The Value of Airplane Accident Claims

Airplane accidents are devastating tragedies. Almost every year, these accidents become the headlines of news stories. In all cases, lots of lives are being taken which brings trauma to their surviving dependents. Losing you love ones from such incidents is really a painful experience. So, if you’ve lost a relative or you’re a survivor of such accident, you can file an aviation accident claim to recover compensation on the pain and suffering and financial crisis that you’ve gone through.

Based on researches, the assistance provided to survivors and family members of death victims are based on the type and place of the accident. In the United Stated, smaller airplane accidents that happen outside the country provide limited financial assistance to the victim’s beneficiaries. Major aviation disasters, on the other hand, that happens in the U.S. can include a complex interaction of state and federal law, or international law.

Fortunately, airline companies are given certain post-accident requirements in the federal law that they have to follow. These include setting up of family support services including grief counseling and support; designating individual caregivers to assist each family; working with families to identify and return remains and possessions; and setting up a communications network with families. Every survivor or the relatives of the victims of an airplane accident can obtain these benefits as aviation accident claims.

Additionally, smaller commuters and commercial air operators also have their own assistance response plans in case of an airplane accident. There are also a lot of persons and institutions you can contact for help and assistance such as the Red Cross and other agencies including law enforcement agencies, representatives of companies who may be involved in the accident, representatives of insurance companies, lawyers who represent victims of accidents, lawyers who represent the parties involved in the accident, and the news media.

Indeed, every airline company has a professional responsibility to all their passengers in every trip. As we all know, many lives are at risk during this time and we cannot avoid these things to happen. After all, airplane accidents are unanticipated. They can happen anytime. I just hope that the injured and relatives of the victims can receive the compensation that they deserve. After all, these airplane accident claims can never bring back the lives of those persons and cannot totally compensate to those who have suffered intense pain and suffering due to the incident.

Advanced Aviation Gadgets

Well in aviation the toys for pilots are getting a lot better, for instance the GPS-PDAs with sectional charts on them. Also lots of other data like the J-Aide and Jeppeson airport contacts once you arrive. All this makes flying easier, less complicated and more enjoyable. AvMap EKP-III C



http://www.avshop.com/catalog/product.html?productid=3781

and even more cool are the ones with all the bells and whistles; Such as loading it with an International Data Base. Hell now the CIA can have all the civilian data along with their intelligence information. Of course this newest Industry finds itself with many new players as pilots are generally not having a problem affording new toys and it saves all those large flight bags and Knee Boards and clips. You can still buy the clipboards and I have one when I drive the Blitz Mobile mobile command center across the country hunting for the latest technologies it has maps and important numbers to do business from the highway. Many truck drivers and railroad conductors use such boards and in the NAVY Pilots use them and even probably torpedo bombers did too; remember George Bush Senior flew a torpedo bomber?

Back to our GPS Toys and PDA devices; Another one of the more unique ones is the EnFlight Text Weather Devise which you can google to get all the specs, definitely worth a look see. All of these devises also allow for National Security so no more private pilots in C-182s fly into restricted areas.

These companies are also careful whom they send these devises to, for obvious reasons. Just think you could be flying your own private plane with a little PDA devise and go have a blast with your newfound freedom. Another cool devise and one of my favorites is the Pocket test which you can look up on Google. This is a cool devise to help you from getting lost and it has just about too many features to list, too bad it was not Windows CE based, I just cannot trust the longevity of Palm in the market place and hope our military is not so stupid to buy into there hype for military versions. One thing going for it is its size. Very small.

