Comical Occurences on the Trail

[corpsmanUP]

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Thought I would start out with my list of outrageous happenings on the interview trail this year. Feel free to chime in with some of yours.

1. It has become commonplace to find myself sharing an airport bathroom with 4-5 med students all changing out of their suits into their casual attire, all the while trying not to step in damp urine with their dress socks!

2. I sure love having to raise my seatback to the upright position at 26,000 feet when the pilot makes his initial decent. Nothing like induced thoracic kyphosis for 25 minutes. I'd like to see the evidence that caused all airlines to adopt such a stupid policy. 3" can really save your ass during an unintended 500mph explosion/impact

3. I love waking up every hour on the hour in my hotel room wondering if my wakeup call, my cell phone alarm, and my bedside clock alarm will all fail me simultaneously.

4. Ever wake up and forget what city you are in?

5. I love it when the rental car company asks you if you would LIKE to upgrade to a car with better traction (SUV) for 10 bucks a day, accepting it, and then walking out into the parking lot at 1AM to find one solitary SUV sitting there in the snow. Word to the wise, never accept the upgrade because 90% of the time you are getting that vehicle ANYWAY!!

6. Wonder if the jet stream follows you from city to city dumping snow on you every time you get outside?

7. Ever have a long conversation with a fellow applicant, drive them to the airport to save them taxi fair after the interview, and realize later that you had drinks with them a month before in another city and neither of you even figured it out??

8. But my all time favorite: I am now officially a board certified multitasker because I can slip off my shoes without my hands, do a one handed slip of the driver's license back into the wallet, retain my boarding pass in my teeth, remove my laptop from my bag and set it in its OWN security screening container, and walk through the metal detector without setting it off. Of course I have lost my wallet, cell phone, boarding pass, a bag, a pillow, and one shoe on several occassions. Luckily nothing was permanent!!

 

[substanceP]

4. Ever wake up and forget what city you are in?

that sounds straight outta 'fight club'.

 

[tiene dolor?]

that sounds straight outta 'fight club'.

rule number one!! rule number one!!

 

[southerndoc]

2. I sure love having to raise my seatback to the upright position at 26,000 feet when the pilot makes his initial decent. Nothing like induced thoracic kyphosis for 25 minutes. I'd like to see the evidence that caused all airlines to adopt such a stupid policy. 3" can really save your ass during an unintended 500mph explosion/impact

This annoys me, as does the fact that we're required to turn off all electronic equipment during landing/takeoffs. "All electronic equipment must be in the off position." Why can't they just say "please turn all electronic equipment off?"

I fail to see how my mp3 player affects their radar equipment. It doesn't affect it that significantly, even if everyone on the plane was using an mp3 player. Large electronics -- like computers and portable DVD players -- can affect it if there were a large number of users on the plane.

I keep listening to my mp3 player. I take the earbud out of the ear that's closest to the aisle, and then hide the mp3 player. I'm addicted to my iPod!

 

[turtle md]

I keep listening to my mp3 player. I take the earbud out of the ear that's closest to the aisle, and then hide the mp3 player. I'm addicted to my iPod!

If on a plane with you, and we crash, and survivie, I'm coming after you... 😀

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Ever wake up and forget what city you are in?

I can do one better, I've woken up and forgotten what COUNTRY I am in. "Germany? How did I wind up here? Oh, wait....that's right...."

 

[corpsmanUP]

Another funny thing is when you all sit around the pre-interview dinner wondering who is going to have the cojones to order a beer. Some programs flat out don't pay for it and tell you right up front. That is okay with me since they let you know. But the worst is when you are wondering if anyone else is going to order one. I have found the best way to beat this problem is to arrive 15 minutes late and then see what everyone has on the table. If no beers, then I order one anyway and tell the waiter to start my tab!

