by "f86sabre" (f86sabre)
Published 06/11/2017 at 00:47
by "f86sabre" (f86sabre)
Published 06/11/2017 at 00:47
Tags: Ama
STARS: 0
I am sitting in the Air France lounge at Charles De Gaulle airport waiting on my flight to Toulouse. That is the home of Airbus. Since I have time ask me anything.
"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
06/11/2017 at 00:49, STARS: 1
Any Air France employees, or do they bar staff from the lounges?
"DrJohannVegas" (drjohannvegas)
06/11/2017 at 00:51, STARS: 0
*checks time, smirks*
Is the company’s lounge open yet? Time for a quick drink?
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
06/11/2017 at 00:56, STARS: 1
Hard to tell. It is the FC lounge, so there is working staff, but I couldn’t tell if there is any off duty folks here. I got in with my SkyClub membership.
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
06/11/2017 at 00:57, STARS: 0
Not my company, but kind of the idea. It is just about 7am, so a bit early, but there is a pretty well stocked open bar.
"DrJohannVegas" (drjohannvegas)
06/11/2017 at 01:01, STARS: 0
Was scrolling though the mental rolodex, figured you got to CDG on your company’s aircraft. I’m sure Airbus will take good care of you, though.
As a younger grad student, spent a nice long post-Le Mans layover (between TGV and flight) in CDG, was okay, but I’d imagine security is a bit tougher now. Last time I had a long stay there, just spent the 30 euro on a short airport hotel stay. (I think I watched French elections on the crummy room TV?)
Oh... a question: Training or unveiling?
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
06/11/2017 at 01:06, STARS: 0
Ah, yeah. I did fly the company jet (A330) over from ATL. Air France connection down to Toulouse. The AF Lounge is nice enough, so I am just hanging here and cleaning up my email.
I will be hitting Le Mans next weekend. Couldn’t come all this way and not go.
This is training. Structures training in particular. While I am no longer an active engineer, I still need to know the vocabulary and processes for repairing the composite structure.
"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
06/11/2017 at 01:08, STARS: 0
Do you speak French? If no, have any French folk spit on you yet?
I hear things about the French in Paris (a professor of mine used to call Parisians “Paris-ites” due to his run-ins with the locals there).
"DrJohannVegas" (drjohannvegas)
06/11/2017 at 01:11, STARS: 1
Wicked. Was hoping to go again this year, it’s a blast, but my summer conference travel plans got torpedoed.
Have a beer during the night on the infield hill near the esses for me. (One of my favorite things, right behind watching sunrise from the grandstands or Tetre Rouge.)
"gmporschenut also a fan of hondas" (gmporschenut)
06/11/2017 at 01:12, STARS: 0
bon jour
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
06/11/2017 at 01:13, STARS: 0
I got lucky with this trip. Le Mans at the end and then Paris Airshow on Monday after Le Mans. I will certainly have a beer! I was lucky enough to grab a cheap, tiny Airbnb in Le Mans, so we will see if I stick it out the whole 24 or go back for a nap. We did the whole thing last time when we were here in 2013.
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
06/11/2017 at 01:15, STARS: 0
A little. Enough to ask if they speak English and where the toilets are. I have found if you politely ask if they speak English in French that they are much nicer to you.
"PS9" (PS9)
06/11/2017 at 01:16, STARS: 0
Any advice for someone who’s never set foot on a plane before and thinks flying is terrifying?
"DrJohannVegas" (drjohannvegas)
06/11/2017 at 01:17, STARS: 1
When at the airshow, don’t accidentally almost order a massive Haas turret CNC lathe. Only idiots do that...yea.
*sips drink*
Seriously, though, have a great time. Jealous/a bit sad.
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
06/11/2017 at 01:22, STARS: 2
Sure. First, the planes are very robust where it counts and are maintained at a level that would surprise most folks. Lots of redundant systems.
As far as the flying experience goes I tell people to get to the airport early and take your time. If you show up at the last minute and your anxiety is high then you are already in a bad place mentally. Get through security, find a nice spot and people watch or watch the ramp activity out the window. Know where you need to be and when. Bring music, snacks and other entertainment. Maybe have a beer before the flight, but don’t go nuts.
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
06/11/2017 at 01:26, STARS: 1
If Haas wanted to invite me over I would be happy to sip champagne and talk tools. Part of my world is landing gear and we use such things. The name of the machines we have now escapes me though. Spanish company.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
06/11/2017 at 01:44, STARS: 0
Any interesting food stalls?
"DrJohannVegas" (drjohannvegas)
06/11/2017 at 01:50, STARS: 0
Zayer? Zayer makes some nice stuff, I’ve heard.
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
06/11/2017 at 02:06, STARS: 0
I headed straight for the lounge and didn’t look at food. Lots of perfume stalls though.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
06/11/2017 at 02:33, STARS: 0
I’ve got a question - what the fuck is up with this damaged flap on an AA 737 I was on a few weeks ago?!
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
06/11/2017 at 03:42, STARS: 0
That’s not photoshopped? Weird shadows. A trim out that large certainly doesn’t look normal, but I would guess/hope that AA’s engineering approved it somehow.
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
06/11/2017 at 06:05, STARS: 2
Yeah I think that’s the trick! If you try to speak French, you’ll get a Parisian shrug. If you go directly to English, people might pretend they don’t speak a word of English. Which is sometimes the case!
Parisians are assholes.
Signed, a Parisian
"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
06/11/2017 at 08:16, STARS: 0
If you’re one of the ordinary passengers there’s bugger all in CDG apart from one newsagent and a couple of fast food places. Oh, and an expensive Starbucks. Is the lounge any better?
"Out, but with a W - has found the answer" (belg)
06/11/2017 at 08:30, STARS: 1
I’d probably be an asshole too, when confronted with a bacon shortage.
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
06/11/2017 at 08:38, STARS: 0
That’s a fair point.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
06/11/2017 at 09:58, STARS: 0
It’s real here’s more from later in the flight with th flaps out on approach. What looks like shadows are dirt I think. It definitely is sealed shut so it’s a “repair” and I guess both AA and the FAA said it was OK but it seems big.
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
06/11/2017 at 11:04, STARS: 0
The lounge is ok. Needs a refresh. Free pastries, meat and cheese tray and drinks including liquor. I just had water, orange juice and one of the lastriesnwith the chocolate in it.
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
06/11/2017 at 11:07, STARS: 1
Yeah, the planes come structural repair manuals that detail what you can do. The airline can also internally approve minor repairs or get FAA (or FAA delegate) approval for major repairs. I don’t recall seeing a large chunk trim out in the 737 manual, so they must have approved it via other means.