We did like the MapTech unit also because we can use it on a laptop, Handheld GPS unit of PDA GPS unit, with terrain CAD capabilities. This unit has many other purposes for General Civil Engineering, Forestry, Mobile Car Washing scheduling and routing, Aviation, Hiking, Fishing, Diving, Trucking, you name it. It also has features from NOAA for weather; I would recommend this as the best all-purpose unit I have thus yet found. It also works with ESRI software. So we like this for its versatility across industries. Good for us too with the blitz mobile to take the route with the least amount of hills for fuel consumption conservation and wear and tear on a 300,000-mile truck. Another of the best units we looked at was the

http://www.teletype.com/pages/tracking.html

which can be used like a Top Secret "Bloodhound Unit" and we can use this for car wash truck tracking, can be used for just about any real use to help you find your self or units. This is a way we can covertly track our units so employees do not screw off and kill profits and lie about where they were and how long they were there. Also in our survey we looked at the SatellinkTech units and found a lot of other cool features there;

http://www.satellinktech.com/product/merlin_air_main.htm .

This is a great tool, like the other units is does provide real time data such as; Airport observations and forecasts (text), Area forecasts (text), Upper wind forecasts (text), Pilot reports (text and onboard processed graphics), Icing and Turbulence forecasts (graphical), Status of restricted, prohibited, and military training airspace (text and onboard processed graphics), Location of other aircraft on instrument flight plans (onboard processed graphics), FAA alerts and advisories, Aircraft Situational Display.

What is also of interest is how much all these companies work together so that they can provide all the same data to all their customers. This does not mean one is not better than the other. For our purposes we chose the Tele Type unit with all the features, which we may implement in the future. I hope this review of products has assisted you in learning more about the technology. Many of these PDA technologies will be available for nearly any business small or large.

Understanding Aircraft Insurance Policies

Many states require that owners and/or operators of aircraft have insurance covering their aircraft and operations. At a minimum, states usually require third-party
liability coverage. This applies to injuries to third-persons that result from operation of your aircraft. Additionally, if your aircraft is pledged as collateral for
financing, the lender will require that you have hull coverage and/or replacement value insurance to insure the value of the aircraft collateral.



Obtaining the Policy



So, how do you obtain aircraft insurance? Typically, you apply for aircraft insurance through an insurance agent or broker who represents an insurance company or
companies that provide aircraft insurance policies. The insurance company then reviews the application and does any additional investigation necessary for it to
assess its risk in providing you with insurance for your aircraft or operations. Its risk is the likelihood that it may have to pay out on a claim against your
policy.



In exchange for its acceptance of risk, the insurance company charges you a premium. The amount of that premium is a direct product of the amount of risk that the
insurance company is assuming by extending coverage to your aircraft or operation. The greater the risk, the more expensive the insurance coverage will be. In
some cases, the insurance company may not be willing to accept a particular risk for any price.



Factors that affect the underwriting decision include type of aircraft, pilot qualifications (e.g. total time, time in type, pilot certificates/ratings), nature of the operation
(e.g. pleasure, business, Part 91 or Part 135) and base of operations. General aviation policies can include non-commercial pleasure and business use under FAR
Part 91 or commercial use under FAR Part 135.



Reading the Policy



When an aviation insurance policy is issued, it represents a contract between you and your insurance company. As long as you comply with all of the terms and
requirements of the policy, your insurance company will provide you with coverage. If you fail to comply and a claim arises, you may find yourself without
coverage.



But, what does the aircraft insurance policy actually say? Well, as a practical matter, it is quite common that pilots and operators do not read their policies. Sure,
they may review the declaration page to confirm that the correct parties are named and that the appropriate coverage limits are in place, but often times that is as far
as it goes. Sometimes an owner or operator may even ask his or her agent to explain some of the policy’s terms.



Unfortunately, the policy contains quite a bit more information of which the pilot or operator needs to be aware of to ensure that he or she complies with the terms of
the policy. A thorough review of the policy is both prudent and recommended.



This review should begin with the Data Page or Declaration Page. First, confirm that the aircraft is correctly identified and that the appropriate owner and any
additional insured parties are included. Also read the coverage limits to make sure that you have the limits for which you are paying.




Aircraft Damage Coverage




The typical aircraft insurance policy will include both aircraft damage coverage, as well as aircraft liability coverage. The aircraft damage coverage applies when
your aircraft sustains damage (e.g. bent metal, broken windows etc.). This coverage comes in two flavors: In-flight/In-motion and
Not-in-flight/Not-in-motion.



