88 die in Russian plane crash - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

KootenayFlamesFan · 09-14-2008, 03:09 AM

Terrible news. A Russian jet flying from Perm to Moscow crashes, killing everyone on board.

Quote:

Twenty-one foreigners were on the flight, including passport-holders from Azerbaijan, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland and Ukraine, said Lev Koshlyakov, spokesman for flight operator Aeroflot Nord.

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The Boeing 737 was en route to Perm from Moscow when the pilots lost communication with air traffic control just before landing about 3:10 a.m. (2110 GMT), Koshlyakov said. He described the weather at the time as "mediocre."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe...ane/index.html

*ooops..88, not 81. Even worse.

Resolute 14 · 09-14-2008, 09:19 AM

Quite a few planes have gone down in the last couple weeks. I believe there have been two crashes with even higher death tolls in the last month. Kinda strange how it seems like this kind of disaster happens in bunches, then nothing for several months.

HOZ · 09-14-2008, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Quite a few planes have gone down in the last couple weeks. I believe there have been two crashes with even higher death tolls in the last month. Kinda strange how it seems like this kind of disaster happens in bunches, then nothing for several months.

I quite agree.

Maybe a timeline on the age of the planes or just crapola lick.

Caged Great · 09-14-2008, 10:58 AM

IIRC this isn't the first time that plane crashes have happened in bunches. I think that plane that went down in New york just after 9/11 was either followed or preceded by a plane that went down in Korea.

Either way, it's just weird that it happens like that.

Displaced Flames fan · 09-14-2008, 11:01 AM

I've really grown to hate flying.

I used to love it. I know the statistics and all, but the likelihood of surviving an air crash...and the fact that you probably know it's coming...just makes it very uncomfortable.

Don't get me wrong, I don't need sedatives to get on a plane or spend the entire flight thinking I'm facing sure death but I am uneasy.

I'm not sure if it helped or hurt spending five years working in Boeing's commercial air division either.

Itse · 09-14-2008, 11:37 AM

I wonder if the difficult times in the airline business is partly to blame. You know, cutbacks in maintenance, tighter schedules, that sort of thing.

Displaced Flames fan · 09-14-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itse

I wonder if the difficult times in the airline business is partly to blame. You know, cutbacks in maintenance costs, tighter schedules, that sort of thing.

Good thoughts.

It is actually quite often that these things end up coming back to poor maintenance.

Here's a thought....Boeing and Airbus should train their own mechanics and sell maintenance as part of the package when they sell an aircraft. Less opportunity for an airline to cut corners?

driveway · 09-14-2008, 11:52 AM

For anyone who wants to check it out: www.planecrashinfo.com has information on 5227 accidents involving aircraft, including today's crash.

There have been three major plane crashes in less than a month:

Spanair 5022 on August 20 - 172 fatalities
Itek Air on August 24 - 68 fatalities
Aeroflot September 13 - 88 fatalities.

Temporary_User · 09-14-2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Here's a thought....Boeing and Airbus should train their own mechanics and sell maintenance as part of the package when they sell an aircraft. Less opportunity for an airline to cut corners?

That to me would just make Boeing and Airbus more prone to get sued.

Displaced Flames fan · 09-14-2008, 12:55 PM

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Originally Posted by Temporary_User

That to me would just make Boeing and Airbus more prone to get sued.

That's one negative.

4X4 · 09-14-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I've really grown to hate flying.

I used to love it. I know the statistics and all, but the likelihood of surviving an air crash...and the fact that you probably know it's coming...just makes it very uncomfortable.

Don't get me wrong, I don't need sedatives to get on a plane or spend the entire flight thinking I'm facing sure death but I am uneasy.

I'm not sure if it helped or hurt spending five years working in Boeing's commercial air division either.

For some reason, every time I get on an airplane, I'm strangely calm. Almost like I accept potential death. Turbulence gives me a rush.

Machiavelli · 09-14-2008, 01:12 PM

^ I think the fact that it would more likely be quick and painless helps.

Resolute 14 · 09-14-2008, 01:18 PM

Well, the death would be, but that 30,000 foot plunge to it might not be so much.

I used to hate flying, but I'm getting better at it. If you think a major commercial plane is scary, try getting on an 8-18 seater to the North, or a Cessna. A friend took me flying in a Cessna once out at Springbank Airport. Man, it did more to my stomach than every ride at Calaway Park combined.

4X4 · 09-14-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Well, the death would be, but that 30,000 foot plunge to it might not be so much.

I used to hate flying, but I'm getting better at it. If you think a major commercial plane is scary, try getting on an 8-18 seater to the North, or a Cessna. A friend took me flying in a Cessna once out at Springbank Airport. Man, it did more to my stomach than every ride at Calaway Park combined.

Yep. After riding on a small plane that skipped from Calgary to Edmonton to Ft. Mac to Yellowknife to Norman Wells to Inuvik, any fear of flying I may have had was cured. One of those landings was super windy... Right before touchdown a gust pushed the plane to the edge of the runway and I swear the wing almost hit the tarmac.

Displaced Flames fan · 09-14-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4X4

Yep. After riding on a small plane that skipped from Calgary to Edmonton to Ft. Mac to Yellowknife to Norman Wells to Inuvik, any fear of flying I may have had was cured. One of those landings was super windy... Right before touchdown a gust pushed the plane to the edge of the runway and I swear the wing almost hit the tarmac.

You've been to Inuvik? Awesome. I would love to go to the Arctic someday.

Canuck-Hater · 09-14-2008, 02:32 PM

Dam thats terrible. The 737 has the best safety record in aviation so something must of went horribly wrong.

FlamesAddiction · 09-14-2008, 05:30 PM

With fuel costs rising, I can see poorer maintenance and more crashes being the outcome.

I fly quite often for work, but usually on smaller planes. I actually prefer the smaller planes for some reason.

chummer · 09-14-2008, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

With fuel costs rising, I can see poorer maintenance and more crashes being the outcome.

Airlines have to maintain certain standards,the price of fuel has nothing to do with it.

No need to fear monger.

FlamesAddiction · 09-14-2008, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chummer

Airlines have to maintain certain standards,the price of fuel has nothing to do with it.

No need to fear monger.

The standards are more flexable in some countries where the market is more sensitive to rising prices. This is why certain airlines are even banned from operating in Canada.

You're fooling yourself if you think every airline in the world will stick to acceptable standards in the face of economic trouble.

ken0042 · 09-14-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

You're fooling yourself if you think every airline in the world will stick to acceptable standards in the face of economic trouble.

And if you've watched enough episodes of "Mayday" on Discovery, there are many, many cases where crashes happen because the airline cut back as to what their maintenance schedule is.

I know I base my choice on going home to Winnipeg on flying vs driving. If driving is less than 1/2 price; I often drive. Would an airline maybe decide to cut back on maintenance to still be able to offer lower prices? It's possible.