Michael Swickard
“Within eight seconds of the bird strike, realizing that we were without engines, I knew that this was the worst aviation challenge I’d ever faced… Jeff grabbed the Quick Reference Handbook to find the most appropriate procedure for our emergency… previous editions had helpful numbered tabs sticking out of the edge that made it easier to find the exact page we needed… in a cost-cutting move, US Airways had begun printing these booklets without the numbered tabs…” – from Highest Duty: My Search For What Really Matters by US Airways Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger
This last week I experienced two seemingly unconnected events: First, the New Mexico Legislature met to mandate cost-cutting. Second, Captain Sullenberger came out with a superb book about 208 amazing seconds last January. His airliner had just taken off from a New York City airport when it struck a flock of Canada geese that knocked out both engines.
Captain Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles were flying under 3,000 feet and over millions of people with no chance of restarting the engines. In just over three minutes they went from a completely normal flight to splashing down in the only flat area available, the Hudson River. Thankfully, all 155 people aboard survived.
Budget cuts figured prominently in the recent New Mexico Legislative special session and in Sullenberger’s short flight to the Hudson River. The connection is the unintended consequences when idiots cost-cut.
Captain Sullenberger testified to the National Transportation Safety Board that with only a few seconds to make the right actions, some cost-cutting items took seconds away from him. In the quote above, the Quick Reference Handbook had to be used without tabs because of cost-cutting, so First Officer Skiles had to find the page by a slower method.
A second loss of time occurred when Sullenberger radioed, “Mayday Mayday Mayday.” No one heard him because his and the air traffic controller’s radio did not have the radio technology that allowed only one person to speak at a time. He declared an emergency while the controller was already on that channel giving routine instructions. Neither heard the other and Sullenberger did not know the controller had not heard him say Mayday, so more time was lost.
The tabs are low-dollar, while the radio technology costs more. Compared to a jetliner crashing into several blocks of New York City, neither costs very much. But idiot cost-cutters cut without any intelligence. The person saying “They can do without tabs” was not a pilot. Worse, perhaps there was a memo that canceled all US Airways book tabs, and no one remembered safety.
A government in cost-cutting mode
The New Mexico state government is in cost-cutting mode. I suspect they will cut wildly to keep from doing what they should do: fire a bunch of people hired for political reasons and not needed.
These supernumeraries may be fine people, but when cost-cutting is needed, better to cast them off rather than cut critical things and people. Unfortunately, what usually happens is the political flotsam enjoys a priority above sensibility. It often appears that some politician’s fiduciary duty is only to themselves and their interests rather than the citizens of New Mexico.
For that reason I suspect none of the unneeded political appointees will be dismissed, while all sorts of goofy plans will emerge to keep from doing the right things. I have not heard specifics; however, this is not the first time I have watched when New Mexico politicians are forced to cost-cut, so I know their ways like I know not to have my dog guard my lunch when I leave the room.
I am certain that an emergency, “save political appointees” committee is hard at work behind the scenes.
They may focus on saving electricity. While there are many places where cuts in electric use might be appropriate, they will probably turn off the yellow portion of traffic lights so there is just red and green to save a very tiny amount of electricity. That is the New Mexico version of not putting tabs on flight emergency books.
Think of the electricity saved if half of the lights in high schools are turned off. They could study the Dark Ages and feel right at home.
The cost-cutters might decide New Mexico can save lots of money on prison guards. They could put the inmates on their honor on the weekends and furlough the weekend guards. Golly, that would save money.
Of course, the first thing they will want to do is to fire half of the New Mexico cattle guards and reduce the hours of the rest. And we thought they were stupid.
Who knows what else? Cost-cutters might buy cotton “no-chance vests” for law enforcement officers instead of expensive real Second Chance vests.
No way politicians can change themselves
I could go on, but I do not want to give them any ideas when in reality I am just being facetious.
Captain Sullenberger’s book is one of the best books I have ever read. It has great human stories and philosophy amid the flying. I am ever so glad the cost-cutters did not cost him his life.
That brings us to New Mexico under the grip of idiot political cost-cutters. We could keep score on how many cousins and campaign contributors get fired versus sensible cuts. On second thought, forget it. There is no way politicians can change themselves any more than my dog. I bet you are not surprised.
Swickard is a weekly columnist for this site. You can reach him at michael@swickard.com.
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