As you may have guessed, in the first instance your aircraft will be insured for damages it sustains while it is in use: moving under the power of its own engine,
whether taxiing or flying. In the latter instance, you aircraft will only be insured while it is parked on the ramp or in the hangar. This coverage is less expensive
because it presents far less exposure to the insurance company. It will only have to pay a claim if something happens to your aircraft while it is standing still and not
in use. An aircraft owner may want this limited coverage when the aircraft is going to be stored and unused for a period of time.



It is also possible to purchase “all risk ground and flight” coverage. This coverage protects you whether the aircraft is moving or not. However, a policy with this
coverage will likely be more expensive than a policy that is either In-flight/In-motion or Not-in-flight/Not-in-motion.



The aircraft damage coverage provides for transportation of the aircraft to and from the location at which the repairs are made, any related storage charges and the
actual repair of the aircraft. However, most policies will also exclude coverage for damage sustained by your aircraft as a result of governmental seizure, resulting
from repossession or enforcement of a lien against your aircraft or damage that is due to ordinary wear and tear, deterioration or age.



Assuming the damage to your aircraft is covered, you should read your policy language to determine whether it contains any specific restrictions or requirements
relating to processing of your claim, who performs the repairs, where they are performed and even how they are to be performed. Simply because you have
insurance coverage, this does not mean that you have carte blanche for having your aircraft repaired.



Aircraft Liability Coverage




Aircraft liability coverage protects you from liability or responsibility to third-persons for damages they may suffer resulting from the operation of your aircraft. The
coverage requires that the insurance company both indemnify and defend you against such claims. Indemnification means that if you are responsible for the damage
to a third-person, the insurance company will pay the third-person directly, up to the policy limits, the amount for which you are responsible.



The duty to defend means that the insurance company will pay for your defense costs if you are sued by a third-person alleging that your operation of your aircraft
caused damage. The insurance company will hire an attorney, usually experience in aviation law, to represent you and defend against the claims. Given the
complexity and cost of aviation litigation, this benefit alone can be worth a substantial amount of money and may even exceed the amount of money actually paid by
the insurance company to indemnify you.



Your policy will always have a maximum limit for liability coverage that can be either “sub-limit” or “smooth” coverage. An example of sub-limit coverage is a policy
that provides for $1,000,000 per occurrence and $200,000 per passenger. This does not mean that you have $1,000,000 to pay all claims.



Rather, the insurance company will pay a maximum of $1,000,000 per occurrence, but will only pay each passenger up to a maximum of $200,000. Thus, for an
accident in which only one passenger is injured, the insurance company’s maximum exposure is $200,000, exclusive of any amounts it spends on your
defense.



On the other hand, smooth limit coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence will provide up to $1,000,000 of coverage regardless of the number of passengers. This
coverage presents a greater risk to the insurance company since it could have to pay the full policy limits even if only one person is injured. As a result, greater risk
means that the premium for this coverage is going to be more expensive than the premium for a policy containing sub-limits.



Policy Definitions



When you read an aircraft insurance policy, you need to pay special attention to the definitions section. Many of the terms used in the policy have specific definitions
that are different from a dictionary definition or common usage for that word.



Examples include the definition of “accident” which is often defined as a “sudden and unexpected event resulting in bodily injury, death or property damage”. This is
different than the definition of accident contained in NTSB Rule 830 and is also more specific than a dictionary or common usage definition of the word.



Another example is the definition of “commercial operations” or “commercial purpose.” An insurance policy’s definition of this term is usually different from, and in
some cases may be broader than, the FAA’s or IRS’s definition or a dictionary definition.



These are just two examples. However, remember that the aircraft insurance policy is a contract between you and the insurance company. Both you and the
insurance company agreed to the policy definitions when you paid the premium and the insurance company issued the policy. As a result, both you and the insurance
company will be bound by those definitions.



