StoleIt

The "Zelensky is a dictator/wont hold an election" talking point is taken in such bad faith. It's in their constitution. Also, how does one hold a free and fair election while a significant amount of their population/territory is occupied? How do you account for citizens of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson? I'd imagine they are all voting pro-Putin right now. Not saying there isn't a lot of valid criticism you can throw at this conflict, our involvement, and Zelensky...but "he is a dictator because he suspended elections" is one of the more idiotic talking points.

Classic Boeing: https://www.twz.com/air/cracks-in-kc-46-pegusus-tankers-halt-all-deliveries

Fine, but I'd also like to Q3 the requirements branch that bought the R model engines without flat bottoms. The AF decided it was cheaper to Q3 people than add some breathing room to landing a, looks at calendar, 80 year old airplane. So if we hold the pilots responsible than I also want everyone else in the stupidity tree to be held to the same standard.

I think AA is actually doing pretty good financially. They are paying down their higher rate debt extremely aggressively which is causing their profits to be much lower compared to their peers. Their revenue, $54B, is slightly behind DAL ($61B) and UAL ($57B), but not enough for me to be alarmed. Granted, I do think AA has a much larger middle management group of do-nothings (inherited from all the mergers) that neither UAL or DAL have AND AA is much more unionized compared to DAL. Long term, AA doesn't really prioritize long haul widebody flying. We have the least numbers of WBs on property and the smallest on order (but at least we have more than SWA/B6/F9/etc...suckers). Oh and we turned down the cheapest A350 order on the planet...but that dude at least got fired 2 years later. Granted, we have some of the newest 777-300s (2013's) BUT some of the oldest 777-200s (1999's). But with the recent interior refresh of the -200s those will be around for at least another decade...which is good because there are only about 30 more 787s on order with nothing after that. Unless a miracle, or tragedy, happens I imagine AA will be a 787 WB only airline in the future when they start to park the trips. That being said, the average fleet age of AA is 13.8 years old which is younger than DAL (14.9) and UAL (15.9). **All this was written by an airline pilot so don't take this as sound financial information.**

Chang's return must have rattled JQP out of his retirement, because Tony Carr has a new article: https://radarblog.substack.com/p/rise-of-the-gutless-air-force-colonel

Don't forget, at least he was the second highest compensated airline CEO. Now he can afford more turtle necks.

Text book go-around. Great job on the SWA crew. Listening to the audio and the biz jet definitely was at fault. Dude had no SA on what runway he was blowing through. SWA2504 landing 31C, FLEXJET560 did the incursion. ATC audio (fast forward to 12 minutes): https://archive.liveatc.net/kmdw/KMDW-Gnd-Twr-Feb-25-2025-1430Z.mp3 Textual synopsis: https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1iy89dc/audio_and_transcript_from_this_mornings_runway/

AA traditionally shuts down the school house during peak summer months. I don't exactly recall when that usually starts but I wouldn't go into a full "sky is falling" panic just yet...even though, ironically, that also seems to happen every year when the summer push starts.

Haven't the Houthi's been downing Reapers on and off for a while now? https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-american-mq9-reaper-drones-2ca2dc1c5316ca5473c3843d97780b2b

https://www.newsweek.com/russian-drone-strikes-chernobyl-nuclear-plant-sarcophagus-ukraine-video-2031027 I mean seriously...

Today. Crew got out. Second EA-18 incident in recent memory.

I haven't landed 15, but I have on 33 in the baby bus. Unless it's moist, or I'm in a 320 or 321, I will brief the possibility of a last minute runway change at DCA. It's basically to be expected, doubly so for those who fly an RJ. So while maybe causal, I wouldn't say the "circle" maneuver from runway 1 to 33 at DCA is that cosmic for those who fly in and out of DCA frequently. Just another hole in the Swiss cheese model though, sadly.

Nobody wants the Palestinians. Jordan and Egypt refuse to take them again after the first time was disastrous and they tried to destabilize those respective governments. In fact, nobody (to include the Palestinians) likes the idea: Source Sadly, I think the status quo is the best way forward with Gaza. Just let them fester in their shit hole but actually monitor their UNRWA activity so it isn't a terrorist jobs laundering business. Also, monitor where the concrete and other rebuilding materials are going for once. US troops on the ground in Gaza will be Trump's Afghanistan. Another insurgency that has no end and will cost us lives and treasure while any engagement, legal and justified or not, will hurt our image. It's a regional problem that I'm happy to let Egypt, Jordan, and Israel hammer away at.

Counter argument: https://6abc.com/post/army-black-hawk-crew-involved-dc-crash-made-top-pilots-thousands-hours-experience/15849913/ Except for maybe new folks at the 1st Heli and some RJ pilots, I'd wager nearly everyone else flying in the NCR is extremely experienced.

Aaaand not as neat. Glad the pilot got out. Is this karma for resurrecting the other one? https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/military/2025/01/28/f-35-crashes-at-eielson-air-force-base-military-officials-say/

Further progress, kinda neat: https://theaviationist.com/2025/01/26/first-public-glimpse-of-the-franken-lightning-built-from-two-damaged-f-35s/

Yes, and I laughed about how 4Chan pulled one over on tons of people. This is NOT that. If you can't see that then you clearly lack the ability to think critically or overcome your own bias. The dude did the Nazi salute...twice. Now the WHY has me curios. Also, interested to see if he will comment on it or just continue to delete/ban people on X for discussing it.

He can say whatever he wants while still doing a Nazi salute. Doesn't erase the actions of performing that gesture. He could have recited the "ha'tov ve'ha'metiv" (Jewish blessing), in Hebrew, but it still doesn't make it any better. Maybe it's because he is autistic. Maybe it's because he likes the Romans. But just dismissing it as TDS or leftist talking points is basically doing the same thing you claim but in the opposite direction. I'd like some follow up on the matter if he is involved in the government...just as I'd like follow up to any other government official supporting Hamas/ISIS/etc.

I watched the video. Dude does it twice. Unless there is some South African cultural connection to this gesture it really can't be explained away or dismissed.

Not worth it. But, OCONUS we wore self procured suits. So they could be as nice or shitty as you wanted to invest for,

Some good news (for us) in China following their two fancy new airplane flights: Citizens not having spending cash has to one of those events that happens right before mass protests which hopefully leads to civil unrest which then can lead to regime change. One can hope...

The renovation was completed in 2011 then basically sat unused as a VIP house. Not saying that was a good use of funds or defending the decision makers here...but it wasn't exactly like the $1.2M was spent last year and it knocked down this year. They should have just knocked the rank requirement off and given it to an FGO who wanted to live on base, IMO.

If that movie doesn't end with the national anthem and the raising of the flag I'm gonna be pissed...