Cleveland's Metrohealth was the coolest place I have been in regard to this problem. I won't say who actually paid for the brew, because I am not certain it is allowed. But I recall sitting at Dannyboys Pizza and asking "What is everyone having to drink"?. There was a cool as hell 3rd year there who immediately understood my question and recommended a local pale ale and I knew in 5 minutes I found a place with cool people. My philosophy is a group that drinks together works better together. Every elite military unit drinks together and it is rare to find someone who doesn't throw one back at least occassionally.


Next, your turn.

 

[EM Junkie]

I found it comical when we returned from the ED tour at LSU-Shreveport to find that their lunch for us consisted of reheated leftovers from their departmental holiday party from the night before.

Let's just say that I stopped by the McDonald's drive-through on the drive back home.......

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Every elite military unit drinks together and it is rare to find someone who doesn't throw one back at least occassionally.

"Drinks" is not the right word. There is not a word in the English language for the way some Marine and Army SF units go through ETOH given the opportunity.

 

[corpsmanUP]

This annoys me, as does the fact that we're required to turn off all electronic equipment during landing/takeoffs. "All electronic equipment must be in the off position." Why can't they just say "please turn all electronic equipment off?"

I fail to see how my mp3 player affects their radar equipment. It doesn't affect it that significantly, even if everyone on the plane was using an mp3 player. Large electronics -- like computers and portable DVD players -- can affect it if there were a large number of users on the plane.

I keep listening to my mp3 player. I take the earbud out of the ear that's closest to the aisle, and then hide the mp3 player. I'm addicted to my iPod!

You better watch out dude, these flight attendants have serious attitude issues these days, and thanks to 911 they get away with it. Anything that happens that bothers them, they always chant the standard phrase "It is against federal law to interfere with the duties of a flight crew". They make it sound like because you used the first class lavatory (while they were obstructing the aisle with their cart for 30 minutes) that you could be subject to a 10,000 dollar fine and up to a year in jail. I don't mess with them people!!

 

[basementbeastie]

this is a good thread....i remember interviewing...it was a good (expensive) time....keep the stories coming......

 

[southerndoc]

If on a plane with you, and we crash, and survivie, I'm coming after you... 😀

Bring it on turtle man, bring it on!

 

[turtle md]

Bring it on turtle man, bring it on!

 

[EctopicFetus]

How about if there wasnt a pre interview dinner and you are told to meet in the lobby and you instantly find the 25-35 year olds wearing suits sitting there looking aimless and helpless. Thats when I usually walk on over and say hi, are you guys interviewing.. Of course the answer is yes!

Flying is the bane of my existence in my previous life when I worked I traveled a lot and in college I lived 1000 miles from home.. Lots of flying. Let me tell you it never stops sucking!

 

[EctopicFetus]

BTW I flew home for New Years (to Miami) and after being delayed in Chicago for 2 hours (because the people on my plane probably fly once a year and a little weather) we then had to sit on the runway for 45 mins until another place left OUR gate. Why cant we pull into another gate? This makes no sense to me.

 

[Jeff698]

I'm with Ectopic.

The only time I ever got close to claustrophobic was when I was stuck on a Damn Delta (that's DD to y'all) plane on the tarmac at DFW waiting to fly to New York. We were stuck in a hail storm for about two hours and for God-only-knows-what-reason, didn't return to the gate. Of course, I was stuck in the middle seat between two very fat people. The flight crew wouldn't let us out of our seats, either. The best part was knowing that, even after getting off the ground, we still had several more hours in the air. Fun stuff.

Of course, being a Texas paramedic, I was keenly aware of Delta's track record with storms and that airport so I didn't bitch too much.

Take care,
Jeff

 

[Jeff698]

BTW, in my previous life, I did a lot of traveling. I've always had the habit of not thinking too much about stuff I can look up later.

I got off a plane once, got my rental car and started toward the gate only to realize that I had no clue why I was in that city. My secretary, fortunately, anticipated this (not that she'd gotten several frantic calls from me before or anything) and had put directions in my briefcase. I still felt like an idiot.

In retrospect, that was probably good practice for my intern year.

