«If, as is to be expected, there are no major global terrorist incidents in the coming days, we will continue to make the most of the current opportunities and try to slowly heal the wounds caused by the threat of »credit crunch.'"
It seems that healing is still a long way off, although, as we mentioned in that same article, the situation could become much more complicated at this particularly delicate time.
The global economy is going through a period of turmoil, much like that experienced by the passengers on a plane when the pilots detect abnormalities mid-flight. The tranquillity of a journey – during which comfort had made the passengers and crew forget that they were at an altitude of 10,000 metres, travelling at a speed of 950 km/h and with an outside temperature of 25 degrees below zero – has suddenly been shattered.
Many passengers are now realising that they are travelling on a craft with many hours of flight time under its wings and in its engines, whose materials are suffering from significant fatigue and which, as always, is packed to the brim with passengers and luggage. The extreme cost-cutting measures applied to the aircraft and the omission of maintenance checks that were not strictly essential may well have been the cause of the malfunctions that are now a source of concern and regret for many. It is too late now. The only useful course of action now is to remain calm and tackle the situation with rigour, composure, intelligence and fortitude.
Although some passengers have panicked, most are still keeping their cool. In fact, the situation appears to be under the crew’s control, and although some warning lights are still on, the aircraft’s vital systems are continuing to function correctly. The atmosphere in the cabin is tense because the alerts have been coming on one after another and, although the situation is currently well under control, nobody knows which warning light might start flashing at any moment. These are a series of malfunctions that have occurred in quick succession; some are insignificant, whilst others require the pilots’ calm but constant attention. One thing is clear: the aircraft is experiencing problems and must be diverted from its original route. Although some reckless passengers remain determined to reach their destination at the scheduled time so as not to lose a single minute of an all-inclusive holiday they will be paying for in convenient instalments. But the reality is very different.
The pilots have already adjusted the heading, speed and altitude by making technical adjustments to the aircraft and managing its mechanical resources efficiently, so as not to dangerously overload the systems that are still functioning without any problems. Using the systems the aircraft still has, they will attempt to reach the nearest airport where they can land and carry out a thorough technical inspection. If they succeed, let us hope that this time the airline will insist on all the necessary replacement parts and make the financial commitment it failed to make when it should have. Even if this new policy means a rise in prices and some of its current customers have to stop flying so often.
With a closer destination, at a lower altitude and speed, they hope to avoid any mishap and ensure that the passengers can disembark from the aircraft without suffering any harm other than the inconvenience inherent in having to radically alter everyone’s plans. But to achieve this, they must maintain a calm and methodical approach; the crew must act with rigour and professionalism; and they must hope that no further faults occur that could affect the vital systems of the old and overworked aircraft.
The company failed to do its homework at the time and lacked the financial rigour required to maintain the aircraft; passengers spent the money they’d saved by flying on a low-cost airline on fleeting indulgences and exceeded their baggage weight limits; one flight attendant even abandoned her duties in the midst of the crisis to scream hysterically, hindering the work of the other responsible passengers. Let us hope that the majority continue to do the right thing and that the passengers only have to abandon their original plans. They will have to adapt to a radical change of course involving a forced stopover, with all its many inconveniences and financial losses. Although let us hope that this is merely an unpleasant change of plans and that we manage to save what is truly important.
As we said at the start, although it may go without saying, it is important to note that we are now at the end of the US trading day on Friday 14 September 2007. We will continue to capitalise on the opportunities that arise in any crisis, adapting as best we can to the new circumstances and trying to turn the situation around without seriously damaging the vital systems of our economy.