Travel / Why does everyone seem to hate LOT Polish Airlines? [380]

In the US if you have documents showing you're traveling to a funeral an airline might use the bereavement clause and offer you a discounted ticket to/from but only if there are seats still available (usually it's a last minute call). I know several coworkers who've flown on other carriers to their loved ones' funerals.

News / Polish hero pilot lands 767 without wheels. (Warsaw) [191]

PWEI:
Not really. My point was that all possible causes must be taken into account and until it is eliminated, that includes pilot error. There most certainly have in the past been times when pilots were first called heroes and later found to be very much at fault (the Kegworth crash springs to mind).

All true. I wouldn't have used the terrain warning analogy simply because it's still a very sensitive subject. Otherwise, it's true, everything has to and will be looked into. My personal prediction (just me!) is that the pilots will be found to have acted professionally and accordingly to all Boeing/LOT procedures. I'm somewhat biased of course but that's what I think.

Travel / Why does everyone seem to hate LOT Polish Airlines? [380]

"I'm confused, do you mean we should comment in this thread or that thread ?"

This is the "LOT SUCKS" thread.

The other one is "LOT ROCKS" thread.

No grey areas I'm afraid. LOL

Travel / Why does everyone seem to hate LOT Polish Airlines? [380]

Asia Drabczyk:
Im thrilled to have found this post. Finally I can express my feelings about LOT Polish Airlines. Hands down the worst airline EVER! It disgusts me! The flight attendants act as though they are doing you a favor instead of their job. The fleet is ANCIENT!!!! Its scary getting on their planes specially- JFK-WAW. I would rather pay for a drink or my meal but know that the airline is well maintained. etc. I have vocalized my strong opinion about LOT to my family and friends. We all fly Swiss Air and transfer in Zurich to WAW. A friend of mine is currently on a LOT flight from JFK-WAW, circling around Warsaw bc the tires wont come out! Preparing for an emergency landing. Very angry with LOT....its simply despicable.

Holly crap, have we dated before? You sound like a very high maintenance headache from my past. LOL

News / Polish hero pilot lands 767 without wheels. (Warsaw) [191]

PWEI: Forgetting to lower the undercarriage before landing would be as stupid as forgetting to pull up when the terrain warning system is shouting at you to pull up when you can not see the runway, i.e. no chance of it happening.

Considering the "other" accident has already been mentioned here this is a pretty morbid analogy, wouldn't you say? :(

PS. ADMIN - In the past I could highlight and quote from my iphone. This function doesn't seem to work anymore?

News / Polish hero pilot lands 767 without wheels. (Warsaw) [191]

Where do I start?
Ok
1)
"No professional would comment on cause of a plane failure"?? Really?? Here's just for your pleasure:
pprune.org/rumours-news/467899-polish-lot-767-wheels-up-landing.html

...and this is just one forum, there are many others not including the airline specific ones that are normally restricted to employees only. Within 6 hours of this incident we were already receiving information from Boeing and from other airlines. Why? Because learning from other accidents might save lives. I guaran-damn-tee you the current LOT crew had reviewed the Hudson River accident in the past, and many other accidents and incidents too; it's part of our culture, we learn from others to enhance everyone's safety.

2)
You say that I should be praising the crew. Well, did you actually read what I said? Please read it again because I think you totally missed my point. As isthatu2 correctly pointed out I did in fact praise the crew (thank you I2 btw), I have no idea why you tell me to shut up?? Perplexing to say the least but whatever suits your boat I guess.

isthatu2: ...skysoulmate did nothing but praise the flight crew..."
------

Polmed
The old duck tried to speculate on something he has no clue , even though he is a pilot . Why ? because he is not an engineer , he knows how to fly a plane , but he has got no idea about the plane construction , besides some general information the pilot should have .

...No one in Poland formalates any conclusive opinions . TVN 24 invites many experts to the studio and no one speculates on anything .
...So far they say that there was a failure of two systems . What is interesting is the fact that it happens rarely that the emergency system also failed..."

Old duck? Hmm, I'm in my 40s but I guess that's old for some here. LOL. I'm actually fairly "young" amongst my peers, lucked out and trained/got hired early on. ...and to confuse you even more, yes, I actually used to work as a flight engineer, in the past it was a fairly common transition for airline pilots - to start of as a flight engineer and progress to the pilot seat, so I'm not totally clueless but I digress.

I don't know why the gear failed to extend, neither do you or anyone else at this point. It will take a while for the investigation to be completed however I think I'm entitled to express my thoughts on what I think MIGHT have happened? To emphasize that this was just my speculation I added the highlighted portion in the sentence below:

"I wouldn't be surprised to hear about a maintenance error although it could be something else..."