Take care,
Jeff

 

[EctopicFetus]

Jeff good stuff!! I can recall that in my previous life as well. I took what basically amounted to an overnight flight from ATL to San Fran. We (my and my boss) landed and realized that the powerpoint we were going to present to the CEO and other execs was all F'ed up. We didnt have time to double check it before we bound it. So on the airplane we fixed it, landed at like 2 am, went to Kinko's re-printed everything, then they said it would be 8 hours before they could bind it, since the people in my office were lazy, earlier that day I had taught myself how to bind stuff.

 

[EctopicFetus]

figured I could since this was a long story.

I told Kinkos I know how to do this, they still charged us, but we didnt have to pay. Got done at 630 am went to my hotel, showered changed and had a meeting for 8 hours. That was tough, not related to airplanes much but it was a crappy travel story and relays how by the seat of your pants business can be!

 

[Annette]

I went to the hotel to pick up an interviewee and her husband for the pre-interview dinner. Got half way to the restaurant before we realized that I picked up people from the wrong program! I even liked them better than the second (correct) couple who went to dinner.

 

[EctopicFetus]

Nice!!

 

[hyperbaric]

I found it comical when we returned from the ED tour at LSU-Shreveport to find that their lunch for us consisted of reheated leftovers from their departmental holiday party from the night before.

Let's just say that I stopped by the McDonald's drive-through on the drive back home.......

 

[corpsmanUP]

Of course my favorite is when you have since run out of any questions for the faculty/residents and on your last of 3 interviews your interviewer insists that you ask them something. I usually ask something really stupid unrelated to the program or even the hospital. They should place a limit on how many questions you have to ask and then have you wear some sort of mood ring that turns green when you have asked enough. Then they would stop asking you if you had any questions and instead you could just smalltalk.

Oh, and I love it when you are waiting for an interviewer that is in the room with some cute lady interviewee, and they run over like 15 minutes. Then when you go in, the guy says 3 words and when you say you have no more questions, he lets you go 15 minutes early!! Sometimes I wish I had gynecomastia

 

[emmd2b]

Oh, and I love it when you are waiting for an interviewer that is in the room with some cute lady interviewee, and they run over like 15 minutes. Then when you go in, the guy says 3 words and when you say you have no more questions, he lets you go 15 minutes early!! Sometimes I wish I had gynecomastia"

Classy comment...I was the only female on our interview together at UPITT. I guess you've got to look for something to explain why the ladies are leaving you in the dust!

 

[EctopicFetus]

Classy comment...I was the only female on our interview together at UPITT. I guess you've got to look for something to explain why the ladies are leaving you in the dust!

This ones getting testy..

Emmd2b I think he was just kidding but I am gonna step out of this one right now..

 

[corpsmanUP]

Classy comment...I was the only female on our interview together at UPITT. I guess you've got to look for something to explain why the ladies are leaving you in the dust!

I thought I would wait an hour or so before commenting on your statement. You met me that night, and we shared what I thought was a very nice conversation about your husband's FP career, and your recent wedding, etc..etc..etc.. You don't know me very well, but my guess is you took me at face value that night as a nice person, and quite possibly you took this joke wrong. I could certainly take the low road in this conversation and I think you know exactly where it would go...if you know what I mean. But instead I am going to continue down the high road and and explain that you did in fact misunderstand what I was saying. I was basically saying that there are indeed sexist bald old fogies along the interview trail that do tend to enjoy the conversation of an attractive female more than they enjoy the same from a young man. And I ran into this only on one occassion but when it occurred it was blatantly obvious. So much so that the program coordinator actually apologized for it when I went to her to find my next interview (early!!). Under her breath to her co-coordinator she said (where she thought I would not hear her) "I've got to stop giving Dr. XXX those young women because he takes twice as long".

Yes, admittedly this only occured once on the entire trail, and to me it was actually funny. All I was saying was that if I had been female (hence the gynecomastia joke) I would probably have had a better interview with this guy. In the end I know far too well the plite of women and its why I vote mostly blue instead of red. I have a daughter and a wife who command my full respect, so don't try and hijack this thread on an anonymous internet forum where jokes are often a little more "cutting edge" than in the flesh. Please don't try and make this out to be some type of sexist/classless issue when it was all said in fun. But let me know if you would prefer the low road because I am pretty comfortable on any path.