Coverage Exclusions



Your aircraft policy will also contain exclusions. Exclusions define circumstances in which the insurance company will not provide you with coverage for operation of
your aircraft. An aircraft insurance policy usually includes both specific and general exclusions.



Specific exclusions arise when you assume additional liability (e.g. you sign a contract that indemnifies or holds someone else harmless for damage they cause),
damage occurs to your own property or injury occurs to members of your family. The policy may also specifically exclude coverage for your own medical expenses
or for your operation of an aircraft that you do not own.



Depending upon the state in which the aircraft is based, general exclusions can result in denial of coverage regardless of whether they directly caused a particular
claim. These exclusions will preclude coverage for operation of your aircraft in commercial operations (as defined by the policy, not necessarily the FAA or IRS),
using your aircraft to commit unlawful acts, damage caused by war or terrorism or if your aircraft is operated by a pilot that is not named as an insured on the policy
and does not meet the open pilot qualifications.



Who Is Covered



Assuming no exclusions are applicable, the policy will provide coverage to each person named as an insured under the policy and to pilots who meet the “open pilot”
requirements. As a threshold matter, each pilot operating the aircraft, whether named insured or qualifying under the open pilot provision, will need to possess the
appropriate pilot and medical certificates and meet all currency requirements for operation of your aircraft.



The open pilot provision extends the coverage of your aircraft insurance policy to a pilot operating your aircraft who is not a named insured on your policy. The
provision sets out total time, time in type and training requirements that the unnamed pilot must meet in order for the pilot to be covered under the policy. Generally,
if those requirements are met and the pilot is operating your aircraft with your consent, your insurance coverage should extend to that pilot.



What You Can Do



The complexities of aircraft insurance can seem daunting. But, what can you do to protect yourself? The first, and one of the most important things you can do, is to
read your insurance policy. If you have questions regarding terms or coverage talk to your insurance agent or contact an aviation attorney who is familiar with
aviation insurance matters.



Once you understand the policy, make sure you abide by the policy and comply with its terms and requirements. It makes little sense to spend substantial amounts
of money on insurance premiums and then place your coverage in jeopardy by doing or allowing something your policy prohibits.



Next, document your operations. What do I mean by that? Simple: Keep good records. Make sure your pilot logbook is up-to-date and current. If you take
your pilot logbook with you when you fly, make copies of the pages containing your satisfaction of the FAR currency requirements and keep the copies in a safe
place.



This way, if something happens to your pilot logbook and your insurance company or the FAA later question your currency, you will have back-up proof that you
were current for your flight. Although not as critical, you may also want to keep a photocopy of your pilot certificate(s) along with your logbook records.



Finally, you should use this same procedure for your aircraft and engine logbooks. If you must take them with you in the airplane, make copies and keep them in a
safe place. In this instance, you may want to make a full set of copies of the logbook entries, rather than just the pages showing the aircraft’s current airworthiness.
An aircraft that contains logbook entries for all of the work ever performed on the aircraft is worth more to a potential purchaser than if those records are incomplete
or missing.



These simple steps can prevent potentially costly disputes down the road. It’s been said that the best insurance is the insurance you never have to use. That may be,
but if you take these steps, you should have greater peace of mind that your insurance will be there if you need it.

Does size really matter?

Bigger is better. Isn't that the American dream?

Why buy a road-hogging, critter-squishing, bumper-defying, wall-of-metal SUV when you have the delicious option of buying a BIGGER road-hogging, critter-squishing, bumper-defying, wall-of-metal SUV?

Why settle for a puny three-bedroom, two-bathroom bungalow of our parents' generation nestled comfortably on a green plot of land with a few nice shade trees? In new "developments" these days, you can choose a two-storey home bulging beyond the property line of today's incredible shrinking lots, complete with a bedroom that can sleep 34 PLUS a walk-in closet that sleeps another 20 AND an ensuite bathroom big enough to store your SUV when your 300-cubit-long garage is full of toys or tools. (That's one arc-full, in case you didn't know.)

