Media out of control with "Breaking News"

[Erlanger]

Anyone tell me why this story is "Breaking News"?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10618257/

 

[mar]

The public has a RIGHT to know!

I guess those vultures figure if they tape enough airplanes landing pretty soon they'll get lucky and get to see one crash.

Sort of like NASCAR.

Sickos.

 

[jetexas]

FOX news has gotten really bad about it to.
Several times an hour you will hear that "bell" and then an announcement about a "FOX news alert"...The first few times I heard it, I expected to hear about some really world impacting event. Instead, it's just about anything.

 

[GoingHot]

Anyone tell me why this story is "Breaking News"?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10618257/

Slow week for the 24/7 news programs, no missing teenage girls. At least none that fit the profile.

 

[Tail Gunner Joe]

The headline says it all with: 'Jet lands safely'

No. That is not news. But what is it? I don't know.

I know it is not educational or even informative just a network time waster (like Letterman used to do)

 

[nickfaith]

I used to direct news... It really is a shame that the newsies (anchors, reporters, producers) are pretty much forced into doing some of these "breaking news" stories. If you weren't on the story while it was happening, if something really bad (newsworthy) did happen and you weren't on it, you'd be in serious trouble and way behind already. So the industry looks at everything that COULD be newsworthy and runs with it. When I worked in TV, I can't count the number of times we'd cut out of something, run our little breaking news open and go with it. Good examples include an 18 wheeler turnover in the middle of nowhere with no hazmat on board or anything, an "emergency" aircraft 100 miles from here that "might" have to divert to our local airport. It's pretty rediculous, but in order to be ahead of the competition, it's a necessary evil.

Nick Faith
"If it bleeds, it leads"

 

[Vik]

BREAKING NEWS: A jet has landed safely just a few minutes ago at LAX.

Phew! what a close one .. >=)

 

[mar]

And in a related story...

...A FedEx Caravan just landed with one operating engine.

The packages are O.K.

The pilot however has been detained by the TSA for what appears to be possesion of a mechanical pencil.

 

[TWA Dude]

The Media is a business. Airline stories (bad ones) attract a lot of public interest which equals advertising dollars. It sucks but that's the way it is.

BTW, that A318 could've saved a lot of time by just landing overweight. Emergency authority allows it.

 

[mar]

Let's talk about it

BTW, that A318 could've saved a lot of time by just landing overweight. Emergency authority allows it.

Disclaimer: I did *not* watch the scintillating coverage or read any reports about this situation so I certainly don't have all the facts.

But the PIC is authorized to deviate from the FARs only to the *extent* necessary to cope with the emergency.

I'm not making any judgement of the crew whatsoever. I just think it's debateable whether or not an overweight landing would be better than burning off the fuel. Seems the biggest issue is that of pressurization and once below 10,000 that's no longer so critical.

What's the rush to land?

 

[FedEx1]

We had an emergency the other day- no catering on board. Good thing the news scanners didn't hear us call inside to see if there was catering waiting for us.

At least all these lame-o stories are having good outcomes, and positive pilot spins....

 

[jetalc]

BTW, that A318 could've saved a lot of time by just landing overweight. Emergency authority allows it.

Yes, you are correct - IF they had declared an emergency, which they never did. It wasn't an emergency landing, it wasn't an emergency situation, and therefore there was no emergency authority. It was simply a diversion, intended to avoid an emergency situation - there was no need to hustle down and land, overweight at that.

 

[SiuDude]

...A FedEx Caravan just landed with one operating engine.

The packages are O.K.

The pilot however has been detained by the TSA for what appears to be possesion of a mechanical pencil.

...and a fully automatic FN F.A.L.

 

[91100 100 set]

"A watched plane never crashes".

 

[TWA Dude]

I just think it's debateable whether or not an overweight landing would be better than burning off the fuel.

My point is that an overweight landing in good weather with a long runway is not a big deal and that there appears to have been no safety issue with doing so. Not monday-morning quarterbacking, just providing an alternative option.

Yes, you are correct - IF they had declared an emergency, which they never did. It wasn't an emergency landing, it wasn't an emergency situation, and therefore there was no emergency authority.

The "E" word need not be declared for the captain's emergency authority to be in effect. Futhermore, ATC can and does declare the emergency for the flight if the pilots don't. I can guarantee they asked the Frontier pilots for their souls-on-board and fuel. One day in an MD80 our right main gear wouldn't come up so we returned to BOS. We didn't declare, in fact, we said everything was just fine. No big deal, but ATC did ask for our s.o.b. and fuel and rolled the equipment for us. If we had been overweight in this instance we probably would've circled but we'd also have made the news. The TV does add ten pounds.

 

[leardawg]

I remember when I was about 8 years old, and a special bulletin came in the middle of the program I was watching announcing the assassination of Martin Luther King. I had no idea who he was, but I remember it being kind of scary. It used to be that when those rare "We interrupt this program for a special news bulletin!" came on you braced yourself for some really momentous news (an assassination; the Apollo 1 fire comes to mind). I half expected one of them would one day announce that a massive attack from the Soviet Union was imminent, and to seek shelter immediately. Nowadays, I still stop what I'm doing, but usually to be informed that Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey have split up, or that the L.A. police are chasing yet another stolen vehicle, or something like that. It's getting most annoying and ridiculous. I half expect someday soon to be interrupted by a bulletin saying "Man stops what he's doing to view news flash" and see myself gawking from the TV screen. A steady descent into virtual insanity!!!!

 

[mar]

Understood.

My point is that an overweight landing in good weather with a long runway is not a big deal and that there appears to have been no safety issue with doing so. Not monday-morning quarterbacking, just providing an alternative option.

I gotcha now. Thanks.

 

[Cassive Mock]

I love when CNN refers to "aviation expert" John King! I never could stand to watch his videos.

 

[FedEx1]

At least he is better looking than Martha....

 

[NW_Pilot]

I love when CNN refers to "aviation expert" John King! I never could stand to watch his videos.

King Videos, The best sleep aid I have ever used.