I'd tell you to lighten up but you might conjure up some underlying anti-obesity tone in my statement. Relax friend, this community is way too small to be making enemies this early in your career. Truce? Olive branch----->....

At least be kind enough to send me a private email if you do choose to take the low road so the rest of the EM world doesn't have to read it. You have my email...I know because I have yours 😉

 

[corpsmanUP]

Getting back on track now....

One thing I love about interviewing up north is the whole winter jacket issue. You can tell where everyone is from based on what they wear as a winter coat. The northerners always have some gorgeous long wool or camel hair coat, and the southern people usually don't have one at all. Its like I was in complete denial that it might actually be cold when I went to Minnesota!!! The people from Cali usually have some NorthFace jacket that completely clashes with their suit (like some UCLA colors). And the funniest thing about the jacket issue is when they tell you not to take your coat on the tour because you won't be outside for more than 30 seconds between buildings. That is of course assuming the shuttle bus shows up, or if the gung-ho ex-Vietnam pilot doesn't want to talk for 15 minutes on the rooftop helipad in the blowing snow 🙂 I'll admit it, I am a snow idiot.

And what about driving in the snow? My first trip up north was to Iowa where I literally slid all the way through a traffic light and ended up in someones front yard. I saw some kids looking through the front window and they must have thought that Santa Clause had come early. Then of course how the hec do you get to your car in the parking lot with a suit and leather shoes on without getting 8" of wetness up to your mid shins? I think I must have looked real cool in that Iowa City parking lot with my suit pants rolled up past my knees, walking to my car with a freaking umbrella open.

I wish there was a way to spot northern people down south but there just isn't any equivilant.

 

[emmd2b]

Relax...I was just giving it back to you (in good fun) with the "leaving you in the dust" comment. Apparently you can dish it but you can't take it?
And speaking of PM...I think you could do that for me before you put all that personal info about me on the forum.

I think you took my comment a little too seriously...you are working on making the enemies.

 

[corpsmanUP]

Relax...I was just giving it back to you (in good fun) with the "leaving you in the dust" comment. Apparently you can dish it but you can't take it?
And speaking of PM...I think you could do that for me before you put all that personal info about me on the forum.

I think you took my comment a little too seriously...you are working on making the enemies.

Just look to your right and see those little faces with the expressions on them.....they are there because there are naive idiots like me who can't necessarily interpret the tone of a sentence without them 🙂

Your husband being an FP is no more public than saying you were at UPITT with me on a specific day. At least I didn't mention your school, or that huge rock on your hand....oooops, sorry, giving away deadly secrets now 😉 Look at the bright side. At least you were smart enough to choose a screen name that did not give away who you are 😳

I'll take that as an acceptance of the olive branch, and sorry if I misunderstood your comeback. Its just that we all know anytime you speak it must be because something riled you up, because you never reply!!!(as we talked about at the Church). Its like when my great grandfather speaks, everyone knows something is really wrong because normally he is comatose in his easy chair! Anyway, you and I seem to have a better in-person repoire, and since there is like a 20% chance we may be classmates (higher I would imagine if I were to guess), we better grab on to that olive branch from both ends and laugh real hard about this. Sorry from this side.......

 

[emmd2b]

Just look to your right and see those little faces with the expressions on them.....they are there because there are naive idiots like me who can't necessarily interpret the tone of a sentence without them 🙂

Your husband being an FP is no more public than saying you were at UPITT with me on a specific day. At least I didn't mention your school, or that huge rock on your hand....oooops, sorry, giving away deadly secrets now 😉 Look at the bright side. At least you were smart enough to choose a screen name that did not give away who you are 😳

I'll take that as an acceptance of the olive branch, and sorry if I misunderstood your comeback. Its just that we all know anytime you speak it must be because something riled you up, because you never reply!!!(as we talked about at the Church). Its like when my great grandfather speaks, everyone knows something is really wrong because normally he is comatose in his easy chair! Anyway, you and I seem to have a better in-person repoire, and since there is like a 20% chance we may be classmates (higher I would imagine if I were to guess), we better grab on to that olive branch from both ends and laugh real hard about this. Sorry from this side.......

