Drunk pilot arrested in London

by Tom Johansmeyer on

After (another) pilot was found drunk in London this week, the issue of pilot inebriation has become a frequent discussion topic. Since 1997, 11 commercial pilots, on average, have tested positive for alcohol every year. According to FAA regulations, pilots can’t fly with a blood alcohol content of above 0.04 percent (it’s 0.02 percent in Great Britain). Last year, 13 pilots tested positive, making 2008 slightly above average.

The FAA conducts more than 10,000 random alcohol tests every year, says spokeswoman Laura Brown. This is approximately 10% of the total, as there are around 100,000 commercial pilots in the United States.

The latest culprit, Erwin Washington of United Airlines, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Monday, when he was suspected of being drunk in the cockpit — members of his crew reported him to the authorities. Washington could lose his license as a result. Two other U.S. pilots have been arrested in England on charges involving alcohol in a little more than a year.

Though an intoxicated pilot is obviously a danger to the passengers, the National Transportation Safety Board says that no airline in the United States has crashed because the pilot was drunk.

[has video]

Travel to Spain suffering

by Tom Johansmeyer on

It really is a shame: summer travel to Spain is off 6.1 percent this year, as the global economic decline is making the decision to travel tougher for everyone. The country’s Tourism Ministry puts the number of July arrivals at just over 6.6 million. For the entire year (through the end of July), arrivals fell 10.3 percent to 30.2 million visitors. This follows a record 33.6 million for the same period in 2008.

Spain has historically been one of the world’s top three tourist destination in terms of both the number of people arriving and income earned from them; France and the United States are the other two. So, a substantial year-over-year decline is likely to be felt.

Every part of Spain saw arrivals fell except Madrid, where arrivals increased by 6.6 percent. Andalucia saw visits drop by 11 percent, though Valencia had an easier time. Of the regions with falling arrivals, it had the lowest at only 0.4 percent.

Most of Spain’s tourist traffic came from Britain, which sent 1.6 million visitors to the country. France is second, overtaking Germany this year. British share of travel to Spain, 24.5 percent, fell 16.1 percent this year because of economic conditions. Meanwhile, French tourism to Spain increased this year, with visits to Valencia surging 35 percent and Madrid up 23.4 percent.

Marylebone: decent digs in Westminster

by Tom Johansmeyer on

There are plenty of luxury hotel alternative in London, and they’re more than happy to let you spend as much as you’d like. Finding a hotel that’s a bit more affordable but still in an interesting part of town, though, can be a challenge. When I set foot in the Marylebone Hotel in Westminster, I realized that comfort did not have to destroy my budget. While it’s not a luxury establishment, the hotel does play on the upscale side of average and has all the on-site necessities that separate it from the city’s proletarian options.

Tucked away on Welbeck St. – near but not choked by Westminster‘s busier roads – the Marylebone provides easy access to public transportation and local attractions. The Thames River is a short hike away, but it is walkable for the typical city-dweller. Oxford Circus is nearby, as well, with plenty of shopping available (it feels a bit like Manhattan’s Broadway between W 69th St and W 85th St, though a little busier).

The property itself shows a surprising sense of design for a British property (sorry, guys, but its true), eschewing the traditional trappings for a sleek, modern feel. The rooms are quite large, with a desk/work area that is far enough from the bed to help you separate relaxation from any professional demands you may experience while on the road. Americans should remember that this is a European hotel: the lights won’t work until you “plug” your room key in by the door.

Speaking of plugs, perhaps the most impressive detail nailed by the Marylebone is electrical. Sockets are available for UK, U.S. and European plugs. So, if you forget your adapter (which happens to everyone from time to time), you’ll have no reason to lose your cool.

The only major problem I found with the Marylebone was dining. If you are hungry after 11:30 PM, look elsewhere. What was initially described to me by the front desk as a “limited bar menu” turned out to be a ham sandwich when I called room service. At this hour, the bar is open, but it doesn’t serve food either (aside, I imagine, from the ham/bread combo). You’ll have to walk a few blocks to find food late at night – it’s just the nature of the neighborhood.

The exchange rate has made London a decent deal for the first time in years, but the city’s hardly cheap. If you pull together decent deal on British Airways (which are available) and stay at the Marylebone instead of an up-market chain, your travel dollars are likely to go a lot farther.

Disclosure: Visit Britain paid for this trip. But, as you can see over my late-night room service debacle, my soul is not for sale, even for the price of a midnight meal.

And the happiest place on Earth is …

by Tom Johansmeyer on

… not Disney World!

Despite the theme park’s claim, Costa Rica actually takes the top spot, according to the New Economics Foundation. This Britain-based independent research firm uses the “Happy Planet Index” to determine and rank the countries with the happiest people. The organization’s goal is to build a new economy that focuses on people and the environment.

This year’s survey covered 143 countries, with Latin American claiming nine of the top 10 positions in the study. The Dominican Republic took second, followed by Jamaica, Guatemala and Vietnam.

If you live in a developed nation, it seems, you’re probably unhappy. Great Britain took 74th, and the United States came in at 114. But, the latter is happier than it was 20 years ago. China and India are also fairly unhappy, but mostly because they are pursuing aggressive economic growth.

Now, the results are skewed because ecological implications account for a substantial portion of how happy a country is. The study assumes that the further you are from carbon-neutral, the unhappier you are. I’m down for going green, but I really struggle to see how it plays such a large role in a country’s happiness.

2/3 of Brit pubs to increase beer prices

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Nearly a fifth of British pub owners are increasing beer prices now, taking the national average above the current level of ₤3 a pint. Ten percent are looking to pop an extra 15 pence on every glass, with two-thirds looking to push prices higher by 5 pence to 10 pence. The price of a beer has tripled over the past 20 years, obviously making it a better investment than that Enron stock you’re hoping will bounce back.

A new 2 percent tax is contributing to the elevated cost of intoxication, though operational expenses (like updating menus and cash registers) are leading to the extra imposition.

Seven percent of pubs will absorb the extra costs until September. Ninety-seven percent don’t give a shit about your need to imbibe at a value.