Journeys and Adventures

The US Airways plane emergency landing into the Hudson River two weeks ago called attention to aviation safety—the pilot, crew, and air traffic controllers were all credited for remaining calm, thinking ahead, and keeping all 155 passengers safe.

The emergency landing made me think about the airline safety briefing that starts every flight.  Most of us know the “emergency exits are here” with the double-finger-point (we all learn that in the hospitality industry—it’s considered unprofessional to point), but how often do you really pay attention?  I always try to at least pretend to focus, because I feel it’s rude and I feel bad for the flight attendants, but I, too, often tune them out.  An emergency landing on the water, however, is a good reminder that we really should pay attention once in awhile.

Even if you’re not interested in staying safe, you should listen just in case you get one of the funny safety briefings like those mentioned by Aviation Etc. (“”We do feature a smoking section on this flight; if you must smoke, contact a member of the flight crew and we will escort you to the wing of the airplane” is one of my favorites).

Or check out this funny (and real!) safety briefing from Southwest Airlines…

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It was fun to watch the reunions and greetings as people arrived—children grinning from ear to ear as their Daddy came through the sliding doors, businessmen shaking hands in greeting, friends holding hand-written welcome signs and offering beer as a welcome gift.

It was also interesting to be one of those people that stand there carrying a sign—and to watch all the other sign-carrying-greeters.  There were some greeters from tour companies, some from businesses, and some from…well, I’m not quite sure (my favorite was the guy with a sign that had the Burger King logo on it—I really do wonder who he was picking up).  Each of us staring at the throng of people coming through the doors waiting for some kind of acknowledgement or eye contact, hoping for some recognition.

It was a reminder, too, of just how amazing airports are.  To think of how many people, flights, cars, deliveries, and bags that are processed through a large airport in a single day (and often without error) can be mind-boggling.

Kudos to those that work in airports…including those on “airport duty”.