I couldn't resist replying in that instant...it probably won't happen again and I'll return to my coma 🙄 I obviously haven't learned my smiley face etiquette. 🙂

I'll take the "huge rock" comment as a compliment and consider this matter resolved. Good luck with any interviews that remain...I've got 13 to go. 😎

 

[corpsmanUP]

I couldn't resist replying in that instant...it probably won't happen again and I'll return to my coma 🙄 I obviously haven't learned my smiley face etiquette. 🙂

I'll take the "huge rock" comment as a compliment and consider this matter resolved. Good luck with any interviews that remain...I've got 13 to go. 😎

Resolved then! Yes, the rock was unbelievable. I think I accidentally drank your beer a few sips instead of mine because I was blinded by the reflection. Yeh sure your husband is doing FP....thats just a cover for his South African diamond smuggling ring 😉 FYI, you missed a ton of fun coming back from that restaurant on the top of the hill in Pittsburgh. One resident assumed we had a ride and left 6 of us to drive back with the rescue jeep. I literally had some guy from Oregon's a$$ in my face for like 10 minutes as we drove back to the program office. We were all laughing so hard that we had to time when we could allow each other to breath....it was that cramped!!

 

[EctopicFetus]

I couldn't resist replying in that instant...it probably won't happen again and I'll return to my coma 🙄 I obviously haven't learned my smiley face etiquette. 🙂

I'll take the "huge rock" comment as a compliment and consider this matter resolved. Good luck with any interviews that remain...I've got 13 to go. 😎

emmd2b... 13 to go.. my prayers are with you!

BTW I am glad you guys got this thing resolved. Most EM people are real cool and nice. I hope I get the chance to meet each of you in the future.

 

[EctopicFetus]

One final thing about the whole snow thing etc. I was interviewing at Res and they gave out a list of where everyone was from. one of my friends happened to be there as well. I noticed there was one guy from a Cali school, I quickly looked around, I found the one guy wearing a black shirt and a tie and I told my buddy.. I bet that guy is from Cali. We later found out he was.

Nothing bad about Cali people but there are just some real small differences in fashion depending on where you are. BTW the guy was real nice and cool..

 

[robh]

This annoys me, as does the fact that we're required to turn off all electronic equipment during landing/takeoffs. "All electronic equipment must be in the off position." Why can't they just say "please turn all electronic equipment off?"

I fail to see how my mp3 player affects their radar equipment. It doesn't affect it that significantly, even if everyone on the plane was using an mp3 player. Large electronics -- like computers and portable DVD players -- can affect it if there were a large number of users on the plane.

I keep listening to my mp3 player. I take the earbud out of the ear that's closest to the aisle, and then hide the mp3 player. I'm addicted to my iPod!

I hesitate to bring this up because if you think about it too much, you may never want to fly again, plus it's not really in the spirit of the thread. I'm an electrical engineer and a pilot. Computing equipment (like mp3 players) and receivers all emit a lot of radio frequency energy. Take a hand held AM radio, tune it to a frequency without an audible station and put it next to your laptop display or your mp3 player. You'll be surprised at how much noise they make in the receiver.

Now the scary part. When we land an airplane in the soup, we are flying solely by reference to our instruments. In particular, there is an special radio receiver that gets glideslope and localizer information from the Instrument Landing System on the specific runway you are landing on. It's refelected in the cockpit with two needles that show if you are to the left or right of the runway (needle moves left and right), and if you are above or below the glideslope (needle moves up and down). Imagine what might happen if that very sensitive system was disturbed by electronic noise when the aircraft was operating in close proximity to the ground and in zero visibility? The results could be grim. There are other potential problems but this is probably the ugliest.

