Here is a list of contradictions that just make no sense here at the airport. These are rules and standards that have been reviewed, issued, followed, and reviewed again by numerous authorities:
- The ground level of every airport must be handicap accessible. Including wheelchair ramps, handicap bathrooms, and Braille writing on all doors. Despite being in an area where handicapped people are not allowed to work, or able to get to.
- Every motorized piece of equipment must have a guide person when driving towards an aircraft. The only exception is for the fueler and mechanics who drive up to and between the engines, the most important part of the plane.
- While highly encouraged ear plugs and other safety equipment for airport personnel can only be suggested, not required. You have the freedom to go deaf and have avoidable injuries.
- Rain is a natural act where a large area is covered in liquid precipitation. Throwing a bucket of water on the tarmac is a chemical spill and subject environmental protection fines.
- There are luggage bag stores in the sterile area past security. A place where you have to have checked your luggage already.
- When a passenger illegally walked onto the tarmac and into my workplace, my staff told him to go back to the door he came from, and called security. 3 branches of law enforcement responded within seconds and the individual was apprehended. Homeland Security was furious that my did not detain the individual. Airport Security and PD applauded my staff for performing the correct actions, and avoiding a possible hostile confrontation. While it's every airport employee's job to look out for suspicious and unauthorized individuals, it's law enforcements duty to arrest and detain them.
- Some airports have a secondary security check points with Duty Free stores in between checkpoints where they sell you perfume, booze, and other liquids that will have to be confiscated when you go through security.
- The tarmac speed limit ranges from 5 to 15 MPH. Airfield Safety Officers can and do drive 60 - 80 MPH to pull you over for violating it.
- All motorized equipment must have seat belts. Even if they don't have a roof or roll bar. Think about what would happen if the vehicle flips.
In the Newark airport I was able to buy postcards and stamps, but became confused when I was unable find a mailbox.
ReplyDeleteI asked a police officer and was informed that there were no mail boxes allowed within a mile of the airport for security reasons.
I tried asking people at my airline's customer service desk to drop it in their outgoing mail and was told that it was illegal for them to do that.
... because my postcard, which had passed through a security checkpoint, might be a bomb and putting it in a mailbox might endanger an airplane?
I eventually mailed my postcard... from home.
Congrats on being my first commenter. You rock!
ReplyDeleteWow before you mentioned the postcard went through security I was going to say; I wouldn't be surprised if the postcard, stamps, hell even the pen you wrote with were all purchased in the secured sterile area.
Makes you wonder why they sell postcards at the airport in the first place..