We'll see, it was a very unusual event for sure but the crew did a great job. I said it in English and even tried to say it in Polish. Somehow you missed that? I'm thinking that my earlier Smolensk comments made you highly allergic to me. Yet even there you misstated my opinions, you cherry-picked the comments you agreed with and discarded the ones you did not agree with. Has the blind justice become the selective justice? Oh well, it's really depressing that everything becomes so antagonistic here, even something that is so positive...

I wish all the pro-Polish or anti-Polish pilots comments disappeared from this thread. Nationality is totally irrelevant here. There were two great pilots upfront on this flight; this time they happened to be two Polish males, tomorrow it could be 2 Italian females, or a mixed gender British crew, etc., etc. Let's focus on good airmanship rather than the nationalities, shall we?

PS. IF (I repeat, IF) this was a maintenance problem then it's possible it was performed in Sewark (yes, that's what most of us call that airport LOL) and if so it would be an American maintenance crew. Again, this has nothing to do with Polish or American, it has to do with two good pilots upfront who handled an emergency by the book. We (ntsb, etc) also have to figure out what happened so it won't happen again, everyone, please drop the nationalistic bs, doesn't belong here!

News / Polish hero pilot lands 767 without wheels. (Warsaw) [191]

Hi all,

I saw the video via a company safety forum (all airlines learn from accidents/incidents) and thought I'd chime in here.

First of all, well done to the crew! Text book gear-up landing, just the way it's taught in simulators.

I flew the 757/767 for many years, my 767 time is primarily in the -300 family which I believe is what LOT uses? I understand the crew knew there was a hydraulic system issue shortly after take off but decided to continue on. I probably would've made the same decision, it was just one system (center) and I'm sure they ran their checklists, contacted their dispatch & mx, looked into all their options, etc., etc. The fact the gear failed to extend in the alternate mode is very schocking to say the least. B767 is a very reliable aircraft and the alternate system for the gear is surprisingly simple and yet ingenious. Basically there are small electrical locks that unlock when activated which lets the gear to "free-fall" into the down and locked position. I'm schocked the gear failed to deploy in that mode. I wouldn't be surprised to hear about a maintenance error although it could be something else. Either way, the comments relating to no wanting to fly on LOT until they upgrade the fleet are very misleading. Professionalism, training, good maintenance, etc., is 90 percent of an airline's safety record. What airplanes they fly is actually not as critical as many think (well, there are exceptions but generally speaking western manufacturers have very good safety records, enough about that). So I think that LOT is a perfectly safe airline (duh? ;)) and no one should be afraid to fly on them, I haven't but won't hesitate if an opportunity presents itself.

Just a few additional comments - Everyone remembers "Sully" - the "hero" pilot on Hudson river correct? Answer quickly - what was his co-pilot's name? Anyone? What about the flight attendants? See my point? The passengers love to choose a "hero" when in fact we always have a crew up there working together. Not sure about the term hero - it is after all our job. They did a great job!

As far as flying, remember that there were two pilots in that cockpit, the passengers tend to focus on one only, usually the captain, but remember that this is a crew concept, one person keeps flying while the other troubleshoots, runs checklists, etc. Each airline does it their own way, most let the pilot who kept flying when the incudent happened to keep flying while others, like USAirways make the captain take over. Doesn't matter, they're all pilots. I've had my share of incidents both as a first officer and as a captain and the other pilot's assistance was ALWAYS invaluable. We are always a crew!

Next time your flight gets delayed please remember this and other "good stories" and give us some slack. :-)

Again, gratuluję dwóch pilotów LOTu!

Not quick enough to revise...

Meant to say "gratulacje dla B767 LOT pilotów i flight attendants - a text book emergency gear-up landing and cabin evacuation! Kudos to you all!"

PS. Correct my Polish please, somehow it doesn't sound right...?

Life / Babcia or Busha - any social class difference? [359]

If it makes you feel any better I never understood why the Muppet Show's chef was supposedly Swedish. Sure doesn't sound Swedish to any Swede. LOL

youtube.com/watch?v=sY_Yf4zz-yo

Life / Babcia or Busha - any social class difference? [359]

All true, well many Polish Americans chose somewhat infantile terms of showing an appreciation for their Babcia's and Dziadek's. LOL

This thread has many posts, who knows what the origin of Busha is? Maybe it's a derivative of the Russian Babusha, maybe it's simply an Americanized spelling of the Polish Babusia that somehow became Busia and eventually Busha?