Someone else mentioned the reclining seat issue. The reason they want your seatback and tray tables in the full upright position is so that you can egress the aircraft quickly if it becomes necessary to do so. This is also why they won't let you put anything on the floor between your seat and the seat in front of you. It must be put UNDER the seat in front of you. It is also why the exit row seats do not recline.

Okay, enough airplane trivia. Great thread!

 

[corpsmanUP]

Someone else mentioned the reclining seat issue. The reason they want your seatback and tray tables in the full upright position is so that you can egress the aircraft quickly if it becomes necessary to do so.
Okay, enough airplane trivia. Great thread!

I'd venture to say that if you looked up the last 50 air mishaps and could find pictures of what the airplane looked like after the mishap, you would say that the "seat back" problem would be the least likely obstruction to a safe exit. I would bet, assuming you survive it, that you would have more trouble with the smoke, burning fire, mangled extremities from dead passengers, and your own bilateral tib/fib and femur fractures to worry about. If they are trying to help the "egress" from the airplane at 26,000 feet (when nowdays they make the announcement), then I am guessing they think the passengers are about to participate in a HALO operation. Or perhaps a HAHO, but you get my drift. And if that electronic stuff is so important and interference is an issue, why does AirTran have XM radio on every arm rest from gate to gate? I also heard that we are less than 2 years from cell phones being allowed on airlines routinely.


But since we are on the topic of airline charades, who the hec else besides myself cringes at the thought of being trapped next to some ADHD'er on winter holiday (AND medication holiday from their Adderal) ??!!!!! I swear I have some sort of magnet for kids that requires every child on the plane to be within 1 row of me. The funny thing that happened to me coming back from Mayo via Chicago (not to mention the typical O'Hare delay of 3 hours, and 3 miles march from changing gate to changing gate...), was that I found some lady breast feeding in my seat when I got to it. She kindly told me that I would be taking the aisle seat on the other side of the aisle which had been hers. She had 2 other kids that were doing their best Tommy Lee rendition the entire time playing the "air drums", LOUD FOOTPEDALS and all!! She slept with the infant on her breast for 3 hours as I tried to keep the other 2 kids from killing each other and in their seat. I swear, no lie, before it was over the flight attendant kept asking me if I could please keep my kid's seat belts on!!! I felt for the lady because I have travelled with 2 screaming kids on an airplane, so I just helped out and knew it would make one hell of a story later

 

[SoCuteMD]

Forget the ADHD'er on a med holiday, I am forever stuck next to "obese smelly person." I swear, it's like the check-in people keep an eye out for the smallest person to come in (I actually fit in airline seats with room to spare, and I'm also SHORT) and stick them next to the fattest person to check in for the flight!!!

 

[EctopicFetus]

Since I just finished a bioethics course I can say that that is a utilitarian outcome.. Well done.. The computers ARE smarter than we give them credit for! 🙂

 

[robh]

I'd venture to say that if you looked up the last 50 air mishaps and could find pictures of what the airplane looked like after the mishap, you would say that the "seat back" problem would be the least likely obstruction to a safe exit. I would bet, assuming you survive it, that you would have more trouble with the smoke, burning fire, mangled extremities from dead passengers, and your own bilateral tib/fib and femur fractures to worry about. If they are trying to help the "egress" from the airplane at 26,000 feet (when nowdays they make the announcement), then I am guessing they think the passengers are about to participate in a HALO operation. Or perhaps a HAHO, but you get my drift. And if that electronic stuff is so important and interference is an issue, why does AirTran have XM radio on every arm rest from gate to gate? I also heard that we are less than 2 years from cell phones being allowed on airlines routinely.

You're right, in a major crash, you are likely to have bigger problems, but it is also true that seconds can make the difference between life and death. A recent example from Toronto:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/08/02/toronto.crash/

The aircraft was burning before it came to rest.

