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Ailing Airlines: Highway or Skyway?

By THERESA RAPOLTI-SABATINO
NIE EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT

Flying as a passenger in a commercial airplane can be a quick and efficient way to travel, as many kids already know firsthand. Being an airline passenger can be extremely fun. Often, pilots and airline personnel make flying especially enjoyable for children by allowing visits to the cockpit, handing out souvenirs and inviting children to sit in the pilot's seat for a "pretend" takeoff.

Current events, however, can have a big effect on the airline business. For example, the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 changed the atmosphere and relaxed attitude of flying. Many airline companies are having money problems and some have filed bankruptcy due to extreme financial hardship. With the airline industry in distress and the need for precautionary measures to protect airline travelers, the continuing success of the airline industry is in question. A recent article in The Daytona Beach News-Journal addressed some of these concerns as well as some positive perspectives for continued airline travel.

In that article, the reporter discussed the case of a commercial airline pilot who had retired within a week of the September 11th tragedy, but not because of the tragedy itself. Pilot Norm Nelson, formerly of Delta Airlines, expressed his continued confidence in airline travel as well as his enjoyment of flying. The pilot, who had been trained to fly while serving in the United States Navy, expressed his feeling that passenger safety is a priority for airline pilots and that the threat of terrorism and hijacking has always been a concern.

For some time after the terrorist attacks on the United States, many people chose not to fly. They found other ways to travel, such as by car, train or bus. The fear caused by the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon still affects a percentage of the general public as well as those who lost family and friends in those disasters. The airline industry was severely affected. Recovery is taking place over a period of years rather than immediately.

While most feel optimistic about air travel, it has taken a long time for the airline industry to fully recover from the effect of the attacks. But while a percentage of the population is still hesitant to choose air travel, recent news reports show that passenger traffic is soaring. Some want to be sure that effective safety measures are in place and that air travel is once again a wise choice. Other travelers believe that the best way to help restore the airline industry, and restore confidence in flying, is to continue to travel as they did in the past, refusing to allow terrorists to keep them living in fear.

It is uncertain when the airline companies, pilots and passengers will bring flying back to what was once the first choice of travel for most United States citizens. The restoration (regaining) of trust and the enjoyment of air travel is an issue each person has to confront. The United States has overcome other obstacles, though. United States' citizens throughout history have refused to live in fear. For this reason, the airline industry believes there is a strong future in air travel. What do you think? Will the "skyway" industry become strong once again, or will more and more people choose the "highway?"

Let's move on to some activities that will help give you an opportunity to decide what your opinion of the future of flying will be.

Try These Interesting Activities using The Daytona Beach News-Journal

1. Using The News-Journal as a resource, scan for articles relating to air travel or the airline industry. Look specifically for information about security and safety measures that have been implemented (put into place) since September 11, 2001. Make a list of the security and safety measures so that you can refer back to your list. Next, think about any airplane or airport experiences in your own life. Consider how you feel about airline-related changes you have either observed for yourself or have read about. Think about whether the changes made have made airplane travel safer or whether the changes have not seemed effective. Share your thoughts and information with a trusted friend or adult to get his or perspective. Being an informed consumer will give you more confidence in your own preference of traveling by highway or skyway. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.2.2.1, LA.A.2.2.2, LA.A.2.2.5)




Simulation Brett, a senior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and who is minoring in air traffic management, controls air traffic in ERAU's new controller simulator. (Photo: News-Journal/Joanna Kaney)

2. Scan The News-Journal for articles pertaining to airlines that are currently operating. Imagine that you are planning a week's vacation for four people to a location of your choice. Using The Daytona Beach News-Journal, compare round-trip airline fares to your destination. Look for competition within the airline industry, in the form of reduced airfares, a variety of flying times (morning, afternoon or evening) or special incentives for flying with a particular airline company (such as reduced prices on hotel accommodations or meals.) Make a "pretend" purchase and figure out how much your party of four would spend for a week's vacation. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.2.2.1, LA.A.2.2.2, LA.A.2.2.5, LA.B.2.2.1, LA.C.3.2.3, MA.A.3.2.2, MA.A.3.2.3)



3. Take an imaginary trip back in time while researching the history of flight. Scan The News-Journal for articles related to the history of flying and the early days of commercial (public) air travel. Locate pictures, if possible, through newspapers, magazines or maybe even an old family photo album. Write an imaginary story of what it might have been like to experience the early years of flying. This is imaginary so have fun with it and be creative. Add appropriate photos if you have found some (remember not to touch family albums or cut photos from magazines without first asking for permission) and put your creation together either in a folder, on poster board, paper clipped or stapled. Share your creation with trusted friends, parents, caregivers or your teachers. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.2.2.1, LA.A.2.2.5, SS.A.1.2.1)



4. Make a collage on paper or poster board using travel information and pictures from News-Journal articles, magazines and perhaps of yourself while you were traveling at some time. You can use photos of air travel, flight schedules, maps for traveling by car and other photos pertaining to travel. (Please remember to ask permission before taking photos from albums.) Display your collage in a place where others can learn from it. (Sunshine State Standards: VA.A.1.2.1, VA.B.1.2.1)



5. Find out from your parents or caregivers if they plan to travel in the next six months. Ask if you could assist with any airline travel plans by using The News-Journal to find airfares, destinations and flight times. In this way, you are developing and practicing your own "travel agent" skills. If there is not a plan for air travel in your immediate future, make up an imaginary trip and be your own travel agent. (Click on www.familytravelforum.com to help you as you are completing the activities listed above. This site has information for every member of the family when planning to travel. It also provides information about different ways of traveling such as airplane, automobile and boat.) Write this information down to start your own "real" or "imaginary" travel log. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.2.2.5, LA.B.1.2.1, LA.b.2.2.1)

A copy of Florida's Sunshine State Standards can be found at intech2000.miamisci.org.

Check out these links to learn more

Click on www.ala.org/alsc/children to visit the National Air and Space Museum' online offerings. Find links to interesting information about air travel in the present as well as the history of air travel. Remember that as you complete activities and visit websites or links, you will be forming your own personal opinion based on information you gather and experiences in your life.

A creative website that offers air travel related puzzles, games and activities for kids is www.af.mil/aflinkjr/jr.htm. The site is a child-oriented Air Force site with a lot of interesting and information in addition to fun activities. Click on and enjoy.

The Thomson Family Adventures website at www.familyadventures.com has ideas for travel based on interests and ages of family members or the group traveling. This site has an interesting and eye-catching home page with a variety of choices for travel research and ideas. The site even has suggestions about traveling and travel costs.

The Newspaper Association of America's web site contains links to many papers in the United States and around the world, which may contain information pertaining to the airline industry and air travel. To access the newspapers at the site, select a state. Click on the "Internationals" button to view choices from other countries.

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