Who knows, but it's too late, people on this side of the pond (ie. M.Ski) actually believe those are Polish words! :)

Life / Babcia or Busha - any social class difference? [359]

Don't sweat it, many nations like to recreate the original language. British versus American English is just one example. ;)

I must say I cringe when I hear "busia" but it's even worst if I hear "busha" (it sounds foul, very Russian to me). ...but then I just pretend I missed the first "ba" syllable - "babusia" is a common polish name for grandmother. :-)

Genealogy / Polish looks? [1462]


I have no idea but you look pretty and that's all that matters. If you were raised in the south, southeast (I'm talking about the US here) it's possible you have a tad of Cherokee in you which is like an extra bonus. So keep smiling. :-)

Love / Kiss on the eyes - Polish girl's way of being affectionate? [8]

Don't know if it's a Polish thing or not (born in Poland but moved to Sweden as a child) but when I was a kid my mamusia always kissed me (and my sister) on my closed eyelids first and then on my forehead after she'd read us a bed-time story. The kiss on the eyelids was to help us fall asleep and on the forehead so we'd have pretty dreams. It worked for us. :)

When I grew up I adopted this very tradition with every girlfriend I've ever kissed. Not on a first date of course but once we were very comfortable with each other. I've never heard a single complaint and in fact my now ex-wife absolutely adored this bed-time tradition. :))

..and before you wonder, no, that's not why she's now my ex.

UK, Ireland / I need help!! (problems with my Polish coworkers) [41]


Had you been writing letters and essays in English since you were a child you'd have been pretty good at it. As of now I have hard time believing you're a native English speaker (writer).

The other part, yes, your coworkers seem to be jerks for sure.

Genealogy / Polish looks? [1462]


Really? I've never heard it from one single American and I live here...

Love / Don't want others to join us at a table - is it normal for Polish girls to get angry? [161]

and that's exactly why he should've talked to her and not him.

Genealogy / Polish looks? [1462]

What the heck is a big Slavic nose?? Italian maybe but Polish?

Love / Don't want others to join us at a table - is it normal for Polish girls to get angry? [161]


Thank you! Finally some common sense. That's exactly what I meant, communicate with your date, not the guy. Either way, good luck in your dating pursuits but the one-night stand comment tells me you think women should be held to a much higher standard than us men. Not a good sign but I hope you'll change your mind one day and will become a man rather than just a horny and very sexist boy.

Love / Don't want others to join us at a table - is it normal for Polish girls to get angry? [161]

I did put some of the blame on all three but yes, in my view "confused" acted the worst. It's all very pointless now but I do find it interesting you put most of the blame on the girl simply for talking to two guys, apparently talking to two of her friends makes her act promiscuously in your view. At the same time you never comment on the fact our "confused" friend was so smitten by his Polish friend that he went ahead and had a one-night stand with another chick to clear his head. So refresh my memory, who's acting promiscuisly again???

Love / Don't want others to join us at a table - is it normal for Polish girls to get angry? [161]

That's right, have another one-night stand, that's the best way to find a "diamond"...

Love / Don't want others to join us at a table - is it normal for Polish girls to get angry? [161]




Not too nice of you to quote me without reading the entire reply.


Yes, she was rude and I said that. However, since she was the one who invited the other guy over her date's choices should've been 1) speak up to HER (not him), or 2) leave.

PS. Those retarded no-name quotes drive me nuts. May whoever came up with them suffer from insomnia for the rest of his/her life.

Genealogy / Is Aleska a Polish baby name ? [42]


In Alaska I met a lady who's name was "Alyeska" which is derived from the Russian language which in turn was a butchered Aleutian (Inuit - Eskimo tribe) name for Alaska -> Alakshak, it means great land, great country. I don't think Aleska is a Polish name, sure doesn't sound like it.

Love / Don't want others to join us at a table - is it normal for Polish girls to get angry? [161]


Really? So what's the "magic" number according to you? Would 80 minutes be ok? 60? 45?

The fact is he should've talked to her, not him. She's the one who invited the guy to the table, the guy didn't just show up on his own. The "overstaying" guy might have been clueless, maybe even rude but he was invited to the table by HER.

Any other "overstaying rules" imply that once you take a woman out you own her. Pure nonsense. She has a mind of her own and can do as she pleases, if she wants to be rude toward her date by inviting another guy over it's her prerogative. It's his prerogative to dump her or at the very least to mention something to her. Remember, she was the one who invited the other guy.