The reason they start asking you to prepare for landing at altitude is to give the flight attendants time to go through the cabin and check every last seat, tray table, and seat belt, secure the overhead and galley before getting seated and belted themselves. Usually this happens at 10K feet, not 26K feet so I guess I feel your pain there. This is all procedural, like a FAST exam (hey I had to tie this to EM somehow!). The flight crew must be systematic and thorough. Flying is inherently dangerous. The reason we can do it as safely as we do, are the extraordinary measures we take to make it safe.

Regarding the XM radio, anything that flies as installed equipment in the aircraft is designed and tested to extremely rigorous emissions standards that are far beyond those used for consumer electronics. Then when the system is installed, it is tested for interoperability with the navigation and other instrumentation in the aircraft. You may have XM in your car but that is where the similarity ends.

Cell phones will need to meet these same standards if they will be used during take-off and landing. The prohibition on cell phones has largely been related to the fact that from 35K feet, your phone can be "heard" by perhaps hundreds of cells. This violates the principle of "cell" phones, that is many low profile cells that only work in a small area allowing maximum frequency reuse (many phones in the same general area using the same frequency). They have some system issues to sort out before this will be possible. In any event, I doubt they will let you use them below 10K feet.

I hear you on the daycare flights! I flew to U. Cincinnati a couple weeks ago for an interview. After the kid behind me had cried for like two hours straight, kicking my seat in frustration in anger. I had fantasies about going for the door and having my own little HALO operation. If only I had a parachute...

 

[.edu-MD]

.

 

[EctopicFetus]

Has anyone on here flown Southwest. It is rather comical since they dont give out seat assignments, therefore they board in groups A,B, and C and people have to stand in line. What is funny is watching people decide where they want to sit. I have flown a bit with my wife and I laugh everytime watching people decide where to go trying to either avoid the middle or window seats.

 

[.edu-MD]

.

 

[EctopicFetus]

Yep exactly. It is real real funny. A unique experience to say the least!

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I'd venture to say that if you looked up the last 50 air mishaps and could find pictures of what the airplane looked like after the mishap, you would say that the "seat back" problem would be the least likely obstruction to a safe exit. I would bet, assuming you survive it, that you would have more trouble with the smoke, burning fire, mangled extremities from dead passengers, and your own bilateral tib/fib and femur fractures to worry about. If they are trying to help the "egress" from the airplane at 26,000 feet (when nowdays they make the announcement), then I am guessing they think the passengers are about to participate in a HALO operation. Or perhaps a HAHO, but you get my drift.

I've always wanted to try a HALO or HAHO jump.....just not the unscheduled, escaping a flaming airliner falling out of the sky variety. Although it would be a good way to avoid delays at the airport.

Imagine THAT announcement:
STEWARDESS: LAdies and gentleman, thank you for choosing us for your non-stop flight from Boston to LA. Those of you planning on deplaning over Nebraska for travel to Omaha and points west, should immediately report to the rear of the plane where Suzie will hook up your chute and strap the oxygen bottles to your thighs. Have a nice day and again, thank you for flying Delta. We know you have a choice of airliners to plummet from and we appreciate you choosing ours.


As for cell phones on planes, can you imagine the roaming charges for that one?!

 

[corpsmanUP]

Although it would be a good way to avoid delays at the airport.

No kidding!! This would have saved me countless connection delays. Because if the winds are right, doing a HAHO (High altitude High opening) at like 35K feet could carry you as far as 100 miles (plug in the physics kinetic motion equation if you doubt me...using a 30 mph wind and the fact that a chute significantly lessens the effect of gravity). It would be perfect for flights like Dallas to Chicago if you wanted to go to places like Peoria, Indy (although you might have to hitch a ride for the other half depending on the flight pattern!!)


