Boston Driving: Airport Edition

Just as soon as Boston has been rated a safe place for child pedestrians, we hear of another close call at Logan. Planes aren’t running over children in crosswalks of course, but they’re almost hitting each other. Sixteen times in the last year alone. The FAA has been called in by MassPort authorities to identify the “trouble spots” on Logan runways. The Boston Globe beat them to the punch and provided a graphic to illustrate the areas of close encounter. Last Bostonist knew, United Airlines was the only carrier who offered a “From the Flight Deck” audio channel in flight and during take-off. We haven’t been on one of these near miss incidents during take off, yet, but next time Bostonist flies United we’re going to be tuned it waiting to hear an “Oh, Shit!” from the cockpit. (Disclaimer: We don’t mean to call United out on being involved in accidents, Tuesday happened to be with America, a week ago FedEx; just United is the only one that lets us listen in.) The latest aborted take off incident was blamed on an air traffic controller providing misinformation and a pilot zealously changing frequencies from landing to gate taxi control. Us, we blame the whole thing on the paparazzi.