Po polsku / Co sądzicie o Polakami noszą koszulki z logami w języku Polskim? [26]

Świetny pomysł! Ja bym przetłumaczył na angielski też żeby mieć więcej wyboru :)

I bym napisał, "będę najlepszym kochankiem (i Tatą) w świecie!

Think of it as advertising to your prospective girlfriend/wife! ;)

Love / Don't want others to join us at a table - is it normal for Polish girls to get angry? [161]


Well, I read all your comments and you seem like a pretty smart guy ...except when you drink.

Whenever in doubt, always ask yourself how you'd like if she did/said something similar to you? Drop this man versus woman thing or even the British girls versus the Polish girls comparisons. Deep inside we're all pretty similar, we want to have good time, meet this someone special and feel like we're very special to that person.

Women hate control freaks and they do it for a good reason. The majority of women who get abused and/or murdered nowadays get hurt by their "loved ones", usually a boyfriend, husband, ex-boyfriend or ex-husband. Those are the facts and you can't blame them for being extra cautious.

If I was there I'd find an excuse to leave and would go somewhere else. The next day she'd probably ask me why I left so early and I'd explain it to her. If she understood my reasons, apologized and said let's give it another try, I'd be more than happy to go out with her again. If she showed no understanding at all and treated me like dirt, I'd drop her from my view-finder, I deserve better.

For you to tell this guy to get lost was wrong because she was the one who asked him to come over, not you. To use an extreme in order to emphasize my point - if a woman was to cheat on you, don't get mad at the guy, get mad at her, she's the one who cheated, not him. (by "getting mad" I mean leave her, she's worthless).

PS. When you see someone you really like, stop drinking prompto, better yet, stay sober for a change. Obviously you aren't a happy-drunk type which usually means confrontations and drama the more you drink. Good luck to you.

Love / Don't want others to join us at a table - is it normal for Polish girls to get angry? [161]

I'm not a woman but if I was I'd slap you blue. Granted, the fifth-wheel guy might have been somewhat rude but so where you, in fact, you acted like a dikhead, you don't "own" her but that's what you made her feel like. This has nothing to do with your "in England, we don't... nonsense, this is about common sense.

Law / Why are the Poles following the Swiss Franc? [17]

This approach isn't really that unusual although it's not recommended for daily life expenditures (such as mortgages). If you think your own currency will rise, save in it and borrow in foreign currency. If you think it'll drop, do the reverse, borrow in it and save in foreign. I've diversified my savings to several currencies.

Law / Why are the Poles following the Swiss Franc? [17]

From today's Bloomberg.com

Poland Needs Franc-Hit Consumers to Propel Economy, Tusk's Adviser Says

Swiss Franc Effect
...The zloty's decline against the franc was 20 percent in the past two months, which may cut consumption by 0.4 percentage points, the economic council headed by Bielecki said in an Aug. 8 report. First-quarter consumption rose 3.9 percent from a year earlier.

Franc-denominated mortgages totaled 151.8 billion zloty in June, accounting for almost 53 percent of total home loans, according to the Polish financial regulator.
Tusk's government forecasts 4 percent economic growth for next year. Poland is relying on the expansion to narrow the budget deficit to 2.9 percent of gross domestic product in 2012 from 7.9 percent last year. The central bank last month lowered its growth forecast for next year to 3.2 percent..."

bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-10/poland-needs-franc-hit-consumers-to-propel-economy-tusk-s-adviser-says.html

Law / Why are the Poles following the Swiss Franc? [17]


When several of the Central and Eastern European countries were beeing integrated into the EU lots of Poles, Czechs, Hungerians, etc. took out mortgages denominated in Swiss Francs, at the time it was a good move as the interest rates were pretty low and the Franc was relatively stable but since then it has gained against most currencies and rates have gone up, a double-whammy for those with Swiss franc loans. However, the Swiss Central bank just lower the interest rates so hopefully homeowners with those loans will get a little breathing room. Not for long though, I think the franc will stay strong for a few more years... Just my prediction.

In hindsight borrow in zloty and save in franc would've been better

Genealogy / Polish looks? [1462]


That's exactly what we're talking about. Wroclaw said many Polish people had a somewhat different shape to their skull, that shape affects a person's looks. Definitely on subject.

PS. I just reread Southern's post, I guess he's taking it into the la-la land? A weird comment for sure...

Genealogy / Polish looks? [1462]

You're right, I checked it too, can't remember why they switched then but it was sometimes in the 60s they said. Today, almost every kid I've ever seen always slept on his/her belly. They definitely have more symmetrical head shapes... Oh well, that's all I know about this subject...