Next flight joke:

My absolute favorite anxiety provoking event is when I get randomly assigned to the window seat in aisle 35 or higher, and have a connection at O'Hare that is ultra-tight......and landing at concourse H but having to haul a$$ to concourse B some 2 miles away!! And then when you expend 400 calories running to concourse B, the the flight is delayed and the gate has been reassigned back to concourse H again!! Finally when you get back to concourse H and get in line to board, you look like someone affected by a pheo and it takes you the first hour of the flight to stop sweating. Of course you have your 3 layers of Columbia and Patagonia shirts on because you thought it might be cold when you got off the plane, and God forbid you had packed ithem and made your carry on one inch wider where they might want you to check it!! I often feel like I am an extra in that scene from airplane where people run non-stop from gate 34, to gate 35, to gate 36, chasing the plane!!

 

[Jeff698]

The reason they want your seatback and tray tables in the full upright position is so that you can egress the aircraft quickly if it becomes necessary to do so.

If the airlines are so all-fired-up about our ability to egress in a timely manner they might consider not packing us in like sardines. Even with the damn seat and tray table up in their full and locked position, I can barely keep my knees out of the seat in front of me. And I'm short!

Take care,
Jeff

 

[EctopicFetus]

Imagine being 6'2 and 220+ lbs! Man if I dont get into the Emergency Exit row flying really really SUCKS!

 

[robh]

If the airlines are so all-fired-up about our ability to egress in a timely manner they might consider not packing us in like sardines. Even with the damn seat and tray table up in their full and locked position, I can barely keep my knees out of the seat in front of me. And I'm short!

Take care,
Jeff

That would cost them money. They don't care about you that much! Besides, after the bilateral compound femur fracture caused by the person in front of you suddenly reclining their seat, you won't need as much anyway. 😀

 

[turtle md]

And I'm short!

😕 . . .

... 😀

 

[Riverjames]

In one of my interviews, the interviewer and I found ourselves in the very sterile office of a pathologist. Nothing more than a desk, a small attached bathroom, a shelf full of various path journals, and a small sign on his desk stating "interview not to proceed past this point" WTF?!

In the middle of the interview, a scratchy old pathologist entered without a word and walked into the bathroom. Without shutting the door, and in sight of both the interviewer and myself, proceeded to take off his shirt and pants. He stood there fumbling around with his wallet for a couple of minutes in nothing but boxers and a wife-beater (pardon the colloquialism) before redressing in a new set of clothes. We continued the interview as best we could until he left, at which point we both laughed hysterically. My interviewer was very cool, and even made some comment about how all the journals on the wall were probably just dust jackets for a huge, fifty year collection of porn, spouting off the names of 5 or 6 hardcore magazine titles; hustler, jugs, cream, etc... I was both dumbfounded and impressed at the honesty/casualness of the situation. EM docs rule.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

No kidding!! This would have saved me countless connection delays. Because if the winds are right, doing a HAHO (High altitude High opening) at like 35K feet could carry you as far as 100 miles (plug in the physics kinetic motion equation if you doubt me...using a 30 mph wind and the fact that a chute significantly lessens the effect of gravity). It would be perfect for flights like Dallas to Chicago if you wanted to go to places like Peoria, Indy (although you might have to hitch a ride for the other half depending on the flight pattern!!)


Next flight joke:

My absolute favorite anxiety provoking event is when I get randomly assigned to the window seat in aisle 35 or higher, and have a connection at O'Hare that is ultra-tight......and landing at concourse H but having to haul a$$ to concourse B some 2 miles away!! And then when you expend 400 calories running to concourse B, the the flight is delayed and the gate has been reassigned back to concourse H again!! Finally when you get back to concourse H and get in line to board, you look like someone affected by a pheo and it takes you the first hour of the flight to stop sweating. Of course you have your 3 layers of Columbia and Patagonia shirts on because you thought it might be cold when you got off the plane, and God forbid you had packed ithem and made your carry on one inch wider where they might want you to check it!! I often feel like I am an extra in that scene from airplane where people run non-stop from gate 34, to gate 35, to gate 36, chasing the plane!!

Yeah, I hate O'Hare. The only airport that I despise more is Heathrow.

As for HALO/HAHO jumps, I would give my left testicle to be able to utilize that in a civilian SAR mission. Actually, I would just like to be able to jump into a rescue period. 👍