's not like you can just open those reserves and close them again right there." The airline offered to check Shepard's parachute as regular luggage, but he refused. "I'm not going to be one of those sheep, you know, helpless when the plane is going down. You might as well paint 'AIR CRASH VICTIM' on my forehead." Shepard, an experienced skydiver, eventually took a flight on another airline, and was allowed to wear his parachute for the flight. Since 9/11, more and more people have been wearing parachutes on board airplanes, since they believe the nylon devices will allow them to survive otherwise deadly crashes. Janet Lorsqick lost a distant friend during the 9/11 attacks, and now always carries a parachute with her wherever she goes. "I think about how horrible Fred's death was, and I never want to go through something like that," said the 55 year old accountant during a phone interview. "So I wear this parachute now. If there's ever a problem on board the airplane, I'll just open the door and get out." Airlines are quick to point out that this is not a likely scenario. "We do not, under any circumstances, allow passengers to open the aircraft doors in flight," said Alexander Milloy, spokesperson for Southwest Airlines. "If they attempted such an action they would be restrained, forcibly if necessary, and arrested when the plane landed. In any case, such escapes are next to impossible." Jack Patterson, a Safety and Training Advisor for the United States Parachute Association, agreed. "An untrained - or even superficially trained - airline passenger is not going to be able to get out of an airliner alive. There's just too much to go wrong, and even an attempt to do so will put the other passengers at grave risk." Another organization, the Parachute Industry Association, disagrees. "We think that carrying a parachute on board could give a nervous passenger confidence, and could mean the difference between life and death," said a spokesperson Monday. They provided an example of a flight attendant who was sucked out a massive hole in an Aloha Air flight over Hawaii, and suggest she could have been saved with a parachute. Patterson said he could understand the motivations behind some people's desires. "Inexperienced passengers may simply not know enough to make a good decision, and think that a parachute will miraculously save them. As for Joe (Shepard) - he just wants people to see him wearing his parachute." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyrider 0 #2 December 17, 2009 "Wearing" it? (as in actually straped on)What a fuckin Moron, I wouldn't blame any airline from stopping that! I carry my rig eveyrwhere I fly, never had a single problem with it simply on my shoulders... Straping it on, could possibly cause a panic, and is good reason for attendants to get worried that the person is not stable! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,176 #3 December 17, 2009 >"Wearing" it? (as in actually straped on)What a fuckin Moron, I wouldn't >blame any airline from stopping that! Perhaps he is thinking he doesn't want to be a victim, and that it will protect him from air crashes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyrider 0 #4 December 17, 2009 Quote >"Wearing" it? (as in actually straped on)What a fuckin Moron, I wouldn't >blame any airline from stopping that! Perhaps he is thinking he doesn't want to be a victim, and that it will protect him from air crashes. LOL, then he is clueless as to he design of passenger jets...and how crashes happen, he wouldnt have a chance to make it to a door!BTW, I probably fly Southwest more than any other airline, (best prices) never been a problem, I'm thinking the "strapped in" thing is the whole cause of concern! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wayneflorida 0 #5 December 17, 2009 Quote >"Wearing" it? (as in actually straped on)What a fuckin Moron, I wouldn't >blame any airline from stopping that! Perhaps he is thinking he doesn't want to be a victim, and that it will protect him from air crashes. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Better to be a thinking fucking moron than just a fucking moron. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #6 December 17, 2009 You have been punked by billvonwww.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,230 #7 December 17, 2009 Nice one. Not even The Onion.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #8 December 17, 2009 Its legal.... So he has the right "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #9 December 17, 2009 Quote Its legal.... So he has the right No he doesn't. It may not be illegal but he does not have the RIGHT to wera or even carry it onto someone elses a/c .... Their plane, their rules . It IS that simple. So act like a dick and get trated like one or act nicley and be treated with respect. Kama IS a bitch. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
champu 1 #10 December 17, 2009 QuoteJack Florey... :rollseyes: You MIT people... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #11 December 17, 2009 QuoteNo he doesn't. It may not be illegal but he does not have the RIGHT to wera or even carry it onto someone elses a/c .... Their plane, their rules . It IS that simple. Sure, show where IN THE RULES it is disallowed. Or are just making up rules right now? Might want to read this BTW: QuoteSo act like a dick and get trated [SIC] like one or act nicley[SIC] and be treated with respect. Kama IS a bitch. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #12 December 17, 2009 Doesn't have to be written down in any rule book. If the owner or their agents don't want to allow you on, they don't have to. Why do you have a problem with that? And fuck the TYPOS (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Misternatural 0 #13 December 17, 2009 Just to be clear I am in favor of aircraft carrying onboard fuel.Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires. D S #3.1415 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 3 #14 December 17, 2009 Quote I probably fly Southwest more than any other airline, (best prices) never been a problem, I'm thinking the "strapped in" thing is the whole cause of concern! If we're talking about Southwest, it's probably more "strapped on" than "strapped in". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #15 December 17, 2009 QuoteJust to be clear I am in favor of aircraft carrying onboard fuel. So you think it is OK to carry highly explosive materials aboard commercial flights? Think of the children. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,230 #16 December 17, 2009 QuoteQuoteJack Florey... :rollseyes: You MIT people... He's a mod, one of the 1337 people.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #17 December 17, 2009 Why are you two argueing about a fake article written by billvon? www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #18 December 17, 2009 Cuz we can (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #19 December 17, 2009 Quote Cuz we can dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Misternatural 0 #20 December 17, 2009 >So you think it is OK to carry highly explosive materials aboard commercial flights? Think of the children. well I'm no fuckin' engineer but I just think planes fly better when they have some fuel on board. Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires. D S #3.1415 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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