I remember early in primary school how the teachers made us line up according to height before we could go into the school. I suppose it was a measure of our universally exemplary behavior that I had plenty of time to daydream in line while some of the more spirited children were rounded up by the sheep dogs.

My line-up thoughts often turned to dissecting school rules in hopes of finding intelligent life in them. Although my futile quest never succeeded, all was not lost. As one of the shorter kids in my class, I developed a theoretic framework for the "lining up by height" rule. That framework took the form of three questions:

1.If size does not matter, why were we being sorted by height?
2.If size does matter, what do the teachers have against us shorter kids, making a daily display of the height we lacked?
3.If big is better, why were the shorter kids given the front seats with the better view?

Although the answers to those questions remain a mystery to this day, I am convinced that size does not matter (except when someone offers me a slice of cheesecake – yum!).

My wife and I witnessed an awesome display of aviation the other day. Two hawks were flying around across the street, swooping right over us at times. They were trying to establish a new nest.

Usually, hawks fly somewhere "up there", distant silhouettes against the blinding brightness of the sky. But on this occasion, they were flying low enough for us to make out the colors beneath their wings: the deep, dark brown and the sandy tan feathers.

And low enough to see the colors of the little birds (sparrows, perhaps?) giving chase. It was an even match, or so it seemed. Two sparrows versus two hawks. OK, perhaps not completely even. Each hawk looked big enough to gulp down a sparrow in a single chomp, like a person might swallow a grape. Come to think of it, this match did not look any more even than if I had been placed in a ring with a well-fed sumo wrestler.

Yet there they were, two big hawks, graceful and majestic, the scourge of field mice everywhere, managing impossible maneuvers to evade the slightest touch of the tiny sparrows.

Why? Because sparrows are more agile than hawks, and can more easily position themselves for attack. Because sparrows are less fragile than hawks, and do not fear feather damage to the same degree. Because sparrows are quicker than hawks, so they can more easily retreat if they have to.

Sadly for the hawks, their size was of little comfort against the superior skills of the sparrows. And sadly for us, it appears we will NOT be watching the comings and goings of hawks nesting across the street.

Does size matter? No. But if you want to make that slice of cheesecake just a bit bigger, I would be much obliged.

It pays to be lazy on eBay

I have a friend who has a pretty good business selling a variety of items on eBay and other online auctions. His system is simple, he goes to flea markets, physical auctions, thrift shops and close outs and buys stock to sell on eBay.

Sometime he does really well and sells something for $100 that only cost him $10. Of course he does not always make such spectacular profit margins as that but generally he does pretty well. In fact these days, like many thousands of other people he makes his main living from selling through eBay.

In fact there is only one problem, he is spending more time and working harder than he did in his former “regular” job. He is up early to get the best bargains at the flea market, then when he gets them home he has to research and write up the item description and take a photograph. Doing this for a couple hundred products every week doesn’t leave my pal much spare time. When I met him at a party the other week he was really looking tired and depressed.

“OK I am my own boss but it is like being on a treadmill, if I stop the money stops. I think I might be better getting a regular job again”.

The outcome was that I agreed to take a look at his business to see if there was anything that I could suggest that would help him.

When I started to look at his operation two things struck me at once. He was not aiming at any specific market. He was just going out and buying whatever was available so in one week he might buy some books, children’s games, some DVDs and office machinery. This might be fine if you are treating eBay as a hobby but not if it is your business.

Whenever you read about any form of online selling the words “niche market” will quickly appear. There is a good reason for this, if as a small trader you want to succeed you must target specific niches. It makes sense to find an easily targeted niche because they will be far more profitable in the long term than trying to sell to the world.

The second mistake my friend was making was that all his sales were one off and rarely did a customer make more than one sale. This was not because of any bad products or service just the fact that someone buying a fishing rod almost certainly would not be interested in a foot spa or whatever else my pal was offering the following week.

