http://blog.wired.com/biotech/2006/10/experiment_on_p.html

10/24/2006 1:50:37 PM

no, just stupid, it sounds like

10/24/2006 2:05:52 PM

First: "Operating on a green light from lower-level FAA officials, management assigned the crews to work longer shifts in the cockpit"

Second:" a third pilot was always on board to take the controls if needed. The JetBlue pilots who participated in the experiment volunteered for the assignment."

Third: "...no in-flight emergencies during the test period..."

How was this stupid, unsound, illegal, or in any-way dangerous? Jet-blue did everything sensible before engaging in this experiment. Sure, they might have discosed the experiment and the safety precausions taken, but overall nothing here was immoral.

10/24/2006 3:01:17 PM

because it still amounts to JetBlue performing experiments that directly contradict federal law which could possibly endanger thousands of unknowing people.
If they were serious about showing progress in this area, then they easily could have put pilots in full-immersion flight simulators for 12 hours a day and seen what happened. Then taken results to the FAA, then proceeded with experiments in other ways, like using cargo pilots.

10/24/2006 3:10:48 PM

The FAA allowed them to do it, at least initially

It seems they attempted to go through the proper channels

Maybe the FAA is crazy

10/24/2006 3:15:13 PM

The FAA didn't allow them to do anything, can't you read?

10/24/2006 3:18:13 PM

Quote :

"Operating on a green light from lower-level FAA officials"

10/24/2006 3:20:05 PM

Quote :

"The carrier says it proceeded under the assumption that local FAA officials had the power to approve the company's plans under so-called supplemental flight rules. Those rules specify that airlines flying longer distances must have at least one extra pilot on board so no single pilot flies more than eight hours in total. However, in the JetBlue test, even though each flight had a third pilot on board, the original crews stayed at the controls for more than 10 hours a day. None of the reserve pilots ever replaced a regular crew member."

So they probably communicated to the FAA that they were going to do one thing, and then did another.

So, no, the FAA didn't give them permission to do a test outside of already established rules.

10/24/2006 3:21:45 PM

I stand corrected.

10/24/2006 3:33:16 PM

I wouldn't stand for that

10/24/2006 3:35:22 PM

Quote :

"So they probably communicated to the FAA that they were going to do one thing, and then did another."

You don't get a green-light from the FAA and then follow standard flight rules. JetBlue wanted to try something new, cleared it with FAA representatives, and then an internal power squabble inside the FAA broke out between Washington and the regional handlers.

JetBlue did nothing wrong. If anything illegal occured it was because FAA representatives gave permission they did not have the authority to give. This is why JetBlue has not and will not be fined or otherwise punished.

10/24/2006 3:36:44 PM

DON'T WORRY. IF JETBLUE DID ANYTHING WRONG, THE FREE MARKET WILL FIX IT!!! PEOPLE WILL JUST STOP FLYING JETBLUE AND GO TO THEIR MORE EXPENSIVE COMPETITORS! THE FAA IS STICKING THEIR NOSE WHERE IT DOESN'T BELONG!

10/24/2006 4:07:19 PM

Please don't feed the troll

10/24/2006 4:08:55 PM

^^ Sure enough. If JetBlue had done something wrong then the managers would be under indictment in jail, the stock would have collapsed, and JetBlue employees would be refusing to work under unsafe conditions.

10/24/2006 5:38:19 PM