These days more and more people are realising that eBay should not be your single method of selling but part of a fully integrated marketing plan. EBay offers you one of the cheapest and easiest ways to build up a highly targeted opt in mailing list and as everyone will tell you the money is in the list. But very few people take advantage of this.

For example your niche market might be books on the subject of aviation. Each time someone buys a book from you on eBay you know that they are the type of person
who will spend money on their interest. So if you offer them similar items they are likely to purchase those as well. If you can get them to sign up for an opt in list you will have a potential customer who might buy many items form you in the future.

These days as a one-person business I believe that it is not enough just sell on eBay
but have a complimentary web site as well. You can promote your web site to your eBay customers in several ways. First of all mention it and create a link on your About Me Page. (What you don’t have an About Me Page! As John Mackinroe would say, “You can’t be serious”). Also when you e-mail successful bidders to tell them you have dispatched their item tell them about your web site. And of course add a link in the Signature block at the bottom of all your e-mails.

Another way to get your eBay customers to opt in to your e-mail list is to offer them a free report on a relevant subject. Providing it contains useful facts it does not need to be any longer than this article and you can deliver it by e-mail. What could be easier.

Your web site does not have to be complicated; a price list of some of your products, and perhaps some special offers and possibly links to affiliate sites that are of interest to your niche market. You can even bolster the content for your web site by including some drop ship items related to your niche.

I explained this all to my friend and told him that I was really lazy because knowing my market I was able to buy items in bulk This meant I spent far less time listing items as by using Turbo Lister they could be relisted in a matter of seconds.

My lazy way is simple have about 20 products permently listed on eBay as either Buy It Now or regular auction. Build up my opt in e-mail list, and have a web site with information and offers for my niche market. Once a month I send out an e-mail to my list with some special offer and that is it. That was considerably less work than my friend and the return was far greater.

After the recent price rises many sellers quit eBay, whether permanently or temporarily only time will tell. But as long as you rely purely on the auction site you are very much at their mercy. At least by taking the chance to build up your opt in list and developing your web site, should anything happen in the future you will have something to fall back on and not be totally reliant on eBay.

Now I am pleased to say that he has seen the light, his web site is already up and at last he has put up an About Me page. And the really good news is that he already looks at lot less stressed than he used to.

SECRETS OF FLYING SMART

MAKE YOUR SAFE TRIP EVEN SAFER

When you fly on the commercial airlines of the United States, you are flying on the safest, most efficient form of transportation. When the rare accident does occur, more and more people survive due to advances in aircraft manufacturing and design, air traffic control technology, emergency planning, and cabin safety.

Aviation manufacturers, air carriers, and the Federal Aviation Administration are proud of their contributions to aviation's impressive safety record. You, the air traveler, play a very important role in aviation safety.

You can take responsibility for your own safety.

• Listen To The Safety Briefing • Keep Your Seat Belt Fastened • Obey Carry-On Baggage Restrictions • Wear Sensible Clothing

Fly Smart. Be responsible for your safety and make your safe trip even safer.

LISTEN TO THE SAFETY BRIEFING

Fly Smart travelers always listen to the safety briefing because they know that every aircraft is different. The following are some tips to ensure that you are familiar with the aircraft you are on:

• Take the passenger safety card out of the seat pocket and follow along while you listen to the safety briefing. Always take a moment to review the card before subsequent takeoffs and landings. • One of the best things you can do to be prepared is to mentally plan the actions you would need to take in an emergency. As part of this plan, count seat rows between you and at least two exits. • If you have any questions about the safety procedures, ask the flight attendant. Flight attendants are professionals; they know about the safety procedures of the aircraft.

FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELT

Of all the safety features aboard the aircraft, one of the most important is right at your fingertips, "Your Seat Belt."

In a recent study, nearly 300 turbulence-related serious injuries to passengers were reported over a 10-year period. None of the injured had their seat belts fastened. To prevent turbulence-related injuries, Fly Smart travelers should always:

• Keep their seat belt fastened at all times. • Make sure their seat belt is secured snugly and low across the hips.

OBEY CARRY-ON BAGGAGE RESTRICTIONS

Fly Smart travelers should be aware of what they bring on board.

• Most airlines restrict carry-on baggage to two pieces per passenger. • Carry-on bags must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bins. It's a good idea to put the heavier items under the seat. • Carry-on items could become flying projectiles during turbulence. Heavy items and baggage with sharp corners can be hazardous. • Some hazardous materials are restricted. They can be dangerous if carried (or checked) on an aircraft. Following is a partial list of common articles from the home, workplace, or garage which, because of their physical or chemical properties, can pose a danger when transported. • Mace, tear gas, and other irritants • Aerosols containing flammable material (hair spray, deodorant,repellents) • Loaded firearms • Loose ammunition • Gasoline and other flammable materials • Propane, butane cylinders or refills, and lighter refills • Wet-type batteries, e.g., as used in cars • Fireworks and flares • Safety or -strike-anywhere+ matches (in checked baggage) • Paint and paint-related materials (thinners and cleaners) • Corrosive (acids), poisonous, infectious, and radioactive materials

The above list is not all inclusive. There are certain exceptions for personal care, medical needs, and equipment to support physically challenged passengers. There are also provisions for sporting equipment. When in doubt, check with your airline. • In the unlikely event of an emergency evacuation, leave everything behind. WEAR SENSIBLE CLOTHING

For ease of movement and protection in the unlikely event of an evacuation, Fly Smart travelers should follow these guidelines:

• Wear clothes made of natural fabrics such as cotton, wool, denim and leather. They offer the best protection. Synthetics may melt when they are heated.

• Wear clothing that allows freedom of movement. Avoid restrictive clothing.

• Wear low heeled shoes or boots. (Shoes with laces or straps are recommended. Avoid sandals.)

• Arms and legs should be as fully covered as possible. (Long sleeves/pants are recommended.) PASSENGER CHECKLIST

SUGGESTIONS TO MAKE YOUR SAFE TRIP EVEN SAFER

Sensible Clothing

• Shirt - Long sleeved, natural fabrics. • Slacks/pants - Long, natural fabrics. • Shoes - Leather or canvas and low-heeled.

Child Safety Seat

Check with airline for policy on use before arrival at airport and on board the aircraft .

• Safely stow carry-on baggage. • Wear seat belt snug and low across the hips. • Keep your seat belt fastened at all times. • If you take your shoes off, put them on before landing.

Review the passenger safety card before each takeoff and each landing.

• Listen carefully to the safety briefing. • Ask questions if safety information is not clear. • Make a mental plan of the actions you would take in an emergency. • Be familiar with all exits. • Count seat rows between you and at least two exits.

Exit Row Seating

• Listen to the safety briefing and/or read the written instructions for aircraft specifics. • You must be physically capable and willing to perform emergency actions. If not, request another seat. • You must know your responsibilities in the unlikely event of an emergency. • Ask questions if instructions are not clear. • Consider the effects of alcoholic beverages. • In the unlikely event of an emergency, you should be aware of the following.

Evacuation Slides

• Jump feet first into center of slide. • Do not sit down to slide. • Place arms across chest, elbows in, and legs and feet together. • High-heeled shoes can damage slides.

Decompression

• Pull oxygen mask toward you to start oxygen flow. • Put your oxygen mask on as quickly as possible. • Help children and others with their masks.

Flotation Devices

• Know where they are and how to use them. • Life vests (under seat, if available), life rafts, and some seat cushions and evacuation slides can be used as flotation devices.

Evacuating the Aircraft

• Follow instructions of crew member (if possible). • Stay calm and proceed quickly to exit. • Leave all your possessions behind.

Fire or Smoke

Inflight - Use wet paper towel or handkerchief over nose and mouth. - Move away from the source of fire and smoke.

On Ground - Stay low. - Proceed by your predetermined count of seat rows to exit(s) and/or - Follow floor proximity lighting to an exit. - Exit the aircraft. - Leave all your possessions behind.

Outside the Aircraft

• Move away from aircraft, fire, and smoke. • If possible, help those requiring assistance. • Remain alert for emergency vehicles. • Never go back into a burning aircraft.

The History of the Watch: Form the early 19th century

The watch has made many transformations through the years. There have been many modifications and technological advancements that have made it possible to wear them on your wrist and tell the time with a push of a button! Unlike the watches made many centuries ago, the watches of today offer cutting edge technology and modern day convenience features. The watch is steeped in history and has seen us through World Wars and Nuclear Warfare. At the end of time, there’s no doubt that we’ll use a watch to make note of the date/time!

To truly understand the watch evolution, we must take a journey into the past. The first timekeeping device was actually a pocket watch. Though, back in the day, they were worn around the neck. I guess we know the occupation of Flava Flav’s early ancestors!

After the railroad began using the pocket watch, the watch industry grew by leaps and bounds! With the invention of the wristwatch, watches became increasingly popular among professionals and everyday folk. The LED digital watch and the Pilot’s watch have taken the watch designs and functions to a whole new level. To date, there are many watchmakers vying for your business! Your best bet is to hop online and view the many different styles, models and prices before you purchase another watch.

The pocket watch is the oldest form of watch in production. In the beginning, they were completely customized pieces of jewelry that were mainly owned by royalty or the rich. Encrusted with jewels and made of the finest quality materials, the early pocket watches were not easily affordable. Eventually made into smaller versions and worn around the neck, the pocket watch was still mostly considered a fashion accessory. That was until the development of the railroad. Using the pocket watch as a means to schedule train departures and arrivals, the pocket watch became a time telling necessity. Unfortunately, though, the early pocket watch models did not accurately tell time; they “lost” time as the day progressed, making it impossible to synchronize times among a group of people.
Following a train collision, it was deemed that the pocket watch needed to undergo a technological improvement to tell time more accurately.

The revised technology made it possible to begin making the pocket watch smaller and smaller, until it eventually began to be worn on the wrist. The wristwatch began to see a dramatic burst of production during wartimes. The military saw a use for a watch that could be easily read while performing duties. The chronograph wristwatches with luminous hands were in high demand! Today, there are a multitude of watch manufacturers that specialize in wristwatch production. There are watches sporting beautiful jewels and watches that are mostly geared toward function. Some are battery operated, while others operate from the power of the sun! There are watches that will fit into any price range, too. Shopping online will allow you to view and compare many wristwatches so that you can pick the one that is most perfect for your wants and needs!

The LED Digital watch came about in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. These watches were very unique in that they require no moving parts to tell the time of day! Passing an electrical charge through inorganic materials creates the LED digital technology. In other words, you simply press a button and the watch lights up with the dime/date! The Americans and the Japanese have been the forerunners in the development of the LED digital watch. Early models were expensive, but are inexpensive to date. They are the best watches to learn how to tell time by!

The Aviation Watch (Pilot Watch) is a very functional watch. These watches actually help to maintain flight plans, perform pre-flight planning and navigate flights, so they are extremely important for pilots! Used primarily by the military and aircrew, the Aviation style watches are also popular among avid outdoorsmen and athletes. Today, the aviation world has seen a great improvement in a plane’s instrumentation panel, so the Aviation watch isn’t quite as important, but they are very useful to have just in case you need a back up!

All watches are analog or digital in nature, some are even both! Men, women and children will be able to find a watch that is just perfect for their needs/desires. Shopping on the Internet, you’ll find many merchants that sell watches. There are places to find some really great discounted selections, too! When it comes to watches, there are many factors you should consider before you purchase, including: functions needed, size, style and price. Once you have your choices narrowed down, shopping online is the quickest and most convenient way to go. Whether you are an avid watch collector or you are purchasing a time teaching model, remember that your choices have been made possible thanks to the many talented designers and engineers through the years!